Anyone try a Raspberry Pi install in their bus?

Purchased. It's one of the chinese TK103B's available on amazon and ebay. I got fairly far through writing an android app to make it easier to command and track. Just need to update the code and get the unit hidden.....

 

thanks, I'll check that out. Have you wrote android apps before? I'm scared of java!

 

This was/is my first android app but they are pretty straightforward. Been programming in jave for 15 years though so that helps

 

That might help a bit alright!
How does the app communicate with the GPS tracker? Bluetooth/WiFi?

 

The trackers work via SMS so for setting up a number of texts are sent to the tracker. Once the tracker moves out of a set area or you activate tracking from the phone it sends a text to you at defined intervals with it's position and a link to a map. My app handles all the messaging (the commands aren't easy to remember) and parses the incoming messages and plots them on a map so it's easier to follow.

 

sounds interesting. will you be making the app commercially available when its done?

 

yes please....
you could run it out to some TLBers FOC, as a beta to de glitch it if you like

have a think how you could make a set-up like this impossible to detect/block and you'll be a very wealthy chap

also, assuming a good thief was able to detect the presence of a tracking device, but unable to block/turn off the signal....s/he would need to locate the 'transmitting' device in order to disable it....could such a device be made to withstand high temperatures, or fuel contamination? You can see where I'm going with this can't you

 

There is a beta kicking around on the forum already. The idea was to have a paid version ad free and also a with ads version. There was also a good feature I thought of for group tracking of stolen vans, will explain more later but have to leave work now..

 

like a community alert thing. Cool.
Was checking out that GPS device on Amazon. Nice bit of kit. Electrical cut off and even an option to detect voltage change so if the front door is opened and the interior light comes on, it can disable the electrics

 

sounds interesting...if it's a good idea, don't give too much away....is it something that could be crowd-sourced?

 

I get the impression that the electronic theft tools currently available are pretty sophisticated....so anything that works on RF can be detected/blocked....voltage droppers could be overridden....make a device that needs to be physically disarmed/disconnected but is a complete fecker to get to and you've cracked it....or hide it in plain view

 

plenty of good hiding places in a camper too. I can think of a couple. not going to say them here in case the wrong types are scouring the web for this type of info.

 

Not for me thanks
The less electronics in my van the better
Its agricultural simplicity is one of the main reasons I bought it

 

i'm thinking that any 'transmitter' should be located where it would involve a lot of hassle, tools and determination to reach...

 

do you have a peg on which to hang your hair shirt?
I think for security, a combination of agricultural and hi tech is ideal....something physical, something esoteric

the body locks on a bus aint worth sh**, and there are that may gaps you can easily get something behind the door/tailgate to lever it open....remember you're dealing with someone who isn't rightly bothered about damaged paintwork or panels....so any physical device has to render the bus undriveable/steerable....won't stop it being dragged however....that's where the electrickery comes into its own

 

It's quite good for the price, a little cumbersome without the app but it has some nice features

The basic idea is that if your van is stolen you can choose an option to ping the location to other users within a certain radius of the vans location and the community around there can keep an eye out for it. I think it would have to be a pay per use feature to stop it being abused but if it costs £5-10 and means people nearby can keep an eye out I think it would be helpful in recovery of vehicles. Obviously you would need a critical mass of users for it to work really well. The other option is to have a link to a live map of the van that can be shared on social media.

Anyway it looks like I slightly hijacked this thread I'll find the old tracker thread with the beta links and tag you guys in it

 

hijack away