Best options for tracking down wireless earbuds?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Best options for tracking down wireless earbuds?

jonathan18

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#272703 10-Jul-2020 09:27

I'm getting frustrated with frequently misplacing my wireless earbuds; most recently I've been exactly a week without them, and was only reunited with them this morning after my son found them in one of Lego boxes, which are normally under a couch!

I'm looking I'm looking for the best options to be able to find them when they go missing - I'm talking about finding the whole package, ie buds and charging case; while the most effective solution may be a brain transplant, I'm thinking of something preferably less invasive.

I'm surprised that no-one's thought of an after-market package that's shaped appropriately and can easily attach to cases (or what would be more awesome is a case with the tracker built in and powered from the in-built battery).

So, in the absence of such a product, what are my best options? Range etc is not so much an issue, as I tend to lose them at home.

At this point the only suitable one I've found is the Tile Sticker - just narrow enough to stick to the bottom of the case, and I'm already using Tiles for other purposes.

Any other suggestions appreciated.

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#2520588 10-Jul-2020 10:04

Given they were bluetooth, and not connected to each other (like wireless headphones are)...I would have thought the "standard" might have included some way of finding them. Even it was some sort of audible alert, or "not in range...is is range" type thing.

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russelo

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#2520595 10-Jul-2020 10:09

Bose Soundsport has a Tile tracking builtin:

https://www.bose.com/en_us/support/article/using-tile-soundsport-wireless.html

RunningMan

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#2520596 10-Jul-2020 10:09

Tried Apple Airpods? Built in locating.

Senecio

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#2520613 10-Jul-2020 10:32

I don't think the Apple solution is that robust. I recently misplaced my Airpods and the Find My app and iCloud were unable to locate them. They were finally found in a drawer in my lounge room, 2 metres from where i was standing. I think its because I often use them with a non apple Garmin watch so it didn't have a last known location.

jonathan18

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#2520631 10-Jul-2020 11:15

Yeah, I just have a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds, and they do the job fine (given 99% of content is podcasts!), so what I’m looking for is more an aftermarket solution to stop me losing these rather than buying new ones. Good to see other brands have models that do address this, though, and something to consider when I replace these ones.

The Galaxy app does include a find feature but this only works if the buds are connected to the phone, and they’re automatically disconnected if they’re in the case. And I’ve never once misplaced the buds themselves (as they always go back into the case after use), but it’s what I do with the case afterwards that causes the issue!

Any other ideas of after-market solutions? Has anyone tried guri-brand Bluetooth trackers sold on AliExpress or similar?

gehenna

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#2520638 10-Jul-2020 11:27

Do you have this problem with other items of the size and shape of your buds case? 😂

I came across this problem a bit before lockdown - my buds fell out of my pocket in the New World car park as I was getting out of the car. The case opened and shut quickly, so that when I saw it on the ground it looked fine. Picked up the case and went on my way. It wasn't until an hour later when I was at home that I opened the case and found no buds in there! I then tried to use the tracking feature in the app and found it wanting. Ended up driving back to New world and found the shattered remains of my buds in one of the car park bays, clearly driven over....probably by me.

I have been over-the-top vigilant about the location of my replacement buds ever since! They live in my jeans pocket, or a zipped jacket pocket, and nowhere else.

Dulouz

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#2520657 10-Jul-2020 11:42

Senecio:

I don't think the Apple solution is that robust. I recently misplaced my Airpods and the Find My app and iCloud were unable to locate them. They were finally found in a drawer in my lounge room, 2 metres from where i was standing. I think its because I often use them with a non apple Garmin watch so it didn't have a last known location.

I've got the Airpods pro and they only make an alert sound when they are not in the charging case. Not that useful really.

Amanon

jonathan18

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#2520747 10-Jul-2020 13:31

So having looked through eBay and AliExpress, there's one Bluetooth (or as they also like to describe them, GPS!) tracker that meets the size restrictions. Replaceable battery, too, though it does claim a battery life of only six months (TBH, I get crud battery life out of the newer Tiles with replaceable batteries.)

https://h5.aliexpress.com/item/4000432905898.html

Could be worth a go, do you think? About $12 vs Tile Stickers @ $25 each, provided one buys four of them.

Senecio

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#2520799 10-Jul-2020 14:44

Dulouz:

Senecio:

I don't think the Apple solution is that robust. I recently misplaced my Airpods and the Find My app and iCloud were unable to locate them. They were finally found in a drawer in my lounge room, 2 metres from where i was standing. I think its because I often use them with a non apple Garmin watch so it didn't have a last known location.

I've got the Airpods pro and they only make an alert sound when they are not in the charging case. Not that useful really.

Thanks, that could be it.

jonathan18

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#2520894 10-Jul-2020 18:28

So with their bizarre discount codes, I can get a pack of four Tile Stickers from The Market for $79 instead of $109 ($15 off plus 15% off, and free shipping with trial membership).

I really can't see I've any need for four of these, so is anyone interested in going halves (ie purchasing two for just over $40)?

Senecio

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#2520970 10-Jul-2020 22:47

Where are you located?

PhantomNVD

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#2520972 10-Jul-2020 23:00

Only $60 from IN the Tile app?

jonathan18

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#2520984 11-Jul-2020 07:32

That’s a great price, for sure - and are you sure it’s definitely $NZ?

I see they’re US$55 from Amazon, so NZ$60 does seem surprisingly cheap. I also recall that in the past prices between Amazon and direct from Tile were pretty similar.

So this shows 4 for $100: https://thetileapp.co.nz/collections/products/products/tile-sticker-2-pack?variant=31296158236760

Whereas this shows $60: https://www.thetileapp.com/en-nz/products?

Can anyone confirm if the .com site (and app, which clearly pulls from this site) lists and charges in $US?

Goosey

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#2520988 11-Jul-2020 07:58

When you add the item to cart and checkout on the .com site... the currency next to the amount says "USD". (top right of screen of the cart).

hairy1

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#2520991 11-Jul-2020 08:02

It shows $60 USD for me. I strapped a NUT to mine which works well but I already had one sitting around doing nothing.

https://www.nutfind.com/

Cheers, Matt.

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