New anti-theft GPS bike tracker: What does our expert think?
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on December 2nd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
(Photos: GPS Track This)
[Via BikeBiz]
Word is quickly spreading on the Interwebs tonight about what many have considered the Holy Grail of bike theft — a GPS tracker for bicycles.
UK-based GPS Track This now offers (wholesale only at this point it seems) the "Spylamp Bicycle GPS Tracker", a small device that is hidden in a rear light. They also offer a free smartphone/text/web service that can track your bike when it gets stolen. Here's an excerpt from a story in BikeBiz.com:
"Activated by pressing the on/off button for three seconds, the light flashes three times to confirm it is activated. The Spylamp has a vibration sensor, which is armed when activated, detecting movement in the event of a bike thief stealing the bike. The device sends an SMS text message to the owners mobile to notify that the bike is moving, and then uploads its position to GPS Track This’ website every 20 seconds until the vibration has stopped. The website plots the course of the bike on a map, revealing the bike’s location."
I asked our resident bike theft expert, creator of StolenBicycleRegistry.com and co-developer of the BikePortland Stolen Bike Listings Bryan Hance, what his thoughts were about this potentially revolutionary product:
1) I question if it'll play nice with US cellular networks, the SIM/text charges will differ over here depending on the cellular provider. Its tech specs make it look compatible with our networks but since they're shipping with a UK/Tesco prepaid SIM I wonder what the cheapest equivalent will be here in the U.S. (The two biggest cell providers in the U.S. that support GPRS, according to Wikipedia, are AT&T and T-mobile. The cheapest prepaid T-mobile card is $10.)
2) 1 year battery life? seriously? my standard light doesn't even last this long, so I wonder if this is actually true
3) Cops may not 100% like it because they don't like people recovering their own gear. Leads to assaults. Plus even with GPS tracking if it's in an apartment building or other high density area you're pretty much screwed. But still better than nothing.
4) Thieves will adapt and start looking for these but this mention is more promising "The firm also similar tracking devices in the works too, including a tracker hidden inside the bicycle frame".
If the Spylamp proves reliable in the field, it could change how law enforcement and communities across the globe deal with the scourge of bike theft. Bryan has requested a review sample. We'll keep you posted. In the meantime, poke around the GPS Track This website or download the Spylamp owners manual (PDF) to learn more.
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T-Mobile's cheapest pre-paid plan costs $10 every 3 months to keep the line active. Each text message it sends costs 10 cents. Pretty reasonable, I think.
RecommendedGarmin recently released a GPS beacon that lasts up to a year called "The Chirp". They made it primarily for use as a geocaching point (people with GPS units traipse around the countryside looking for it and get clues as they get close) but after reading about that light with GPS, it's possible to do something like that Chirp epoxied underneath your seat or in a seat bag to track.
RecommendedHum - it's an interesting idea but a rear light can easily and quickly be removed. The attachment to the bike needs to be more permanent and their should be a separate "permenant", and visible, notice that the bike is traceable to serve as a deterrent.
Recommendedhow about a zapper, person jumps on gets zapped falls off and runs.. haha love this device BTW... would be cool it you could track and wait, then wham,
Recommendedknock them off with a bat.. LOL
Great, my bike stolen and they can now recover the light....
RecommendedWhat KWW said. More often than not, tail-lights get stolen before the bike does. Flaw.
Recommendedthat was the first thing I thought too, people steal lights more than bikes
RecommendedWhat I was inferring is that many bikes when stolen are stripped of equipment, so that ID'ing them becomes harder.
Plus, the equipment can also be sold at any bike parts store that buys parts, ahem...
RecommendedI totally like the Chirper. Sounds like a better scenario.
Recommendedyeah....first thing to do now when stealing a bike....chuck rear light. seems like it would be better if it were mounted discretely in the frame or handlebar?
RecommendedAny self contained GPS device will not work from inside the frame as GPS signals are completely attenuated by metal; essentially a faraday cage. I have heard rumors the same would apply to carbon fiber and graphite frames. The thickness of the frame material and the overall low power of the signal when it reaches earth support this.
The crafty frame builder will put the device inside the frame but route out two wires for the antenna which get attached to the bare frame, contoured and painted over.
RecommendedIf the frame is metal, make the frame itself the antenna! (sorry if someone else has already suggested this)
RecommendedAn effective antenna needs to be quarter of a wavelength long relative to the desire receive frequency.
Received signal power for a particular frequency drops off quickly as the antenna's natural resonance differs from the desired frequency.
The GPS SPS L1 band frequency is 1575.42 Mhz, or 1575420000 Hz.
The wavelength a GPS antenna designed for 1575.42 Mhz is:
c / 1575420000 = .19029 Meters, or ~ 19 CM. or ~ 7 1/2 Inches.
The frame of a conductive metal bike is clearly the wrong size to use as the antenna for GPS.
RecommendedMaybe they will make it mandatory for all bikes to have chirpers? Then big brother can keep tabs of your every movement, places, time of day, who else was there, do you need to pay a toll for that last trip.... kind of like what they had in mind for cars.
RecommendedWhy not take the "chirper" and insert into your handlebar, seapost - or is it too big?
RecommendedI think it's a great idea... if the light is stolen you can track it individually... and everybody leaves the lights on the bike when they steal it, at least until they get it home to swap them out...
but if it becomes mainstream then thieves will start ditching the light right away... will definitely need to be hidden in the frame somewhere with an external antenna wire...
wondering about the cost myself... and I've dealt with GPRS and I just don't trust the reliability of it... I'd like to see how it works around here with all the trees or downtown buildings...
RecommendedChirp looks very cool however I'm not sure it would work for bike tracking. Issues:
- need for a Garmin-brand handheld to locate & program a Chirp
- Max. 32 foot range
- "Do not mount the chirp inside a metal container."
- No active map-based tracking
Although a Chirp-like system would be excellent for recovery warehouse kind of use - ID'ing bikes already in a pile somewhere. Way better than the RFID style tagging since it ups the detection to 32 feet ...
RecommendedThis is how it begins, someone gets a novel product in the field so they (and other compnaies) can learn what works and evolve what doesn't.
Remeber the Apple Newton? Ugh.
Then at last the iPhone. Brilliant.
We want less bike theft and GPS & Cellular will likely be part of the solution so this makes me very happy.
RecommendedThis is great, unless of course it leads to "Where you at?" Boost Mobile style commercials.
RecommendedI've been told that in the southern-most states, nearly everyone has Lojack installed on anything that isn't bolted to the ground. I'm moving to Europe soon and I am outfitting both of my bikes and my luggages with ReuniteIt! and Lojack tags.
Draw your own conclusion: http://www.lojack.com/why/pages/lojack-vehicle-recovery-vs-gps-vehicle-tracking-and-anti-theft-devices.aspx
For bikes: http://www.reuniteit.com/bicycle-security.aspx
RecommendedLoJack only works in places where the local PD's have purchased the LoJack RF-locating gear. Great tech though. And sticker systems are nice but easily defeated.
RecommendedAwesome - now I can find out who keeps stealing my tail lights.
The light portion is kind of irrelevant - there are a number of locations where this device could be placed - you could even build it into a water bottle cage or a saddle, or handlebar bar ends - anywhere not encased by metal.
RecommendedThe best application of this type of product would be to integrate it into the bottom bracket ! - A BB is one of the bike parts least likely to be quickly stripped, and also could be used to generate a tiny amount of power to keep the unit charged forever. As mentioned before - bike lights are not secure. I have replaced 3 already in the last 2 years due to my own negligence in taking it off before locking up my bike...
RecommendedA GPS tracking system for what is obviously a too-expesive-to-be-left-on-the-street bike? Talk about yuppie-crack.
RecommendedLike the idea, but have to agree with so many others here that a light is a very easy thing to steal. I have one bike that I do not take the light off, but the clip is broken and would like to replace the thing anyway.
RecommendedI remember years ago in NY NY a person used to gift wrap their garbage everyday and leave it on their porch, everyday the garbage was gone. With this device they could find out who has been stealing their garbage all these years...
RecommendedRegarding the sim charges and if they work in the USA. We supply thousands of sims for our tracking systems. These unit are built to be used worldwide, the sim picks up the APN number here from T-Mobile, AT&T etc.
RecommendedIf a bike thief carries light tools to break the lock/cable/chain, u-lock, then an extra pair of pliers to smash the tail light without having to remove it would be simple and effective. Additionally, pro bike thieves are up to date on this product.
RecommendedIt says on Garmin's site that the Chirp has a range of 10m
Recommended