Real-Time Auto Locator device

MerryMac · 11-19-2003, 04:24 PM

Hi. I'm pretty desperate. I've been looking for a real-time gps device that can help my siblings and I locate my mother's car when she gets lost driving. (She occassionally loses her way and disappears for hours at a time.) She does not suffer from dimensia, nor has she ever caused a traffic accident, but when she is expected somewhere at 3 p.m. and doesn't arrive until 9 p.m., we naturally assume the worst.

What we'd like is a simple device that we can access remotely when she is missing, that will tell us her location in real time, and that SHE does not have to operate. (She has difficulty operating a cell phone.)

We'd like to spend under $400.

Any recommendations?

fluffy2097 · 11-19-2003, 04:55 PM

lo-jack?

All of the location methods I can think of require a decent amount of skill to set up and operate.

The problem is that GPS is just a receiving system. A GPS unit is nothing more then a glorified radio.

It's very easy to set up a system that will tell the driver where they are, but if you want another person to know where you are, you need some sort of transmitting device to send your GPS data to whoever is tracking you.

Copilot live allows you to track vehicles, but she would have to have a laptop in the car, running copilot, and a cell phone connected to it, and the internet.

I'd look into stolen vehicle recovery systems, as well as something like OnStar.

Or you could just teach her to read a map. A brand new road atlas and a promise from her to use it would be your cheapest way out.

wizardPC · 11-19-2003, 08:23 PM

cheapest one I ever saw was $700

Seraph · 11-19-2003, 08:31 PM

Check your local spystore. I remember seeing one for around 200 bucks. I'll try to drop by in a couple of days to check on it.

StangBoyCIC · 11-19-2003, 08:33 PM

I saw a gps wrist tracker in the mall the other day that a certain cell phone company makes, you can call a number and it will give you lat and lon coordinates.

It is make for patrents to put on their kids wrists in case they get lost, you could put one of those in the car

Seraph · 11-19-2003, 08:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MerryMac

Hi. I'm pretty desperate. I've been looking for a real-time gps device that can help my siblings and I locate my mother's car when she gets lost driving. (She occassionally loses her way and disappears for hours at a time.) She does not suffer from dimensia, nor has she ever caused a traffic accident, but when she is expected somewhere at 3 p.m. and doesn't arrive until 9 p.m., we naturally assume the worst.

What we'd like is a simple device that we can access remotely when she is missing, that will tell us her location in real time, and that SHE does not have to operate. (She has difficulty operating a cell phone.)

We'd like to spend under $400.

Any recommendations?

ON a lighter note, are you sure she does not have a boyfriend? If you are really concerned, try tracing her in another car.

MeanGT · 11-19-2003, 08:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by StangBoyCIC

I saw a gps wrist tracker in the mall the other day that a certain cell phone company makes, you can call a number and it will give you lat and lon coordinates.

It is make for patrents to put on their kids wrists in case they get lost, you could put one of those in the car

I saw that too, I think it was in computer shopper or Popular science, anyway it looks like a big wrist watch, I think there is like a $10 monthly fee or something, but that would probably do the trick

. Just put it on the rear deck below the rear window

Naamanf · 11-19-2003, 08:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MeanGT

I saw that too, I think it was in computer shopper or Popular science, anyway it looks like a big wrist watch, I think there is like a $10 monthly fee or something, but that would probably do the trick

. Just put it on the rear deck below the rear window

The latest version of Copilot can do vehicle tracking. You do need a wirelless internet connection in the car (cellphone). You can track and send messages over the internet to the car you are trackiong.

MerryMac · 11-19-2003, 11:11 PM

Thanks for all your replies. I also considered hiding the wrist watch device in her car, until I realized that standby time was about 48 hours. I'd like something we could install and hook up to the battery.

Has anyone heard of Mobile Guardian?

shakes · 11-20-2003, 12:17 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by MerryMac

Thanks for all your replies. I also considered hiding the wrist watch device in her car, until I realized that standby time was about 48 hours. I'd like something we could install and hook up to the battery.

hell you can hook anything up to the battery. if it's got a dc input or a charger unit you can make it work.

Zip-Lock · 11-20-2003, 12:24 AM

I think you want something like this... http://www.whereismycar.com

carabuser · 11-20-2003, 03:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Zip-Lock

I think you want something like this... http://www.whereismycar.com

Anyone has any idea how much they cost? (it's a little too late to call them up)

julesbchillin · 12-02-2003, 03:38 PM

the new copilot lets you track the car from any computer

hijinks21 · 12-02-2003, 04:07 PM

well the nice thing about lo-jack is the police can use it also. I wouldn't want to go up to a chop shop by myself and demand my car back. if you're gonna up something like that in your ride.. I'd go lojack all the way. Hell you don't even know where it is installed. My friends dad had his car stolen once and it was found in 5 minutes on the way to get chopped up

Suprapc · 12-05-2003, 02:24 AM

How about a cell phone? You could just call her?
However I have though of this for my younger sibling, be nice if it detected sudden jolts and call me as well.