Inexpensive bike tracking - Tile?

[Slide Panda]

New product coming to market - Tile
http://www.thetileapp.com/

A little widget that can be located with a smart phone. If you mark one as lost, and another user comes within range it will notify you of the location.  Sort of a poor mans, crowd sourced lo-jack.

Obviously, you're depending on folks using this product for any lost item finding. But at $19 for one of the widgets that could be easily tucked under a seat or even secured some place less obvious like the battery box - might be worth a look.

[Ducatamount]

For $19? OK...








 where the hell is my wallet?

[Twizted]

Don't get me wrong. This is an awesome idea but in theory you better hope there are a lot of Tile users around if your bike gets jacked though.

[Raux]

that and you have to get a new tile piece every year

[Slide Panda]

that and you have to get a new tile piece every year

Mmm, didn't see that at first. Someone read the FAQs!

Yes, using it for tracking a stolen item does have a real weakness that it's dependent on the popularity of the gizmo. if you're the only one in town using them... well you'd best hope you're lucky enough to wander by where you stolen stuff is.

But at $19, might be worth a shot.

[ChrisK]

Got me looking for other options...

I know nothing about this stuff, so what about this unit?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-GPS-GPRS-GSM-Tracker-SMS-Real-Time-Network-Bike-Vehicle-Motorcycle-Monitor-/321168163433

I know it's Chinese and whatnot, but do you think it would work?

[sgollapalle]

Got me looking for other options...

I know nothing about this stuff, so what about this unit?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-GPS-GPRS-GSM-Tracker-SMS-Real-Time-Network-Bike-Vehicle-Motorcycle-Monitor-/321168163433

I know it's Chinese and whatnot, but do you think it would work?

The issue with the above, is you need a dedicated SIM to go with the unit. Which means you'll be shelling out $10/mo to ATT or T-mob... and it needs power from the battery, which also means you're actively draining it...

I've tried finding something a few years ago with no luck.. What most of us are basically looking for is a 'bug' that is small and has a built in battery that would beacon its position few times a day/ once an hr to a server somewhere which could store the data for say a month..
No Luck!
They have the dog tags and baby tags.. but all require some kind of overnight recharging...

There was some research going on for implantable pet tags... Hopefully they don't get stuck on battling how safe the implants are for pets, so we here can keep our two wheeled pets safe!

[Slide Panda]

The issue with the above, is you need a dedicated SIM to go with the unit. Which means you'll be shelling out $10/mo to ATT or T-mob... and it needs power from the battery, which also means you're actively draining it...

And if the villain pulls the power, there goes the track.

[ChrisK]

I'm seeing a few "Passive" tracking models, they seem like the route to go because they don't require a monthly fee, but I don't see any quality ones for under $100.

There's this, and others like it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Passive-GPS-Tracker-GPS-Tracking-Key-NEW-/111088779188
but they only get 2-6 weeks battery life on two AAA's or two AA's.

There's this one, that claims a lithium battery with "long life" but they don't say howling: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Passive-GPS-car-vehicle-tracking-device-logger-spy-track-unit-tracker-logger-/261251239394

I'd really like to see one for under $100.

[sgollapalle]

Those two log location data to the memory card on board, so you can download that info and see it on a map. Useful if you want to track a teenage kid or a cheating partner; assuming that they would eventually come home

Don't mean to pull you down.. Been looking for a tracking device for a while and haven't found one to serve the purpose..
Would uberly excited when I find one!! [at a decent price]