vehicle security

[chriscroft]

I do wonder if even the expensive trackers can be jammed, even if they claim resistance. Don't they all really on a mobile phone signal, which is easily jammed?
Not sure if the geofence systems need an active mobile phone signal. Theoretically once the devise has been informed of a geofence, it could immobilise with just a gps signal received by the device.

Oh apparently VHF trackers cannot be jammed. Not sure on the range or who would be receiving the signal though?

Oh but apparently the GPS is easily scrambled, so all the VHF do is say "Help I've been stolen, but I haven't a clue where I am, and is anybody listening"

All very technical stuff

 

[Davenjo]

I do wonder if even the expensive trackers can be jammed, even if they claim resistance. Don't they all really on a mobile phone signal, which is easily jammed?
Not sure if the geofence systems need an active mobile phone signal. Theoretically once the devise has been informed of a geofence, it could immobilise with just a gps signal received by the device.

Oh apparently VHF trackers cannot be jammed. Not sure on the range or who would be receiving the signal though?

Oh but apparently the GPS is easily scrambled, so all the VHF do is say "Help I've been stolen, but I haven't a clue where I am, and is anybody listening"

All very technical stuff

If my cat 5 tracker is moved outside of the geofences I set or is no longer able to report its position, e.g. due to being jammed, I get an email alert within minutes. If the vehicle is started without the tag the control centre is notified and I get a telephone call to see if the car has been moved illegally - the few times I have forgotten the tag (or the battery in it has gone flat) I have received the phone call within a few minutes of leaving home. It claims to be jamming resistant but I suspect that it is not infallible - I guess it depends how long the thieves are able/willing to jam the signal for (jamming would effect everything in about a 20 foot radius including their mobile phones, etc.). I understand that one common tactic used is to park the vehicle up somewhere for a couple of days to see if anyone locates it - I doubt the thieves would leave their jammers in situ and, even if they did, in most vehicles (not T6) it would stop working when power to the 12v socket is switched off with the ignition.

Cantrack isn’t permanently using GPS - it wakes up periodically (say, once or twice per day) to report its position but other than that there is no signal to detect and/or jam. Once the vehicle is reported stolen, on next wake up they switch on the VHF broadcast element which their mobile trackers then go out to find with VHF antennas, starting with the last know GPS location. The only way this would fall down is if the GPS signal is scrambled indefinitely or the tracker unit is found and removed before it can be enabled.

 

[$immo]

Had it installed on my van from new - works very well. Can be a bit of a pain when you forget about it and try to start without the code - you have to wait circa 30 seconds for it to reset before trying again - fortunately the only times I seem to do this is when it doesn’t matter, though I have done it a couple of times at petrol stations.

Hi @Davenjo no prices on their website, what sort of figures is it for the ghost system? Cheers Simmo.

 

[Davenjo]

Hi @Davenjo no prices on their website, what sort of figures is it for the ghost system? Cheers Simmo.

Mine cost £399 supplied and fitted by Hillside as part of my van conversion in October 2016.

 

[$immo]

Mine cost £399 supplied and fitted by Hillside as part of my van conversion in October 2016.

Wow, better than I was expecting, I may well get in contact with them, cheers