Hey guys! I have been working on a GPS tracking system for board for a while. I found a good setup, but it required a buck converter and a larger PCB for the tracker. I found a much better solution!
You use a sim card (provided) from US Mobile to text the tracker (from any phone). It then replies with it location and a link to Google Maps. Text plans start at $4.48/month (although I recommend the 200 text plan for 50 cents more) and you can also add date to access the tracking app and web platform. More details on these later. I find the texting sufficent as it aslo gives the speed so you will know if the board is moving or not.
The tracker includes a wiring harness and an extra JST plug for you to solder onto your BMS to ensure it never over drians the battery. The tracker also has a built in 120mAh battery to run for ~30 mins when there is no power! It then charges back up when the PCB gets power from the board. I also include a low profile black switch that you can discretely mount on the outside of your enclosure to turn on and off the tracker when not needed. They draw a little less than 0.03A in sleep mode so it will last a long time, but its not something you want to have on indefinitely.
You receive everything ready to go:
GPS Tracker
SIM Card (GSM)
Wiring Harness with 12mm low profile switch
Installation Support
You just need to activate the SIM card on US Mobileās website and pick a plan. Super simple and I will have full documentation in the coming days.
This is a great addition if your shipping boards to Denver! You will have the peace of mind to always know where it is! There have also been more and more board thefts recently and this would give you the piece of mind to protect your investment.
Please drop any questions below. I will try to reply as fast as possible, but things are really picking up at BKB! I would also like to say that these are not the cheap knockoff version! They actually have a GPS chip on them! Cheaper version on Amazon/eBay do not have this!
In college, I āstoleā a few unlocked bikes and rode them to the campus police station and told them I brought it over to prevent theft. Half truth. I lived in apartments across the street from the station. Just took bikes for joy rides.
Does it matter at this point? Imo the switch should only be used if the board is going to be put into hibernation , and otherwise should be kept on for it to be functional . But I suppose itās down to each personās use-case
It draws around 0.03A in sleep mode (GPS still works but the delay time is ~20 seconds). The switch is to turn it off when not in use for weeks at a time. It will eventually drain the battery if left on indefinitely. If your someone who uses the board everyday, and keeps an eye on it year round the switch is not necessary and you can remove it with a few seconds of soldering.
@Zach nailed it on the head. It all depends on the individual. The switch is has a really low profile when in the on posisition.
You would need to find a suitable SIM card for your location. In the USA we have a lot of low cost options that has a text only GSM plan. If you have one outside the USA it should work perfectly, but it has to be a GSM sim or it wonāt work.
Already bought one of the modules spoken about in the previous builders thread on this, but I guess since this one wonāt require a buck converterā¦ Iāll be buying another
