GPS/cellular pet tracker

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pbolger

241 posts

Master Geek

#228943 31-Jan-2018 11:12

We have an errant moggie I'd like to track to find out who she's two timing us with. Does anyone have any experience with running GPS pet trackers in NZ? The big names overseas seem to rely on using their proprietary networks and don't work here.

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wellygary

4938 posts

Uber Geek

#1949143 31-Jan-2018 11:23

How much do you want to spend?

There are plenty of GPS- 3G mobile options out there , but they are all around $200 or higher,

pbolger

241 posts

Master Geek

#1949173 31-Jan-2018 11:52

wellygary:

How much do you want to spend?

There are plenty of GPS- 3G mobile options out there , but they are all around $200 or higher,

I was hoping to spend less than that.

Another complication is that Vodafone cellphones don't work in our area, so we are limited to the Spark network.

MikeAqua

6010 posts

Uber Geek

#1949174 31-Jan-2018 11:52

There are small animal location trackers on the market for use in ecological research. Some transmit, others just log and you recover and download the data. But be prepared to pay.

Mike

wellygary

4938 posts

Uber Geek

#1949179 31-Jan-2018 11:58

The lowest cost solution is probably a Tile type tracker - but you chances of getting useful (or any ) info may be low....

davidcole

4949 posts

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#1949198 31-Jan-2018 12:23

Where are you?

I've got a "cat" one, it's just an battery operated GPS tracker, mostly sitting idle in my garage, I managed to figure out what protocol it uses and have it going to my gpsgate server.

Even though it's for a cat, it'd have to be a pretty big cat, more suitable for a dog.

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pbolger

241 posts

Master Geek

#1949203 31-Jan-2018 12:26

wellygary:

The lowest cost solution is probably a Tile type tracker - but you chances of getting useful (or any ) info may be low....

Yes, super cheap (as in $1 plus postage). But I imagine you'd end up having to prowl the streets trying to get close enough for the thing to connect.

It's a pity you can't rent the GPS/cellular ones. I only really need it to work out where she's going and don't imagine it'd be useful after that.

michaelmurfy

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#1949208 31-Jan-2018 12:33

I had a cat that would always go missing (as he was blind) - bought him a Tractive (https://tractive.com/int_en) which has a subscription based model. Was worth it, I could always find him when he went missing. They've just launched a new collar which is a touch smaller however never had issues with the sizing of the old collar.

I thought about other options however just wanted one that "just worked".

KrazyKid

910 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#1949219 31-Jan-2018 13:05

That's a cool service - not a bad price for what it is. I've wasted more money on less useful gadget.
Now I need a Dog :)

pbolger

241 posts

Master Geek

#1949223 31-Jan-2018 13:10

michaelmurfy:

I had a cat that would always go missing (as he was blind) - bought him a Tractive (https://tractive.com/int_en) which has a subscription based model. Was worth it, I could always find him when he went missing. They've just launched a new collar which is a touch smaller however never had issues with the sizing of the old collar.

I thought about other options however just wanted one that "just worked".

That might end up cheaper for me than the regular cellular one. I'm restricted to the Spark network and they charge in 20c, 1mb blocks for data. The Petrek people reckon about $20 for 3 weeks, as opposed to $20 a year for Vodafone.

bagheera

395 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1949227 31-Jan-2018 13:14

I had a cat that was very good at begging for food - put a tag with do not feed me on one side, and my phone number on the other - work well and got lots of phone calls about her, till she learned the tag was giving her away, and work out how to lose the collar within 1 hour of putting it on her, thereafter.

michaelmurfy

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#1949314 31-Jan-2018 14:31

@pbolger I believe it works over Spark 3G also. Just had a look at the subscription pricing and it has gone down since I had it. Having an app that just works is worth it.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

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#1949419 31-Jan-2018 15:48

Looks small on the dogs but was it kinda bulky on the cat's collar?

Our cat keeps losing it's collars - especially as now all the collars for safety have a break-away clip, and I think he's worked out he can just hook it on something and yank it off. At least with one of these I could find the collar if not the cat! :-)

MikeAqua

6010 posts

Uber Geek

#1949480 31-Jan-2018 16:13

kryptonjohn:

Looks small on the dogs but was it kinda bulky on the cat's collar?

Our cat keeps losing it's collars - especially as now all the collars for safety have a break-away clip, and I think he's worked out he can just hook it on something and yank it off. At least with one of these I could find the collar if not the cat! :-)

Or not if he sheds it in drain culvert or under a house :)

Mike

Senecio

893 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#1949482 31-Jan-2018 16:22

pbolger:

I only really need it to work out where she's going and don't imagine it'd be useful after that.

Why not borrow a Garmin or Fitbit GPS tracker and use that to figure out where she's going. It doesn't sound like you need live tracking with cellular data?

michaelmurfy

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#1949487 31-Jan-2018 16:35

Fitbits (apart from the ionic) use the phone for tracking. This won't work.

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