Tracker Advice
Discussion
My car came with a Vodafone Cat 5 tracker, which has never really worked for the 4 years I have had it. I presume it was fitted by the dealer when new. It doesn't seem to pick up the driver tags and I get a call every time I use the car. I've moaned at Vodafone and they have tried to sort it out. It might work for a few months, but then the same thing happens.
My subscription is up for renewal and don't feel inclined to pay Vodafone any more money. Have I just been unlucky or are they all this unreliable? Does anyone have a recommendation for another system that works better? Should I just downgrade to a system without the driver tags?
Do you need a tracker subscription for your insurance? My tracker sub came up for renewal and I asked my insurer if I needed it (Aviva) and they said no, and no difference to the premium. So I didn't renew the tracker.
Having had a car stolen once before, recovered through tracker, and returned to me, I would have rather not seen the car again.
Having had a car stolen once before, recovered through tracker, and returned to me, I would have rather not seen the car again.
cedarheights said:
My car came with a Vodafone Cat 5 tracker, which has never really worked for the 4 years I have had it. I presume it was fitted by the dealer when new. It doesn't seem to pick up the driver tags and I get a call every time I use the car. I've moaned at Vodafone and they have tried to sort it out. It might work for a few months, but then the same thing happens.
My subscription is up for renewal and don't feel inclined to pay Vodafone any more money. Have I just been unlucky or are they all this unreliable? Does anyone have a recommendation for another system that works better? Should I just downgrade to a system without the driver tags?
Call Aston installations, get them to fit a Cobra tracker. While it's still Vodafone, it's a different piece of kit than the Aston Martin Eurowatch (then Vodafone) tracker. The cobra tracker sadly also has driver tags and no option for Bluetooth pairing.My subscription is up for renewal and don't feel inclined to pay Vodafone any more money. Have I just been unlucky or are they all this unreliable? Does anyone have a recommendation for another system that works better? Should I just downgrade to a system without the driver tags?
The original Eurowatch/vodafone tracker did not have to use Tracker tags, you could pair it with a Bluetooth device.
soofsayer said:
Do you need a tracker subscription for your insurance? My tracker sub came up for renewal and I asked my insurer if I needed it (Aviva) and they said no, and no difference to the premium. So I didn't renew the tracker.
Having had a car stolen once before, recovered through tracker, and returned to me, I would have rather not seen the car again.
Just renewed my insurance, no tracker needed .Having had a car stolen once before, recovered through tracker, and returned to me, I would have rather not seen the car again.
Aviva wanted more to renew and still insisted on the tracker remain in place and working.
Saved over £500 in total.
I have to agree with Adam - I have the Vodafone Cobra system with two fobs on my pre-owned Vantage and this was fitted by Aston during the build of my car.
I initially had some issues because Vodafone don't seem to have a decent user manual. Firstly and unknown to me, the batteries in my fobs were flat, even though I'd just reactivated the system via my supplying dealer (I won't name them here but shame on you, for the sake of a few pence). I had a chat with the Cobra support people when they called me to ask if the car was being used and they told me how to check if the fobs were live (a very, very dim periodic flash from the LED - you won't see it in daylight) and how to turn the fobs on (press the button and check the LED in cupped hands) and off (press and hold the button for a few seconds - then check the LED). I found the Vodafone people helpful and courteous.
I'll draw a veil over the time I jumped in and went to dry my brakes off after washing the car and forgot the fob.
The second issue was when I had the fob in my jacket pocket in the boot; the fob was in the same inside pocket as my wallet. Again, a courteous call asking if the car was in use and, after the swap of passwords I was told that the fobs don't like being next to credit cards and, despite your mobile phone connecting via Bluetooth when it's in the boot, the Cobra tag may not and may like to be closer to the antenna in the car. Ever since then I put the fob in my trouser pocket and haven't had an issue since.
I don't turn the fob on and off between drives - I just leave the one I'm using permanently on so it's good to go and the spare in a drawer in case I need it, turned off to save the battery.
A nice feature of the Cobra system is that about 9 months after I fitted the new batteries I got in the car with the fob in my pocket and a message came up in the car's instrument display that the battery in the tracker fob needed changing. Changing the batteries without marring the edge of the fob at the join is tricky, as the two halves of the little buggers really fit tightly together.
I initially had some issues because Vodafone don't seem to have a decent user manual. Firstly and unknown to me, the batteries in my fobs were flat, even though I'd just reactivated the system via my supplying dealer (I won't name them here but shame on you, for the sake of a few pence). I had a chat with the Cobra support people when they called me to ask if the car was being used and they told me how to check if the fobs were live (a very, very dim periodic flash from the LED - you won't see it in daylight) and how to turn the fobs on (press the button and check the LED in cupped hands) and off (press and hold the button for a few seconds - then check the LED). I found the Vodafone people helpful and courteous.
I'll draw a veil over the time I jumped in and went to dry my brakes off after washing the car and forgot the fob.
The second issue was when I had the fob in my jacket pocket in the boot; the fob was in the same inside pocket as my wallet. Again, a courteous call asking if the car was in use and, after the swap of passwords I was told that the fobs don't like being next to credit cards and, despite your mobile phone connecting via Bluetooth when it's in the boot, the Cobra tag may not and may like to be closer to the antenna in the car. Ever since then I put the fob in my trouser pocket and haven't had an issue since.
I don't turn the fob on and off between drives - I just leave the one I'm using permanently on so it's good to go and the spare in a drawer in case I need it, turned off to save the battery.
A nice feature of the Cobra system is that about 9 months after I fitted the new batteries I got in the car with the fob in my pocket and a message came up in the car's instrument display that the battery in the tracker fob needed changing. Changing the batteries without marring the edge of the fob at the join is tricky, as the two halves of the little buggers really fit tightly together.
Edited by LTP on Tuesday 23 June 14:42
Buster73 said:
Just renewed my insurance, no tracker needed .
Aviva wanted more to renew and still insisted on the tracker remain in place and working.
Saved over £500 in total.
Aviva wanted more to renew and still insisted on the tracker remain in place and working.
Saved over £500 in total.
My guess is Aviva probably require trackers just for policyholders who live in particular geographic areas, not nationwide.
When I was using Aviva, my premium with them was less than the amount which you have saved, so your risk profile must be considerably different.
My insurers wanted a tracker installed and as the subscription on my AM one was so expensive, I fitted one of these.
https://www.rewiresecurity.co.uk/gps-tracker-tk-10...
Its absolutely brilliant. you can track the vehicle in real time, it shows the history of where the vehicle has been, times, speeds and works on both GPS and GPRS systems. It installs on a PC or smart phone, is completely reliable and the company are 110% good to deal with.
My insurers accepted it and it costs £20.00 per year subs.
I now have 4 of them.
https://www.rewiresecurity.co.uk/gps-tracker-tk-10...
Its absolutely brilliant. you can track the vehicle in real time, it shows the history of where the vehicle has been, times, speeds and works on both GPS and GPRS systems. It installs on a PC or smart phone, is completely reliable and the company are 110% good to deal with.
My insurers accepted it and it costs £20.00 per year subs.
I now have 4 of them.
Jon39 said:
My guess is Aviva probably require trackers just for policyholders who live in particular geographic areas, not nationwide.
When I was using Aviva, my premium with them was less than the amount which you have saved, so your risk profile must be considerably different.
NE England
Garaged every night
SDP only
5 years NCD
5000 miles pa.
Driving for 40+ years
No convictions
Did note they had a value of £90k instead of £60 k
Thought I’d be at the lower end of the risk scale tbh.
Edited by Buster73 on Tuesday 23 June 21:24
Buster73 said:
Jon39 said:
My guess is Aviva probably require trackers just for policyholders who live in particular geographic areas, not nationwide.
When I was using Aviva, my premium with them was less than the amount which you have saved, so your risk profile must be considerably different.
NE England
Garaged every night
SDP only
5 years NCD
5000 miles pa.
Driving for 40+ years
No convictions
Did note they had a value of £90k instead of £60 k
Thought I’d be at the lower end of the risk scale tbh.
Insurers can be a mystery.
Since I left Aviva, perhaps they now insist on a tracker everywhere. Otherwise, presumably their theft experience might be bad in your particular area. As you say, your basics should indicate a good risk. Was your Aviva policy through an agent, or with Aviva Direct? That can make quite a big difference to the premium.
Anyway you have changed insurers, so lower premium now.
Loyalty no longer pays with insurance anymore.
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