tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2014:/blog/tom-keating//4/tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17- 2014-03-29T00:54:06Z Comments for GPS Wish List VoIP & Gadgets blog - Latest news in VoIP & gadgets, wireless, mobile phones, reviews, & opinions Movable Type 4.38 tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17 2004-04-12T13:56:42Z 2007-06-03T18:44:00Z GPS Wish List In my last blog entry, I mentioned I would discuss a GPS wishlist. First a backgrounder. I had to disable my Mitsubishi 3000GT's after-market alarm system (with an engine cut off switch) because both remote controls died. One died because... Tom Keating http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/ In my last blog entry, I mentioned I would discuss a GPS wishlist. First a backgrounder. I had to disable my Mitsubishi 3000GT's after-market alarm system (with an engine cut off switch) because both remote controls died.

One died because it got wet (fell in a lake) and the other just died for no reason. Of course the company went out of business, so I couldn't order replacement remotes.

The whole point of my spending $600 in 1995 was for piece of mind that this alarm had an engine cutoff switch making it harder to steal the car. So i was none to happy when I had to disable it.

I thought about installing LoJack but the car today isn't worth spending the amount of money that Lojack costs.

But it got me thinking. Why can't I just use inexpensive GPS technology to know if my car is being stolen? I already have GPS installed in my car via an iPaq Pocket PC, why not leverage that? I mean after all, FEDEX trucks and other vehicles already use GPS vehicle tracking technology. Wouldn't it be great if I could be sitting in a ballpark watching a game and if someone moves my car I would immediately receive a page, SMS, or email on my cell phone or PDA?

I knew the technology existed, but figured it would be prohibitively expensive. I did some preliminary research to see if such a product does exist for the common man.

I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that PowerLoc, the same company that makes my favorite PocketPC-based GPS software Destinator makes a GPS-tracking device.

They have 2 models - the VLD 101 and the VLD 201, with the same feature-set except the 201 has a motion sensor with alarm notification - exactly what I was looking for!

Other features include:
- Stolen Vehicle Tracking/Notification - Set and disable tracking parameters over the Internet
- Stolen Shutdown Service - Immobilize the vehicle's starter if your vehicle is moved or stolen
- Geofence Notification - An "invisible boundary" sets as a circle around the VLD. If the vehicle is moved outside of the Geofence, an SMS (Short Message Service) or e-mail emergency alert will be sent to the pre-determined recipients.

And here's an interesting one:
- Valet Button - Vehicle owner may press this button to set a 2-kilometer radius around the vehicle's current location. If the vehicle is moved outside of the set boundary, an alarm will sound. If it is not deactivated within16 seconds, an SMS or e-mail alert will be sent to the pre-determined recipients.

Unfortunately, the pricetag is $679. I assume of the reasons is that this product has a built-in cellular antenna that uses the nationwide Cellemetry network. I'm not sure if you have to "subscribe" to Cellemetry and pay a monthly fee as well.

As much as I love gadgets, and as cool as vehicle tracking would be, I'm too cheap to spend $679 for it. Call me cheap I guess. Alas, I will wait for the day for ubiquitous WiFi coverage. Then I can use my existing GPS receiver and existing PocketPC w/ GPS software for real-time vehicle tracking and monitoring over the Internet.

]]> tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:76 Comment from samuel king on 2004-05-22 samuel king does know how to disable 'GPS' system in an Isuzu (Axiom)SUV, and where it is located to help me disble it since it controls my key lock, and I will like to install a security system to it.
Thanks for your assistance.

]]> 2004-05-22T20:08:27Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:79 Comment from frank on 2004-05-26 frank Dear Sir,
Our company is a Chinese hi-tech enterprise specializing in design and manufacture of GPS ACTIVE ANTENNA, GPS+GSM ANTENNA, GPS PASSIVE ANTENNA, GPS NAVAGATION ANTENNA etc..
If you are interested in our products, please contact us and we would like to send you some pictures and description of our products, specifications and price list.
We would like to devise related products for you. We are looking forward to your feedback.
best regards
Frank li
Vice-President (Sales and R&D)
JINCHANG ELECTRON CO.,LTD.
Address:Jiashan Highway 1897# Jiashan ,Zhejiang China
Tel:+86-573-2960608
Fax:+86-573-4669586
E-MAIL: li2002726@163.COM OR sizuo@126.com

]]> 2004-05-26T09:01:13Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:96 Comment from Alexander on 2004-06-20 Alexander http://www.trackyourtruck.com TrackYourTruck is an Internet-based Vehicle tracking and dispatch service provider and provides 30 feets location accuracy with 2 minutes updates interval.

]]> 2004-06-20T20:48:33Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:108 Comment from vehicle tracking on 2004-07-15 vehicle tracking http://www.3rd-eye.info vehicle tracking is the process by which vehicles are tracked by managers, fleet managers, and personal vehicle tracking users. By tracking your vehicles (or your 'assets') it is said that you can cut down on costs, by eliminating employee down time, and making sure that working hours reflect contractual agreements. So not only is vehicle tracking being used to pinpoint vehicle locations, it is also being used as an integral part of cost leadership strategies.

]]> 2004-07-15T11:46:20Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:1576 Comment from jeff on 2005-01-30 jeff http://www.geocities.com/oxcarz12/ check out
http://www.geocities.com/oxcarz12/
If you are willing to set up a WIndows XP IIS server, this is a very stable, FREE way to get real-time tracking using your pocketPC, GPS, and cellphone. I stick my pocketPC and bluetooth GPS receiver in my wife's car, and track her all day long. It sends position reports to the server every 30 seconds (while she is moving) via her bluetooth GPRS cellphone. I can see where she is in real time from any web browser.

]]> 2005-01-31T02:57:54Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:2158 Comment from Alexander on 2005-05-07 Alexander http://www.trackyourtruck.com Check out http://www.trackyourtruck.com. A lot of features, 2 minutes updates, web based interface for vehicle tracking.

]]> 2005-05-07T13:25:20Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:2518 Comment from George on 2005-07-06 George MobileGuardian is a GPS tracking system that operates on the Cellemetry network and has no monthly fees. www.mymobileguardian.com

]]> 2005-07-06T16:25:14Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:4959 Comment from PhantomEye on 2006-01-19 PhantomEye http://www.phantomeye.com PhantomEye worldwide location tracking service provide you with mobile phone access to locate your vehicle, geofencing, motion alerts, speed alerts and driver fatigue.
For more information look at www.phantomeye.com

]]> 2006-01-19T09:16:25Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:29200 Comment from cs on 2007-09-12 cs I recently bought tracking gps' for my 6 trucks at www.ggppss.com. I just log into my PC at work and wamo... There they all are on a map....It's great. Cheap too!

]]> 2007-09-13T01:22:26Z tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2004:/blog/tom-keating//4.17-comment:42249 Comment from Vehicle Tracking Solution on 2009-01-22 Vehicle Tracking Solution http://aryaomnitalk.com/fleet-management/vehicle-tracking-solution.html a lot of people these days choose GPS systems over expensive car security systems. Nice post.

]]> 2009-01-22T06:26:02Z