wow - questions : - have you managed to work out what the SIM card top-up costs per annum John? You have personal experience with the £12 one chris? - easy to set up and use/no hidden catches?
For the money it was a doddle. Runs on a TESCO pay n go sim Text 'Google' to it and it replies with a google Maps link and is very accurate. http://p.globalsources.com/IMAGES/PDT/SPEC/086/K1047370086.pdf
That looks great for £12 Chris, the setup looks interesting though, or is it easier than it looks in the 'instructions' !
@chrisw can you tell us anything else about it? For £12 its a no brainer! As long as it actually works!
If you know how to set up the GPRS side you can have real time tracking via a free website. There are data charges for this and you can set up the frequency of the updates to the server. I have not set this up and have it so that I can SMS the bike and it responds with a location link. You can also SMS the bike to set it to vibration so that you get an alert should the bike be moved. I bought some Superseal connectors to make the power feeds and other connections look OEM.
I was thinking the unit wouldn't pick up the GPS signal if it was hidden well on the bike? Sometimes my TomTom won't connect when its on the flippin dash of the car!!
more worried about it not being hidden enough and particularly on a bike - if it needs a 12v supply (unless I haven't grasped it properly) then power leads fairly easily found.
Think ill get one for the rsv4 - I was told last week its the most stolen bike in the uk (by my insurance company) - which I find hard to believe as theres only about 450 registered or something like that - I thought it was the blade....anyway - good find!
Looks like it comes with a feed direct from the battery - theory was to hide it in a sidepanel (under the seat seems a little obvious), under the tank would be a good place (if youre tank isn't metal) or at the front of the bike behind the headstock (that was my thought for the rsv4 as theres a little room there plus by the same any naer-do-well got that far into it hopefully they would have a boot on their throat...
I didn't think the RSV's had any spare room? Was shocked when I first saw my uncles factory. You've got space in the tyres for some air... that's about it.
Yep - its packed in there but right at the front behind the headstock theres a bit of room (the airbox is flat across the front) leaving a small triangle space in there....I think the only issue is battery drain - how long will it run for when its not on a tender....and, more to the point does it have a backup battery as im assuming "tieve's" will be will be taking notice and using counter measures (ie as soon as you knick it....pull the supply to the battery..) that kind of thing....
Really you'll need a good couple of days reserve in the tracker itself. If it has it I would run it from an ignition only source to ensure it doesn't drain the bikes battery. If it doesn't have its own battery, I would try and squeeze in your own secondary one to ensure it's not touching the bikes battery. If it works from 5v you could use an external phone battery packs for the job (one that will charge and be charged at the same time, wired to the ignition on. My USB battery pack will run a Raspberry Pi for days.
