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• GPS Tracking for Stolen Bikes

  in Bikes & Bits • 14 years, 9 months

  

  First GSM module is getting smaller http://www.calibryze.com/xunchi138_specs.html

  Second the GPS chip "could" go smaller too (wait few years)
  http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2008/11/19/gps-receiver-in-every-sim-card

  Third, "external aerial". It true GPS and GSM signal aren't very stronge compared to eLORAN, but it "should" be sufficient to pass through the wall thickness of the seat post, but EMC issues really have to be tested because wall thickness, material properties and power output plays a fundametal part if the module would work in an enclosed environment or whether you simily drill a small hole on saddle tube would be a mystry until EMC test (because I was told that RF signals are hard to simulate)

  Forth, "wireless recharge" there is already proven reserach for wirelessly passing power through "AIR" at 20Watt http://vodpod.com/watch/1945832-bbc-news-technology-wireless-power-system-shown-off or http://www.witricity.com/ where as GPS & GSM module (let say PawTrax) it consumes at milliwatts range (or worst 1-2 watts equivalent to 1-2 AA battery). If worst comes to the worst remove the seat for "direct line of sight" recharching, but the whole point is not to remove the GPS/GSM module or the thief would of removed it for you. Consider the bike has a long seat tube where there are no reason to add a couple more battery for longer life and less repeated recharge.

  Personally, I would use all type of security on my precious bike: thick chains + U-lock + Xena Alarm , UV making (+ police register sticker), but really those are for show, because security devices is all about "layers", given even "time" locks can be broken, safe can be open, ID (e.g. UV pen marking) can be removed or painted on top and also the standards for locks testing is a joke for Sold Secure & Thatcham.

  Gone in less than 60 second:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC3hFr8p2ck
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WeEq_SxNRc
  
  http://www.bikebiz.com/news/28260/Kryptonite-questions-methods-used-in-lock-break-TV-show (Kryptonite, should be ashamed as I could get a 42" cutter on a popular online auction for fraction of the cost of what suggested by them and their ethos about their product was "Unbreakable Bonds", cmon this is a joke for a security comapny)

• GPS Tracking for Stolen Bikes

  in Bikes & Bits • 14 years, 9 months

  

  The "PawTrax.co.uk" GPS tracking product still not small enough. "GPS data logger" someimes comes in a long thin shape, but for some reason "GPS tracker" come in a recangular box, which isn't the best used of it seat tube space (not making full use of the length of it tube) even though GPS receiver chip can easily fit into diameter of it seat tube. www.sheldonbrown.com/seatpost-sizes.html

  Product Requirement Summary:

  • Got to fit inside the seat post (around 26mm diameter x 360mm or so long)

  • built in GPS receiver and send it updated coordinate back to the owner every 1 min or so via SMS text (this info. where "only" available upon owner request by texting to turn the device from "standby mode" to "active mode" and vice versa to save battery life).

  And the reason I've chosen "1 min" interval, because thieving riders noramlly try to ride as fast as they can away from the scene of the crime (let say a modest 15mph), meaning you will see your bike on your phone moving 1/4 of a mile in every min (or 400 meters per minute). Personally, the interval update time should be adjustable by the user remotely via texting! Because some bikes worth more if stripped and I'm sure those guys want do to it as soon as possible, but some bike maybe stolen from a rural area too.

  • Hack proof: the whole device is enclosed and inaccessible such as the sim card (using PAYG and pay it remotely like via ATM) including the battery (but using induction wireless charging technology so that the device no longer need to be removed from the frame "forever").

  • IP68 (Standard for waterproof)

  • Low battery warning

    "Personally, bike crime are so common and almost impossible to retrieve in one piece where the bike manufacturers should fit tracking device inside the top tube upon customer request to make it completely inaccessible".

  After all, most medium range bike cost about the same as a second hand car (eventhough there are resources fighting car crime), while certain groups of people talked about oil go up and encuroage us to use bikes (not even bus or mopeds), yet all the technologies mentioned above are already here, but no one (not even those groups) take it seriously for fighting bike crime eventhough there are more bikes stolen than cars (percentage wise) as it is easily to do so and get away with.