Mobile GPS, Car tracking in Car

[hdaackda]

Aoa,

I know a thing or two about mobile phones and I am planning to buy a new car. Also I am against insurance (religious reasons).. so one of the ways to secure my car is through car tracking...

Now normal trackers are expensive.. (Any cheap or used ones available? pls tell)

I was thinking, if I can hide a mobile phone with built in GPS (e.g. nokia n82 etc etc which comes for around 12k max (used)) in car (need good ideas for hiding place), and connect it to mobile car charger and car battery (mobiles battery will serve as backup), i can practically make it a tracking device..

i know of software that can msg me back the exact gps location, or if i subsribe to internet trhough sim,it can update its location live... so i can track it in real time using the internet (e.g. google maps, latitute etc).. I can get all the necessary software (garmin etc etc)..

Has anyone tried this before?

The problems that I can face are:

a) How to connect car battery to mobile phone (probably a work for the electrician).

b) Good and safe hiding place for mobile phone

c) if the theif or whoever takes battery out.. mobile battery will only last for 3 hours max with GPS on.. after tht it will switch off. How can I switch it back on without touching it physically?

d) How can I remotely control the car? lock it etc.. I can install the cheap china remote controls.. but how can i conect it to mobile phone?

Suggestions, practical advice etc etc required..

thanks

[hammadabbasmirza]

well, a GPS device can tell you the LAT LANG of its location, but if you want to send it somewhere you need a network GSM/GPRS etc.

So your idea to place mobile with SIM and sending the LAT LANG via SMS or GPRS data is valid until the car remains in the coverage area, when it goes outside it cant report you back where it is now.

Also there are GSM Jammers these days, try placing such a device near a car it cant connect to the GSM / GPRS network, car stolen, no location.

These could be the vulnerabilities.

but some Satellite providers can track the GPS modules registered with their servers so these modules can be tracked by their satellites. Until you remain in the coverage of that satellite

[Ghuncha]

i did somewhat a similar thing...

though the similarities end over here...

basically made the tracker, a gps module, a gsm module and a ucontroller..
it had the capability of switching off the ignition also...

your idea is more off the shelf, and will support gprs, unlike myne
but what shortcomings i see is, the cellphone has to be in line of sight of the sky to get good gps fix, and with proper hiding it wont be able to see the sky.

[Spano]

built in GPS antenna in cell phones wont work if the cell phone is not exposed to the satellites.
you would need to do some thing after taking out its GPS antenna and that would be risky.
any way wish you all the best and looking forward to see some thing from your side.

waise I am /electrical/electronics engineer and have worked on many these kind of projects

[uiv]

As mentioned earlier a mobile GPS module won't work somewhere hidden in the car, it must be exposed to the open sky. And thats not even the biggest problem here.
Still, if you're gonna try it DO NOT use N82 or any other N/E series device. They're rather poor when it comes to GPS locking. Try something like Nokia 6110, 6210 - some navigator device. They are a bit hard to find but still cheaper than the fancy lot; 6110 for some 5-6K and 6210 for 9-10K.

[hdaackda]

Update: I think I know how to wire the charger to the battery's live wire...

thanks guys..

I know the GPS does not work indoors, but it works inside the car (windows closed etc), also works in train (inside) but I'll have to check if it works under the hood. also, if somehow i can wire the gps antenna to cars body, the whole body can technically serve as an antenna.. (am not an electrician/engineer but am interest in electronics etc.. hobby)

GSM Jammers.. yes, that would be a problem... can't seem to find a way around it..

GPRS: as long as its getting gsm signals, the cell can sms (or reply to my sms) with the exact long/lat

@Ghuncha: how did you do it and where did you implement it?

@spano: hmm, i can try to take out the gps antenna and connect it using soldered wires.. but as u said, yes, that is risky and not durable

@uiv: thanks a lot.. will be looking for a cheaper device (like 6110 or 6210 like u said...) but first i'll test the signals and software with n82 (thats what i have right now..) if that works.. anything will!

[zeekaykhan]

Buy any GPS mobile
i recommend a cheaper one i.e N95 that would be around 10-12k used...
then buy an external BLUETOOTH gps device for good reception
install google maps on you mobile
join latitude...latitude lets you know with the exact location of your device
activate GPRS
then constantly charge your mobile phone up with loads of credit
buy a car battery charger for ur cell
extend its wires and connect at the back of your cigarette lighter holder...i think that will work....
and when the person will (KHUDA NAKHUASTA) steal your car...He is going to cut it into pieces,,,so you are giving away your car and a good mobile phone also lol

[hdaackda]

lols.. you are forgetting he will also get a bluetooth gps, and a charger free

on a serious note bhai, if i buy a gps mobile, why would i need a bluetooth khair, i can also buy the unlimited internet wala option.. i think 650Rs per tax per month banta hay...

and 6120 is cheaper than n95... (around 6-7k used i guess)

[pakboys81]

Bhai Jan why you guys so worry about making one if you find ready made google it you will find it cost around US$300 they use here in Canada for fleet services and its works with google map in real time i mean you can even watch wgere the hell is your car going on what speed and its use a sim card as well just give a miss call and it will reply via sms you the location

[adam86]

I personally used GPS in 6220c which comes with built in GPS receiver although i ued GARMIN for it but I'm not satisfied from GPS maps in PAkistan at all and we m not good with OZI explorer to make own maps so i sold out set then..

[ysalman]

Why dont go for proper solution which is available in 24K. You can get the LONG nad LAT and even cotrol of car via SMS like kill engine. see this link. the guy was asking 24k on phone.
All the best
GSM & GPS Car Tracking + Alarm System - Islamabad - Computers - Hardware

[sharry20]

Well brother, if you are buying an expensive car, then why not spend around 40 K more on getting a new latest tracker which supports Anti-Jamming technology. Plus u can keep a track of the cars location through web/sms and you will get an sms alert anytime someone tries to open the car door illegally etc.

Please feel free to contact for further info.

[hdaackda]

thanks for the comments.

@adam86: bro, free updated maps are available from pkmaps! they are updated and really good.

@ysalman: nice.. still a bit expensive but the controlling ur car feature is nice.. kill engine, etc

@sharry20: 40k is too expensive bro.. just looking for a simple solution.. anti-jamming is nice but tht wuldnt still work in a basement!

I have found the necessary software etc.. my monthly running cost would be less than Rs 400/month (culd be 100, 200 etc). thts the GPRS cost. used cell costs 10k (with gps, sms, gprs etc)..

besides, its a project. buying from the shelf is easy, but no fun

btw guys, I bought a lancer glx (2005 model, 1300cc), petrol, good condition for 8 lakhs.. need a cheap cellphone with gps now

[hdaackda]

Implemented and working fine mashallah!

I tried numerous software etc before I finalized the best. I tried mapmytracks, trackbuddy, google maps (latitude), aspicoregsm, locatea, phonelocator, phonelocator periodic etc etc..

but the best one for the job was aspicore sm tracker

once switched on, it doesnt need any input from the user. It can reply to sms (the exact location) or update the position on the internet.

for the internet location, i also tried many sites.. the best free site I found was a russian site GPS-Trace Orange. the software and website are also compatible.

the software gives many options, update every 30 seconds, one minute, 10 minutes, 100 meters, 1 km etc etc.. It uses GPRS to update its location on the internet.. I can track my car almost in real time.

at the moment, the phone I am using is Nokia N82 and it is getting GPS signals inside the car where it is hidden. It is also connected to a hidden car charger (connected directly to the battery) so that it always remains ON. In case the battery is removed/goes down, mobile's battery will serve as a backup (4 hrs max..)

i plan on using Nokia 6220 (navigator.. used around 10k max) which I have heard has better GPS signals.

For the GSM, I plan to switch from UFONE to TELENOR. I have heard it provides much better signal and GPRS/EDGE.

A sample from the tracking:

I had set the update interval to a longer time therefore the straight line.. i could decrease the interval and would get a better track (but more data usage).

[hammadabbasmirza]

sounds great .... try to implement, to turn off / disconnect wiring to engine incase the network is not available to overcome the "jammer" problem. But [very rare] the network is down for any other reason, you must implement a manual override [to turn on engine]

nice work till now

[hdaackda]

thanks.. yeah, the step is that.. will try to find how to do tht..

[uiv]

Great positive effort, best of luck mate. Please post some pics of your setup (not the hiding location though :P).

I have used those two Nokia Navigator phones; 6110 and 6210, for a long time and in my experience 6110 has better satellite locking ability. It just is a better and more stable device. 6210 and 6220 are basically same sets underneath and I won't vote for any of them.

Anyway, which ever set you may use, try to extend its GPS antenna if possible. Something like this:
N95 external GPS antenna mod
Increase Nokia N95 GPS sensitivity

[hdaackda]

thanks a lot.. will chck em out and post pics.. setup very simple

[takko]

if u r using google maps, i think they r not using satnavi, rather their source is the cellfone towers that would not always give u accurate info, it ll give u right direction but wont pin point the exact direction..

[takko]

and for the gprs thingy, u can dedicate 500 rupees by subscribing to their gprs package..