GPS tracking for your firearm

[keenkeen]

What is your issue wiht RFID?

Yes it is a passive RFID device that lays dormand until activated.

Now what's the issue?

also...It's not a tracking system it's a locating system

I don't have an "issue with RFID", I have an understanding of it. You see, it is just that it will not work as a solution for the product you are suggesting...

RFID is great for tracking things within a contained environment. Say a manufacturing plant or a warehouse facility or even from one location with RFID sensors to another location that also has sensors (Like shipping depots for example). In general RFID tags have a range of 3' (HF) to about 300' (UHF) from the sensor that is reading it.

So, what good would an RFID chip in the grip of one of my 1911s do? Say someone steals that gun..then what?

I am interested in your solution...

[keenkeen]

Not sure if it's GPS based, but LOJAK comes to mind. They've got em small enough for laptops, who's to say the technology's not there. Sure, the battery may have to be replaced every 5 years or so, but that's a whole lot better than having to keep your gun on a charger.

Yes similar to a lojack



You would be the only one capable of using the service. And again, it's not a tracking device it is a locator device to be activated only when lost or stolen.

As others have mentioned even the best power sources today, that small, is capable of 20-24 hrs. of "standby" ours is dormant until activated, then and only then would you be able to locate it. It would not be a constant track more like a ping of position every 5 or 10 min...and if you program for a "track mode" it would be useless in less than a day.

It is NOT a Tracker..It IS a Locator. It will only give you a position to be seen on a map overlay.

Lowjack for laptops is a software based solution so unless you have a usb port or wireless connection on your HK 5.7 I am not really sure that is a good example.

But lets say it was a SMALL hardware board that could be installed into one of the laptop slots...it would be running on the laptop battery and that needs to be charged. The battery may have a life of 5 years+ but it won't hold a charge that long.

I won't even get into this idea that it can just remain "dormant" indefinably until activated...I mean, activated by what?!?!

What your are suggesting is not in the cards today given the power issues...in the future yes, today, not so much. We can restart this debate in 5 years and see if it is possible at that time, until than, the question is moot.

[liberty47]

I would never have GPS on a gun of mine

[joemoia]

Not sure if it's GPS based, but LOJAK comes to mind. They've got em small enough for laptops, who's to say the technology's not there. Sure, the battery may have to be replaced every 5 years or so, but that's a whole lot better than having to keep your gun on a charger.

GPS trackers need to have the transmit power equal to a cell phone. GPS tackers work by sending a text/sms message to a cell phone tower and then on to a dedicated server. Most modern cell phones have a GPS location function built into them. It is activated when the user dials 911, or it can be turned on for continuous operation. If you turn it on for continuous operation your cell phone battery won't last too long

[Chief-7700]

It would be permenantly affixed to the frame of the revolver under the grips, inside the mag well of semi auto hand guns and inside the mag well of semi-auto magazine fed rifles, bolt action rifles affixed to the Reciever.

maintaining charge not an issue.

it could be the size of a grain of rice or as flat as a sticker never affecting firearm performance and would be water and chemical proof.

If it catches on manufacturers could incorporate them into their firearms allowing only the owner the ability to track their property anywhere in the world if stolen.

Where in the magwell of a 1911???

[NiteQwill]

Track them, no.

I have insurance to cover every loss in the house. That's what it's for.

[glockman19]

I don't have an "issue with RFID", I have an understanding of it. You see, it is just that it will not work as a solution for the product you are suggesting...

RFID is great for tracking things within a contained environment. Say a manufacturing plant or a warehouse facility or even from one location with RFID sensors to another location that also has sensors (Like shipping depots for example). In general RFID tags have a range of 3' (HF) to about 300' (UHF) from the sensor that is reading it.

So, what good would an RFID chip in the grip of one of my 1911s do? Say someone steals that gun..then what?

I am interested in your solution...

In theory...you would

Go to the web site, enter your encrypted code/password and a system actively sends a signal out to an area that only your tag will respond to. When it responds it's location is recorded and tagged with a pin.

The location can then be passed to Law Enforcement when you make your police report of the stolen firearm. They can "ping" it again to see if it is in the same location or has moved before recovery and arrest.

At least that is the scenereo I'm looking to replicate.

I'll obviously test it.

[keenkeen]

In theory...you would

Go to the web site, enter your encrypted code/password and a system actively sends a signal out to an area that only your tag will respond to. When it responds it's location is recorded and tagged with a pin.

The location can then be passed to Law Enforcement when you make your police report of the stolen firearm. They can "ping" it again to see if it is in the same location or has moved before recovery and arrest.

At least that is the scenereo I'm looking to replicate.

I'll obviously test it.

What your describing above is a typical GPS tracking setup.

However, The type of device you are describing (grain of rice size, flat sticker, etc -with a very low or zero power consumption) is an RFID device.

These are divergent systems. The GPS solution will face the power/battery life & size issues mentioned earlier and the RFID system won't do what you are proposing.

Sorry. but there is a reason what you are proposing does not already exist. Spend some time looking at the GPS and RFID solutions in the marketplace today and I think you will see the issues.

Good luck regardless.

[myk]

Insurance guys. I love my guns too but we have to accept the fact that at some point we will be separated from our beloved property no matter how hard we try to protect it, whether it be a car, bicycle, gun, girl, whatever...