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Technology
Bringing technology news from around Berkshire |
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Asset Tracking Device
Last week we published a piece called ‘A Lesson in Perseverance’ which told the story of the hard work and effort invested by Scott Hider of B2B Portfolio in tracking down his stolen car. Fortunately the tale had a happy ending. It also prompted Scott to install a tracking device in his car. The Cistrak Asset Tracking Device enables users to pinpoint the precise whereabouts of their property within seconds. Let’s find out more…
The system works differently to most other tracking devices – and is also significantly cheaper. There is no visible aerial, it does not require a monitoring station and it can be used to track people or property. All you need is a mobile phone and a computer. The device can be concealed easily and discreetly on your personal property (your car or motorcycle for instance) and you can pinpoint its precise location to within 5 metres.
How Does It Work?
The Cistrak device contains a GPS chip set for satellite positioning as well as a GSM mobile phone chip set. Cistrak Director Charles Lovibond explains: “when you phone the device, it recognises your mobile phone, then texts you straight back telling you its location. The unit also features street-level mapping.”
As well as mobile phone, the device can be located using your computer. During our brief phone interview, I logged on to the Cistrak website, entered the code number for Charles’ device, and was then given a map onscreen which showed the vehicle’s precise location within 5 metres. I was able to tell Charles he was driving down the A34 and had just gone under a motorway bridge!
Although vehicle tracking is the obvious and most popular application, many users give the device to their kids when they go out, enabling them to track their whereabouts. It even comes equipped with a panic button. The device is ideal security for anyone with a garaged car or motorcycle that only sees occasional use, as Charles explains: “You can set an electronic boundary around the item. Let’s say you’ve got a classic motorbike stored in your garage; you set the boundary to within a few yards around it – if it goes outside the boundary, ie, if someone steals it, the system alerts you immediately.”
In a recent case in the North, a prestige car hire company tracked down a missing vehicle so quickly and accurately, the thieves were left flabbergasted. The Cistrak device allowed them to pinpoint the car’s location within seconds of realising it was missing.
The Cistrak device sells for around half the price of standard motorcycle/car tracking units. For more information, visit www.cistrak.co.uk
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