Bike trackers

Chuchote

I got a SpyBike bicycle tracker a couple of years back, but then found it wouldn't fit in my mini-sized bike - it needs a man-sized head tube - so I'm selling it for half what it cost me. It also requires a SIM (it comes with one, but I'm not sure of the subscription, probably to a German network). In Ireland this means a monthly payment, however in Europe there are now Europe-wide cheap SIM deals like this one in France http://mobile.free.fr/

But in any case I'd prefer a tracker using SigFox, which doesn't need a SIM. These are at the beginning of development, with a bunch of possible uses including tracking farm machinery and valuable animals, old and wandery people, soldiers, pets, antiques, etc: http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/iBikeThief_5596.html (this article includes the interesting idea that bike shops could join the networks for things like Tile, which work on BlueTooth, and effectively act as anti-theft hubs). Trouble with BlueTooth networks is that a) if the bike is taken out of the country it is likely to end up somewhere with no user network where it will be identified, and b) Tiles and the like last only a year before becoming useless.

There's a French company called Nigiloc that apparently sells SigFox trackers, but they have an integrated SIM, and I'm not sure how that would work for Ireland. http://www.nigiloc.com/GB/nos-packs-pro.html

There's also a few build-your-own, though they tend to be too geeky for my limited intelligence; this one https://www.hackster.io/luisomoreau/sigfox-gps-tracker-26ae94 requires Windows (shudder), and I'm put off by the instructions, which say "In the unfortunate event where anything works..." (though this may be the uneasy English of its promoter). Ditto with this http://www.instructables.com/id/Sigfox-GPS-Tracker/step2/Get-started-with-Telecom-Design-SDK/

Has anyone succeeded in making one and having it work for them? Would you like to try?

AndrewJRenko

VT Networks are the Irish SigFox provider. They mention vehicle tracking

http://vt-iot.com/portfolio/home-security/

http://vt-iot.com/lost-car/

and they are doing some work on cycle safety

http://vt-iot.com/smartcharge-vt-use-iot-cyclist-safety/

but I don't see anything about bike tracking. It might be worth following up with them.

Chuchote

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

VT Networks are the Irish SigFox provider. They mention vehicle tracking

http://vt-iot.com/portfolio/home-security/

http://vt-iot.com/lost-car/

and they are doing some work on cycle safety

http://vt-iot.com/smartcharge-vt-use-iot-cyclist-safety/

but I don't see anything about bike tracking. It might be worth following up with them.

Thanks, will do. There's a firm called Munster GPS that does a SigFox tracker, but it looks a bit unwieldy to hide on a bike, and requires a bouncer of an annual subscription fee too http://www.munstergps.ie/sigfox.htm

AndrewJRenko

Chuchote wrote: »

Thanks, will do. There's a firm called Munster GPS that does a SigFox tracker, but it looks a bit unwieldy to hide on a bike, and requires a bouncer of an annual subscription fee too http://www.munstergps.ie/sigfox.htm

http://www.munstergps.ie/hidnseek.htm

€20 annual fee seems pretty good to me, but the initial cost is steep. I'm not sure where you could conveniently hide it on a bike, and yet, get regular access for recharging.

Chuchote

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

http://www.munstergps.ie/hidnseek.htm

€20 annual fee seems pretty good to me, but the initial cost is steep. I'm not sure where you could conveniently hide it on a bike, and yet, get regular access for recharging.

Ah, I was looking at their own ones! That's much better, though as you say the initial charge is steep.

Miniaturisation is going to be the winner with SigFox trackers - they'd be used for tracking everything from herds to wandery people to soldiers (alas) to paintings, if they can just get the size right.