Diy Gps Car Tracking (auto-arming)

[turbo_brian]

I have a unit coming soon that I am going to trial in my GTR, gives you tracking via GPS, contact via GSM (2g), and gives you the ability to control aspects of the car, such as locks, ignition, etc.

Will be pretty cheap, but I want to tinker with it before I go advertising it.

B.

[lee81]

Is there anything else your device can do, which can't be done on the GPS GSM unit available on the SAU GroupBuys section and EBay for around $280? This may be an easier option for others, which wont cost much more by the time you get all your different components together.

I think the only difference is how the unit arms (via polling bluetooth) - the GPS GSM unit sounds great though. In truth, if I had found such a unit about 12 months ago when I first started toying with this project, I probably would have just grabbed one of those . I only developed the software because I couldn't find something that didn't have an annual monitoring fee.

However the price can't be beaten, the Motorola phones are cheap ($40-$50 second hand these days), so total cost would be in the order of $120-$130. I was also having a look to see if there exist bluetooth activated power relays (so you could perform remote commands on your car). Sounds like the device mentioned in previous post might have that covered, would be excellent if the price is right.

[outcast777]

Just a quick question, I have ordered the Globalsat BT338 GPS reciever off ebay, and the seller told me that they don't sell that model anymore, they now sell the BT339 model, would you know if this will still be compatible with the motorola l6 and the software that you are using?

Should get the GPS reciever next week, and also should get the Motorola L6 this week( from ebay $45 incl. freight )

Will get it all setup up when i get all the stuff, and will let you know how it works.

Thanks for the hard work in putting everything together.

Can't wait to install it and put in my new R34 1999 Model GTT.(Imported June 2008, first owner)

see www.nagoyamotors.com.au for great deals on nissan skylines, recommend this dealer to anyone.

[outcast777]

Is there a way that we can install .jad or jar files on the iphone??

I need to install the GPSremote java software on my iphone.

Thanks

[outcast777]

Just started testing the unit.

This is what I currently have:

Motorola L6, HP BT308 GPS Reciever(Using for testing before i get the BT339 reciever)

Software all setup and installed in corelet mode.

I tried it at work, and i got one of my collegues at lunch time to go somewhere and call me when they stopped. I setup the resend message time to 3min. As soon as my collegue started driving around 2-3min later i got a meesage with the coordinates. I started geting corodinates every 3-4min, when he called me i did a ping, and told him where he was, and he said that its correct. So im happy that it all works great.

Will install it in my skyline very soon, and see how long it will last.

I recommend to get a vodafone prepaid sim, and get the 365day plan. No need to recharge for a whole year, only when ur credit goes low, and you can recharge online, no need to touch your phone. Plus you can check your credit online too which is great.

Thanks again for a great DIY car tracking tutorial.

One thing that I would like to see is if the software can also send a speed data. Is this possible?

Plus if the GPSremote software can be written to work with iphone.

Will let you know how i go with the install in my skyline.

[lee81]

Hi good to hear it seems to have gone smoothly, were than any bits of the install guide that had you confused (felt needed more detail?). The BT339 should work fine, I'll be interested to hear how it goes.

As an update, a little after 3 months I got the dreaded "GPS tracker offline" from my car . There's not much I can do for the BT338/Motorola L6 combo, I can only hope newer models fix this problem. In the meantime I'm content to reboot the GPS unit every 3 months after getting this notification . The most important thing is that it never goes offline without you knowing about it, which is what happens currently.

One thing that I would like to see is if the software can also send a speed data. Is this possible?

Yeah it wouldn't take much to parse the speed information sent out by the unit, I'll note it down and add this for next release.

Is there a way that we can install .jad or jar files on the iphone??

I need to install the GPSremote java software on my iphone.

I'm pretty sure the iphone cannot run java applications, unfortunately this is the only platform I know how to compile on mobile phones. I recall the iphone can be left in bluetooth discoverable mode, so at least it can be used as an arming device no problems. The GPSRemote application is *really* basic, it simply sends an SMS message on a specific port (for example, sends sms to number '0123456789:1111'). If you can find out how to get the iphone to send messages on a port, I can give you details on how to use it to perform remote queries. Maybe the default message client allows this, I just know the Motorola won't allow you the use the : character in the phone number field.

Edited October 12, 2008 by lee81

[outcast777]

So far so good, all hardware installed in my skyline and working great. The only messages I've been getting so far is the Battery low message, I think this is because the battery might be getting old on the Motorola (Bought it second hand from ebay), plus I get this message more frequently when it is a hot day.

Could you please let me know the details on how to send messages on a specific port. I will try it on my iphone and let you know if it works.

Will be waiting for your next release with speed info.

[billsy]

just digging up an old post here, but im interested in the long term outcome.

how did it all go and has there been any new development on it? ive got all the bits to try this.

[indi67]

+1 from billsy above.

Is anyone using this and/or is it still being developed as I am interested in attempting to try wit with a phone that has a built in GPS.

[lee81]

Been a while since I've checked in on this thread, but a while back I packaged all the source code up and provided comprehensive instructions on how to compile the source code. So if you have basic to intermediate level programming, you should be able to compile (and tweak/update as required), for newer model phones.

I used this succesfully for 1-2 years, main problem was when I went on holiday for a few weeks, my car battery would go flat if I forgot to disconnect it all.

gps_tracker_src_141109.zip

[Carbon 34]

only works in areas of good cell strength, right now Im on to the TIO for unresolved cell site problems in my area. shared between two telcos. line of sight , 500 meters from the tower you can only get 1 bar tops of signal, outside !!!

near the beach, no signal due to wave refraction and salt refraction in the air. the thing drops to emergency or no signal.

this is in the adelaide area not whoop whoop.

other times you get signal propagation to a cell tower 20 km away and no ability to triagulate from the tower, since it can't see your close in towers ? so its not a perfect solution but better then basics

be easier if people didn't steal cars here but thats asking to much ? lol

[Trav33]

only works in areas of good cell strength, right now Im on to the TIO for unresolved cell site problems in my area. shared between two telcos. line of sight , 500 meters from the tower you can only get 1 bar tops of signal, outside !!!

near the beach, no signal due to wave refraction and salt refraction in the air. the thing drops to emergency or no signal.

this is in the adelaide area not whoop whoop.

other times you get signal propagation to a cell tower 20 km away and no ability to triagulate from the tower, since it can't see your close in towers ? so its not a perfect solution but better then basics

be easier if people didn't steal cars here but thats asking to much ? lol

This isnt around the West Lakes Shores area is it? I've had terrible reception here.