GPS Tracker

[CanyonMan]

Just finished the wife's new build (BBSO2b) which now gives us two virtually identical bikes. I am looking for a GPS tracker to install that has no subscription fees. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!
Canyon

 

[fooferdoggie]

Just finished the wife's new build (BBSO2b) which now gives us two virtually identical bikes. I am looking for a GPS tracker to install that has no subscription fees. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!
Canyon

they would have to have a fee since your using cell phone service.

 

[CanyonMan]

Are there any that don't have a fee?

 

[scrambler]

Check the Anti theft GPS thread, and especially the TK419 being reviewed there by a user called TomD

Anti theft GPS

Say the GPS tracker pinpoints the stolen bike and you know exactly what house the stolen bike is now kept in. That would not be enough for any judge in the USA to issue a search warrant for the police to enter the house and search for your bike. I could see how the GPS would be useful if the...

forums.electricbikereview.com

 

[CanyonMan]

It would seem that the fact that my property, let's just say the GPS tracker, was in a home where I did not reside and did not authorize my tracker to be would be enough for a warrant. However, if a cop is smart they wouldn't need a warrant. They could easily convince the thief that my tracker was there in an unauthorized manner and proceed from there. While I am not an attorney the above statement seems incorrect. One example, my car is stolen and the GPS says it is in a garage. Would that be enough for police intervention?
Canyon

 

[scrambler]

Don't pay attention to the text in the link, for some reason it is picking text from a different location.
Just check the thread and the review from TomD on the TK419...

 

[fooferdoggie]

I doubt many cops would track and get your bike back. that kind of thing does not happen much anymore.

 

[Ben J]

If you put a tracker on your bike, don't do it because the police will go get your bike back. Do it because you will go get your bike back. Otherwise you're wasting your time.

I've looked into this because I'm not an iPhone user so I don't want to buy AirTags. Any way you slice it AirTags are the best solution. The quality of the tracking depends on the quality of the network (since the tags must relay data to phones) and AirTags have access to the largest network by far. It might be fine to use a Tile or a SmartTag2 with your Android device for something like your keys which you are just losing on your own property. When you are relying on the rest of the world to walk close to your bike, you want the tag that can talk to other people's phones.

 

[AvalancheRun]

I use AirTags with the speaker removed. One of the best hiding spots I've come across was a tubeless valve, so the AirTag would be inside of the tire, covered in sealant. Find your own creative hiding spot and keep it to yourself!

 

[CanyonMan]

Someone was once asked why they carry a gun and they answered "Because a cop is too heavy." NO, I am not suggesting armed intervention is the way to recover a stolen bike. I am saying I wouldn't rely on the police for much of anything. Just knowing where the bike was taken to could go a long way in its recovery. One can't find what one can't look for.
Canyon

 

[AvalancheRun]

Someone was once asked why they carry a gun and they answered "Because a cop is too heavy." NO, I am not suggesting armed intervention is the way to recover a stolen bike. I am saying I wouldn't rely on the police for much of anything. Just knowing where the bike was taken to could go a long way in its recovery. One can't find what one can't look for.
Canyon

You can totally get your bike back by yourself. Where I live bikes disappear into encampments and when found, are given up without a struggle. There are also some Facebook groups dedicated to helping people retrieve the bikes.

 

[Prairie Dog]

If you put a tracker on your bike, don't do it because the police will go get your bike back. Do it because you will go get your bike back. Otherwise you're wasting your time.

I've looked into this because I'm not an iPhone user so I don't want to buy AirTags. Any way you slice it AirTags are the best solution. The quality of the tracking depends on the quality of the network (since the tags must relay data to phones) and AirTags have access to the largest network by far. It might be fine to use a Tile or a SmartTag2 with your Android device for something like your keys which you are just losing on your own property. When you are relying on the rest of the world to walk close to your bike, you want the tag that can talk to other people's phones.

My thoughts exactly. If I had an iOS device, Airtags would be the way to go. Not too long ago, my wife and I shipped a couple of bikes as oversized baggage and placed a Tile Mate in each box. They worked adequately enough and tracked the bikes from their departure location to the connecting flight and eventually to the destination airport while finally arriving at the courier delivery service center. The only downside was that the Tile locations were not very specific and just showed that they were nearby. They lacked the precision that Airtags have using UWB and their much larger network of users.

 

[CanyonMan]

More info. I am really not too worried around home as the bikes are locked when we are in a store or any other place and are housed in the garage when not in use. We attend Burning Man annually and there is where the issue lies. Most Burners are extremely honest and helpful. However, not everyone that attends Burning Man is a Burner. With 80K people some come to cause trouble and steal what they can. While we always lock them, ebikes are a particularly prime target of thieves. The Tile trackers may be the best I can hope for until something better comes along. Thanks to all for the advice and info.
Canyon