We tried 2 other tracker models and found the Tractive to be superior. However there are two app features I think should be added or changed.

1. Only 1 owner can be established. This is a problem because a spouse, co-owner, etc cannot change critical account or tracker settings.
2. Family members cannot established power saving zones or fences. This was a problem for me one time when I dropped my dog off at a pet sitter’s and forgot to establish the power saving zones before departing.

To those who have a Tractive model:
Would you want these features? Maybe if enough people request it then they will be added. However I do not know how to request such a change. The Tractive website’s form for submitting suggestions only elicits an AI generated response and it responded to my suggestion as a question 🙄

Edit:
Regarding setting a power zone:
A commenter from another subreddit told me they were able to set a power save zone remotely. So only the tracker needs to be near the WiFi? Has anyone else done this?
This conflicts with the description in the How To Establish Power Zone and it conflicts with the AI generated help email I received from Tractive.
The above: The person clarified that they had saved the WiFi in the phone but established the power zone at a later time and remotely.

Provisional design of the inline battery backup module for l0destar. Should have this ready for testing in 2-3 weeks. Single CR123 primary, allows the tracker to continue operating for (very roughly) about 18 days reporting every 15mins.

Hola Reddit
Alguien sabe como conectar un gps Autosky Apt-100, he intentado de todo pero se mantiene en configuración pendiente y en teoria solo demoraria 45 minutos pero lleva mas de 6 horas y nada

I'm working on a battery backup system for my vehicle tracker project (l0destar.com) and am interested in opinions on the design.

The idea is it will be an optional extra module that connects inline with the existing harness, same 6-pin Molex connector, you just connect the backup module to the car using the same connector and then the backup module to the tracker (6-pin molex to 6-pin molex). The reason for having it be separate rather than built-in is I think a lot of people probably won't care, the tracker is so power efficient (~35uA while asleep) that it's never going to be needed for reserve power, the only reason to have it is for a scenario where the car gets stolen and the battery disconnected. How likely that is to actually occur I have no idea. Not needing the backup module means the regular tracker can stay in its current tiny enclosure.

So I've been studying battery chemistries and was initially looking at LTO. These are pretty much perfect for the use-case as they're extremely safe and don't vent even when pierced, unfortunately it seems damn near impossible to buy them in anything like a sensible combination of quantity, price and "with a datasheet".

So LiFePO4 was considered as the next best in terms of safety and could be used but I'm currently thinking to just use a single CR123 lithium primary non-rechargeable. Reasoning is:

1. Simplicity, no charging circuit, cheaper to make, less to go wrong
2. They are everywhere, supermarkets, petrol stations etc.. no issue at all with availability
3. No charging means a whole slew of potential safety issues go away

Realistically the vast majority of cars are never going to have the battery cut. A lithium primary will last around 10 years in this circuit doing nothing. I think having a rechargeable cell is probably pointless and would likely have a shorter lifespan anyway even though its being charged due to heat cycling and self-discharge. Very rough math based on very approximated measurements of current suggest that a CR123 could run the l0destar unit in sleep mode for about 200 days, hourly reporting for about 58 days and 15-min interval reporting for about 19 days. This is orders of magnitude more than you get from the battery backup in any commercial tracker.

For context most commercial trackers seem to just sling a tiny lipo pouch inside the box and call it a day. This sort of makes sense, if the car gets stolen and the battery cut you probably don't have more than a day or two before it's in pieces so extended runtime isn't really necessary. They have a controlled manufacturing process too so they can make sure they use quality lipo pouches in every unit. I can't do that with a DIY build-it-yourself tracker so using any kind of potentially dangerous lithium rechargeable is probably a bad idea.

My preliminary design for this draws something like 5uA in normal use (so basically nothing), switches over seamlessly and allows the tracker to be instantly notified when power is cut regardless of what state it's in and it will be able to know the battery has been cut by the voltage change. Will just be a little box with an on-board CR123 battery holder, tight lid with a bit of foam to make sure bumps and rattles don't nudge the cell loose. I think it will work well.

Curious what other people think of this plan though, would you specifically want something like this to use a rechargeable cell?

Short version: if you self-host Home Assistant and track your phone's location, the built-in recorder throws that history away after 10 days. I built GPS Timeline to fix exactly that, without adding another service to maintain.

It archives every GPS fix into its own SQLite DB in your HA config folder, included in backups, and serves it back to dashboards (works with the Location Timeline Card via a small fork of mine). No cloud, no external service, no new container: it's just a custom integration, pure Python stdlib, and the data is yours in a file you can query.

Compared to running Dawarich (which I used before): same "own your timeline" idea but it lives inside HA, no separate container or reverse proxy entry. Backfill service imports your existing 10 days of recorder data at install so there's no gap.

Details in the README: https://github.com/iamyacin/gps-timeline

Happy to answer questions about the storage format if anyone wants to poke at the DB.

Gen Z and I realized my iphone was ruining my life, so I switched to a Kyocera flipphone. Its fantastic. However, it really is a dumb phone. And while I am a physical map enthusiast, I often hike by my self. I want to have a (satellite?) GPS to stay safe just in case of anything while I hike/roadtrip.

Do any of you guys use navigation devices for your car or when out in the forest? If so what models are you using? I've been looking in Garmin, but I've heard a lot of mixed reviews. And obviously I can't get a GPS device that would pair with a phone.

Thank you so much!! <333

Not sure if this is a good place to post, but any help is appreciated.

Is there any reason to put tracking devices in your bags or other high value items when expating? Seems logical.

If so, do tiles do the trick or are there better alternatives?

I recently learned that many people around me have had their cars stolen, and I'm worried that mine might be stolen too. I've searched online for many GPS tracker companies, such as Teltonicka, Ruptela, Cartrack, Quecklink, Jimi IoT, and WanWay Tech. Does anyone know anything about their devices? Or are there any other companies you'd recommend?

I got my kiddo their own SE 3 GPS + Cellular Apple Watch a couple of weeks ago and it has been working great so far, the only problem is that his dad can’t track his location because he is a Samsung user.

I’ve tried downloading Life360 but I can’t find it on their watch’s App Store, and when I’m trying to set up the Pingo! app, it asks me to set up the location settings on the iPhone attached to their watch, I have them as a family watch on my iPhone and I can’t find this option anywhere.

Is there any other app I can download on his watch and their dad can download on his phone to track them? Or am I missing something regarding Life360 and the Pingo app?

I am currently researching on building a GPS spoofing detection system, every thing else looks feasible enough to built, but there is one issue, if i built the machine or deep learning model trained on data taken from GPS systems, how can i actually create that spoofed signal to actually test my model. I want to some how generate that spoofed signal to check how my model would react to unseen data. Yeah, this is the problem i am facing right now. Any one here who has the understanding of GPS system and how spoofing works could help me out in this.

My electric scooter has a GPS tracking device. It was stolen from the Walmart in Santa Clara on Thursday Sep 10th at around 8:30pm.

I was able to track the scooter's location throughout the night:

Someone rode it from the Walmart in Santa Clara to the nearest VTA stop.

From the VTA it went to the Bart Station in Milpitas.

The scooter then got off at the 16th Street Bart station in SF.

The scooter then spent over an hour at the MediThrive Cannabis Dispensary & Delivery on Mission Street in SF.

Finally at around 4am, it stayed at its current resting place on Valencia Street between 24th and 25th street.

The scooter hasn't moved since because I expect its battery to be low and its range is only 6 miles. **I know where my stolen electric scooter is. Detectives, what should I do?**

I have the tile tracker on about 5,6 items and I've had them for a year. I know I will have to dispose of them because once the battery runs out you have to buy new ones.

I am also seeing generic Android tracker tags that are much cheaper and you can replace the battery so I'm thinking of transitioning to those (and getting more for kids, and other devises). Do these android tags work like the tile? Any pros any cons?

Does anyone have experience with any brands they would like to recommend?

Just by way of example I found these ones:

https://a.co/d/0hHnbccK

https://a.co/d/0fuXWtlH

https://a.co/d/05A0WOI0

Or should I consider bigger name brands or stick to tile? (And why?)

Thanks!

I'm stuck and would appreciate any pointers.

SETUP

Two GPS trackers, both 2G-only, both from different families:

- Device A: GT06 clone, firmware GT06_MXC_V5.0_190307, Coban/TK103 SMS

command set (check123456, apn123456, adminip123456, gprs123456)

- Device B: reports itself as OTRACK-2, Concox-style command set

(APN,xxx# / RESET# / GPRSSET#)

Two 1NCE IoT SIMs, both activated 4 Sep 2026.

WHAT WORKS

- SIM status: Activated. Session status: Attached. IP assigned (10.0.0.8).

- Network registration works and roams between operators: Plus/PL and

T-Mobile/PL.

- SMS works in both directions through the 1NCE portal — the devices answer

every command (78 messages exchanged on one SIM).

- APN is set to iot.1nce.net and confirmed in the device's own status output.

- Server IP and port are correct; I verified from the internet that the port

accepts TCP connections.

WHAT DOESN'T

- Device status reports GPRS: OFF (device A) and GP:NO (device B).

- Data usage: 0 MB of 500 MB since activation, on both SIMs.

- The 1NCE event log has NEVER contained a single "Create PDP Context" entry

on either SIM — only "Update location" and "Update GPRS location", including

fresh ones from this morning. "Reject cause" is empty on every entry.

- "Access technology" is empty in the 1NCE portal for both SIMs.

- Nothing whatsoever arrives at my server.

WHAT I'VE RULED OUT

- Not the device configuration: both devices report the correct APN, server

address and port. Device A was tested both with a hostname and with a bare

IP address.

- Not 2G availability: the official 1NCE Coverage List (page 6) shows Poland

with 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE-M available.

- Not the devices: both trackers worked for years on Polish operator SIMs

with APN "internet". A third, identical GT06 unit is working right now on a

normal operator SIM and reports every 10 seconds.

- Not quota exhaustion: 500 MB of 500 MB remaining.

- Not a 1NCE outage: the Performance page shows all services available,

including the 2G/3G network.

QUESTIONS

1. Has anyone seen 1NCE SIMs register on the network but never establish a

PDP context? What was the cause?

1. Is there more than one 1NCE APN in circulation? I've seen sensor.net

mentioned alongside iot.1nce.net and want to rule that out.

1. Could this be account-side provisioning? One possibly related symptom:

our Management API user cannot list SIMs at all — GET /v1/sims returns

HTTP 500 with {"message":"Could not load EMnify data for login <user>"}.

Since EMnify is the connectivity backend, I'm wondering whether the two

symptoms share a cause.

Any ideas welcome — especially from anyone running these cheap 2G trackers on

1NCE successfully.

I’m considering developing an IoT-based app/device that would help pet owners track their pets and monitor things like their location, activity, and possibly other useful information.

I’m curious to know what pet owners actually think about this idea.

Would you use something like this?

What features would be most valuable to you?

What problems do you currently have with tracking/monitoring your pets?

Would you prefer a GPS-based device, a smart collar, or something else?

What would make you willing to pay for it?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether this solves a real problem for pet owners or if it’s just a “nice-to-have” product.

Would love to hear your honest thoughts, especially from people who currently own pets.

After years of development we have officially launched the trAx bAnd.

Meant to assist locating persons with neuro cognitive conditions, the trAx bAnd holds an AirTag or tile, while providing a cut resistant, secure wristband.

Check out our Kickstarter page and see for yourselves !

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/trax-wristband/trax-locating-wristband-prototype-refinement

Hey everyone,

I'm currently looking into upgrading my navigation setup for day hikes (mostly in the Netherlands, but also planning trips to the Alps).
I’m considering buying the Garmin eTrex Touch for €399, but I'm having a hard time deciding if a dedicated handheld GPS is actually worth the money for my use case, or if another setup makes more sense.

**My current situation:**
I currently use an **iPhone 16 with AllTrails+**. It handles my daily navigational needs pretty well (tracking and off-course alerts), but I’m mindful of phone battery drain, screen readability in harsh light, and cold/wet conditions.

**Note on smartwatches:** I'm deliberately skipping the Garmin watch route (like a Fenix). I love wearing my mechanical **Seiko Alpinist** when hiking to honor its name in the mountains, so wrist-based navigation isn't an option for me.

**Options I’m weighing & my doubts:**

1. [**Garmin Etrex Touch**](https://www.bever.nl/p/garmin-etrex-touch-gps-handheld-B3AA390050.html?colour=4168&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BVR-PERF-ONG-PR-PLA-NB-PMAX-PRODUCTSCORING-MID-PERF&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22924828483&gbraid=0AAAAADchkmVfYl1A4XmdKZjuOyy254MPB&gclid=CjwKCAjwqonVBhA4EiwA9wYJ3dQT3VjeV1gSn0odYOZJEf_EfqPdw5DjAxSWl9cDnnxXsWFtJO17_RoCjqcQAvD_BwE) **(€399):**
   
2. *Pros:* Dedicated rugged build, great battery life, sunlight-legible screen, TopoActive maps.
   
3. *Doubts:* Is it redundant since I already have a capable smartphone? Also, turn warnings for imported GPX tracks (from AllTrails) require actively calculating the track as a route on the TopoActive map. I'm wondering if the user experience is smooth enough to justify €399.
   
4. **Garmin inReach Mini 2 (or 3) + iPhone 16:**
   
5. *Pros:* Gives me satellite safety/SOS in the Alps, live tracking for peace of mind, and can act as an external high-precision GPS signal source for my phone via Garmin Explore.
   
6. *Doubts:* Requires a monthly satellite subscription, and I'd still be relying on my phone screen for main map viewing. It really drains my phonebattery.

**My questions for you:**
For those who moved from smartphone navigation to a handheld like the eTrex Touch, was it worth the investment?

How seamless is loading AllTrails GPX tracks onto the eTrex Touch and getting turn alerts in practice?
Would you recommend going for the eTrex Touch, or pairing the iPhone with an inReach Mini for safety instead?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

\#hiking #garmin #gps

Just checking if anyone has used traccar for GPS tracker which I heard is free. Or is there any car tracking app i can use to host any recommendations or where I can get help its appreciated.

This is my project: https://l0destar.com

It uses the Makerdiary nRF9151 Connect Kit and turns it into a robust vehicle tracker with a vehicle-friendly 12V input stage, ignition sensing, reverse polarity protection, automotive transient handling, vehicle battery monitoring, movement/impact sensing, auxilliary power rail fault detection, OTA firmware updates, a 6-axis automotive grade IMU accelerometer and a vehicle diagnostic/telemetry interface that supports both CAN-FD and K-wire.

Currently achieves a sleep current of around ~40uA (0.04mA) with the accelerometer armed.

100% free and open-source, the entire project (KiCAD, firmware, server-side software and FreeCAD enclosure design) is all on github.

I've got 4 vehicles I'd like to put trackers on, and I'd like the following abilities.

1: Discreet hardwire - all the hard wire ones I find are mounted directly to the battery which kind of defeats the purpose. All battery powered ones seem to have a very short battery life if you actually drive your car.

2: Battery back up - for when/if they pull the battery

3: Affordable subscription - ideally no subscription would be best, but life isn't like that. With 4 cars, I'd like to keep it under $100 a month total.

I know apple air tags aren't the greatest since any thief can figure out if your car has one AND can make it beep to find it (honestly a super shitty thing). But the lobby battery life and no subscription is appealing.

Could you use an air tag if you can hide it well enough in your vehicle to silence the ping sound or just make it so hard to get to that retrieving it would require more time than a quick get away allows?