Interest Check: GPS Tracker Hardware

**Rowan** · 12-04-2008, 04:20 PM

Well, yes and no - those drivers are what we use, but all they do it add the USB endpoint channels, they're just drivers not software or anything. We have to have software to open up /dev/ttyUSBx to get GPS information, create data channels and whatever else is needed. It's like saying you add the drivers in windows and they know how to get to the internet, it doesn't work like that you still need some software to control the device. For example, in Windows Sierra provides a program called "Watcher" which uses the windows sierra drivers to control the card. Because each card is slightly different and has different protocols on different USB channels it needs to be modified for each card. For example, on the 8775V it had 3 USB endpoint channels, the first for setting up the card, the second for data and the third for GPS. The 8790V has 6, with 5 being for GPS and so on.. It also had a different format for sending and receiving SMS's, so that had to be modified to work with that card.

**Blues** · 12-04-2008, 05:19 PM

Will it work with 8792V too? This card supports 900 MHz UMTS instead of 850 MHz. The 900 MHz band is expected to be used for UMTS besides GSM in Europe soon. There has already been a number of hearings in EU about using some of the 900 MHz band for UMTS because it offers longer reach than the 2100 MHz UMTS band in use today. This is a good thing in areas with low population which can get better coverage with fewer masts.

**Rowan** · 12-04-2008, 05:26 PM

Yes, it should work straight away with the 8792V. The following cards should all work with the software we've got at the moment: MC8775, MC8775V, MC8780, MC8781, MC8790, MC8790V, MC8791V, MC8792V

**Blues** · 12-05-2008, 01:45 AM

MC8791V ? I couldn't find any info about this model on their website, is this a new model not released yet?

Anyway, where can one buy MC8790V or MC8792V and what's the price?
I can find several places selling MC8775V, bu noone selling MC8790V or MC8792V.

**Rowan** · 12-05-2008, 02:04 AM

Not sure about the 8791V, that list is from their datasheet that look to be compatible with our software.

We get them from an OEM supplier. The latest price we got for the 8790V was $180USD. Remembering that they come with built-in GPS. Pretty cheap when you compare it to places like this selling them http://www.ow.com.au/shop/ULTRA-Mobi...-Modem-MC8775V

**Blues** · 12-05-2008, 05:53 AM

Will A-GPS (Assisted GPS) be supported by your GPS Tracker device?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS

**Rowan** · 12-05-2008, 06:13 AM

I believe the later cards (8790 etc) have gpsOne built in, which allows us to select 3 different modes of getting a fix:
<fixType> (Type of fix to establish)
• 1—Standalone (not supported by a mobile station)
• 2—MS-based only
• 3—MS-assisted only
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GpsOne

**4LEDboy** · 12-05-2008, 06:16 AM

sounds like a good unit Rowan, can't wait to purchase one

**mrbean_phillip** · 12-24-2008, 05:28 PM

@ Rowan:

Blessed Festive Season

So, how's things with this going?

**Rowan** · 01-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Hi, going good waiting for manufacturing places to open up again on the 5th so we can sort out casing options!

We have kind of fixed up our website, iclogix.com.au - Brochure for the tracking unit can be found by hovering over Products, Brochures and selecting LC2-TX

It can do more than what's described in the brochure, of course