| On Topic same and use a cellular communication detector to ‘ look ’ for a tracking unit ; a few trackers can prevent this .
Potentially , thieves however can ‘ listen ’ for a tracker talking or making cellular communication with its base and jam its data stream using the right technology .
The GSM cellular tracker is a unit with an inbuilt SIM card that sends and receives texts or data to and from a server using the Global Systems Mobile communications network hence GSM – the same as a mobile phone and it can be used simply to triangulate an approximate position of the machine .
The GPS system uses satellites and a tracker with Global Position System ( GPS ) technology can pin-point the location of a machine to within three to four meters . The cellular network is used to transmit its location to base but it is unfortunately more easily blocked than the GSM device .
The RF Beacon or Radio Frequency ( RF ) tracking is only effective up to around a mile or so at best , depending on the terrain . When coupled to a tracker it ’ s the monitoring staff that will triangulate the crafts position using GSM . It then becomes possible to home in on the beacon using a radio receiver . This short range tracking system is the most accurate location method but it can be hampered by being blocked in or hidden inside a shipping container for instance .
The RF beacon also allows the tracking company to be almost certain a stolen item is inside a property , making it far easier for officers to obtain a warrant .
Without a warrant , police cannot legally enter a private property without the consent of the owner , or unless the owner of the property has been arrested .
Some tracking devices need to be wired into a machines wiring loom whilst others are
portable and can be moved from one item to another .
Suggested successful tracking devices - Tracker , CanTrack and Bike Track .
Trackers wired into a machine generally need a live and neutral to the battery , along with a switched feed from the ignition , so the unit knows when the key is being used . Most will have a back-up battery , should the wiring be disconnected , and in this case , many trackers will go into alert mode by default .
Portable passive devices have no impact on the use of any machine it ’ s fitted to unless of course you activate one of the sensors . It needs little management and you won ’ t need to change any settings or notify the company when travelling abroad or if it ’ s in an enclosed area . There ’ s little need to ‘ manage ’ the device at all , so it ’ s pretty much a fit and forget system .
One advantage of the passive device is that a lot of stolen items are now moved and left whilst scanning equipment is used to see if a tracker is fitted to it . Portable passive units are not communicating at all or only at a predetermined time and therefore may not be discovered .
Whilst a trackers signal can be blocked by sealed metal containers , many will still work if the property is inside a van for instance . Accurate and immediate tracking can at least trace the properties movements to the last visible position , which could be enough as a starting point for RF detection .
If they are hidden under metal it restricts the performance of their GPS / cellular transmitters and it may be advisable to use an ‘ extended ’ GPS antenna for increased accuracy .
Clearly the companies support teams play a big role in recovering property and when an RF beacon tracks a stolen item the team members can monitor its location until the police are able to attend . As nowadays police resources
become increasingly stretched , this has become a major selling point .
The question of whether to alert or not to alert an owner of movement at the machine is a frequently asked one .
The disadvantage of not alerting the owner or the tracking company of movement of the property is that theft won ’ t be notified until the owner discovers it . If the device has its motion sensing turned on all the time however it would cause a significant drain on the battery and its signaling life could be short , as it would be communicating all the time .
Motion detection however can be enabled during a single period each day or it could be set to motion sensing which wouldn ’ t necessarily add additional battery drain unless it was triggered by which time the device would be communicating with its base .
In essence if you are buying a tracking device for any of your machinery then do your research on the manufacturer and as long as the device has GPS , a VHF homing beacon and an effective 24 / 7 support team and the cost is agreeable then if you do become a victim of theft this year then you have a good ( 9 / 10 ) chances of it being recovered . http :// www . bbc . co . uk / news / uk-40900442
www . farmingmonthly . co . uk September 2017 | Farming Monthly | 13