GPS tracking for Windows Mobile, iDen, BlackBerry and Nokia phones and many dedicated GPS devices.
The server is YOURS. Located in YOUR home or office. Total control.
No expensive webservices or monthly fees.
Follow vehicles or assets and view breadCrumb maps in real-time.
Zoom out and see current locations of all server users on a map.
View a large variety of maps with almost any web browser, desktop or mobile.
Archive tracking data for annual mileage tax reports, speed/location verification, etc.
Need tracking in a remote area without commercial maps? No problem. The server software easily
accomodates custom gif or jpg raster maps, as well as ESRI shape file maps.
accomodates custom gif or jpg raster maps, as well as ESRI shape file maps.
We are happy to offer free tracking accounts on our test server. Personal use only, 2 accounts max, space permitting.
Breadcrumb tracks using Virtual Earth
The web pages for tracking the mobile devices are simple, yet full-featured. For fleet tracking, the page can display historical data
using the calendar to view tracks from previous days. Data is stored in simple csv files allowing administrators to build any kind of
report using Excel, and there are built-in driving and parking reports with addresses.There is a "find address" function that a dispatcher
can use to direct a lost driver.The pages are also simple enough for the first time user who just needs to see where a child is. The
server uses several different sources for maps including mapping for cellphones. See the various web-based tracking page samples
below.
using the calendar to view tracks from previous days. Data is stored in simple csv files allowing administrators to build any kind of
report using Excel, and there are built-in driving and parking reports with addresses.There is a "find address" function that a dispatcher
can use to direct a lost driver.The pages are also simple enough for the first time user who just needs to see where a child is. The
server uses several different sources for maps including mapping for cellphones. See the various web-based tracking page samples
below.
| What is needed to send a GPS report? |
There are two broad categories of tracking devices: single-purpose dedicated GPS tracking devices, and multi-purpose devices like
a cellphone with GPS. Having played around with most of the current devices on the market, I have an opinion on all of them. But
this is a fast-changing landscape and I am reluctant to recommend or not recommend one. Too often I have had negative opinions
on a device, and a fast firmware upgrade from the manufacturer changes everything. I WILL say that I have had consistantly good
experience with Enfora devices in the dedicated hardware catagory, and with HTC PDA's in the multi-use category. Here is a brief
(but incomplete) survey of some of the hardware I have confirmed will work with the server software.
a cellphone with GPS. Having played around with most of the current devices on the market, I have an opinion on all of them. But
this is a fast-changing landscape and I am reluctant to recommend or not recommend one. Too often I have had negative opinions
on a device, and a fast firmware upgrade from the manufacturer changes everything. I WILL say that I have had consistantly good
experience with Enfora devices in the dedicated hardware catagory, and with HTC PDA's in the multi-use category. Here is a brief
(but incomplete) survey of some of the hardware I have confirmed will work with the server software.
Dedicated GPS hardware. I included both portable devices (personal tracking) and hard-wired devices (fleet-tracking) in this group.
TrimTrac
GlobalSat TR101
Enfora MiniMT
Enfora GSM2218
Portman
Sanav GC-101
StarsNav PT-33 and Rover
Wonde Proud SPT100
Multi-Purpose devices. I only included the current generation of PDA's, smartPhones, and cellPhones with built-in GPS receivers. The
last generation of phones and PDA's required a seperate BlueTooth GPS receiver and worked fine but were less convenient. We have software
for Windows Mobile 2003, Windows Mobile 2005, and Java software for Nextel/Boost iDen phones as well as Nokia, BlackBerry and most
other GPS-enabled phones. Click here to see some screen shots of the PDA software. The Windows Mobile software is very robust and has
features like messaging, way points, upload images/audio/video to the map pages, and route maps. It can run in invisible mode where it can only
be controlled remotely via SMS. Some possible applications for this might be stolen PDA recovery, keeping track of employees, and many
other uses.
last generation of phones and PDA's required a seperate BlueTooth GPS receiver and worked fine but were less convenient. We have software
for Windows Mobile 2003, Windows Mobile 2005, and Java software for Nextel/Boost iDen phones as well as Nokia, BlackBerry and most
other GPS-enabled phones. Click here to see some screen shots of the PDA software. The Windows Mobile software is very robust and has
features like messaging, way points, upload images/audio/video to the map pages, and route maps. It can run in invisible mode where it can only
be controlled remotely via SMS. Some possible applications for this might be stolen PDA recovery, keeping track of employees, and many
other uses.
HW6900
Nokia N95
Boost Mobile i425
BlackBerry 8830
HTC P3600
| Where do the GPS reports go? |
...to a Preston Systems, LLC MyTracking server, of course! You get a robust, stable server application that allows you to view maps showing
where your family, friends, or employees are located (and I make some money!). You buy the software once and never pay anyone a monthly
fee for tracking services. The server software runs on Windows Vista Business, Windows XP Pro, or Windows Server
2003.TrackingTheWorld is the re-seller for the server software and if you need the unlimited account version, you must contact them. I can sell
the 10 account account version directly at a discount. But unless you are good with server/network setups, I suggest you contact
TrackingTheWorld. They are a real company with full-time support staff and cute secretaries. They are also the best source for dedicated GPS
tracking hardware. For those techies who want to set up their own server on a tight budget and dont mind my intermittant tech-support, I can
sell the 10 account version directly and save you a bit of money.
I am happy to provide an evaluation account on the test server. It's free. This will let you confirm that your pocketpc/gps/cellphone will work as
a mobile tracking device BEFORE you go to the time and expense of setting up your own server. Email me at jpreston12 (at) yahoo.com for
an evaluation account, let me know the size of your company or if this is for home/personal use.
where your family, friends, or employees are located (and I make some money!). You buy the software once and never pay anyone a monthly
fee for tracking services. The server software runs on Windows Vista Business, Windows XP Pro, or Windows Server
2003.TrackingTheWorld is the re-seller for the server software and if you need the unlimited account version, you must contact them. I can sell
the 10 account account version directly at a discount. But unless you are good with server/network setups, I suggest you contact
TrackingTheWorld. They are a real company with full-time support staff and cute secretaries. They are also the best source for dedicated GPS
tracking hardware. For those techies who want to set up their own server on a tight budget and dont mind my intermittant tech-support, I can
sell the 10 account version directly and save you a bit of money.
I am happy to provide an evaluation account on the test server. It's free. This will let you confirm that your pocketpc/gps/cellphone will work as
a mobile tracking device BEFORE you go to the time and expense of setting up your own server. Email me at jpreston12 (at) yahoo.com for
an evaluation account, let me know the size of your company or if this is for home/personal use.
| How do you see where family, friends, or employees are located? |
Once you have the server installed (or you are using my test server for free), you simply use the web browser on your desktop PC, pocket
PC, smartPhone, or WAP cellphone to view the map page. The server supports a wide variety of map choices including Virtual Earth, Google
Maps, ESRI shapefiles, Google earth, and even custom maps in gif or jpg format. The ability to track with your cellphone or PDA is priceless.
I drop a Sanav GC-101 device in my 7-year old's pocket when he goes snow skiing. When I drive to the ski area to pick him up, I can sit in
my car and see his tracks in real-time as he skis down the mountain to the parking lot. And when my dog runs off (which is often), I get an
SMS alert on my phone. I hop in the car, follow her tracks using my PDA, and quickly find her. I've even tracked our turtle when we let him
wander around outside in the summer. Lots of possibilites!
PC, smartPhone, or WAP cellphone to view the map page. The server supports a wide variety of map choices including Virtual Earth, Google
Maps, ESRI shapefiles, Google earth, and even custom maps in gif or jpg format. The ability to track with your cellphone or PDA is priceless.
I drop a Sanav GC-101 device in my 7-year old's pocket when he goes snow skiing. When I drive to the ski area to pick him up, I can sit in
my car and see his tracks in real-time as he skis down the mountain to the parking lot. And when my dog runs off (which is often), I get an
SMS alert on my phone. I hop in the car, follow her tracks using my PDA, and quickly find her. I've even tracked our turtle when we let him
wander around outside in the summer. Lots of possibilites!
| Tracking map samples for desktop, PDA, cell phone, and Google Earth |
Google Maps is often the best choice for places with poor street maps. The example
above is Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and the satellite view works quite well.
above is Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and the satellite view works quite well.
| View maps on a WAP phone |
| Google Earth . Great for remote areas |
| PDA/smartPhone map |
View detailed driving reports:
Some Thoughts on Disposable Phones for Tracking
This is an update on a review of the iDen i425 written almost 1 year ago with the benefit and
hindsight of programming and using this phone in many GPS tracking solutions during that
time. There is plenty of good news to report, but first the shortcommings. There are 3 that
stand out: poor battery life, insenistive GPS receiver,and the possibility that the phone will shut
off due to loss of charge or when the Boost account reaches zero balance. These can be
mitigated, however, I would not use this phone for anything "mission critical".
The good news is that this is an amazing tracking device for very little money. Current cost is
$29 for the phone, about $15 for the charger, and $10 every 3 months to keep the Boost
account alive. Our Java application has proved to be rock solid and NEVER needs a reboot or
stops working (unless you let the battery run down or let your Boost account go to zero
balance). My own tests were to connect the charger to 12v and place the phone way up inside
my dashboard. It was very hard to reach. Except for forgetting to re-Boost one time,
This is an update on a review of the iDen i425 written almost 1 year ago with the benefit and
hindsight of programming and using this phone in many GPS tracking solutions during that
time. There is plenty of good news to report, but first the shortcommings. There are 3 that
stand out: poor battery life, insenistive GPS receiver,and the possibility that the phone will shut
off due to loss of charge or when the Boost account reaches zero balance. These can be
mitigated, however, I would not use this phone for anything "mission critical".
The good news is that this is an amazing tracking device for very little money. Current cost is
$29 for the phone, about $15 for the charger, and $10 every 3 months to keep the Boost
account alive. Our Java application has proved to be rock solid and NEVER needs a reboot or
stops working (unless you let the battery run down or let your Boost account go to zero
balance). My own tests were to connect the charger to 12v and place the phone way up inside
my dashboard. It was very hard to reach. Except for forgetting to re-Boost one time,
i425 screenshot using the
optional waypoint function.
Useful for geocachers,
finding your parked car, etc
optional waypoint function.
Useful for geocachers,
finding your parked car, etc
I was able to have continuous, unlimited tracking for over 6 months with zero reboots or problems. I have had worse results with $600 dedicated
tracking devices. Like the most expensive dedicated devices, our Java app stores reports when cell covereage is lost and uploads reports when it
reconnects. It sends by time or distance. In by-distance mode, it will only send when moving plus 1 additional report when parked. I would not
use anything other than this phone as a tracking device for a vehicle...the cost is much too low to have any viable competition.
As a personal tracking device, unfortunately, it falls short due to the battery life. Out of the box, you will only get 4-6 hours, which is not long
enough to give to a child who will probably need it for 8 hours or more. The solution is the bigger battery, but it's not an elegant solution. The
standard cover wont fit the larger battery, so you need the larger cover or a bunch of duct tape. The other problem is the GPS receiver
insensitvity. A personal devise must work indoors, and the i425 sometimes will not. (NOTE: The i776 is about $100 but has much better battery
life.)
In summary, we have many commercial and personal users and they all have nothing but positive feedback about using this phone as a tracking
device. Parents of autistic kids, a rental car company, a property management company who also uses the walkie-talkie feature while tracking, and
many others. I would not hesitate to recommend the i425 for almost any non mission-critical tracking solution.
tracking devices. Like the most expensive dedicated devices, our Java app stores reports when cell covereage is lost and uploads reports when it
reconnects. It sends by time or distance. In by-distance mode, it will only send when moving plus 1 additional report when parked. I would not
use anything other than this phone as a tracking device for a vehicle...the cost is much too low to have any viable competition.
As a personal tracking device, unfortunately, it falls short due to the battery life. Out of the box, you will only get 4-6 hours, which is not long
enough to give to a child who will probably need it for 8 hours or more. The solution is the bigger battery, but it's not an elegant solution. The
standard cover wont fit the larger battery, so you need the larger cover or a bunch of duct tape. The other problem is the GPS receiver
insensitvity. A personal devise must work indoors, and the i425 sometimes will not. (NOTE: The i776 is about $100 but has much better battery
life.)
In summary, we have many commercial and personal users and they all have nothing but positive feedback about using this phone as a tracking
device. Parents of autistic kids, a rental car company, a property management company who also uses the walkie-talkie feature while tracking, and
many others. I would not hesitate to recommend the i425 for almost any non mission-critical tracking solution.
Need to track your dog? Or your turtle?
Wheaton Terrier with a collar tracker....and her tracks as she runs around the neighborhood looking for squirrels.
Other quality crafted software by Preston Systems
CamPlayer - lets you control and see real-time video of your IP network camera using a Windows Mobile device.
CamPlayer - lets you control and see real-time video of your IP network camera using a Windows Mobile device.
Contact Preston Systems, LLC for pricing and details:
jpreston12@yahoo.com
MYTRACKING SOFTWARE AND ALL RIGHTS ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF PRESTON
SYSTEMS, LLC. DISASSEMBLY, REVERSE ENGINEERING, ALTERING, OR ADDING FEATURES
ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED. THIS SOFTWARE IS OFFERED WITHOUT WARRANTY, EITHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR LAND, MARINE,
AERONAUTICAL, OR ANY OTHER NAVIGATION PURPOSE.
jpreston12@yahoo.com
MYTRACKING SOFTWARE AND ALL RIGHTS ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF PRESTON
SYSTEMS, LLC. DISASSEMBLY, REVERSE ENGINEERING, ALTERING, OR ADDING FEATURES
ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED. THIS SOFTWARE IS OFFERED WITHOUT WARRANTY, EITHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR LAND, MARINE,
AERONAUTICAL, OR ANY OTHER NAVIGATION PURPOSE.
GPS tracking is not only for commercial use. There are lots of fun ways to use it. Here is a brief example of using GPS tracking for a short
trip in my smalll town. My 8 year old and I rode our bikes to the tennis courts, went to the post office, then back home:
trip in my smalll town. My 8 year old and I rode our bikes to the tennis courts, went to the post office, then back home:
As you can see from the directional arrows we went south, then turned right and made our first stop at the tennis courts. My Windows Mobile
phone has a built-in camera and I decided to take a photo. I then used the photo upload function of the tracking software to send the photo to
the server. This is why there is a camera icon at the tennis courts instead of the usual directional arrows. Next stop was the Post Office. That
stop is clearly identified by the red/yellow circle marker. From there we headed NE toward home.
phone has a built-in camera and I decided to take a photo. I then used the photo upload function of the tracking software to send the photo to
the server. This is why there is a camera icon at the tennis courts instead of the usual directional arrows. Next stop was the Post Office. That
stop is clearly identified by the red/yellow circle marker. From there we headed NE toward home.
Above we have the same path but using the satellite image instead of the road map. You can see the camera icon is inside the 2 tennis
courts and this is where I snapped my son hitting a brilliant backhand. In the above screen shot, I clicked on the camera icon to display the
popup window. The popup has some details about this GPS report as well as a thumbnail of the image I took. Additionally, the thumbnail
can be clicked to see the full sized image. The ablity to visualize tracks and add an unlimited number of photos directly to the track path
can be a fun and useful tool. This technology makes it easy to share your trips, hikes, and adventures with friends and family.
courts and this is where I snapped my son hitting a brilliant backhand. In the above screen shot, I clicked on the camera icon to display the
popup window. The popup has some details about this GPS report as well as a thumbnail of the image I took. Additionally, the thumbnail
can be clicked to see the full sized image. The ablity to visualize tracks and add an unlimited number of photos directly to the track path
can be a fun and useful tool. This technology makes it easy to share your trips, hikes, and adventures with friends and family.