lilredrooster
lilredrooster
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FleaStiff
FleaStiff
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February 3rd, 2018 at 4:04:40 AM permalink
There are differences between gps data loggers and gps trackers that use cell phones to report their data remotely. There is a power drain but usually the ordinary batteries are sufficient,

Anyone who steals a high end car these days takes it to a place where he can both electronically and physically examine the underside for non-standard devices. Thieves know what the underside of an expensive vehicle should look like and any gps transmitter and battery is likely to be detected no matter how well it has been disguised to blend in with the vehicle. Many such devices now have a "dormant" feature so they transmit for an hour and then go silent so as to avoid electronic detection but will activate 24 hours later when the stolen vehicle is perhaps being loaded into a shipping container for European markets.

A totally separate device is a bumper beeper which is what I think was used here. With a gps device there is no real need to physically follow a vehicle. With a bumper beeper a following vehicle receives an audible ping every thirty seconds that provides clues as to direction and proximity and allows tailing a vehicle from a much greater distance than would otherwise be possible.

It is possible to build your own receiver for a 'bumper beeper' and get a strong signal if its on your car. It is also possible to have that receiver obtain signals from any bumper beeper that the police may have installed on other vehicles in the area. In rural areas the range might be up to two miles but in urban areas with a variety of structures the range would be about a half mile.

Nowadays, people are putting proximity devices on keys, spouses, kids, laptop cases, etc. A lot of cell phones have a Find Me feature. If a crook plants that cell phone on your vehicle your location can be found,

There are both Raspberry Pi and Arduino kits for this sort of stuff. The real problem is battery drain and laws that make spousal electronic surveillance illegal.

Many devices are sold to "Honest John's Used Car Lot" type places that sell vehicles to individuals with bad credit, if there is a default on the car loan, Honest John tells the Repo Man the approximate location of the vehicle accurate to within a few hundred yards.


On edit: It seems Bluetooth or Bluetooth Lite is used to make cell phone calls reporting on the vehicle's location once a minute when ignition is on, once an hour when it is off. Anyone with a cell phone and a mapping app can follow along and automatically have gps coordinates displayed onto a Google Maps background.
Last edited by: FleaStiff on Feb 3, 2018
NokTang
NokTang
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February 3rd, 2018 at 7:51:05 AM permalink
Are rental cars equipped with one of these devices these days? I'm asking of course if the car is stolen, kept past the rental agreement dates or for example taken out of state in violation of the rental agreement etc.. Thanks and regards.
BleedingChipsSlowly
BleedingChipsSlowly
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February 3rd, 2018 at 8:05:20 AM permalink
I have heard that rental contracts may have a penalty clause for speeding, and a GPS device installed on the rental car will give them evidence for invoking that penalty.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Nathan
Nathan
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February 3rd, 2018 at 11:47:27 AM permalink
Quote: lilredrooster

Incredible story. He GPS tracked a wealthy gambler in a casino and then invaded his home.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/one-high-stakes-roller-tracked-another-from-a-casino-to-his-mansion--and-robbed-the-place/2018/02/02/4d51feb0-083d-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html?utm_term=.e042ce7b2892



That's messed up! Poor innocent gambler! The worst thing that has happened to me by other patrons is being begged for money in the casino. I'd go ballistic if some degenerate from the casino ended up robbing my house!
In both The Hunger Games and in gambling, may the odds be ever in your favor. :D "Man Babes" #AxelFabulous "Olive oil is processed but it only has one ingredient, olive oil."-Even Bob, March 27/28th. :D The 2 year war is over! Woo-hoo! :D I sometimes speak in metaphors. ;) Remember this. ;) Crack the code. :D 8.9.13.25.14.1.13.5.9.19.14.1.20.8.1.14! :D "For about the 4096th time, let me offer a radical idea to those of you who don't like Nathan -- block her and don't visit Nathan's Corner. What is so complicated about it?" Wizard, August 21st. :D
Hullabaloo
Hullabaloo
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February 3rd, 2018 at 1:00:50 PM permalink
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowly

I have heard that rental contracts may have a penalty clause for speeding, and a GPS device installed on the rental car will give them evidence for invoking that penalty.



They could get you for driving outside the state you rented in as well:

The Street: is-your-rental-car-company-spying-on-you-and-your-driving
100xOdds
100xOdds
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February 3rd, 2018 at 3:11:35 PM permalink
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowly

I have heard that rental contracts may have a penalty clause for speeding, and a GPS device installed on the rental car will give them evidence for invoking that penalty.

thought the supreme court struck that down?
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice). Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
FleaStiff
FleaStiff
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February 3rd, 2018 at 3:18:12 PM permalink
My recollection is that it was struck down on the failure to disclose the significant contract change to the renter.
billryan
billryan
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February 3rd, 2018 at 7:40:27 PM permalink
I was told I was banned from Budget because I drove too fast, and had taken the car off road. About a year or so later, my rental privileges were reinstated.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
AxelWolf
AxelWolf
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February 4th, 2018 at 12:05:17 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

I was told I was banned from Budget because I drove too fast, and had taken the car off road. About a year or so later, my rental privileges were reinstated.

Are you serious?

I was wondering if they might do this, but then I thought nah, they wouldn't dare because the word would get out and many people would stop using that car company.

I hope they never look at my rental car history. I got an upgrade to a Charger and I may or may not have been going 140 on the open road.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
onenickelmiracle
onenickelmiracle
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February 4th, 2018 at 5:39:58 AM permalink
Had a similar thought after google asked me to review a casino I was at. Never used a card there, but will the casino know I was there and what would they do with it?
I am a robot.
BleedingChipsSlowly
BleedingChipsSlowly
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February 4th, 2018 at 8:14:49 AM permalink
Quote: onenickelmiracle

Had a similar thought after google asked me to review a casino I was at. Never used a card there, but will the casino know I was there and what would they do with it?

If you have cell phone location service turned on and Chrome (Google) is allowed to access that data, it is slurped up and used for targeted adds and what not. It might be the case that Google doesn't know that you were at the casino, only that your cell phone was. If you sign on to Google as they press you to do, then they know it was you. (I only turn on location services when I need something using that at the moment.)
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
standbymyman
standbymyman
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February 5th, 2018 at 9:08:51 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

I was told I was banned from Budget because I drove too fast, and had taken the car off road. About a year or so later, my rental privileges were reinstated.




I am banned from E-Z because they lost my credit card info and were unable to charge for my rental. I paid it immediately as soon as I was made aware of their incompetence but that did not get me off their do not rent list. Dumb a$$es!
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