Small GPS Tracker

I have been using a GPS Tracker on my Multi-Rotors with a lot of success. From time to time when it is out on a flight I will call the tracker to see if it is reporting back correctly. I know how difficult it was for me to figure out just what I needed, where to buy things and most of all not have a monthly fee.

I have put together a small video showing 2 of the trackers that have worked well and some how to guides. I will also be testing another very small tracker in the next few weeks. I am no expert on this so if I can not answer a question don't get upset. I just know how important it is to have some extra resources should you loose your Aircraft.

Nothing is foolproof, but it does give you one extra chance to hopefully find your equipment should it disappear out of sight. If the tracker reports back to you correctly you should be able to get within about 20 ft of where it is resting. I added a Bluetooth quarter size StickNfind tag on the side of my multi-rotor so when I do get close I can make it beep and make the final recovery!

Hope this helps some of you who worry as I do about loosing your Aircrafts. And please if you know of any other sites to post this, feel free to copy it over. Nothing worse than that sinking feeling when your controls don't work!

Grandpa Jake


Here are some instructions if the above link does not take you to my Funtimegrandpa grandpa jake site
Start out by going here http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-as-you-go-plans
This will show you the Pay As You Go plan. This is what you want.

Now at the top of the screen choose SHOP and select Bring You Own Device
Select the sim card to the left. That is the standard size card

You have a choice between Phone and Mobile Internet: Choose Phone
Then click on Add To Cart and it will then display T-Mobile Sim Activation Kit

Click on Purchase you items. It will bring you to Review My Cart.

Click on Add Accessories which is just below the picture of the Sim Card
Scroll down to $10 Prepaid Card and select Add to Cart

The rest should not be a problem. Once you get the card or during your purchase you can call the following numbers 1-877-746-0909 or 1-877-334-7151

You have to remember you don't have a display on the tracker so you will need them to help activate it once you install the tracker. Or you can take the tracker and sim card to a T-mobile store and have them set the account up there. I suggest that you don't change any of the passwords on the tracker as you can have a lot of problems. You don't have to worry as no one will have your tracker phone number but you.

Here are a few links that will help with the TK102

http://nyomkoveto.top5.hu/sms-parancsok-list.pdf

http://solidgoldsecurity.com.au/tk102-gps-tracker-command-instructions/

As for the Smaller LDW-TKW19G I have a pdf file or word doc and if you need the file Let me know and I can always email it to you

 

This information works in the USA, I don't see why it would not work other places as long as you can get the sim that will work on the tracker. I believe they require a GSM, GPRS network. The hardest part for me was finding a sim card that did not have a monthly fee. It was confusing until I came across T-Mobile

 

I would love to know what you find on that. If it works as you hope that would be a very good feature. Let me know once you get time to try it. My question if it does work, would be what if it went beyond say a mile is there still a way to track it? I am curious because my brother is saving up for the vision + and that would sure be a bonus if it works.

 

I don't have enough experience to help with this, but I know the sinking feeling watching your investment drift away. I was lucky as failsafe kicked in and it did return. I told myself I did not want this feeling again and started to search for a tracker that would work. But there is a bright side to the Phantom and its advancement to stop flyway's. There are so many types of radio frequencies that can hijack your equipment but Dji made a very important change that may bring it back to you. If it is taken over my a radio tower for example, the tower will be putting out a very steady frequency that will not change. If the Phantom does not see some sort of change as in moving one of the control sticks for a set period of time, it will go into failsafe and return. In the past that would not happen and it may be lost forever. There was a video on this and if I can find it I will enter it here. But I will never fly without my tracker if for no other reason than to give me a small peace of mind.

 

Thank you once again. I was aware of that recent Phantom protection feature that you describe. But I understand it's something you can have only if you are using the Naza mode. I have just switched to Naza mode, but haven't been able to fly and test that mode because of too much wind. I live in London, UK, an often windy city, at least for quadcopters.

 

Grandpa Jake, In your video you mentioned a third unit being sent to you, Any luck with that one ? Also what was the brand of the little blue one with the Octopus on it ?
Thanks, jOHN

 

Thanks, I'll be watching

 

Nice review... Thanks. I'll be looking into this one for sure.

 

Found one - $88 .... (-:

 

Great tutorial Jake. Might help a lot of people with their flyaway issues.

 

I just purchased a Trackimo today from Radio Shack for $49 and the yearly up front service was $49 for a total of $100. The unit is currently selling most places for $139. It activated perfectly and it started tracking perfectly right away. Haven't put it on my Phantom yet because it won't arrive until Monday. THEN I can look for my OTHER Phantom I lost a week ago which I think went down under "low battery" safety landing during a RTH flight. The Trackimo worked perfectly while driving and the accuracy was within a few feet. At this price point, it seems to be an extremely inexpensive "insurance policy" against the loss of about $1600 worth of bird! The size & weight seem perfect and it is probably one of the smallest trackers around. I will report on it when I fly my drone next week!

 

Anyone have the pictures of the charging location? What type of cable?

 

Charging is via micro USB on one of the sides. I've used this for a few days and have had zero problems. It works perfectly so far. I've used the 1 min interval and the 5 min interval and both work fine. I've attached the Trackimo to my Phantom battery via velcro and it attaches well enough to even pick the entire bird up holding the Trackimo. I have no doubt that this will work as well on my Phantom as it does in my car or in my pocket which I tried. As far as I'm concerned, this is the least expensive, accurate way to keep track of a Phantom I have found.

 

Love the Trackimo. Have it set at 1 minute interval updates. Tracks my flight perfectly, within feet.