GPS locator to find a stolen Vanagon

[pomfritz]

Ping says they try to keep it simple and not have features that most don't use to extend battery life. I'm good with what they offer. Never used geo fencing but if I had to always change settings to change the fence or my driving would trigger alerts, I'd stop using that feature fast.
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83.5 233K. GW 2.3, SS exhaust, My German Frau named her Stefi

[erdonline]

The two units I posted recently claim they are WCDMA/3G GSM. I might try one of them soon.

Ed
_________________
'85 Vanagon Westfalia
'84 Vanagon 7-passenger
'98 Mexican air-cooled Beetle

[dobryan]

[dobryan]

[erdonline]

[davevickery]

[erdonline]

I think I'm going to buy the CCTR-805. It's $70 and has the option to use the web, the company's app, or sms for alerts.

Ed
_________________
'85 Vanagon Westfalia
'84 Vanagon 7-passenger
'98 Mexican air-cooled Beetle

[dobryan]

Yes I meant to type GSM.

This is what I read about CDMA and GSM.

xxxx
CDMA and GSM networks are two types of cellular phone networks and generally if you have a device made for one, it can't be used on the other.

In the US, Sprint®* and Verizon run on CDMA networks while AT&T and T-Mobile run on GSM networks. Ting runs on both.
xxxx

I want to use GSM so it will work in Canada and south of the border using my ATT GoPhone SIM. Am I incorrect thinking that?
_________________
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

[dsdunbar]

I just bought the PING...hoping for big things w/ it...I'll update after I get it (July 2017) ...and hope the Seattle thieves dont migrate north.
_________________
'89 2WD Westy "Grey Goose" - Manual 4spd
Crozet VA
Vanaru EJ25, Peloquin

[bobbyblack]

dobryan: Can you fill me in on the unit you got delivery of on Friday? (Mine came Friday as well, but I didn't open it yet) Are you going to use it? Is it what you expected? And will it be useful for a while still? I think some one said "Ting" sim will work for a while, but you use atNt, maybe?

Thanks Dave,

-bobby
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[dobryan]

[MrBuelterman]

Does anyone know if you can turn an old Iphone into a tracker?
Maybe with an app?
_________________
86 2.4L 2WD Peloquin Westy

[Paulbeard]

If you are willing to pay the monthly charge, sure. Find my iPhone becomes Find My Rig…
_________________
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

[erdonline]

[dobryan]

^^^

Ed, I found this explanation on-line so it must be true.

<<<<<<<<
One of the biggest difficulties with purchasing phones for your prepaid carrier is compatibility.

Terms like GSM, CDMA, 4G, WCDMA will confuse your brain so much!

Well, take it easy and we will walk you through.

WCDMA – Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (UMTS)

Before we talk about 4G or GSM. You must know WCDMA which stands for Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access. It is a third generation network developed by NTT Docomo and from 2G network CDMA. There are no cellular companies that are not based on WCDMA except Sprint (however they are slowly converting). WCDMA is a standard for 3G network. It was not a revolutionary upgrade to network, but by having the standard based on 2G GSM/EDGE. It was able for a simultaneous switch between GSM and EDGE. Also it was capable of compatibility with other UMTS family.

However, there are no phones that are not WCDMA compatible. All carriers except U.S. Cellular and Sprint are based on WCDMA with all GSM phones compatible with WCDMA technology.

CDMA – Code Division Multiple Access

CDMA is a channel access method used by various radio communication technologies. It shouldnot be confused with the mobile phone standars called cdmaOne, CDMA 2000 (3G Evolution of cdmaOne) and WCDMA (the 3G standard used by GSM carriers) which are often referred to as simply CDMA, and use CDMA as an underlying channel access method.

One of the concepts in data communication is the idea of allowing several transmitters to send information simultaneously over a single communication channel.This allows several users to share a band of frequencies. This concept is Multiple Access or MA of CDMA. This is also why Verizon has much better pentration than AT&T or T-Mobile.

However, there is a disadvantage of CDMA. Your phone will not use a subscriber identification module to access cell towers. It will use an electric serial number to access. Which is why Verizon or Sprint’s phones usually don’t have a sim card. However, with WCDMA being deployed. All phones for all carriers have a sim. Still, if the phone does not have a GSM (2G) antenna, the (W)CDMA phone will not be compatible with GSM carriers.

GSM – Global System for Mobile Communications

Our world divides into four different generations of cellular network.

1G – Analog Cellular Network

2G – GSM or CDMA

3G – WCDMA

4G – LTE, HSPA+ all based on WCDMA , Wi – Max

After the first generation network, carriers either chose GSM or CDMA standard for their 2G network. Both network are not compatible to each other. However, a WCDMA phone will be compatible with GSM network if it has a sim slot and has a GSM antenna.

GSM carrier frequencies are 900, 1800, 1900, and 2100 mHz. That is why iPhones are only capable with 2G network on T-Mobile’s network.
>>>>>>>>>>

So it looks like that CCTR 805 unit should work on 3G on my GoPhone AT&T sim card. I was really confused by CDMA and WCDMA, not realizing the difference. Thanks for continuing to educate me.

I am going to give that CCTR 805 unit a try. Wish me luck.
_________________
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

[Paulbeard]

It looks like finding something designed to do that job — that incorporates GPS location and tracking/alerting — makes more sense that trying to cobble something together that might not work in a year.

GPS doesn't rely on 3G or anything to do with the telcos. That seemed unclear in the thread.

That said, leaving an old phone that supports location services (either through Google or Apple) in your rig might work. Could be cheap enough to get by with (ie, you own the phone and just need to drop in a SIM with someone like Ting or one of other providers). If you only pay for what you use and the phone is never used as a phone, it might be a good option.

Food for thought, at any rate.
_________________
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

[dobryan]

[davevickery]

[candyman]

Anyone have issues with their tk 103? The first one i bought never worked right ot of the box. Sent it back and the next one worked but has now stopped responding and not working after only 4 months. I tried resetting it but its not responding. The light stays solid red like its not getting gsm signal. My sim card is up date and everything seems tight. Of course their is 0.0 customer service on this device, atleast i cant find any. Anyone out there offer some suggestions? I still have $50 left on my wireless plan so id like to get it sorted out
Thanks
Jason

[erdonline]