Seeking advice on a GPS vehicle tracker
Assembled cognoscenti; I am thinking of installing a GPS vehicle tracker; mostly with the hope that I can know if someone is, breaking into my vehicle; I can notify the police..... rather than track it after has been stolen. ! Just to give clearer idea of the problem and to forestall already discarded ideas: -the vehicle is a 1994 Mitsubishi Starwagon 4WD with no remote locking -it now has an after market engine immobiliser fitted -recently someone made a fairly determined attempt to steal the vehicle; (as contrasted with previous breakins where they just took stuff) -unfortunately it is parked in undercover parking which is extremely insecure, and too far away to set up a wifi camera; perhaps 50m away downstairs and around a corner ! To get an idea of the devices I am considering here is one from Jaycar costing $229: https://www.jaycar.com.au/4g-gps-vehicle-tracker/p/LA9038?utm_campaign=redir... here is another $250- $300 depending on source https://www.eva4x4.com.au/products/idrive-livetrack-gps-tracker This later one uses an Android app "iCar Advanced GPS tracker_v3.0.2_apkpure.com.apk" ; (which I have installed in an old Samsung Galaxy SII) but it seems to want to use Google for some kind of authentication. I really don't like Google and would prefer a solution which doesn't involve them; any suggestions eg should I be looking for a device which allows an open-source apk ? or will they all use proprietary apps ? thanks Rohan McLeod
Rohan McLeod via luv-talk wrote:
Assembled cognoscenti;
I am thinking of installing a GPS vehicle tracker; mostly with the hope that I can know if someone is, breaking into my vehicle; I can notify the police..... rather than track it after has been stolen. !
Just to give clearer idea of the problem and to forestall already discarded ideas: -the vehicle is a 1994 Mitsubishi Starwagon 4WD with no remote locking -it now has an after market engine immobiliser fitted
My first thought was "maybe you could just take the steering wheel or distributor cap away with you when you leave the vehicle". But this is an extremely fiddly process nowadays -- the steering wheel airbag has a battery backup unit and will detonate on shock, so it's basically an landmine. I wonder if you can load a bad program to the ECU over canbus to effectively lock out the ignition until you come back and load a good program back in. 1994 might be too old for EFI.
Trent W. Buck wrote:
Rohan McLeod via luv-talk wrote:
Assembled cognoscenti;
I am thinking of installing a GPS vehicle tracker; mostly with the hope that I can know if someone is, breaking into my vehicle; I can notify the police..... rather than track it after has been stolen. !
Just to give clearer idea of the problem and to forestall already discarded ideas: -the vehicle is a 1994 Mitsubishi Starwagon 4WD with no remote locking -it now has an after market engine immobiliser fitted My first thought was "maybe you could just take the steering wheel or distributor cap away with you when you leave the vehicle". But this is an extremely fiddly process nowadays -- the steering wheel airbag has a battery backup unit and will detonate on shock, so it's basically an landmine.
I wonder if you can load a bad program to the ECU over canbus to effectively lock out the ignition until you come back and load a good program back in. 1994 might be too old for EFI.
Thanks for suggestions Trent - the vehicle is way before airbags so that wouldn't be a problem; but while removing steering wheel, distributor-cap.... even .a wheel ? " is possible; would be far too inconvenient for normal use. - yes I suspect too old for EFI or at least programmable EFI; I did consider a wifi camera system but the distance and obstacles would mean some kind of repeater would be required; also the landlord might not allow me to mount such. There is actually a CCTV system in place but the police are hampered by lack of a precise break-in time; this is my fault because the narrowest time slot I can be certain of is 29 hours ! As mentioned I will probably go with a GPS tracker of some sort. I am as mentioned phobic about Google ! (yes I know extremely eccentric !) -but am prepared to make do with the GPS tracker app on an old Galaxy SII; until my Librem5 (Evergreen) arrives later this month (we live in hope :-)); What I am hoping to find is a GPS tracker with an Android app; which doesn't additionally use Google authentication ! regards Rohan McLeod North Melbourne
participants (2)
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Rohan McLeod -
Trent W. Buck