Car theft prevention and locator

[CobraDan]

[Cobra #3170]

I built a device last year that works with a throw away type cell phone, it uses infrared motion detection and switch triggering to activate. It calls me on my cell phone and then I can either respond with .460 S&W in hand or call the police or both. I find that I sleep much better when my beloved Cobra is in the Hotel parking lot in it's trailer waiting to call me if disturbed. The unit uses a PIC
micro processor and infrared motion sensor. Throw-away phone service is about $7 a month. Total parts cost retail was about $20, I tried to get several manufacturing companies interested but nobody thought it was marketable.

[PDUB]

Sounds cool! Which pic? MicroChip has some great lines. Got a schematic and parts list?

I remember when I was doing board-level design work, I used to talk with an applications engineer there who sounded exactly like me... it was really wild and freaky feeling like I was talking to myself! I can't remember his name, but I recall he went to RIT... go figure.

[lal Naja]

Check out this on on ebay. All you have to do is buy a SIM card and you can monitor this on your computer or Iphone. Price seams very reasonable too.

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Anyone/everyone with an understanding of this technology please comment. Seems like a great item that we all should have built into our toys.

Looking forward to the comments! Thanks, Arthur

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by lal Naja

Check out this on on ebay. All you have to do is buy a SIM card and you can monitor this on your computer or Iphone. Price seams very reasonable too.

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Anyone/everyone with an understanding of this technology please comment. Seems like a great item that we all should have built into our toys.

Looking forward to the comments! Thanks, Arthur

Thats basically the system us car dealers use, ours is just a little more sofisticated, cause you can real time track and google gps, so if your cobra its at a house, the computer will show you that specific picture of that house on the map, Im putting up info on these just need to see if they are available to the public. Also has a kill switch feature that can be diasabled with your cell phone.

[lal Naja]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Thats basically the system us car dealers use, ours is just a little more sofisticated, cause you can real time track and google gps, so if your cobra its at a house, the computer will show you that specific picture of that house on the map, Im putting up info on these just need to see if they are available to the public. Also has a kill switch feature that can be diasabled with your cell phone.

Looks like this will do real time tracking too but it does not mention google. On the sellers website it shows street map and satellite view too.

What is the system you have? can yo post info?

Thanks, Arthur

[fordracing65]

I believe all the tracking systems are similar, mine have a kill switch option where I can shut down the car with my cell phone when it has been started or moved it will notify. And google maps powers my units, I will post info soon.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

I believe all the tracking systems are similar, mine have a kill switch option where I can shut down the car with my cell phone when it has been started or moved it will notify. And google maps powers my units, I will post info soon.

Thank you, many eyes are watching that and like to know too...

[scaffold]

park it where you can see it and carry a gun. works for me

[392cobra]

Garmin just emailed me some info on a new product they are selling.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=67686

"GTU 10 is a GPS locator that combines a web-based tracking service with GPS technology so you can keep watch on children, pets and property. Tracking the GTU can be done on the web using any computer or by downloading the free Garmin Tracker app. If your phone can receive text messages or email, you can use GTU."

"Using your computer or mobile device, you can also:
Create up to 10 geofences (virtual boundaries) for your device. When your GTU 10 enters or exits a geofence, we can send you an email or text message notification.
View track history of where your GTU 10 has been.
Customize device settings for optimal performance, including low battery/powered off notifications to let you know when it’s time to recharge or when the device has been turned off."

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by PDUB

Sounds cool! Which pic? MicroChip has some great lines. Got a schematic and parts list?

I remember when I was doing board-level design work, I used to talk with an applications engineer there who sounded exactly like me... it was really wild and freaky feeling like I was talking to myself! I can't remember his name, but I recall he went to RIT... go figure.

I used a PIC 16F84-A and spent about two months developing 800 lines of assembly code to assess each event and not trigger on false alarms. I also had about 6 Beta units out in the field to look for problems that had to be addressed. My approach was to be warned while within shall we say ballistic range of my car and trailer to avoid a theft in the first place. A GPS enabled phone could be used with the device I suppose if tracking was desired. I was just trying to make something that could sell for under $50 and not incur a large monthly alarm fee. Although this sounds selfish I really don't want to share the design and software because of all the effort that went into it.
I set one up with its own charger in our vacation house that will alert me since we don't have a phone there, but we do have cell service. The plan would be to call the police if it is triggered there.

[PDUB]

No prob... I fully understand. I hadn't thought about that.

[SpecOp1]

Waiting to see future posts...thanks