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GPS Tracking has grown by leaps and bounds amongst consumers over the last year or
so, but it's now starting to expand and include security tracking
online, thanks to new devices like GPS Snitch.
GPS Snitch isn't your typical GPS device. It won't tell you where
you should go and how long it might take to get there. Instead, GPS
Snitch is all about protecting your car. It's a module receiver
measuring four inches high that can be hidden in a car to protect it in
case some carjacker decides to go for a joyride.
How GPS Snitch Works Online
Here's the scenario:
You're at work doing your job when you get an email and text message
from GPS Snitch telling you that your car is on the move. You check
your pocket and find your keys are still there. Because you have the
Snitch unit hidden under the driver's seat, you can go to the GPS
Snitch website and log in to your account and view an interactive map
to locate your car.
You're tracking it
in real-time, and the driver isn't all that far. Just in case, you make
a call to your wife or husband to see if they decided to just borrow it
for an errand. But your hunch is right — the car's been stolen. And
you're watching the thief the whole way, moving eastbound on a downtown
street at 35 m.p.h. From there, you make a call to police, so they can
dispatch officers to stop it and make an arrest.
It's a scenario made for the movies, and yet it's so easily done
with GPS Snitch. The unit itself has two antennas: one for satellite
(line-of-sight), and one for the GSM wireless network that cell phones
use. The latter antenna is the key since it makes tracking much easier
when you've hidden the unit in the car.
It also lasts up to a full week on one battery charge. Through your
account on the site, you can monitor how much battery life is left,
including how strong the GSM signal is.
There's no installation of any kind, opening an account on the
website is simple and you can even set it up to arm or disarm through
your cell phone. You also get the choice of being alerted by email or
text message (or both) when there's movement, or if the car has left a
set perimeter, like your driveway or parking space.
But you won't be able to power the unit on or off remotely, so if
someone does steal your car, find and turn off the device, then
tracking is impossible.
Prices and Plans to Keep it Tracking
There are two price plans, that both include unlimited usage.
The plans range from $15/month to the UltimateConvenience plan that
tops out at $170 for a full year. And each of these plans include no
contract, no termination fees, real-time tracking, and e-mail security
alerts. Check the GPS-Snitch website to figure out which plan is right for you.
Snitching With Friends and Relatives
There's a
Sharing form on the site that allows you to share your Snitch tracking
by entering email addresses into the form. Each person you invite gets
five free credits, but they can buy more if they want to. Indeed, it's
possible to have a GPS Snitch account without actually owning a unit.
But the only real reason you would probably do that is if you were
sharing one.
And though texting makes it easy to keep tabs on the Snitch when
you're not near a computer, it would also be possible to track it if
you have a smart phone with a Web browser.
GPS Snitch retails right now for $299 plus a $30 one-time activation
fee. An optional car charger for the unit is an extra $35, while a
hardwiring kit to connect the Snitch directly to the car's 12v power
source — sort of like how the car stereo is hooked up — is $15.
Add in the monthly costs, and the Snitch is a hefty investment from
the outset. But the peace of mind it can provide is almost priceless.
Source: demystifyingdigital.com Ted Kritsonis
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