Tracker

[Storer]

Anybody fitted a SmarTrack tracker or have experience of their product?


Paul

[hedgefinder]

do you seriously need one on an ultima?

[Storer]

If you want to insure it for anything like the cost of replacement/repairs, then yes.

These days most insurers want a tracking device for anything over £40k.......... and as we know these cars cost way more than that to build (or rebuild).

Off to Le Mans next month so it would be rather unwise not to be fully insured.



Paul

[F.C.]

Nope,
Toad fitted to mine.
works amazingly well, never fail to call if I disconnect the battery or such

[3Dee]

F.C. said:

Nope,
Toad fitted to mine.
works amazingly well, never fail to call if I disconnect the battery or such

hang on..... err.... so if the battery is disconnected that no signal and not tracking?

So some scrote can low-load it - disconnect battery and have a nice early xmas present?

Arn't these things backed up with some aux battery or summat for say 30 mins or so?

I know nothing about these things which is why I ask!

[pilbeam_mp62]

3Dee said:

I know nothing about these things which is why I ask!

Read F.C.' s. post carefully........It calls IF you disconnect the battery...............

[3Dee]

pilbeam_mp62 said:

Read F.C.' s. post carefully........It calls IF you disconnect the battery...............

Yeah, I know, but if said scrote did this, then he could be away a good few miles (in any direction) with his enclosed trailer, before any action took place, especially if the owner is miles away from the car?

Just wondered if these units have some ability to transmit for a while if the battery is disconnected, as I can see this as a bit of a problem? ..or is this not a problem?
I am going to have to get one for insurance purposes, and I am trying to work out which one.

[hedgefinder]

I have always been asked if I had one fitted, but never forced to have one. then again never had to claim, so may be something worth looking into..

[F.C.]

3Dee said:

Yeah, I know, but if said scrote did this, then he could be away a good few miles (in any direction) with his enclosed trailer, before any action took place, especially if the owner is miles away from the car?

Just wondered if these units have some ability to transmit for a while if the battery is disconnected, as I can see this as a bit of a problem? ..or is this not a problem?
I am going to have to get one for insurance purposes, and I am trying to work out which one.

Err no.
The tracker will activate with power loss, movement of more than ten feet (covered or not) if the immobiliser is not de-activated Via Plip.
These trackers have Sat Nav and GSM positioning and dialling.
Wouldn't be much point if they didn't work independently of vehicle power.
I have pushed my car around with the ignition off and immobiliser activated and received a call within 30 seconds!!
There is a maintenance mode but the call centre still call to check that this has been activated and for how long the maintenance is scheduled to take.

[3Dee]

F.C. said:

Wouldn't be much point if they didn't work independently of vehicle power.

I suppose that is what I was trying to assess - don't they, do they and how long approx!

[Storer]

I have a Toad alarm/immobiliser (another insurance requirement) so it may be a good idea to get a Toad tracker especially if the plipper will work both.

A good tracker will even be detectable inside a container as they send out various signals and not just satellite/mobile.

Trackers are big business these days. Most new tractors and trucks have them on from new.


Paul

[3Dee]

Storer said:

I have a Toad alarm/immobiliser (another insurance requirement) so it may be a good idea to get a Toad tracker especially if the plipper will work both.

A good tracker will even be detectable inside a container as they send out various signals and not just satellite/mobile.

Trackers are big business these days. Most new tractors and trucks have them on from new.


Paul

So do I as it happens Paul! I will take a look. Ta!

[ezakimak]

3Dee said:

hang on..... err.... so if the battery is disconnected that no signal and not tracking?

So some scrote can low-load it - disconnect battery and have a nice early xmas present?

Arn't these things backed up with some aux battery or summat for say 30 mins or so?

I know nothing about these things which is why I ask!

It would not be too hard to configure a secondary battery for the tracker that is connected to car electrical system once the engine is on/trickle charger for charging purposes of the aux battery.
If well hidden then said thief would think that they had disconnected the tracker by disabling the main battery and would be non the wiser that the tracker system is still functioning.

If wired through a relay with some diodes it would completely disconnect itself from the electrical system of the car once the battery is disconnected. Might need to rig up a small very low current inverter to drive an AC signal and isolating transformer to insure that the backup battery was not capable of holding up the relay once it was disconnected.

[3Dee]

ezakimak said:

It would not be too hard to configure a secondary battery for the tracker that is connected to car electrical system once the engine is on/trickle charger for charging purposes of the aux battery.
If well hidden then said thief would think that they had disconnected the tracker by disabling the main battery and would be non the wiser that the tracker system is still functioning.

If wired through a relay with some diodes it would completely disconnect itself from the electrical system of the car once the battery is disconnected. Might need to rig up a small very low current inverter to drive an AC signal and isolating transformer to insure that the backup battery was not capable of holding up the relay once it was disconnected.

Howdy Ryan!

Sounds useful, but you lost me after the first sentence (not difficult to do, cos of my advanced age!)
Can you make one? might be interested!

[356Speedster]

Chaps, I think you're over thinking this! Any good tracker will have it's own internal battery that'll last for days / weeks, so if the car's main battery is cut, the tracker sees this and calls "Panic". Likewise they'll call panic if they detect movement without the ignition running...... I've fallen foul of both of these scenarios, because I forgot to put the tracker into maintenance mode beforehand, LOL!!

I think most people know the main manufacturers like Toad, Cobra, Tracker, etc, but there are also some other options out there now... I saw this a while ago and thought it was quite nifty: http://back2you.com/store/product_info.cfm?product... It's affordable, there's no annual fee and can be configured in any number of ways, via txt msg & an iPhone app. Of course it's not Thatcham approved, but it looks like an interesting alternative.

[chucknorris]

I thought i would add another angle to this thread and an important point for anyone in the middle of a build. I haven't quite finished my CanAm yet (only the engine to fit now) but a while back i thought i would enquire about insurance during the build and for when she's finally on the road. The insurance company informed me that i MUST get a Thatcham approved immobiliser AND a Tracker or they wouldn't insure the car. So it seems a Tracker is not even an option these days.
So i got a reputable dealer to install the parts during the build so that they could be properly hidden and it's now fitted and ready to rock, apart from the Tracker which is installed but not activated. If you're still building the car this is a very important thing to mention to the installer BEFORE they come out as you may find they won't do it. Luckily i found a dealer who was happy to install it now and come back later to commission it (at no extra cost!) as apparently i would be setting off false alarms every time i mess about with disconnecting the battery during the engine install.
I did also have to inform Tracker themselves that the car is still under construction and that i didn't want them to start my contract with them just yet...P.S. Forgive me if i don't mention where the car is whilst the Tracker's not connected... you never know who's reading this

Edited by chucknorris on Friday 24th May 11:29

[Steve_D]

356Speedster said:

Chaps, I think you're over thinking this! Any good tracker will have it's own internal battery that'll last for days / weeks, so if the car's main battery is cut, the tracker sees this and calls "Panic". Likewise they'll call panic if they detect movement without the ignition running...... I've fallen foul of both of these scenarios, because I forgot to put the tracker into maintenance mode beforehand, LOL!!

I think most people know the main manufacturers like Toad, Cobra, Tracker, etc, but there are also some other options out there now... I saw this a while ago and thought it was quite nifty: http://back2you.com/store/product_info.cfm?product... It's affordable, there's no annual fee and can be configured in any number of ways, via txt msg & an iPhone app. Of course it's not Thatcham approved, but it looks like an interesting alternative.

As you say any tracker system will have its own battery supply.
If the insurance company require one fitted then they will require it fitted by an approved installer who in turn will not allow you to mess about with its power supply.
Only fit one if you have too. I don't believe there has ever been an Ultima stolen.

Steve

[356Speedster]

Steve_D said:

As you say any tracker system will have its own battery supply.
If the insurance company require one fitted then they will require it fitted by an approved installer who in turn will not allow you to mess about with its power supply.
Only fit one if you have too. I don't believe there has ever been an Ultima stolen.

Steve

Yup! When I was calling around for insurance the responses I got were 50/50 regarding trackers. I was even able to have sensible conversations with a few of them on the Cat1 alarm / immobiliser, as regards installation. During the build, I've installed a completely custom keyless ignition loom and built the Cat1 alarm directly into it. The whole loom was then trunked up to the point that I'll probably never be able to undo it, let alone a thief!! The insurance company I've gone with saw this as better than having a Thatcham installer certificate

Of course, this doesn't stop someone with a low-loader taking it away and that's where a battery-backed up tracker comes into it's own.

[F.C.]

chucknorris said:

So it seems a Tracker is not even an option these days.

Edited by chucknorris on Friday 24th May 11:29

Tracker are not required if you value the car at less than £40K (normally) or insure third party only.
I'm beginning to think third party is probably ok, as has been said before, no recorded theft of an Ultima ever!

[Steve_D]

Also remember you will need an immobiliser for IVA.

You can fit this yourself however if it is also an alarm you will have to produce an installation certificate from an MESF accredited installer or a Thatcham Recognised Installer proving it complies with Thatcham Catagory 1.

Steve