Hi All

Was considering a vehicle tracker a while ago and the subject came up again recently which sparked me to ask the question/s below.

Has anyone any experience of trackers?

Which is the best (sensible budget) wise?

Which offers best Ap based for mobile phone/tablet viewing?

Which has sensible on going costs?

Able to view history of journeys etc?

Any advice as looking on the web just opens up a minefield of possibilities with I suspect lots of hidden running costs.

If this is in the wrong place or has been asked many times before and there is an answer, feel free to point me to a thread.

Edited 18 November, 201510 yr by Defenderben

I have this system installed on my vehicle. It's not without its faults but I'm more than happy with it. Unlike a local Skoda dealership who claimed they needed two days to change my Cambelt and waterpump. Thanks to data logging by the Carlock I was able to prove they had finished the job within hours of me dropping it off and then left it parked up for nearly 20 hours.

www.coolsmartphone.com/2015/01/30/carlock-review/

I really like the look of that unit....except it plugs into the OBD port :(

I know my local dealer unplugs my cars dashcam and as soon as a tech needs to plug into the OBD which he will to get codes/reset service indicator/update software. This will be unplugged and left in my glove box.

Do like the functionality and £5.50 a month is very reasonable considering the features.

I was looking at something like this but do not know if any good and what ongoing costs other than their headline figures may be involved.

http://www.trackerfit.co.uk/cobratrak-plus-with-web-access.html

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by Defenderben

No experience but this company do track some high end kit:

 

http://smartrack.eu/

I've been thinking about something along the lines of this for some time;

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=221291804300&alt=web

I really like the look of that unit....except it plugs into the OBD port :(

I know my local dealer unplugs my cars dashcam and as soon as a tech needs to plug into the OBD which he will to get codes/reset service indicator/update software. This will be unplugged and left in my glove box.

I've had three Skoda dealer services and they have always put the tracker back in the obd port after any software updates, the tracker alerts you when it has d been removed from the obd port.

I've been thinking about something along the lines of this for some time;

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=221291804300&alt=web

Looks interesting but this is exactly where all the confusion starts for me.

It obviously uses the PAYG sim card but how much info is sent per SMS message at what cost?

Could I download from the site the months history or a couple of days history etc... I get so lost looking at this with no clear pricing for getting info.

Fin69 ...what sort of faults does it have and what is a typical cost per SMS and to get the sort of info off to prove your car was sat parked up?

Some car insurers are now asking for tracker fitment. Has Which Magazine done any testing?

Think VW have a recommendation on their website but don't offer it as a standard approved option.

Search - insurance approved trackers

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by vrskeith

have you done a quote to see if it saves you much on insurance? 

 

i sway towards the.. if somebody steals my car, rags it around, thrashes it through a field and generally abuses it within an inch of its life.. i probably dont want it back tbh

Fin69 ...what sort of faults does it have and what is a typical cost per SMS and to get the sort of info off to prove your car was sat parked up?

Very occasionally it can be difficult to connect to the tracker server to disable it when you return to your vehicle, in which case you drive along and you get an alarm on your phone saying your car is moving!

I don't use the SMS alerts, it displays/logs/records everything on your phone ; vibration detected /engine started/tracker removed/Autolocking Enabled.

The device records every journey, shows the route, distance and duration, car battery status and when the tracker was enabled and disabled.

I have autolocking enabled; the device automatically monitors approximately 5 minutes after the engine is switched off. Unfortunately, I occasionally forget this and get the alarm when I drive off after refuelling or pop into a shop on my way home.

nb autolocking only engages after the engine had been switched off. It won't activate when waiting at lights, for example.

The one major downside to this device is if it becomes popular, then your average car thief will then know to check the OBD port!

I have one of these on my car https://www.quartix.net/ tells you pretty much everything you need to know, driving style, acceleration, deceleration, braking, journeys by list and/or map view, history etc, I can't think of much it doesn't tell you.

I have one of these on my car https://www.quartix.net/ tells you pretty much everything you need to know, driving style, acceleration, deceleration, braking, journeys by list and/or map view, history etc, I can't think of much it doesn't tell you.

I assume to get all the info you mentioned that is the corporate package?

I assume to get all the info you mentioned that is the corporate package?

Yes.

Well after lots of reading decided to try this:

http://www.rewiresecurity.co.uk/102-nano-gps-tracking-device-hard-wired-kit

Demo via these people:gpslive.co.uk

User is; gps@demo

Password; 123456

Went for the first item in drop down via a group buy off another site I frequent which brings it to £35.03 delivered. With their discount code it does not get £5credit on the sim but still a £3 saving

Will let you know if its any good but reading the tracker thread on the other forum most are really pleased and it is very accurate, a few had some setting up issues but overall good feedback.

Only £10 per annum subscription and if setup right £5 on PAYG seems to last an age

Similar to what Phil-E mentioned but a much more basic unit.

Edited 6 December, 201510 yr by Defenderben

have you done a quote to see if it saves you much on insurance? 

 

i sway towards the.. if somebody steals my car, rags it around, thrashes it through a field and generally abuses it within an inch of its life.. i probably dont want it back tbh

Having recovered many stolen vehicles in the past I can confidently say I would not want one back.  Unless it is something that you cannot replace like a classic a modern car can be replaced with like for like relatively easily.  I can also say that a good many of you with partners will find that they will be unwilling or even unable to go out in it again.  Someone invading your personal space is a hard thing for many people to get over.

I'm more interested in what happens to my car when in the dealers, which ATM is every couple of weeks and the garage is constantly disconnecting my dashcam..WTF?

I have asked that my dashcam is disconnected whilst on their property to avoid any privacy issues etc but as soon as it is taken on any public road I want my dashcam operational but they keep ignoring my polite request.

Edited 6 December, 201510 yr by Defenderben

I'm more interested in what happens to my car when in the dealers, which ATM is every couple of weeks and the garage is constantly disconnecting my dashcam..WTF?

I have asked that my dashcam is disconnected whilst on their property to avoid any privacy issues etc but as soon as it is taken on any public road I want my dashcam operational but they keep ignoring my polite request.

Hard wire it in?

If the tracker plugs into the obd port which they now do its quite obvious to a thief the tracker is fitted within 30cm to 50cm of the obd port. Easily found and removed by the thief.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

If the tracker plugs into the obd port which they now do its quite obvious to a thief the tracker is fitted within 30cm to 50cm of the obd port. Easily found and removed by the thief.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

The tracker unit I have linked above, is not the OBD plug in type, to avoid anyone unplugging.

This unit will be connected via an inline fuse and fitted somewhere I can get it fitted and achieve a GPRS signal

Well after a few weeks all I can say is my little tracker unit is working fine.

For a £35 initial investment and topped up the sim by £5 all is well. Getting fairly accurate reports good history and used virtually nothing on the sim as the kind people at "Rewire Security" sorted some settings.

Car went into the garage yesterday and it has been driven on a test drive today and he has driven very well and hopefully sorted my rattle in with the mix.

Had a few teething problems but that was settings, all I can say is contacting Rewire Security is a pleasure and sorting any issues has been simple without any fuss.

I had it hard wired but opted to go on battery, as I found a nice place for it to go where it is not easily spotted but sits nicely in its little zip up bag, running on battery for days if needed with its magnetic plate fixing nicely to the car.

It was not used for the intention of thieves etc but to monitor my car when in the garage and it will transfer around all my cars as and when they go into the respective garages. Excellent price of kit for the price of mind of being able to go back to someone if they did decide to mistreat it, I did warn them a few weeks ago I was getting a tracker installed but whether the service chap took any notice I do not know but they were warned, just in case the PC brigade pop up in a bit

This was the unit if anyone is looking and their software is great too.

http://www.rewiresecurity.co.uk/102-nano-gps-tracking-device-car-charger

I bought it using a voucher code for £35 delivered.

Edited 30 December, 201510 yr by Defenderben