Snitch - GPS tracking security system

[Dargor]

As for moderation, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar

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.

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.

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

[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