Author Topic: GPS tracker  (Read 2235 times)

GPS tracker
« on: 08 January, 2018, 09:53:48 am »
Hi All

I'm undertaking a walking\cycling challenge over 8  weeks. For the walking element I will be in very remote locations for about 21 days.

I'm really after a GPS tracker where  family\friends can log on to and see progress

I'm not adverse to a smart phone (I currently don't own one) but battery life will need to be in the region of 3- 4 days and capable of recharging in under 2 hours from say  power pack

Ideally preference would be for a dedicated GPS tracking device

thanks for any guidance

cygnet

  • I'm part of the association
Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #1 on: 08 January, 2018, 10:37:09 am »
I Said, I've Got A Big Stick

frankly frankie

  • I kid you not
    • Fuchsiaphile
Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #2 on: 08 January, 2018, 10:39:02 am »
when you're dead you're done, so let the good times roll

Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #3 on: 08 January, 2018, 03:42:09 pm »
<blantant plug>
I run the system behind this:- http://www.mtrak.co.uk/show/PaulMellon

The unit is about 200g and should give you the performance that you need. Charging takes about 3 hours. It is normally 12 V charged but I can fit a USB charger.

I can add a solar cell but I couldn't give you any figures for how fast that will charge.

The progress can be seen as you travel. It would normally update every 5 minutes and store positions every 20 seconds. It would store about 2.5 hours of data that way. You could slow it down so all of those numbers could go up or down in that ratio, e.g 10 mins update, 40 seconds storage, 5 hours of data.

As long as I get the unit back when you have finished, you can borrow one for free.
</blantant plug>




Quote from: Kim
Paging Diver300.  Diver300 to the GSM Trimphone, please...

Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #4 on: 08 January, 2018, 04:45:35 pm »
Thanks all

Frances I took a look at the SPOT and pitched it against Garmin's Inreach https://hikingguy.com/hiking-gear/in-depth-garmin-inreach-explorer-review/ Garmins cost is prohibitive but given Divers offer he's made an offer I cant refuse

Diver300 many thanks for your very kind offer, if you need me to call you to discuss let me know.......in return I would be happy to post review\notes on walking forum where I'm sure there would be interest

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #5 on: 08 January, 2018, 05:11:15 pm »
Depends on how remote you will be, ie will you have phone coverage?
If out of phone coverage, you need something that sends your position to a satellite. eg Spot or Garmin Inreach.

If you will have phone coverage, you have a lot more options, that may be cheaper.

Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #6 on: 08 January, 2018, 05:22:02 pm »
Fuaran thanks mobile phone coverage will be intermittent ie complete loss for up to 4-5 days in some instances

Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #7 on: 08 January, 2018, 06:58:30 pm »
Thanks all

Frances I took a look at the SPOT and pitched it against Garmin's Inreach https://hikingguy.com/hiking-gear/in-depth-garmin-inreach-explorer-review/ Garmins cost is prohibitive but given Divers offer he's made an offer I cant refuse

Diver300 many thanks for your very kind offer, if you need me to call you to discuss let me know.......in return I would be happy to post review\notes on walking forum where I'm sure there would be interest
The unit I'm offering sends data by mobile phone. However it can store a lot of points from the GPS and will upload data when it can.
http://www.mtrak.co.uk/show/egypt2017 filled in all the gaps in spite of long gaps with no signal, and mobile internet that was unusable for normal browsing for most of the trip.
Anything that uploads by satellite will be expensive to run. There is so little data in tracking that it is virtually free to send it by mobile phone, even abroad. The tracking for the Eqypt trip cost 10p in data.
Quote from: Kim
Paging Diver300.  Diver300 to the GSM Trimphone, please...

Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #8 on: 09 January, 2018, 10:57:58 am »
Hi All

I'm undertaking a walking\cycling challenge over 8  weeks. For the walking element I will be in very remote locations for about 21 days.


Can you say where you're off to?

Re: GPS tracker
« Reply #9 on: 09 January, 2018, 12:41:21 pm »
Hi Ham

Yes for the walking part I will be doing the Scottish National Trail https://www.scottishnationaltrail.org.uk/ which I hope to complete in somewhere between 4-6 weeks. The latter part of it is based on the Cape Wrath trail up to Cape Wrath from Fort William, mobile phone coverage on this section is intermittent to non existent, this section should take about 18-21 days. I will be wild camping or staying in bothies * for the most part as eating  18 consecutive Scottish\aka English Breakfasts does not appeal at all. At journeys end at the Cape Wrath lighthouse I will head east to Kervaig Bothy to spend a couple of nights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU6yjkJ7ox8 . I will be going solo for the whole journey

For the cycling part---to be confirmed-Russia--St Petersburg ---Siberia or China-Taiyuan (not the island-its the nearest city to my wife's mothers village in China --to Mongolia

the above is not self indulgent as I will also be trying to raise some £ for my wife's hospital in Derby where she specialises in treatment of brain injuries

the original schedule for the walk was up to 8 weeks

hope this helps

* https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/