Sim for GPS tracker

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CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#302794 21-Dec-2022 11:13

Currently studying sim cards for GPS trackers supporting LTE-M/Cat M1

Been looking at a number of options, many based outside of NZ. One common limitation is often the offer is aimed at business enterprises only.

Keen to hear experiences, recommendations from anyone using a suitable sim, best value, pros and cons, etc..

Potentially I could track 5 of my vehicles. Currently I have one device which has been tested on Spark network.

Thanks for any tips, pointers, discussion, info sharing etc..

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6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3012692 21-Dec-2022 12:09

I've just got a 3g device. YMMV. There's an old thing with 2deg, where with a business plan, they'd give you a data sim with 200mb per month. I run this in my car, with a $10 top up every so often as you use SMS to configure the device.

I pump it all into a self hosted traccar server (away from the random dodginess it came with ). So just make sure the device you get can set the IP of a tracking service (most device I don;t believe use DNS at all so it's by ip).

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thewabbit

127 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#3012694 21-Dec-2022 12:13

Have a similar setup with a 3g vodafone sim pointing to a self hosted traccar server. Works well

CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3013006 21-Dec-2022 21:54

Thanks for the responses.

Thanks for tip on Traccar, looks good.

Part of my problem here is even 3G and 4G are often borderline reception. I live on the fringe of a signal shaded area. With LTE-M apparently the signal goes deeper, penetrates further. If I can get, I'd really like to have.

One offering, 1NCE looked real good, anticipated all my questions but then I found they only service businesses. Shame because they did 10years for $28nzd incl postage of sim.

cokemaster

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4927 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Lifetime subscriber

#3013008 21-Dec-2022 22:03

Only businesses - surely the offices of CGNAT & Partners is open for business (particularly given its a prepaid offering)?

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CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3014137 26-Dec-2022 21:59

Installed Traccar and fitted my Skinny sim from my Galaxy J7. OK, the sim works but Traccar didn't. According to log there's a port conflict. Yet to understand how to fix.

The original Sky200 tracking website was working so I gave it a run.

What I'm not understanding is if the device used Cat M1 capability or was it restricted? For that matter the Skinny server itself may need to be compatible.?

Still much to learn...

NZFINEST

202 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#3014157 27-Dec-2022 06:15

Set up a something like in the link below, just select the cheapest option you don't need lots of memory/ram

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnF4aqN8NQM

That way you don't have to worry about opening ports or port forwarding if you are doing it on your own network (note in the video when she uses putty if your using windows you can just use powershell instead. Open powershell and just ssh root@x.x.x.x)

You will then need to tell the gps unit a few things like

APN to use this might be the text message to send to the simd card in the device

APN,YOUR-APN-FOR-YOUR-SIM#

server ip address and port

SERVER,"tcp://server-ip:5015"#

Last of all make sure in the traccar gui you add the imei of your gps device, if using a linux server you can run this cmd to see if you device is attaching

tail -f /opt/traccar/logs/tracker-server.log

As mentioned above vodafone prepay sim with the $20 pay as you go option will last you a while

Anything I suggest or say is my own thoughts and not provided by anyone else unless stated

CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3150518 20-Oct-2023 15:46

Finally found enough time to devote to sorting this tracker.

I found a SIM card from Open-m2m that supports LTE-m/CAT m1. It was freepost from Holland and cost next to nothing to get some for testing.

SIM activated but only worked randomly. I was able to set APN to what open-m2m told me but not any real difference. There's no data usage registered on their site for last 8 days.

They weren't hopeful of me being able to solve the issue either.

There's a SMS facilty on open-m2m site which worked to set APN but it looks like tracker needs to be online for SMS requests to work.

Tracker has little LED's. Blue is for satellite and that appears to be working. Red blinking just keeps searching and not locking onto what it needs.

There is a micro-usb port. Can I plug into that and use PuTTY?

Any thoughts on how to get this tracker to behave?

Oh and I foolishly updated Traccar an now it won't open. Worse though is I've forgotten how I got it to work in the 1st place. Port issue?

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CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3150702 21-Oct-2023 08:58

Put a Skinny SIM in the TK319. After some time, SKY200 listed it as "online", staying this way for over an hour. Weird thing is the tracking datestamp didn't update right away but incrementally put later and later timestamps up till finally it was showing current time (about 15mins elapsed time). Wish I'd taken it for a run/drive ...

Another puzzle is why did a Skinny SIM work using APN iotapn.net?

https://www.eelinktracker.com/nav/download.html

Tried to edit Traccar & default.xml files with a different port but it was forbidden.How to change the port?.Do I take ownership as Admin and force edit it?

Is there a better GPS tracker?

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3150705 21-Oct-2023 09:11

Probably worth a new thread re traccar

Don’t think there is a Better one. I’ve used GPSGate inthe past.

In the new thread, make sure you say how traccar installed, docker, bare metal, versions etc. I know how to change ports in docker because you can essentially nat whatever port. I’m sure it just editing the appropriate protocol entry for a new port

CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3150807 21-Oct-2023 14:20

Thanks for the thoughts.

Actually I was meaning the device itself when asking about the "tracker". This device seems to please itself. Maybe it needs just the right SIM, like a Spark SIM which has been the only one that worked a couple years ago.

My thought is, it should be configurable, but I can't pretend to understand protocol jargon for a start.

Did make some progress with Android Traccar app. It's running but it lists device as offline.

Will start a new thread on Windows Traccar

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3150812 21-Oct-2023 14:46

Oh you mean the outgoing port from the device? Can you not set up and port? Mine is something like setip*ipaddress*port*

CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3150814 21-Oct-2023 15:06

This is the command list

https://www.eelinktracker.com/Images/default/devices-configuration-command.pdf

A bigger problem is getting device online in order that I can SMS it. A possibility is putting the Skinny SIM in, but I need the SIM in my Galaxy at the same time in order to send SMS.

Another possility is the Open-m2m SIM. Their website has a SMS send/receive box. BUT, the SIM hasn't been online since 14th.

The TK319 has a micro-USB port but I have no instruction.

A further possiblity is to reset TK319 to factory. This is the command: FACTORY# , but again, it needs to be online in order to SMS it.

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3150815 21-Oct-2023 15:10

Yea my device is the same, unless it’s running it won’t process sms commands. So you can’t queue them up.

But I have a sequence I have to go through as every so often it resets itself.
So set master password
Set apn
Set server
Set tracking options (upload speed, entry sampling speed etc - set these too fast and it craps itself)

CGNAT

58 posts

Master Geek

#3150970 21-Oct-2023 23:30

Thanks. Studying the subject and learning .

Assuming I want to start out by running Traccar on Android, what server IP would work for the device? I did find the port 5064 with eelink protocol. Also APN is already set.

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3151101 22-Oct-2023 20:59

Server ip will be same as tracksd. Whatever your external ip is. Unless you only want it to wrk on your home wifi

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