Anyone using a game camera with a sim card to "protect" equipment left unattended? We have two projects coming up where we have to leave a receiver on pedestals all day for several days. Not as obvious as a tripod, and they are near project offices, but both are along roads. Most people would not even notice a small receiver on top of a pedestal, but someone might.
So, on Amazon I found a game camera that has a sim card slot. Not at all expensive, $120. There isn't a lot of explanation online as to what they do, how, etc. But as near as I can tell they will either store an image or email it when they detect motion. Of course I need to get a sim card and a data plan.
I wish the manufacturers (Trimble in this case) would put in some technology like lojack. The receiver I am putting there has an active cell connection, so it would be nice to have a feature that if it detects movement it sends out an alert.
But then again, maybe their idea is that if it is stolen I will buy another one...
John, I haven't done it, BUT have thought about it. Agree with the tracking too, already have a position and a data connection...
I have been talking about adding a camera system to my GPS base station trailer for awhile...
One thing I have been doing with my trailer is setting up the RTK Bridge, even for static work, works inside the trailer even with the little puck antenna, I can look on my phone and see a map of the location, should someone decide to take the trailer, as long as there is power to the bridge I can can track with any device that can connect to the IP address. Also can monitor voltage, etc. too.
SHG
There's lots of stuff out there to monitor your home; I'm sure you could adapt it to your needs. Search for motion detector camera.
For a permanent pedestal like that, I would think a lockable collar would deter theft of the receiver. Something that is hinged on one side and a hasp on the other, just tight enough to keep someone from spinning the receiver off the threads.
James
I ordered a camera, I will update this thread after I have a chance to use it. I have a similar pedestal at my office, I am testing an r10 right now with a garbage bag over it to see if that affects the data at all. I wouldn't think so, but who knows? I just checked the internal temp on the unit and it is showing 32å¡ C (I can do that from my phone). The garbage bag makes it very unnoticeable.
Shelby H. Griggs PLS, post: 378600, member: 335 wrote: John, I haven't done it, BUT have thought about it. Agree with the tracking too, already have a position and a data connection...
I have been talking about adding a camera system to my GPS base station trailer for awhile...
One thing I have been doing with my trailer is setting up the RTK Bridge, even for static work, works inside the trailer even with the little puck antenna, I can look on my phone and see a map of the location, should someone decide to take the trailer, as long as there is power to the bridge I can can track with any device that can connect to the IP address. Also can monitor voltage, etc. too.
SHG
Shelby: I have been wanting to setup a trailer like that for a while. Send me pics if you have them. Unfortunately the scope for these two projects say the base MUST be on the peds, not sure why, it is for hydro work. In the past at the same project we set points to work from. Radio will not work, large hills in the way so we will connect to the base using an RTK bridge. Only my R10 has an internal cell modem and NTRIP server, so that is the unit to go on the ped
John, what are those vertical white things in the distance? Septic tank vents?
Daniel Ralph, post: 378612, member: 8817 wrote: John, what are those vertical white things in the distance? Septic tank vents?
They look like tree wrapping around the base of the trees.
On a related note. For the past few days my partner has been working on a survey in a rather difficult part of town which happens to be in the precinct where my neighbor is a detective. Said neighbor has made arrangements' to have a spare squad car parked across the street and even moves it from time to time; calling it a social experiment.
Just out of curiosity: when an expensive piece of equipment like that is left somewhere over night, does anybody leave some sort of note or indication that the equipment is actually not forgotten (i.e. was left there on purpose)? I'm picturing that on occasion, an honest person (another surveyor for example) might recognize something like that and want to return it to the owner instead of leaving the equipment out and about to be stolen.....
Wire around the bollards with couple "HIGH VOLTAGE" signs might help. 🙂
We have a trail camera that we use in certain areas. It emails the pictures or uploads them to a website. It is motion activated, and works pretty well. I can forward the info along if you still need it.
John, post: 378619, member: 791 wrote: Just out of curiosity: when an expensive piece of equipment like that is left somewhere over night, does anybody leave some sort of note or indication that the equipment is actually not forgotten (i.e. was left there on purpose)? I'm picturing that on occasion, an honest person (another surveyor for example) might recognize something like that and want to return it to the owner instead of leaving the equipment out and about to be stolen.....
Back in the mid 80's I had a project where I had to observe second order polaris azimuths at 80 pairs of points using a T-3. It was Prince William County, VA, just outside of DC. I worked alone. I would setup a lighted target on one station, then setup on the other station and do the observations. All of the points were along highways and streets, many in the medians. Usually pretty quiet, but weekends I had to really keep an eye out. A guy picked up the backsight setup one Friday night about 3 AM, then stopped when he got to me down the road. He thought someone left it there in the daytime and forgot about it. So he wasn't trying to steal it. But he was a little intoxicated.
Never lost any equipment on that job. I was usually fairly close, and I did see a few cars stop at the backsights. I had one of those 1,000,000 candlepower spotlights, I would just shine that on them and they would take off.
John Hamilton, post: 378645, member: 640 wrote: Back in the mid 80's I had a project where I had to observe second order polaris azimuths at 80 pairs of points using a T-3. It was Prince William County, VA, just outside of DC. I worked alone. I would setup a lighted target on one station, then setup on the other station and do the observations. All of the points were along highways and streets, many in the medians. Usually pretty quiet, but weekends I had to really keep an eye out. A guy picked up the backsight setup one Friday night about 3 AM, then stopped when he got to me down the road. He thought someone left it there in the daytime and forgot about it. So he wasn't trying to steal it. But he was a little intoxicated.
Never lost any equipment on that job. I was usually fairly close, and I did see a few cars stop at the backsights. I had one of those 1,000,000 candlepower spotlights, I would just shine that on them and they would take off.
Don't use a garbage bag use a Wal-Mart sack