I remember some time back one of the trade mags had an advertisement for some sort of gps asset management/recovery. I think it was like a lojack type device that you could leave in the gun case or might have even been imbedded in the gun. Does anyone recall?
Had an instrument theft and am looking to beef up security on the replacement...
I've seen a tracker, the size of a zippo lighter, runs on a AA battery i think, with a sim card, text the number and get reply back with the coordinates??? Try the bay for them.
I think the Topcon (TS Shield) and Leica, have something, that locks the instrument and or can trace it.
Please post if you find such a device available - I'm sure there are others like me who would be interested in this.
thank you.
Ezoom
One of these in the case would offer some level of protection. It probably wouldnt help too much in a grab and go off the tripod.
IT is standard equipment on the Topcon/Sokkia total station lines. TS Shield also notifies owners of new versions of firmware etc.
We work in urban areas where snatch and grab while your back is turned is a common place. We have lost three instruments while our people were within 100 yards. So I checked into the lojack device route but none of the small ones allow real time tracking. Plus even if you have real time you need to get the police to respond timely and track it down. Some of the cities we work in that is not an option. We solved it by using a thick steel cable and attaching it to a smaller cable the locks the tribrach to the tripod then securing to a power pole, light pole or even the truck. We also lock the tripod set screw and thieves cannot unlock it on the fly. While it's true someone can still damage the equipment by slamming it to the ground it looks very secure which seems to scare off the thieves lurking in the bushes from trying to snatch the equipment.
I used to do the same thing with a topcon hiper base. I made a collar that fit around the "neck" and made it very difficult to remove. Then I had a rather large padlock and a thick cable that I attached to something solid nearby. Just the look of it probably would have a thief moving along to something easier...