Apple AirTag - Cheap GPS Tracker Alternative?

[spmtamu11]

Apple announced a new product called AirTags this week. Essentially its a GPS tracker the size of a bottle cap, has a year long battery life and uses apple's existing Find My app (shows real-time location of your apple devices or friends/family who share their location) to help you find the exact location of whatever you put the AirTag on.

It's $29 for 1 & $99 for a pack of 4 and as long as you have another apple device (phone, ipad, laptop, etc.), tracking the AirTag doesn't cost you anything else.

I've been looking into GPS trackers for my truck but didn't want to have to wire something up, pay a yearly fee or a high entry price and I think this just might be the ticket.

Heck, I'll get the 4 pack and hide them in 4 spots for redundancy and give myself a few more shreds of hope that if someone snatched my truck I could find it before it disappears forever.

What do you guys think?

And before someone says 'Build a garage!' I'm working on that right now too (picture for proof), but lumber decided to go up 2.5-3X this year after I had set aside building funds so this will have to do while I wheel & deal my way into enough surplus materials to go vertical.

[Woodnears]

I'm thinking about getting a couple! Already have the surface mount ready for print.

[spmtamu11]

Originally Posted by Woodnears

I'm thinking about getting a couple! Already have the surface mount ready for print.

That's awesome. Mind sharing the printer file for that? Got a buddy with a 3D printer and that looks like a much better option than taping it or strapping it down somewhere...

[MDPotter]

That's pretty cool, I just ordered a 4-pack. It looks like it gets its signal through the "Find My" network so it's not relying on satellites but rather cell service. Cool that they take a common battery and are supposed to last a year.

Thanks for the heads up!

[Woodnears]

Originally Posted by spmtamu11

That's awesome. Mind sharing the printer file for that? Got a buddy with a 3D printer and that looks like a much better option than taping it or strapping it down somewhere...

I found it online. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4835915

If anyone wants some printed let me know. I can print them in a few different colors. Ill print a batch of them this weekend if there is enough interest. My services are free, you pay shipping.

[Woodnears]

Im gonna try to make a magnetic version....

[spmtamu11]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

That's pretty cool, I just ordered a 4-pack. It looks like it gets its signal through the "Find My" network so it's not relying on satellites but rather cell service. Cool that they take a common battery and are supposed to last a year.

Thanks for the heads up!

You're right, not GPS but through the "Find My" network (113 million iPhones plus iPads & laptops in US alone). Thanks for the correction!

[DeadheadNM]

It appears this device relies on a bluetooth connection with other Apple devices to provide "far" location information. I don't see it uses the cellular phone signal for tracking purposes. Does that mean if the device is remote from bluetooth enabled Apple devices there will be no available location details?

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Woodnears

Im gonna try to make a magnetic version....

Check out how it operates after you do that. Antennas and electronics sometimes don't play well with magnets too close to them.

[Woodnears]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Check out how it operates after you do that. Antennas and electronics sometimes don't play well with magnets too close to them.

For sure. Would you believe me if I told you I use the magnet in my phone case to mount my phone to anything metal? I thought it was sorcery the first time I saw it.

[Big Kev-O]

This is great as long as your truck is within Bluetooth range of another iphone with Bluetooth turned on. In the city there is a good chance it will be in range and this would be a worth using due to its affordable cost. Unfortunately Bluetooth scramblers are cheap and if crooks are smart enough to clone your credit card some will be smart enough to use scramblers until they get your car below the border. Once your truck is in Mexico it's game over.

[LockDoc]

-
Here is a pretty good explanation of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehv3zQAa9zM

LockDoc

[dmjlambert]

You won't be able to track down your truck with that. It is like Tile, which has been around for years. I have a Tile on my key ring. I have used it numerous times to find my keys that are misplaced in my house. Or if I have my keys and can't find my phone, I can press the button on the Tile and it will make my phone play a sound so I can locate it.

[Sheepdip]

I use these guys...yes they are wired in a not so obvious way and yes there is a monthly fee, they are also well hidden. Not to say someone couldn't find them but it would take a while.
https://www.optimustracker.com/

They would have to steal it first then take it somewhere they could start looking, but I believe most car thieves are opportunist and not that smart....or they wouldn't be stealing cars/trucks.

Bottom line...if they want that particular vehicle they will get it, we just try to trip them up enough to get it back.

My brothers neighbor had his work trailer full of tools stolen a few years ago and he had I believe it was a Lojack system on it, he called the Sheriff and they tracked it to another neighbors house, turns out the guy's POS drug addict kid just got out of prison on parole and he went right back in.

[spmtamu11]

Some valid points about bluetooth, if they want it they're going take it, more expensive and therefore more effective solutions.

I don't think this is the perfect solution, but given the shear number of apple devices (and growing) out there, the probability of the thief or random person driving/walking by and updating the location is pretty high especially if you live in a larger city (I'm in a suburb of Dallas). It's also being made by the 3rd largest company in the world and Apple will continue to invest in the product over time.

Also the price and simplicity of the product make it a good option as long as you're okay with the limitations. I'll provide and update once I test it out after it gets delivered next week.