Trackers... "DIY"
Discussion
triple5 said:
CAPP0 said:
What did you have to do?
Also (to others):
- where did the £15 unit come from?
- did it have detailed manuals with it?
- did that seller offer the hardwiring kit?
Thanks!
Was a while ago now and I don't have them anymore, I think it just took time to set up all the options and the stockade coordinates, well worth the effort in the end though.Also (to others):
- where did the £15 unit come from?
- did it have detailed manuals with it?
- did that seller offer the hardwiring kit?
Thanks!
Dave. said:
I'm still using a giffgaff sim, put £20 on it (as credit, not a goodybag).
Info is sent via that app on android.
Thanks for the fast response - is the app the GPSLive?Info is sent via that app on android.
One other question, just tried to test a 12v>5v hard wire adapter on a car battery but the hard wire box/resistor popped and smells burned out. Have you got a recommendation for hardwiring the unit in?
I was thinking a separate 5v battery pack in case these hardwire modules are a bit flaky.
Still using 3 regularly and fairly reliable (need the odd reboot). Mine are all official rewire ones with livegps subscription (was free when I bought them) and giffgaff sim, very cheap to run.
I spent ages rewriting the manual with complete instructions - it's in this thread somewhere if you look back, should answer most queries.
I spent ages rewriting the manual with complete instructions - it's in this thread somewhere if you look back, should answer most queries.
Quick question for all with experience, I've now had three Tk104's, the first one packed up completely, and the second and third now won't hold a charge on the battery - in sleep mode they use to last approximately two months.
Next stage I'm guessing is to hard wire them but has anyone else experience this? I really can't see any alternatives other than the subscription based ones.
With the giffgaff sim card it's a cost effective way of running them.
Cheers
Next stage I'm guessing is to hard wire them but has anyone else experience this? I really can't see any alternatives other than the subscription based ones.
With the giffgaff sim card it's a cost effective way of running them.
Cheers
acme said:
the second and third now won't hold a charge on the battery...Next stage I'm guessing is to hard wire them but has anyone else experience this?
As I posted yesterday, my 12v hardwire kit burned out as soon as I connected it to a car battery as a test. I split the box open and what looks like a FET is definitely charred.Now I'm using an 'always on' external battery bank. It's powering the TK and it's responding to SMS. It's a Voltaic V15. They're not that cheap and I don't even know how long it will last but the mAh will be accurate as it's a good quality battery bank and a dependable brand. Can be switched out of always on.
https://www.voltaicsystems.com/v15
ReverendCounter said:
As I posted yesterday, my 12v hardwire kit burned out as soon as I connected it to a car battery as a test. I split the box open and what looks like a FET is definitely charred.
Now I'm using an 'always on' external battery bank. It's powering the TK and it's responding to SMS. It's a Voltaic V15. They're not that cheap and I don't even know how long it will last but the mAh will be accurate as it's a good quality battery bank and a dependable brand. Can be switched out of always on.
https://www.voltaicsystems.com/v15
Thanks for the reply. So you're not sure how long it will run for? I have an external battery too so might have to try this. It's just a pain in the backside that something that cost circa 50 quid just doesn't last!Now I'm using an 'always on' external battery bank. It's powering the TK and it's responding to SMS. It's a Voltaic V15. They're not that cheap and I don't even know how long it will last but the mAh will be accurate as it's a good quality battery bank and a dependable brand. Can be switched out of always on.
https://www.voltaicsystems.com/v15
acme said:
Thanks for the reply. So you're not sure how long it will run for? I have an external battery too so might have to try this. It's just a pain in the backside that something that cost circa 50 quid just doesn't last!
It's not looking as good I'd hoped. Put the tracker+battery in the car yesterday afternoon, 4 LEDs on the pack indicate fully charged, Checked today mid day and the battery pack is down to 3 LEDs.Let's say thats approx 20 hours per LED = 80hrs run time between charges at a guess.
If you look at the IMEI number, if it contains 8707 after the first few digits, you've got a clone (like mine).
Apparently the difference between clone and a copy is the clone is the same as the original but rebranded, and a copy is a lesser spec, lower cost version, according to a site I visited.
I've managed to reformat, reboot and reset mine, enter a new password etc, new apn etc. Seems to be working a little too well because it keeps texting me every three minutes.
This is with the same external battery pack I mentioned earlier so I'll keep an eye on battery drain over the next two days. The date and time is now bang on so it's just a case of getting on top of the one-every-3-min gps co-ordinates texts.
Apparently the difference between clone and a copy is the clone is the same as the original but rebranded, and a copy is a lesser spec, lower cost version, according to a site I visited.
I've managed to reformat, reboot and reset mine, enter a new password etc, new apn etc. Seems to be working a little too well because it keeps texting me every three minutes.
This is with the same external battery pack I mentioned earlier so I'll keep an eye on battery drain over the next two days. The date and time is now bang on so it's just a case of getting on top of the one-every-3-min gps co-ordinates texts.
Just to update this, the settings (or something) on my tracker are way out - it ate through a £10 top up in about two days and flattened the external battery in the same time.
Seems it has been sending out data non stop. Giffgaff kindly credited me with a £10 goodybag so at least I can access a month's use of data before I top up with credit, once I'm on top of the data settings.
Seems it has been sending out data non stop. Giffgaff kindly credited me with a £10 goodybag so at least I can access a month's use of data before I top up with credit, once I'm on top of the data settings.
Just bought 1 of these for £24 on offer down from £40. Seems to have good reviews. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D7RMD3T
Don't have a car that is likely to be targetted but seemed worth £24 (incl. 1 years data) for a bit of fun & peace of mind (although if thieves look in the console & realise that it isn't just an USB adapter then it will of course be rapidly dumped).
Don't have a car that is likely to be targetted but seemed worth £24 (incl. 1 years data) for a bit of fun & peace of mind (although if thieves look in the console & realise that it isn't just an USB adapter then it will of course be rapidly dumped).
Edited by Heidfirst on Thursday 4th April 18:35
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