Snitch - GPS tracking security system

**pete376403** · 4th August 2008, 17:39

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/sh...ad.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** · 4th August 2008, 18:33

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.

**skidMark** · 9th September 2008, 07:56

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!

**P38** · 9th September 2008, 18:01

Originally Posted by 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!

hahahaha

Yeah!

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

**KiwiKat** · 27th September 2008, 04:49

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

**Bruiser** · 19th October 2008, 15:04

Originally Posted by KiwiKat

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** · 19th October 2008, 15:10

Originally Posted by 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!

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 ......

lol

**Winter** · 10th April 2009, 12:59

Originally Posted by Bruiser

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 ......

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** · 10th April 2009, 16:57

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** · 13th April 2009, 20:09

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** · 14th April 2009, 20:43

Originally Posted by jono035

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** · 17th April 2009, 22:40

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** · 22nd May 2009, 21:25

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** · 22nd May 2009, 21:51

Originally Posted by Winter

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 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** · 23rd May 2009, 17:41

Originally Posted by 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?

Some details please? What is it - do you have a link?