Whether you are one of those car drivers who simply you often forget where you parked your vehicle again has, or to those who have their beloved wire donkey protect from car thieves would like: car tracking devices are a technical achievement of our time. But how to locate the car with cell phone?
In order to be able to locate the car with the cell phone, a location system must first be installed in the car. The device will then determine the location of the vehicle with the help of GPS. the location is sent directly to the car owner’s cell phone or via a tracking service to the owner’s receiving device.
In our article we will explain simply how the to locate car with cell phone what else you have to keep in mind when using tracking devices and why you should be exempt from GPS trackers as a spying device must be kept under wraps should be!
How car tracking systems work
First of all, let’s explain how location systems work. From satellites orbiting in the earth’s orbit signals sent to a GPS-enabled device sent and the location determined . The detected position must then be tracked by means of a transmitter forwarded to a receiver will be.
You need at least two devices to track your car with your cell phone, one is a navi, smartphone or GPS tracker for GPS reception and the other is a device to which the location can be forwarded and viewed.
As a rule, the GPS receiver a valid SIM card so that the location can be located . This must usually be purchased separately and is not included in the scope of delivery.
Transmission of the location
You can then determine the location of your car either through call or send an SMS to your cell phone send or through a location provider send. The provider will send you the location of the vehicle by message or make it available on their online portal for retrieval. Many trackers are also connected to an APP.
Both services are charge , while receiving SMS only costs per query, that means the more often you search for your car, the higher the costs will be. With most location providers, you have to expect ongoing monthly fees. The amount depends on the provider and additional services that are used.
For example, you can download the total routine data of the vehicle , so store and transmit moving and resting times. However, this is more for professional use, for example when you want to track truck loads or plan routes more efficiently.
Should you choose current location provider decide to use it to locate the car with the cell phone , in any case, get enough offers and compare them with each other. Unfortunately, there are often many dubious suppliers around.
A close look should also be taken at the privacy policies and permissions throw the respective provider. Nobody wants every kilometer traveled by car to be visible to the whole world.
Differences in car locators
If you have ever been looking for GPS tracking devices, you will have noticed that there are some differences here. Many devices have extensive additional functions. It depends on the personal expectations and needs, what kind of device is the most appropriate.
Price-wise you get a favorable device for example already from 20 euro . If it may be a little more, device prices are up to 300 euro also possible.
Battery powered or by the car battery
A big difference can also be seen in the power supply. So there are car tracking devices on the market, the need to be permanently mounted in the car and those that use a magnet stick.
The advantage of fixed devices is that they can often be used with the car battery connected and therefore do not need to be charged continuously. If the power is interrupted, the transmitter may also fail. However, many transmitters of this type are emergency battery equipped , so that the location still works for a few hours.
devices which are equipped with a magnets be mounted, are mostly battery operated . Usually these are also waterproof and very robust, for example, they can also be attached to the underside of the car. Manufacturers promise, depending on the device, a battery life of up to 120 days . However, this also depends on how often and how long the transmitter is in operation in each case.
Nowadays, modern devices, whether battery- or electricity-powered, have a battery warning system. The locator notifies the owner when the power supply has been cut or when the car has been damaged. When the battery level is low.
Additional functions and user-friendliness
In addition to the battery life, possible additional functions and user-friendliness are other important criteria.
A system can be so extensive and sophisticated, if the user is overwhelmed with its installation. Tip: read and compare experience reports resp. In the specialized trade the application from the professional briefly explain to let.
functions, such as the geofence for theft protection or the speed alarm and the history recording, are other useful additional options. If necessary, these should be integrated in the devices.
How exactly are tracking systems?
Basically, a standard device, in the open air and without other interfering factors, should be the play back the position exactly and without delay . Differences between the devices can be found not only in price, but also in the accuracy of position detection.
If a vehicle is parked in an underground garage, for example, where the radio connection is often poorer, even the the location of the transmitter will differ from the actual location by a few meters . Or the car can no longer be located with the cell phone.
this should be acceptable in a manageable parking garage probably yet. However, if it is a stolen vehicle is involved that needs to be recovered , a small deviation can already make a big difference.
tracking devices as anti-theft devices?
But are car tracking devices suitable as anti-theft devices at all?? Here it depends on the model and the included functions. You should make some considerations here.
Who would like to locate the car with the cell phone , after it has been stolen, use devices that share the exact location even in garages, halls or in trucks with aluminum covers (to disturb the connection).
GPS trackers are either battery operated or connected directly to the car battery. The advantage is that you do not have to worry about an empty battery and constantly think about recharging, because it draws power from the car battery.
However, if during a theft the If the car battery is disconnected, the GPS transmitter will also fail , if he does not have an emergency power battery. The tracker can no longer be reached and the car cannot be tracked with a cell phone. Therefore, you should pay attention to this point before buying absolutely or. If necessary, buy additional batteries.
Function geofence
For the averting car theft certain alarm functions can be very helpful. One of these functions is for example the " geofence ". With the geofence the GPS-transmitter reports to the receiver automatically, should the vehicle move away within a certain radius . This way you will know immediately if someone has tampered with your vehicle without authorization.
By the way: in the event of a theft, the police can theoretically also search for the vehicle using the navigation device, which also has gps. In practice, however, this is difficult, because it requires a court order, which can take up to two weeks.
Additional tips against theft with cell phone location
- Size of the transmitter: small transmitters are more suitable for theft protection, because they are not so easy to find in the car. Above all, you should be easy to install and adhere well.
- Position of the tracker: it is best to place the transmitter where car thieves would not expect it to be. There are no limits to the imagination here! Avoid areas like trunk, side pockets or glove compartment , as this is usually the first place to look.
- Use of dummies: you can also place a transmitter dummy, which distracts the thieves from finding the actual tracker.
- GPS modules some car manufacturers can retrofit the car with transmitters that are installed in the car. However, these are usually expensive and also do not provide a 100 percent guarantee against car theft.
Alternative theft protection
If you want to protect your car from being stolen, there are other ways besides GPS trackers to do it. These are for example car alarms, immobilizers or parking and steering wheel locks.
Electronic immobilizers must be mandatory for all vehicles from 1998 onwards newly registered car is present. If you do not own a classic car, you can assume that your car is equipped with an immobilizer. This car theft protection is hardly noticeable in daily use, as it is deactivated as soon as the key is inserted into the vehicle.
Since crooks are naturally also becoming more creative and are always finding new ways to circumvent the electronic immobilizer, this device can stall thieves for longer, but you should not be lulled into a false sense of security. Because still about 19 disappear every year.000 vehicles alone in germany.
For further protection you can use a steering wheel claw add. This restricts turning movements of the steering wheel , and subsequently the locomotion of the vehicle. There are steering wheel clamps with simple locks or combination locks. Good steering wheel locks are also available at a reasonable price.
Good to know: is it allowed to locate a car with a cell phone??
This question can be answered with a definite YES, as long as you give your own vehicle equipped with a locating system.
Do you want to know the location of your partners, relatives or friends by means of a positioning system, they must obtain their express permission give your opinion. everything else is illegal and you can be held accountable. Even if there is a suspicion of lateral espionage, for example during a marital dispute, you may not simply bug your partner’s car.