PeteCress
Android Enthusiast
There are many dedicated car trackers out there... typically $100-200 purchase price plus $20-30 per month for the network subscription.
The task at hand, though, is quite modest compared to the scenarios that dedicated trackers seem to be designed for.
The task at hand being being able to locate an automobile if/when it becomes overdue for return from a trip.
Specifically, this is for somebody in the early stages of dementia. Right now, they're a-ok with local trips..... but the day will come when it's getting late and they have not returned home. Seems like being able to locate the vehicle would be a big plus.
FWIW, there is no hope of getting this person to carry a turned-on cell phone....
But what about a dedicated Android phone permanently/covertly installed in the car to fufill this function?
To Wit:
i.e. The tracking functionality is dormant until somebody calls that cell phone for a report on the vehicle's position. At that time, the Android application answers the phone and texts the vehicle's location to the calling number..... - as opposed to something that is constantly reporting it's position to some remote system.
Can anybody shed some light?
The task at hand, though, is quite modest compared to the scenarios that dedicated trackers seem to be designed for.
The task at hand being being able to locate an automobile if/when it becomes overdue for return from a trip.
Specifically, this is for somebody in the early stages of dementia. Right now, they're a-ok with local trips..... but the day will come when it's getting late and they have not returned home. Seems like being able to locate the vehicle would be a big plus.
FWIW, there is no hope of getting this person to carry a turned-on cell phone....
But what about a dedicated Android phone permanently/covertly installed in the car to fufill this function?
To Wit:
- The phone knows where it is by virtue of it's GPS
- Seems like an app can be written that will answer the phone and respond by texting the Lat/Lon of the phone to the calling number
- The parasitic load on the vehicle's battery would seem to be quite modest.... even for a vehicle that only gets used a couple times per week.
i.e. The tracking functionality is dormant until somebody calls that cell phone for a report on the vehicle's position. At that time, the Android application answers the phone and texts the vehicle's location to the calling number..... - as opposed to something that is constantly reporting it's position to some remote system.
Can anybody shed some light?