Snitch - GPS tracking security system

[Bruiser]

Firstly I have no previous relationship with this company and the following is offered only as my experiences and opinion of the product.

I have had a "Snitch (http://snitch.co.nz/)" GPS security system installed on my harley, mainly for security and safety purposes. The Snitch is 100% NZ designed and manufactured, they even developed their own tracking software and all the code (gps and website) is theirs.

The installer here in Auckland (Jacques) also happens to be a real nice guy, who rides an 06" Electraglide Ultra, so I was comfortable with him working on my wideglide.

The snitch is a small box (physically about twice the size of a ciggy packet) installed under the seat, with a separate satellite reciever and in-built gsm cellphone card.

The unit can be set to alert (and be queried by) up to 2 cellphones.

Alerts are texted when motion is detected, an accident occurs, the vehicle exceeds the preset speed or the bike alarm is triggered. It also reports if the built-in rechargeable battery or the bikes' own battery is drops below a pre-set voltage. The Snitch can be set to send an alert text to either or both or the two cellphones if the bike is moved or a pre-installed alarm is triggered - great for those overnight trips where the bike is parked outside a motel.

As I said, the Snitch responds to texts from either of our cellphones and will provide the bikes' current position/adress details. And the information it sends back to the cellphone is accurate! I was in Hamilton for the Toy run yesterday and popped into my partner's mums to say hi. She lives in one of 3 units and the Snitch stated the correct address - down to the unit number!

Owners can also log onto their online Snitch account and view full maps and history details of any trip. The maps are about to be updated to 5 levels but the current ones offer two zoom levels - one is down to street level.

The website is where you configure what data is recorded and sent, including the the speed threshhold, which mobile/s to text and the frequency of updates. We set ours to 120kph and the position frequency to every 200 metres.

Last Sunday I left Auckland and cruised down to Cambridge for the Ulysses toy run to Hamilton. My parter was able to watch my journey while sitting in bed from our notebook (via WiFi) and logged into our online Snitch website account. The site updated the map every few seconds with my current position, direction (if not stopped) and current speed. I even got a text from her telling me to slow down! (This feature can be disabled :shit: )

One excellent feature is a G-force sensor which triggers a text to our phones alerting of an accident. Imagine being down a bank late at night with no means of attracting attention. Your partner would be sent a text alerting them that the Snitch built-in g-shock alert has been triggered and could then text the Snitch (or log onto the website) and determine exactly where you are - down to the street address or, optionally, gps coordinates - and this information could then be passed to emergency services.

Its' early days but I am having a great deal of fun with this unit. It has some excellent features including providing us means to graphically retrace our steps on rides, down to 200 metre intervals.

More importantly the Snitch will provide my partner and I with that little bit extra peace of mind. If/when some lowlife decides their need for my bike is greater than mine we will be alerted the second it moves and will be able to track it and find its' current position at any time.

I paid $1295 In GST for the unit, plus $100 for installation. There is a monthly Vodafone fee of $15 and their account charges seem very reasonable.

Cheers,
Bruiser

[shafty]

Looks like a fantastic product Bruiser, and not bad value when you consider you can xfer it to your next bike and your next. Good report, cheers.

[hdus001]

"The Snitch is 100% NZ designed and manufactured .."

I think the term "100% NZ designed & manufactured" is a misnomer. Are you sure that the electronics used in the product - modems, GPS reecivers, IC's, power supplies, the software/firmware that runs in the modems & gps receivers etc are manufactured in NZ. I havent seen the product yet, but I can bet they are not 100% NZ in the true sense of the term :)

[Delphinus]

Interesting... I'm currently working on a very similar system myself, just cheaper and not commercial yet.

[Steam]

Snitch guarantees recovery...

If your vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 24 hours Snitch Incorporated will refund the purchase price of your Snitch. Cool!

I'd definitely get one if I had a bike worth that much. Technology is cool.

[breakaway]

Snitch sounds like a rip. Whats to stop the thieves just yanking it all out?

[Delphinus]

Sure its possible, but they would have to know its there, and what it is, and where it is... and last time I checked thieves arent the most intelligent ones around

[Bruiser]

"The Snitch is 100% NZ designed and manufactured .."

I think the term "100% NZ designed & manufactured" is a misnomer. Are you sure that the electronics used in the product - modems, GPS reecivers, IC's, power supplies, the software/firmware that runs in the modems & gps receivers etc are manufactured in NZ. I havent seen the product yet, but I can bet they are not 100% NZ in the true sense of the term :)

Mate, have you got nothing better to do than pull apart a 3rd party product report word for word?

And then you admit you don't know what you're talking about

I havent seen the product yet......... sheesh!

Get a life eh

[Bruiser]

Snitch sounds like a rip. Whats to stop the thieves just yanking it all out?

The thieves have to know its' there in the first place.

Next it takes no less than 20 minutes to remove it from my bike no matter how rough they are (once they find it).

Most scumbag theives of the big bikes like Harleys would be getting it on a trailer and out of the way as a priority, not knowing or caring about any invisible intelligent gps system aboard.

And all this time its sending back reports and responding to text requests.

$1200 for that kind of security with the features the Snitch has is cheap!

[scumdog]

Snitch sounds like a rip. Whats to stop the thieves just yanking it all out?

Nothing.
But they're probably unintentionally txting you/triggering the alarm while they're scratching their arse wondering where to start looking for the 'snitch' device - IF they even bother to think it HAS an alarm type device...

[Tickler]

Mate, have you got nothing better to do than pull apart a 3rd party product report word for word?

And then you admit you don't know what you're talking about
... sheesh!

Get a life eh

Second that, god if you going to pick every word on this site good on you.

I think the moral of this story is that snitch is good for protecting your bike, not which nationality a transistor is.

[Tickler]

Also i had been looking at this product after some of auckland's finest citizens decided to take my car. It doesnt seem that hefty a cost concidering the funtionality of the product. You can track the object and move it from bike to bike. Plus im sure you could work some lower insurance premiums knowing that you know (to an extent) where the bike is!

We live in the information age, how about we actually get some of it!

[325rocket]

in my line of work i have a fair bit to do with different GPS solutions. although this is not one of the main product lines i deal with i do know a bit about it.
for asset tracking like this (bike) it would be one of the best on the new zealand market.

[The Pastor]

Would you get a disconted insurance for having it?

[toycollector10]

Then your bike goes missing. You locate it at a certain address or lock-up which is private property. The cops say this is a private and a "civil" matter, like they do. Why? Because their main drive is harvesting cash from people doing 111 kph in a 100 zone, but I digress...

So they (the cops) aren't going to go door knocking. Who do you get to recover your bike? How do they do this without trespassing on private property. It's called a "fishing expedition" and it's illegal. Don't start crapping on about how you would get a dozen of your heavy mates to bust the place up, or how you will storm the property with your macho fists and a baseball bat, you will only wind up in court even if you do recover the bike. For sure.

In New Zealand the criminal often becomes the victim and the victim becomes the agressor and criminal. You know it's true. It's crap but it's the reality.

So the question is;
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR BIKE BACK ONCE YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS?

[breakaway]

Roll up with some biker buds

[Zapf]

Then your bike goes missing. You locate it at a certain address or lock-up which is private property. The cops say this is a private and a "civil" matter, like they do. Why? Because their main drive is harvesting cash from people doing 111 kph in a 100 zone, but I digress...

So they (the cops) aren't going to go door knocking. Who do you get to recover your bike? How do they do this without trespassing on private property. It's called a "fishing expedition" and it's illegal. Don't start crapping on about how you would get a dozen of your heavy mates to bust the place up, or how you will storm the property with your macho fists and a baseball bat, you will only wind up in court even if you do recover the bike. For sure.

In New Zealand the criminal often becomes the victim and the victim becomes the agressor and criminal. You know it's true. It's crap but it's the reality.

So the question is;
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR BIKE BACK ONCE YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS?

install another optional module that makes your bike screams for help... then you & your mates run in and help "YOUR" bike. :P

[Bruiser]

Then your bike goes missing. You locate it at a certain address or lock-up which is private property. The cops say this is a private and a "civil" matter, like they do. Why? Because their main drive is harvesting cash from people doing 111 kph in a 100 zone, but I digress...

So they (the cops) aren't going to go door knocking. Who do you get to recover your bike? How do they do this without trespassing on private property. It's called a "fishing expedition" and it's illegal. Don't start crapping on about how you would get a dozen of your heavy mates to bust the place up, or how you will storm the property with your macho fists and a baseball bat, you will only wind up in court even if you do recover the bike. For sure.

In New Zealand the criminal often becomes the victim and the victim becomes the agressor and criminal. You know it's true. It's crap but it's the reality.

So the question is;
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR BIKE BACK ONCE YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS?


You're an intelligent man, no?

Assuming these pondscum manage to get it out of a monitored, alarmed garage with both that alarm and the bike's alarm going nuts, my mobile being called and texted by both the monitoring co and the snitch, and assuming the theft wasn't intercepted before they left my property (or wherever the bike was) I can tell the Police there is a robbery in progress and provide VERY accurate info, and follow it myself by either texting the snitch or watching its' progress in a moving map on my online Snitch account, constantly updating either the Police or "friends".

I am aware of at least one precedent of Police sending up the Eagle with 5 accompanying squad cars to a Snitch snatch. The theives were caught red-handed and the vehicle returned unharmed. Call Snitch and they will confirm this. I know the company who owned the vehicle concerned.

If the bike was taken and not intercepted, when the Snitch reports the bike as stopped I'd be whereever it was in minutes, or intercept it on its' way.

My intentions once at the property don't involve any of your suggestions, but the result will be devastatingly effective.

Due to your inclination to second-guess and trash what you believe to be my response, I'm hardly likely to say what that action would be (and certainly not in a public forum).

Ultimately there is only one way for you to find out.

As for your "fishing expedition" claim, GPS technology is now sufficiently accurate, and proven, to be accepted as hard evidence in NZ law. There are precedents for this.

[toycollector10]

Thanks for your well reasoned and moderate response.

So what you are saying is that a GPS location is accurate and good enough for the cops to go knocking. That is what I needed to know.

I try not to second guess people, or wildly make a stab at their intentions or motives. Or judge them on one post or conversation. I have already had enough of that crap already this week. How you would deal with your bike recovery is your own business.

Cheers

[Bruiser]

Thanks for your well reasoned and moderate response.

So what you are saying is that a GPS location is accurate and good enough for the cops to go knocking. That is what I needed to know.

I try not to second guess people, or wildly make a stab at their intentions or motives. Or judge them on one post or conversation. I have already had enough of that crap already this week. How you would deal with your bike recovery is your own business.

Cheers

Hi Toycollector,

While on the Harley in Hamilton recently I visited my partners' mum who lives in the middle of three units in Frankton.

Sitting on the bike outside her front door I texted the Snitch which reported not only the street number but the fact I was sitting outside Unit 2. I then moved the bike 4 metres to the next door unit and repeated the exercise and once again it accurately reported the bike at Unit 1.

That is good enough for me but nevertheless there is precedent for the Police to accept a GPS report as accurate to within 1 metre, and the courts are on record as accepting this also.

As for moderation, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar :msn-wink:

[Finn]

Great review Bruiser - thanks. One question though, if you were alerted via a text that your bike was "on the move" is there an option to disable the ignition remotely?

This may save you some anguish if you got a couple of mates to do the repo and turned up at the Mongrel Mobs Headquarters. :crazy:

[sAsLEX]

Great review Bruiser - thanks. One question though, if you were alerted via a text that your bike was "on the move" is there an option to disable the ignition remotely?

This may save you some anguish if you got a couple of mates to do the repo and turned up at the Mongrel Mobs Headquarters. :crazy:

Not going to help much if its in a Van.......

SO mr smart criminal builds a simple faraday cage in his van to stop the cell and GPS coverage..... good that criminals are inherently lazy and generally stupid.

But you do bring a good point up. If it is in the Mongrel Mob HQ simply text your phone "EXPLODE". They cant really complain, you get your insurance for the stolen bike and the world is down some scum.

[Bruiser]

Great review Bruiser - thanks. One question though, if you were alerted via a text that your bike was "on the move" is there an option to disable the ignition remotely?




Not going to help much if its in a Van.......

SO mr smart criminal builds a simple faraday cage in his van to stop the cell and GPS coverage..... good that criminals are inherently lazy and generally stupid.

But you do bring a good point up. If it is in the Mongrel Mob HQ simply text your phone "EXPLODE". They cant really complain, you get your insurance for the stolen bike and the world is down some scum.

Good points!

The Snitch can be configured to use one terminal to ground an external power source upon receiving a text. This could be used to shut down ignition or fuel supply, or even close the circuit on a fine wire through the middle of a fuel tank, although I'm sure that last one would be illegal! :Police: ??

But it is there if you want to use it.

[Tank]

But you do bring a good point up. If it is in the Mongrel Mob HQ simply text your phone "EXPLODE". They cant really complain, you get your insurance for the stolen bike and the world is down some scum.

or an option that that you could remotely set off a taser concealed in the seat right into the bastards nuts at 120kph.

Better still with a small cam that transmits the face of the guy to your cell phone right before he high-sides.

Id pay good money for that!

Tank

[Tank]

althought there is a possibility that the above would be illeagal also.:whocares:

[P38]

Snitch sounds like a bloody good idea to me.

Track the Bike, Find the Bike, Recover the Bike.

Simple enough.

Probally 1000 different ways to approach this and being resourceful Kiwi's I'm sure some clever tecniques could be employed.

Although storming a gang headquarters would take some serious balls from several individuals and you would have to really really want the bike back.

I'd leave it up to the cops and the insurance company.:Police:

Remember also the other edge to this sword.

Obviously it will also report (most likely to the other half) where you been and how long you been there, so becareful if your doing shit you dont want others to find out. :apint::drinknsin

P38

[Jerms]

My understanding of GPS is that it doesn't work inside given that it requires "line of sight" to the satellites in the sky...?

Is that correct?

P.S. Not trying to stir, just genuinely curious...

[ElCoyote]

"The Snitch is 100% NZ designed and manufactured .."

I think the term "100% NZ designed & manufactured" is a misnomer. Are you sure that the electronics used in the product - modems, GPS reecivers, IC's, power supplies, the software/firmware that runs in the modems & gps receivers etc are manufactured in NZ. I havent seen the product yet, but I can bet they are not 100% NZ in the true sense of the term :)

Methinks that you have a vested interest to be as negative as that. It is also pedantic. Let the consumer do his/her OWN homework. :nono:

[twotyred]

Theft aside,what a great safety tool for the hardcore adventure rider!

cheers for the report,I never knew such a contraption existed:2thumbsup

[heyjoe]

I am wondering if anyone else from different areas around NZ has one of these or can give any further feedback on the product? Sounds like a good device to me.

[Dargor]

As for moderation, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar :msn-wink:

Are you sure, lol. http://xkcd.com/357/

As for gps on bikes lets take a more sinical look..

GPS info exceptable evidence in NZ.
It knows how fast your going, all the time?
It keeps a record of where you go, all the time? for how long?
The plods like the idea of satellite speed control (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=64654).

Dont forget the company is out to make money, and you are giving them everything they need. They could do this indirectly my giving the plods statistical info on where to find speeding bikers, etc.

Should you really trust them with all this data. What are their polices on such matters.

As for security I hope your trust in there web security isnt missplaced. All I will say on that for now is that, email addresses for usernames and for password recovery doesnt sound cleaver.

[Bruiser]

Then your bike goes missing. You locate it at a certain address or lock-up which is private property. The cops say this is a private and a "civil" matter, like they do. Why? Because their main drive is harvesting cash from people doing 111 kph in a 100 zone, but I digress...


Here's how the cops dealt with one such incident:



A car-thief had his plans for a day of crime brought to a sudden stop after the GPS tracking system in the van he'd stolen led police straight to him.
North Shore Senior Sergeant Jenni Richardson said police received a phone call from a West Auckland flooring contractor about 11am yesterday, saying his van had been stolen.
"It was a work van and had a GPS tracking device on it and he was tracking it on his computer because he was at home in New Lynn. He was saying to us, `it's driving along East Coast Rd and it's heading towards the North Shore'."
As the owner kept police at the northern communications centre updated on where his van was heading, the Eagle helicopter and patrol cars were sent to the scene.
Inspector Les Patterson said the man was "somewhat perplexed" when he was swooped on by police until he was told of the tracking system in the vehicle.
"We got there before Eagle even got over the top of us and stopped the vehicle," said Ms Richardson. "He got out and said `yip I did it, you've got me' and made a full and frank admission."


NZ Herald article. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10506350)

As I suggested earlier, the cops can (and do) act when a "snitched" vehicle is stolen.

[Disco Dan]

At $20 per month ongoing fee - it is the kind of thing to put in instead of insurance. i guess it would be good if you had a really 'stealable' bike or could not get insurance.

[Sanx]

Given that the most common way to steal expensive bikes in the UK is to rock up with a couple of big blokes and a Transit van, I wonder how well the Snitch's GPS tracker works from within a steel body. Don't get me wrong - for cars and other larger vehicles, it's a great idea, but its effectiveness on a bike must be called into question.
And yes, being inside a Transit wouldn't stop the GSM component of the unit working after being triggered by movement, but I doubt it'd be able to tell you where the bike was.

[Bruiser]

Given that the most common way to steal expensive bikes in the UK is to rock up with a couple of big blokes and a Transit van, I wonder how well the Snitch's GPS tracker works from within a steel body. Don't get me wrong - for cars and other larger vehicles, it's a great idea, but its effectiveness on a bike must be called into question.
And yes, being inside a Transit wouldn't stop the GSM component of the unit working after being triggered by movement, but I doubt it'd be able to tell you where the bike was.

1. The device is tiny and hidden from view.
2. The thieves wouldn't even know it was Snitch-armed.
3. At some point the bike has to be pulled back out of the van.
4. All the Snitch needs is a milisecond of "clear air" to get it's coordinates and transmit it's position, which is recorded permanently.
5. What are the chances the thieves will drive the van straight into a covered gps and cellphone free environment before removing the bike from the van?

[Disco Dan]

1. The device is tiny and hidden from view.
2. The thieves wouldn't even know it was Snitch-armed.
3. At some point the bike has to be pulled back out of the van.
4. All the Snitch needs is a milisecond of "clear air" to get it's coordinates and transmit it's position, which is recorded permanently.
5. What are the chances the thieves will drive the van straight into a covered gps and cellphone free environment before removing the bike from the van?

GPS can take up to 20 minutes to co-ordinate it's own position using the satelites. Most times it's within a minute or less - but if I turn on my NavMan inside the house (out of line of sight, which it needs) then walk outside, it can take upto 20 minutes to co-ordinate it's own position.

[Bruiser]

GPS can take up to 20 minutes to co-ordinate it's own position using the satelites. Most times it's within a minute or less - but if I turn on my NavMan inside the house (out of line of sight, which it needs) then walk outside, it can take upto 20 minutes to co-ordinate it's own position.

I've had the snitch start reporting to my mobile within a few seconds of the harley being pulled out of the garage.

Still, it provides me with peace of mind, for which I'm happy to pay $1200 and $20 mth. What works, works eh.

[Disco Dan]

I've had the snitch start reporting to my mobile within a few seconds of the harley being pulled out of the garage.

Still, it provides me with peace of mind, for which I'm happy to pay $1200 and $20 mth. What works, works eh.

Impressive, I guess the humble Navman does not need 'instant' co-ordination like Snitch - get what you pay for!

[NinjaNanna]

Great Review Bruiser and thanks for bringing the product to my attention.

Hope the negativity doesn't put you off posting your next review

Cheers
NN

[imdying]

They could do this indirectly my giving the plods statistical info on where to find speeding bikers, etc.The police aren't silly, they've been at this game a while, and are well aware of where to find speeding bikers :) Hell, this forum is probably a gold mine for them!

[imdying]

Great Review Bruiser and thanks for bringing the product to my attention.

Hope the negativity doesn't put you off posting your next review

Cheers
NN
And +1 on that :yes:

[Marmoot]

"The Snitch is 100% NZ designed and manufactured .."

I think the term "100% NZ designed & manufactured" is a misnomer. Are you sure that the electronics used in the product - modems, GPS reecivers, IC's, power supplies, the software/firmware that runs in the modems & gps receivers etc are manufactured in NZ. I havent seen the product yet, but I can bet they are not 100% NZ in the true sense of the term :)

I agree. NZ DON'T HAVE A FRIGGIN RESISTOR FACTORY!!!

What a prick....

[Bruiser]

I agree. NZ DON'T HAVE A FRIGGIN RESISTOR FACTORY!!!

What a prick....


And your point?

[pete376403]

Given that the most common way to steal expensive bikes in the UK is to rock up with a couple of big blokes and a Transit van, I wonder how well the Snitch's GPS tracker works from within a steel body. Don't get me wrong - for cars and other larger vehicles, it's a great idea, but its effectiveness on a bike must be called into question.
And yes, being inside a Transit wouldn't stop the GSM component of the unit working after being triggered by movement, but I doubt it'd be able to tell you where the bike was.

Have e-mailed Snitch with this question, will post their reply. However when thiniing about it, plenty of car GPS units seem to work without an external antenna (ie the unit is enclosed within a steel car body)

[aderino4]

And your point?

Fag if I know....it's been more than a week since I posted

[pete376403]

As I posted before, I e-mailed Snitch. (The delay was because the e-mail was sitting in my outbox, not because of slow response from Snitch. They got the mail and replied almost immediately.)
I asked:
Hi,
one of your (very satisfied) customers has posted a review of the Snitch on http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=45898
Among the questions raised was - how effective is the snitch when the bike is loaded into a van - this is the most "popular" way of stealing bikes.
Further, in this scenario, the van would probably be driven into a garage to have the bike unloaded.
Would the Snitch be able to provide address data, both while the bike is on the move inside the van and once unloaded inside a garage?

and the reply:
Thanks for pointing that out, he has been a very happy customer impressed with both the product and the support from snitch Inc.
To answer your questions, the unit will work both in a van and in a garage. There are obviously some circumstances where the unit will not acquire a GPS fix, mainly in a well sealed truck etc, but this has proven to be very uncommon. As an example, courier companies use our product in the back of vans and trucks to keep track of valuable freight.
We have many happy customers, both in retail and commercial tracking everything from motorcycles to lawnmowers through cars to trucks....and everything in-between. We have also maintained a 100% vehicle recovery rate.
I hope this answers your questions.

[alanzs]

Sounds like a great product and it was certainly a great review. I tend to be on the paranoid side, so I have three different locking devices I use on my Bandit. :msn-wink:

[skidMark]

How high can the preset "speed limit" be set to?

you know just so like, can set it to 180, then have it direct to a mates phone and go see, my bike will go that fast!:whistle:

[P38]

How high can the preset "speed limit" be set to?

you know just so like, can set it to 180, then have it direct to a mates phone and go see, my bike will go that fast!:whistle:

hahahaha

Yeah!

Then ya mate can print out the GPS Data (Evidence) and post it to the Police.

[KiwiKat]

An awesome review Is the monthly charge $15.00 vodaphone plus $20.00 snitch ($420.00 pa.)?

[Bruiser]

An awesome review Is the monthly charge $15.00 vodaphone plus $20.00 snitch ($420.00 pa.)?

We pay $20 mth for Snitch account plus $15 per month for a Vodafone data rate. Total monthly cost for us is $35 - cheap I reckon!

Each text from the unit costs 50c. These are for any reports you request from the unit, such as address, confirm alarm status etc.

[Bruiser]

How high can the preset "speed limit" be set to?

you know just so like, can set it to 180, then have it direct to a mates phone and go see, my bike will go that fast!:whistle:

I just checked my Snitch account and was able to set it to 200kph - you can set the unit to text up to two mobiles, and it can report every 5 mins, 30 mins, 2 hours, 5 hours or 10 hours.

Would I want to set it to text you my speed every 5 mins?


I dont think so! As has been mentioned, there are some things you simply keep to yourself ...... :Police: lol

[Winter]

I just checked my Snitch account and was able to set it to 200kph - you can set the unit to text up to two mobiles, and it can report every 5 mins, 30 mins, 2 hours, 5 hours or 10 hours.

Would I want to set it to text you my speed every 5 mins?


I dont think so! As has been mentioned, there are some things you simply keep to yourself ...... :Police: lol

Hey Bruce,

I'm looking at one of these for my new bike - and I'm curious, two years on, are you still satisfied with the snitch unit? Had any issues or success stories?

Have they changed their pricing since you signed up?

cheers

[caseye]

You can't beat a system that hasn't had a failure so far.I'd have one but I'm stoneyroid broke and anyway the old girl is just that old at 1981.Go on buy it.

[jono035]

In terms of the GPS tracking ability, you'll normally still get a position with modern GPS units when inside a garage, but the accuracy of the position will be much less than in clear air. The tracking devices and software we have used on industrial machinery go from +/- 5m in clear air to around +/- 200m in a garage. This doesn't stay stationary either, it will provide position fixes slowly wandering randomly all over the area within that circle. You will not be able to rely on this to find the bike assuming the bike gets stuffed in a van then quickly wheeled out into a low, metal roofed shed, no matter how good your GPS is. This is the case with all GPS units that I have used (from $100 Polstar G-Mouse basic units up to $10k+ 20mm accurate Trimble RTK units).

The chances of all of that happening are pretty slim though, but when I was thinking about building one of these things myself a long time ago, I figured that adding another radio module on to use as a short-range tracking beacon once I'd gotten close enough was the way to go.

This is just to say that these things are not completely infallible, but still damn cool pieces of gear nonetheless.

[NordieBoy]

In terms of the GPS tracking ability, you'll normally still get a position with modern GPS units when inside a garage.

Only if the GPS has not been powered down at any time whilst in said garage.

[jono035]

If you mean for getting the almanac and first-fix then yeah, but for most modern receivers I'd imagine they'd still be able to get that from horizon-level satellites through the walls/windows. At least that's been my experience with equipment in the sheds, still listing a decent number of satellites, but all low-horizon.

[bogan]

just ordered myself a device very similar to this, $160 + sim card, ill just chuck a prepaid in there so souldnt have any ongoing costs, also has an immobiliser option which could be good, wait till the fuckers halfway across the desert road then strand him there! can test and write a review on it once it gets here if anyone is interested?

[Bruiser]

Hey Bruce,

I'm looking at one of these for my new bike - and I'm curious, two years on, are you still satisfied with the snitch unit? Had any issues or success stories?

Have they changed their pricing since you signed up?

cheers

Hi sorry for the delay, real world got in the way.

Happy as a sandboy with the Snitch, so much so I've now installed one in my new Jaguar XK8 (http://www.bruiser.co.nz/components/com_expose/expose/img/alb_144/img_1230263447_719_lg.jpg) and that is now available aside the Harley in my online account.

So I can track and view history of both anytime.

The price had come down to about $1100 now too!

Hope this helps.
Bruiser

[sinned]

just ordered myself a device very similar to this, $160 + sim card, ill just chuck a prepaid in there so souldnt have any ongoing costs, also has an immobiliser option which could be good, wait till the fuckers halfway across the desert road then strand him there! can test and write a review on it once it gets here if anyone is interested?
Some details please? What is it - do you have a link?

[bogan]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22969 theres a user manual linked in the comments

[NordieBoy]

Hi sorry for the delay, real world got in the way.

Happy as a sandboy with the Snitch, so much so I've now installed one in my new Jaguar XK8 (http://www.bruiser.co.nz/components/com_expose/expose/img/alb_144/img_1230263447_719_lg.jpg) and that is now available aside the Harley in my online account.

What's the grey behind your front wheel?

[Insanity_rules]

I have a unit in my car (Brand will remain nameless) It tells me when the car is in my garage at home and all. It has remote shut down, tracking and alarm zone notification.

It saved me once when I was away doing a job in Auckland and some little shits had a go at my car. Costs me about $17 per month including prepay top ups. Very happy.

[Bruiser]

What's the grey behind your front wheel?


The bike shot was taken on the Desert Rd in 2007, the Jag XK8 shot taken in a park in Titirangi in Dec 08'.

I have managed to get the wheel background removed now, and I'll add that new pic to this post.

Was done for a promo for my business.

Well spotted btw!

Bruiser

[NordieBoy]

That's better. The shadow is still too sharp edged but that's more trouble than it's worth to fix :niceone:

[Highlander]

How high can the preset "speed limit" be set to?

you know just so like, can set it to 180, then have it direct to a mates phone and go see, my bike will go that fast!:whistle:



hahahaha

Yeah!

Then ya mate can print out the GPS Data (Evidence) and post it to the Police.

Yeah but the data presented to the Police would clearly indicate the location of the race track he was on at the time. :innocent:


http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22969 theres a user manual linked in the comments

Mr Bogan, putting a Vodaphone SIM card in it would you then be able to do the "Best Mate" thing and get as many txt's as you like for $6 per month?