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Paulbeard
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015
Posts: 2604
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:18 am Post subject: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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This looks like just what a lot of us have been looking for but I'll let you read the pitch for yourself.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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cmayna
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014
Posts: 1148
Location: SF Bay area, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:05 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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I'd like to clip one of those on my wife 
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:31 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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| If they can indeed bring this in at $4 a month then it will be a very competitive product. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12007
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 8:47 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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Yeah, remember you aren't actually buying something through kickstarter. I have seen several items get fully funded over the amount they wanted and the product never came to fruition but the money disappeared.
The item looks promising but since it tethers to a phone to track it does the phone need cell service? |
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ohhorob
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2013
Posts: 212
Location: Santa Cruz
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:58 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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| syncrodoka wrote: |
Yeah, remember you aren't actually buying something through kickstarter. I have seen several items get fully funded over the amount they wanted and the product never came to fruition but the money disappeared.
The item looks promising but since it tethers to a phone to track it does the phone need cell service? |
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1851162219/ma...faq_210135
| Quote: |
Do I need a "SIM card" or a "data plan" to use Magpie?
No and No!
Magpie has a built-in IoT SIM card so you don't have to worry about phone plans or contracts etc. We handle all that for you. |
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"Gundy" - '85 Westfalia
GoWesty 2300cc, Digijet |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12007
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:24 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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Sorry, i was asking if the PHONE needed cell service. I was riding all over northern california both central and north coast and was out of cell range often enough when checked it to pose the question.
Does the unit require cellphone coverage for that matter? |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:42 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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In my experience and from reading up on the device, since it uses a sim card that requires 2G or 3G it will need cell coverage to send the location. If it is out of cell coverage then no location can be sent, but as soon as it is in coverage then a location would be sent.
Your cell phone would need a cell signal in order to get the tracking info from the tracker service (although it may be able to do it via wifi?).
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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tgraham
Samba Member
Joined: July 04, 2015
Posts: 127
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:46 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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On the surface it looks very similar to this product:
http://pinggps.com
Or are there features that I'm missing?
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1990 Multivan/Weekender Auto 3.27 R&P SAH 1.8T |
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yiucycle
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2007
Posts: 421
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 10:50 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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This kickstarter looks too good to be true. $5 for the device plus a month of service. Plus the $10,000 backing goal seems like too little for what they should be asking for. I will wait til it gets into actually production and consumer testing before wasting $ and time on it.
_________________
1980 2.8LV6 Fiero ASI/Riviera Vanagon
"there is no point in being embarrassed of all the stupid shit i done and will continue to do"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12007
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:01 am Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
In my experience and from reading up on the device, since it uses a sim card that requires 2G or 3G it will need cell coverage to send the location. If it is out of cell coverage then no location can be sent, but as soon as it is in coverage then a location would be sent.
Your cell phone would need a cell signal in order to get the tracking info from the tracker service (although it may be able to do it via wifi?). |
Makes sense.
Thx |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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That looks like the same idea - and only $3 per month (after purchase & activation).
It is sold out for now + I did not see what their expected delivery date is. |
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raoul mitgong
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1338
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| Cool. I hope they pull it off. (I'll never give money to kickstarter again after being burned.) |
That's a bummer dobryan. In defense of Kickstarter, I got my 14 new episodes of MST3K plus a bunch of swag, as advertised.
Even owning an established business, it is hard to get new products to market. I think kickstarter is a cool idea and I'd throw money at vanagon specific projects. Not for so much money I'd miss it though (likely not a Syncro tranny for example).
-d
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7473
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: New GPS tracker via Kickstarter? |
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It does seem that many of the PNW thefts (van stolen while parked at home or on errands, used as a cargo van by thieves, abandoned nearby shortly thereafter) could be resolved using one of these.
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- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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