Vehicle Tracking: A Beginners Guide

Cheers, John. That would be great. I've had about six tabs open on my browser, with different devices and systems, since posting. Haven't decided what to do yet.

Al2O3 said:

Champion.
I'd be very interested in how you get on and what you think of it when it's working. I've got a notification set on this thread, so if you post on here I'll pick it up. Many thanks!

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Well the item was due to be delivered by the 12th of September but it looks like good old China post has lost it. Amazon have now refunded me the £6.33 and I have now reordered from a UK based seller at the bargain price of £26. Hopefully this one will arrive by the end of next week the 30th of September and I can get back to my promise of letting you know a good way to install in your vehicle.

Ok, John. That's great. I'm thinking of going to Carphone Warehouse this weekend to talk to them about pay as you go SIM cards. Perfect timing

Al2O3 said:

Ok, John. That's great. I'm thinking of going to Carphone Warehouse this weekend to talk to them about pay as you go SIM cards. Perfect timing

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We have a PAYG sim card from a stand in the local newsagent - choice of networks - all sims were a quid. most included a few mins to get you going for the money too....
Then chose the deal from the operators website, and bobs your auntie or something like that

Al2O3 said:

Ok, John. That's great. I'm thinking of going to Carphone Warehouse this weekend to talk to them about pay as you go SIM cards. Perfect timing

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cant wait to hear how you get on. I have a Giff Gaff Sim card which cost me £5 a month I use that in my caravan alarm the only problem I have with it is the delay in sending text messages. On testing it can vary from receiving the text message straight away to a delay off up to a half hour. The one time my caravan did get broken into it took 10.5 hours before I received the warning text. So if possible can you ask the salesperson about delays in text messages and which Sim would be the best for application we intend to use it for. Was going to do it myself but I've been working weekends non stop for the last 4 weeks.

No bother, mate. That's a good question.

Disco1BFG said:

We have a PAYG sim card from a stand in the local newsagent - choice of networks - all sims were a quid. most included a few mins to get you going for the money too....
Then chose the deal from the operators website, and bobs your auntie or something like that

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Worth bearing in mind. I'm planning on just picking their brains this weekend, but it'll be worth mentioning that cos they'll have to try and better it.

Well, Carphone Warehouse didn't come up with the goods!
They now only do monthly 'bundled' SIM cards. ie a bundle of texts, calls and data that needs to be topped up by a tenner per month. If you don't top up you lose what was on it! They said I would have to look at the SIM cards the different network providers offer.

Giff Gaff online do one for £5 a month, I have one for my caravan alarm. I've been googaling why there is a delay in some texts and it makes for some interesting reading, some of which I will try when I finally get my gps system, but basically the web suggests shutting your phone down for at least 10 seconds every couple of days.

I have the standard O2 card in mine. I chuck a tenner on it every few months but only because it sometimes sends me strange texts when it thunders and the like. Other than that it only costs me when I call it up for a position text and it always replys within seconds.

John03 said:

Giff Gaff online do one for £5 a month, I have one for my caravan alarm. I've been googaling why there is a delay in some texts and it makes for some interesting reading, some of which I will try when I finally get my gps system, but basically the web suggests shutting your phone down for at least 10 seconds every couple of days.

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Just looked at those online.

Bobsticle said:

I have the standard O2 card in mine. I chuck a tenner on it every few months but only because it sometimes sends me strange texts when it thunders and the like. Other than that it only costs me when I call it up for a position text and it always replys within seconds.

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Does that run out at any point if you don't put anything on it?

Al2O3 said:

Just looked at those online.


Does that run out at any point if you don't put anything on it?

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It has run out of credit in the past but straight back on when topped up. Same as the old pay as you go. I got it from the O2 shop but the chap didnt know if it would work with a tracker but had sold several for that purpose without any returns. It did work fine.

Bobsticle said:

It has run out of credit in the past but straight back on when topped up. Same as the old pay as you go. I got it from the O2 shop but the chap didnt know if it would work with a tracker but had sold several for that purpose without any returns. It did work fine.

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That sounds good too. I'm reading the GiffGaff forum at the moment. Their SIMS appear to run out after 6 months if you don't top them up, need to read more though. Where I live coverage is an issue too, so I need to research that. At the minute it's O2 and GiffGaff looking best.

Al2O3 said:

That sounds good too. I'm reading the GiffGaff forum at the moment. Their SIMS appear to run out after 6 months if you don't top them up, need to read more though. Where I live coverage is an issue too, so I need to research that. At the minute it's O2 and GiffGaff looking best.

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dont quote me but I think giff gaff use the O2 network so should be covered

John03 said:

dont quote me but I think giff gaff use the O2 network so should be covered

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I checked the coverage on their website and it says it gives 2g up here which is ok for texts and email it reckons. That should be ok.
I've just had a 'chat' with a Vodafone rep on their website. You can get a free SIM from them and top up whenever you like. All you have to do is send one text or a bit of data from it every 90 days to keep the number active.

Al2O3 said:

I checked the coverage on their website and it says it gives 2g up here which is ok for texts and email it reckons. That should be ok.
I've just had a 'chat' with a Vodafone rep on their website. You can get a free SIM from them and top up whenever you like. All you have to do is send one text or a bit of data from it every 90 days to keep the number active.

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well thats pretty good as yer probably on average likely to send it a text at least once a week just to check how quick it responds and that it still works

Hi John03, I've just bought one of the trackers off Amazon. Arrives Tuesday. Had to take the plunge with something.

Al2O3 said:

Hi John03, I've just bought one of the trackers off Amazon. Arrives Tuesday. Had to take the plunge with something.

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mine should arrive the same time as well, think its worth it as long as I can figure out how thief's know were in a vehicle the trackers are and how they can jam them. Ex RAF ground radio engineer so I might be able to build something to warm of possible mobile phone jamming.......might be.....maybe

John03 said:

mine should arrive the same time as well, think its worth it as long as I can figure out how thief's know were in a vehicle the trackers are and how they can jam them. Ex RAF ground radio engineer so I might be able to build something to warm of possible mobile phone jamming.......might be.....maybe

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warn not warm dam dyslexic c***

John03 said:

mine should arrive the same time as well, think its worth it as long as I can figure out how thief's know were in a vehicle the trackers are and how they can jam them. Ex RAF ground radio engineer so I might be able to build something to warm of possible mobile phone jamming.......might be.....maybe

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Now those skills sound very handy! I'll be all ears when you start fitting it.