Wouldn't it be better to send a lat lon to the server? If it quits working... They might just chunk in the river... Get rid of it.
pmoran, post: 385859, member: 8922 wrote: It must be turned on - correct. Otherwise you'd have to have a charged battery on board at all times. When the unit it turned on- like at a pawn shop to prove it works- or back alley or wherever- the coords are sent to the server and a command that is waiting on the server can be sent to the instrument making it inoperable.
Ok, but what is the means of transmission to the server. GSM?
There is always the issue of power. In order to transmit a position, the GSM module needs to be powered up and connected to the network. So if it is stolen from storage, or from a vehicle, it won't be able to send anything until turned on. Maybe a low power tilt monitor could be installed, and, if armed, would fire up the GSM modem and send the data. If it is moved while turned on, then it should be able to send the data, even if powered down right away.
Jim Frame, post: 385105, member: 10 wrote: Among the many hare-brained schemes that I've devised for theft protection is one that I actually produced but have never actually used. It consists of two steel bars, pointed on one end and with a hole in the other, that are driven into the ground at opposing angles such that the holes line up. A padlock through the holes serves to secure a cable or chain from the equipment to be protected, and also makes removing the bars difficult.
That looks good, not too sure how big the bars are though. 'Circus tent stakes' are tough to install, and usually tougher to remove.
Another idea, is get a commercial product like THE CLAW. https://theclaw.com/products/c-101-earth-anchoring-system/
I have a bunch of these I use for tiedown, and they install very easy as the spikes are really not that big, but they hold very very well. I don't think you would normally get the 1,200 lbs of pulling force claimed, but easily several hundred unless you are in loose sand. Now, all you would have to do is cut a round steel plate with a hole in the middle, install the claw, and use a padlock to hold the plate on, and secure your instrument. The plate would prevent the easy removal of the spikes, and it should all install and remove pretty easily and still provide a heck of a secure tiedown.
It's just an idea - boy I am glad that I really don't have to worry about theft where I am. We leave receivers setup all the time!
John Hamilton, post: 385873, member: 640 wrote: There is always the issue of power. In order to transmit a position, the GSM module needs to be powered up and connected to the network. So if it is stolen from storage, or from a vehicle, it won't be able to send anything until turned on. Maybe a low power tilt monitor could be installed, and, if armed, would fire up the GSM modem and send the data. If it is moved while turned on, then it should be able to send the data, even if powered down right away.
The Trimble one is designed to be on all the time. Presumably it charges from the main batteries and keeps itself in a low power state and just "ping" every couple of minutes. Or maybe it has a motion detector like you say.
It was good when it worked. On the way to being delivered to us it quite accurately reported itself in the car park of the dealers office. GPS will only work outside of course but if it gets a fix in the car park outside then that's almost as good.
I hope they fix it.