permanent GPS track recording

[jamescook]

Hi, I will travel from May thru Sep. through the United States.

I'm looking for a device, that continuously records the track that I'm driving, like a GPS logger that you carry around.

It should be totally maintenance free, mounted and wired. I don't want to think about it. All the track data should be uploaded to the internet, so that my friends and family at home can see where we are and where we have been.

As I like to have permanent access to the internet for other devices (smartphones, tablet) anyway, maybe there is a solution, where all devices (including the logger) can share the same internet access, like a Verizon MIFI.

Peter

[jamescook]

Bucky Badger wrote:
The Spot doesn't like to follow the exact route you take...it only does straight lines...were you happy with the performance of it, or do you wish it was more accurate?

I'm totally happy with SPOT.
It cannot follow the exact route, as it only sends a message every 5 minutes.
But that's ok. If you look back at your trip, you get the information you need. I never wanted to know every single turn.

And when it comes to geocoding of photos, every place where we stropped the RV and got out to take photos, we have a very precise locations (as long as the stop was 5 minutes or longer).

So if you take a closer look at Joliet, you can see the exact parking lot that we used to take the photo of the Blues Brothers (2:38 in http://youtu.be/0jvqQ5Eteek )

Peter

[Unit505]

We have gps tracking on our ambulance fleet. Records and maps our travels and data is stored on our servers for at least a year. It pinpoints location and speed every minute. They are not fool proof and are high maintenance. Our system, wish I knew the name of the new program, plugs into the obd2 port under the dash and reports all vehicle functions and engine codes. The biggest fault with the system is the call from the boss..."why are you doing 400mph?". Of course he knows we're not, but we can get moments of gps satellite error showing grossly exaggerated speed and location. Allot of the errors occurred overnight while the ambulance is parked. Our location can be reported by as much as 25 miles away at speeds in excess of 100mph. We of course have vehicle data now being recorded to dispute those reports. There is no gps based product out there in civilian hands that can be held as absolutely reliable for location tracking history. This has been a 5 year project for our company with combination cellular/gps live tracking. The vehicle data is a huge bonus for us as a vehicle can have a miss and shutdown and that moment and code is instantaneously sent to the database if we are in cellular coverage.

[Bucky_Badger]

jamescook wrote:
sorry, I didn't keep my promise and post the link at the beginning of our trip.

Now our trips is over, but you can still look at our track: http://djc5.de

We covered 22,000 miles in 150 days. Here are some images http://youtu.be/0jvqQ5Eteek

Peter

That is too cool, thx for sharing. That SPOT Gen3 worked nice....


Edit. so I zoomed in on Joliet, since that is where i'm from, The Spot doesn't like to follow the exact route you take...it only does straight lines...were you happy with the performance of it, or do you wish it was more accurate?

[jamescook]

sorry, I didn't keep my promise and post the link at the beginning of our trip.

Now our trips is over, but you can still look at our track: http://djc5.de

We covered 22,000 miles in 150 days. Here are some images http://youtu.be/0jvqQ5Eteek

Peter

[Dutch_12078]

For anyone else looking for a lower cost solution, take a look at the "Real Time GPS Tracker" Android app. We use it when we're underway to let family and friends know where we are, and when I'm off hiking so my wife knows where I am in case I don't return on time.

[tatest]

never mind, you found a solution

[jamescook]

Finally, I bought a SPOT Gen3

I will post the link to my map, as soon as I start my journey 🙂

Peter

[sue_t]

We have two of the previous generation of the SPOT Gen 3 units.
http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=100

The Gen 3 has USB power, I see, which would be handy.

Having the SOS function and the Check In and Custom Message features are important to us as we are often in the backcountry of Yukon doing things that go wrong quickly. It's good to know if things go really wrong, that we can summons emergency assistance or just let our friends know that we need help.

We also have the Tracking subscription. Our tongue-in-cheek joke being that we will at least be able to find the other's corpse. My husband is off on his own now, playing on his trials motorcycle, while I watch from the comfort of home.

[jamescook]

Hi Sue, hi Murray,
which SPOT units do you own?

I am thinking that SPOT trace could be the right one for me. It comes with a "Line power with a 5v USB connection (NOT waterproof) – included".

Will the standard service (update every 5 minutes) for 10$/month (100$/year) be good? I would the unit run in the "asset has been stolen"-mode for my entire vacation (4 months).

Peter

[explorenorth]

You can also journal your trip with Spot, such as my hike on Caribou Ridge, Yukon.

[explorenorth]

I've been doing a LOT of driving lately (just got home yesterday from an 18-day, 6,000-km wander), and you can see my Spot page in action here. That's page 1 of 7 currently showing 311 pings.

[sue_t]

jamescook wrote:
Hi Sue,can you send me such an URL? I would like to take a look.

Take a look here. This is where people share their adventures, including adding pictures they've taken along the way.http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/

My page doesn't have any tracks on it now because we haven't used the SPOT for a few weeks.

Next week I'll be making a road trip to Alaska and will use it so my hubby can follow along and know I'm safe. The private pages don't include pictures ... instead people see a point you're at every 10 minutes. If you press the OK button, the track shows where you were when you pushed it. If you press the SOS button, it does NOT show on the track but is transmitted directly to rescue authorities.

The private pages use Google Maps to show locations.

[sue_t]

jamescook wrote:
Can't it be connected to 12V permanently to let it run all year long?

Nope, the GPS can run via an inverter but the SPOT units are powered by battery only, unless someone is creative enough to create a way to connect it to power.

[jamescook]

sue.t wrote:
Our SPOT unit records directly to a webpage that can be seen by anyone with whom I share the URL

Hi Sue,
can you send me such an URL? I would like to take a look.

sue.t wrote:
Only maintenance is changing batteries and turning it on again.

Can't it be connected to 12V permanently to let it run all year long?

Regards
Peter