Recommendations wanted for Personal GPS Tracking

Forums › GPS, maps and mapping software › Recommendations wanted for Personal GPS Tracking

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#75264 15-Jan-2011 12:14

Hi

A family member spends time participating in athletic events such as Ironman and we want to provide him with a GPS tracking device that can send back location information so that we can track his progress on the course. The longest period that we would need to monitor progress would be say 12 to 14 hours in one session, so battery life is less of a concern.

Does anyone have any experience with this and can provide recommendations of products and/or services that we could investigate. At the very least, we would want to be able to go to say Google Maps or an equivalent and see a position indicator in as close to real time as possible given the technology.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be welcome.

Cheers Mike

3g

341 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 24

#427390 15-Jan-2011 12:40

http://www.findmespot.net.nz/index.html

Not the cheapest option, but probably the best for what you've described.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#427405 15-Jan-2011 13:34

Thanks 3G - your right, not the cheapest, but it does seem to provide the features.

Cheers Mike

n4

959 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 74

#427412 15-Jan-2011 14:30

Most smartphones (Android etc) could do this with an app, but I think 12-14 hours of battery life running GPS might be a challenge.

Samsung Note20 Ultra, on 2degrees

nate

6473 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 458

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#427416 15-Jan-2011 14:48

Coverage will also be an issue - ie if the tracked person is in areas without cellphone coverage, you would need something that can use satellite if you want to keep track of them the whole time.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#427433 15-Jan-2011 16:04

Thanks Guys,

Nate - I agree, cell coverage will be the limiting factor. Most of the cheaper options rely on Cell Coverage to transmit the return data. Spot uses a Satellite subscription service so is not reliant on cell coverage. The annual cost isn't cheap but they also provide web sites to display the output.

Hunting round, it looks like I can get a Spot device from the US for about $US120 (compared with the $NZ399 from a local provider!!!). So that might be a workable option.

In the case of the NZ Ironman at Taupo, whilst the run stage is within the Taupo cell coverage area, the cycle component (from Taupo to Reparoa) is probably not. I need to check that out first I think. If the cell coverage is OK in that area, a Cell based solution could be viable.

Thanks all for the feedback, that has opened up some options for me to pursue.

Cheers Mike

VinLew

210 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#429007 19-Jan-2011 22:23

mruane: I need to check that out first I think. If the cell coverage is OK in that area, a Cell based solution could be viable.

One of the GZ users, BarTender, has compiled Google Earth and Google Map files that show the locations of cellphone towers for NZ cellphone networks - you can find them Here

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

petermcg

77 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#435004 3-Feb-2011 19:25

I have been selling units on trademe that rely on cell coverage, come with 2 batterys, batterys last 48hrs.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=351006743

rayonline

1736 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 51

#435197 4-Feb-2011 10:04

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2013940