tracker device or software

Hi,

Does anybody use / have experience of any tracking devices that can be used on a small dinghy/trimaran.

I am building a 4.75m trimaran (currently a proa) and would like something I can have running while I am out in case of getting into difficulty perhaps like findmespot or similar. Basically my wife will not be remotely keen on me going out solo without something as she has seen me in hospital quite enough apparently.

Any expereience of findmespot or any alternatives?

I use GeoTracker on my Android phone for tracking my routes via GPS but it doesn't have any live sharing facility and that sort of device would of course be a problem when out of range of base stations etc.

Any thoughts / advice welcome.

 

Pity that nobody has responded to your request for a tracking device. I am in the same position to find something to help a friend of my wife who has to travel from South Africa to China to visit her daughter who is expecting a baby. Her problem is that we cannot read the street names and google is forbidden in China ( I understood.) That makes it very difficult for that woman to leave the daughter's flat to do some shopping or whatever. I had the same experience when I was in Taiwan. In my case I was making notes 3 blocks west, 2 blocks south etc. But the slightest error and one can get themselves in deep trouble when trying to find the place back from were left. Special if fog starts coming up out of nowhere, Has nobody really not a solution for this OP and also for my wife's friend?
Many thanks for your inputs.
Bert

 

I wonder whether the TOMTOM device would work on the water. It is based on satellite tracking and provided you put your home base as starting point, the TOMTOM should be able to store the c ordinates how you drive or walk or sail back. The problem is we have only sea waves and no streets. Also the map would not have been plotted and stored. How would the system say, turn left turn right etc.etc. ? But maybe you could post a question to the TOMTOM head office in Amsterdam the Netherlands. Maybe they have a solution for you. Maybe they are busy with a new system for sailors. Who knows? Bert

 

Maybe something like this

Vessel and Yacht Tracking | USSD M2M services http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/Yacht_tracker_using_GeoM2M.php

Jeff.

 

I googled M2M, and learnt it was a Norwegian pop music group. I guess that is not relevant here. Needless to say, once out of range of a transponder, nothing will work, I surmise that the system waikikin mentions, works on all wireless networks you are in range of.

 

Look into a Spot device. As you have suggested
Satellite based, leave your code info with friends and they can follow your progress on a computer, cell phone, etc
In an emergency, you can trigger an SOS to them. With a predetermined plan of action, ie call a friend boater, or coast guard etc
They have a newer version out that you can text a message with a cell phone as to what you need, but only one way, without cell coverage
Or alternatively buy a sat phone, pay the subscription a and have two way communication

 

Maybe ais..

 

Very nice system Jeff, but reading the OP thread, he is worried to be outside GSM tower signals. TOMTOM works only on Satellite coordinates, but does not have a map for on the sea. The OP likes to be independent from tower signals. Although USSD M2M is much more sensitive. Maybe the OP can consider this. Bert