Ant-theft device for all r.v.'s

[Jim Jarzabek]

I am developing an anti-theft device for all types of recreational vehicles utilizing g.p.s. (global positioning device) technology. The considerations are:

1) Portability and flexibility
2) Ease of installation
3) Battery life
4) Signal range
5) Monitoring style
6) Cost

This is a grass roots attempt to make an affordable and effective ant-theft
device which would assist in the location and recovery of a stolen recreational vehicle. Ideally it would have a portable and secure housing, long battery life, effective signal range, choice of monitoring, and be economically priced.

I am asking Forum members to contribute their thoughts particularly regarding monitoring and cost.
For example; would you prefer independent monitoring by you of your unit or would you want private or police monitoring in the event of theft?
For example; what would be a reasonable one time fee or monthly monitoring cost by a private firm?
For example; would you prefer remote enable and disable much like a car alarm remote or would you prefer a continuous emitted tracking signal?
For example; would you prefer to change the battery once every 3 months, 6 months, or once a year?

Thank you!

[Porky Pig]

I'm not sure what I would want in a GPS anti-theft system ... but I have been looking at this for my truck.

Looking at the competition is a great way to position your product.

I'll be wintering near you ... Gold Canyon .. and have heard the theft rate for trucks is pretty high in Arizona.

[Over59]

I would want to ping my trailer with the internet and get a location on a map, speed, and direction.
I want my trailer to notify my cell phone, email, and home phone if it moves, otherwise be on standby.
I don't want to have an additional battery, I want to use my battery bank and solar charger.
I want to use my current cell phone account or not pay more than $10 month for the data connection.

[markdoane]

I would want to ping my trailer too, don't care about speed and direction tho.
Notification on movement would be great!
A separate battery is necessary, if it could also be connected to the house batt.
$10 per month sounds about right for 'basic' service on an existing email/cell acct.
Portability, flexibility, ease of installation would not be part of my purchase decision.

[Gillpine]

Offer this as part of the package. Might save them some money. Good idea. We'll be nervous about leaving our trailer parked unattended (if we ever get it on the road).

[rmkrum]

I use my Ham radio license and an APRS device embedded in the AS. It reports location and speed and the data can be accessed over the Internet or directly with the right radio gear. The only thing that shows is an inconspicuous antenna in the roof. As long as the AS has a charged battery, I can tell where it is.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[AWCHIEF]

OP has not posted in almost 9 years. Have a feeling his plan did not pan out.

[Jaxon]

Well, who knows? I recently read an article about a GPS anti-theft device for band trailers (Wells Cargo, etc), used to ferry musical equipment from gig to gig... it is not unheard of for these trailes to be stolen from hotel parking lots, etc., while the band sleeps...

Anyway, the device is battery powered and can be accessed by your computer letting you know where it is. An acquaintance of mine recently got their trailer back with all but one guitar missing... and they even nabbed the bad guys.

There’s a lot of satisfaction in that...

[Protagonist]

There's always the Trailer Lojack:
LoJack - Trailers and Towables

[AWCHIEF]

A friend recently had his Boss 302 Mustange boosted. Using LoJack it was recovered in less than two hours still in one piece.

[paiceman]

I am more concerned with my dogs in the trailer when we leave than the trailer itself. But will look into loJack.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by paiceman

I am more concerned with my dogs in the trailer when we leave than the trailer itself. But will look into loJack.

Theft or physical condition?

[paiceman]

Sorry to be so long AW, lost the thread. But both, mainly theft of trailer with them in it. As it so happens I broke my cell phone yesterday, went to Verizon and met a nice young Iraq War vet as my sales person. We talked while I bought my new phone and mentioned what I do in retirement, AS etc. and that I was concerned about theft. he called over his boss and together they suggested a thing they call the Gizmo. It's a small watch that kids can wear, it can be set up on your phone via an app and get alerts whenever the child moves at all, a foot a mile etc. It also has up to four phone numbers which can be programmed into it.

I got to thinking about it, and if the trailer is moved I would know when it moved, where it moved or was moving at all times as it used Google Earth as a map source. The nice part is it's $79.00 for the unit, app is free and then $5.00 a month for the cell service. No cell service no work.

Might just pick one up. Would not help with dogs health, but I would at least know if it were moved or not.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by paiceman

Might just pick one up. Would not help with dogs health, but I would at least know if it were moved or not.

Attach one to the trailer (outside to prevent Faraday-cage effect from blocking the signal, but protected from weather) and one to each dog's collar so you know if they're moved away from the trailer.

[switz]

I have the LoJack in the UK car for the last 13 years. Still works. and there is nationwide coverage.

The LoJack web site displays the counties in each state where there is coverage. In Arizona, only the high density areas are covered which makes it useless in the rest of the state. The border areas are not covered from what I read, which is where most stolen vehicles are headed.

[RAH]

Originally Posted by paiceman

they suggested a thing they call the Gizmo. It's a small watch that kids can wear, it can be set up on your phone via an app and get alerts whenever the child moves at all, a foot a mile etc. It also has up to four phone numbers which can be programmed into it.

I got to thinking about it, and if the trailer is moved I would know when it moved, where it moved or was moving at all times as it used Google Earth as a map source. The nice part is it's $79.00 for the unit, app is free and then $5.00 a month for the cell service. No cell service no work. .

How does the GIZMO get power?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by RAH

How does the GIZMO get power?

Same USB plug as a Samsung Galaxy phone, looks like. The one for the trailer could be hooked up more-or-less permanently to a 12v car charger connected to the house batteries so if the batteries are on so is the device.

The ones for the dogs would have to be periodically recharged and so should be removable at night. Perhaps on a separate collar replacing the device's wristband?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Anyone know for sure how many ants it would take to steal an Airstream?

Bob

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Anyone know for sure how many ants it would take to steal an Airstream?

One. If it's a really big one from a Japanese monster movie…

[Rjpuckett]

I have a gps tracker from Spot that does all of the things mentioned here. It even emails me everyday saying it is functioning correctly.

Check it out at findmespot.com.

Spot Trace. Connected to the DC power.