Recently I was asked to weigh in on some GPS tracking. Here’s my summary broken down by the ‘type’ of transmision
Non-Device
- QR code that can scanned that then opens up a browser and a form with form data pre-populated using phone (ie., location, date). Maybe a financial incentive for the person scanning?
Mobile Device
- Most smartphones now are GPS enabled so using an existing app (ie., MapMyRun) or writing your own is trivial to transmit points to a backend collection API.
Passive Devices (ie., it records so you need to get it at the end)
- http://www.myitrail.com/
- 120 hours of data is great- – is 5 days enough?
- USB so you can actually use your macbook to download the data directly from the device (no need for PC)
- You’ll have to collect it or have it mailed in when found
- http://www.trackstick.com/products/supertrackstick/supertrackstick.html
- Boasts 6-8 weeks of power under power save mode (ie., no motion = turn off)
Active Devices (ie., it continuosly broadcasts so you can monitor location without having to recover unit at destination)
- http://www.gtc-usa.com/satphone/Axonn_SMARTONE_Satellite_Tracker.html
- this or similar products may be be best suited for international application as satellite vs. mobile
- http://www.myathletelive.com/product/
- They use cell signal to transmit so restricted by cell network availability.
