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Feb 19, 2007 10:43:29 GMT
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ALSO POSTED IN THE STOLEN SECTION. I reckon this, combined with a decent alarm, is probably one of the best, affordable methods of protecting/tracking your car in the event of a theft. Personally, I'd change the SIM over for another P.A.Y.G. one (you never know if anyone selling these is keeping note of the numbers and is able to track them himself to locate a car worth stealing  NB: I'm not accusing this particular seller of anything, just thinking of all options that a crook could use!) cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-ALARM-SMS-PAGER-SUIT-MOST-CLIFFORD-SIGMA-TOAD-ETC_W0QQitemZ250083847115QQihZ015 |
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Feb 19, 2007 11:46:51 GMT
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Thought about that for ages.... tried planning one but not 'up' enough on plcc's and stuff so any design i came up with needed a computer sat in the boot  40 squid including phone is a bargain, wonder if he'd do it cheaper without? Got a nokia 7110 with a busted screen, same connector as the 5110 in the pic. the tracking won't be brilliant (100 sq yd or so) but will be better than nothing. |
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Never trust a man
Who names himself Trevor.
Or one day you might find
He's not a real drug dealer.
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Feb 19, 2007 11:55:06 GMT
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It's certainly a cheaper alternative to a Tracker! As someone pointed out in a previous thread about these phone tracker devices though... say you had your car nicked and managed to trace it to some moody dismantling yard on an industrial estate... what then? If the police aren't bothered (which they invariably aren't), I wouldn't fancy my chances marching in there and taking on a load of dodgy crims to get my motor back. Maybe others can handle themselves a bit better, or know the right kind of people, or maybe I should have a bit more faith in PC Plod.
Didn't mean that to be all negative - I'm gonna get one for sure. It's just that I personally wouldn't know what to do if I were to find my car! ;D
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Feb 19, 2007 13:12:53 GMT
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www.traceamobile.com claims accuracy to 50 square metres, which isn't much of an area to have to search, one lockup would probably cover that footprint, so finding the source shouldnt be hard!
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Feb 19, 2007 13:30:18 GMT
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What you pay for with those tracker services is the fact that they have contracts with the cops. If you car goes missing and they track it the cops have to go do something about it. Imagine going into you local nick and saying "my car was stolen but I have this PAYG mobile wired up to a box I bought off eBay and I used a website to track it and so I think its in this yard beind some units..."
I hate to be negative but unless your car was left dumped on the street I think you're just £40 worse off an no closer to getting your car back. And if the car is dumped in the street theres a fair chance it got torched... Judging from Nottingham anyway...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 19, 2007 13:49:23 GMT
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I suppose it depends on the circumstances really. Street got his Escort back courtesy of a helpful neighbour, but had that person not spotted the car, this PAYG tracker thing could have done the trick. In another case where the car gets torched, obviously it wouldn't be all that effective...  You could always go to the rozzers saying "I know where my car is" (even if you haven't actually seen it) but that might cause all kinds of grief if it transpires that the car isn't where you think it is, or the device was removed and lobbed in a dumpster. I think it's worth getting if there's a slim possibility of getting your car back. Without it, you get outside to where your car was and you're left with nothing - no evidence, no witnesses, no car... Couple it with methods of immobilising your car and I think it'll improve your chances greatly of holding on to your pride and joy. |
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Feb 19, 2007 15:19:06 GMT
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I looked at these devices last year, and asked a few questions on a farmers forum, a lot of farmers have a system that lets them know by pager that a vehicle has left the farm, I think such a system would be more effective, coupled with this direction finder - but forty quid is a touch expensive - last year you could buy a kit for 8 quid including the box. There are other websites that will give you the location of any phone. - and what happens if the thief tests the car with an EMF meter, or simply removes the car battery after a couple of days
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Last Edit: Feb 19, 2007 15:24:24 GMT by Autofive
Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Feb 19, 2007 15:30:12 GMT
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Just given this thing more thought. I think that a simple PAYG phone concealed in the car would do the trick really, and the box of tricks is a little pointless. Having a text message saying your car alarm is going off is all very well but if you're near the car, you'll hear it anyway, and if you're far away from the car... what then? Ring the police from Spain saying "my car alarm's going off"? They're hardly gonna mobilise a tactical commando unit to go check it out. On the plus side, I suppose if it's down the street out of earshot it'll give you the chance to go and investigate.
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Feb 19, 2007 15:54:43 GMT
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I hate to be negative but unless your car was left dumped on the street I think you're just £40 worse off an no closer to getting your car back. And if the car is dumped in the street theres a fair chance it got torched... Judging from Nottingham anyway... We might as well just leave our keys in our cars, unlocked, and on the street with a sign saying "Take me" then, eh? Personally I welcome any measure that will either stop my car being stolen and help me recover it in the first place. and what happens if the thief tests the car with an EMF meter, or simply removes the car battery after a couple of days Why would you wait two days after the alarm goes off to track your car? The whole point is that alarm goes off, you get alerted, and you jump online to track the thing before its more than 5 miles from your house!?! Just given this thing more thought. I think that a simple PAYG phone concealed in the car would do the trick really, and the box of tricks is a little pointless. Having a text message saying your car alarm is going off is all very well but if you're near the car, you'll hear it anyway, and if you're far away from the car... what then? Ring the police from Spain saying "my car alarm's going off"? They're hardly gonna mobilise a tactical commando unit to go check it out. On the plus side, I suppose if it's down the street out of earshot it'll give you the chance to go and investigate. How about when it get stolen when you're out shopping or at the movies? Or even when its parked up in a garage having work done? Anywhere out of earshot, as you said. I do like your theory about just having a mobile phone hidden in the car though, hardwire the charger to a power supply to make sure it never goes flat, and then put it somewhere hidden where its not too protected by bodywork etc to allow the signal to remain quite strong. |
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Feb 19, 2007 16:23:13 GMT
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I hate to be negative but unless your car was left dumped on the street I think you're just £40 worse off an no closer to getting your car back. And if the car is dumped in the street theres a fair chance it got torched... Judging from Nottingham anyway... We might as well just leave our keys in our cars, unlocked, and on the street with a sign saying "Take me" then, eh? Personally I welcome any measure that will either stop my car being stolen and help me recover it in the first place. LOL, don't take the  ! The whoel point of a tracker is the scrotes don't know its there, or they'll look for it to disable or remove it. So having one fitted doesn't reduce the risk of it being taken, it increases the chance of you getting it back. I saw something on TV or read it or something saying that the average time from the car going missing to the Tracker people finding it is 2 minutes or something mad. No time for them to trash it hopefully. I don't see that you'd get the cops on the case quick as that with a home brew system. But your police may have a higher response rate to car crime than other forces do.... TBH I reckon you're better spending an extra £40 on additional primary security (ie stopping the thing going walkies in the first place) but thats only my most humble opinion. |
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 19, 2007 16:25:52 GMT
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Of course when we get compulsory 'pay as you drive' road pricing, all this will be unnecessary, as your car 'tag' will act in the same way.
Which means and end to TWOCing. And ergo cheaper insurance premiums.
Doesn't it.
Oh, hang on a minute................
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Feb 20, 2007 10:14:07 GMT
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Why would you wait two days after the alarm goes off to track your car? The whole point is that alarm goes off, you get alerted, and you jump online to track the thing before its more than 5 miles from your house!?!
if your using my PC, it takes half a day to boot up ;D
seriously though, this system sounds good in theory, but has anyone used this system?
and found it works?
eat my hat etc etc
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Feb 20, 2007 10:56:02 GMT
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Good idea this. like any mods you need to work out what your car needs, if it stands out then everything! if its hot property like an mk1 escort with loads of work in it etc i'd want it tracked and alarmed etc. I like preventatives bst though, not saying i wont have some kind of tracking device, but its good to let the crims know this one wont be so easy by having extra locks alarms etc... |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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NB: I'm not accusing this particular seller of anything, just thinking of all options that a crook could use!)
