Tracking devices for musical Instruments.

[jazzyvee]

There seem to have been quite a lot of musical instrument thefts reported on-line of late and the one Mica reported here recent of a theft of a load of instruments has rekindled my interest in finding a good GPS tracking device which can be safely fitted inside an instrument without damage or inducing noise into the electronics and output.
 
A few years back I bought a GPS tracker which was the size of a small matchbox that I fitted inside the padding of my flightcase. Whilst it worked and I could see on a map where it was, the downside was that it kept sending me false messages which ran the battery and sim card credit down. Since then I've sporadically done some investigation to see what is new on the market and have seen some small bluetooth technology devices like the Tile that would be small enough but it has a small range of 100 feet and since it relies on other mobile phone users having the tracker app on their phones to locate it's whereabouts, being able to find things could take a while depending on how bit the tile network of users is.
 
So I wonder if anyone has any experience of good trackers. I seem to remember Keavin having some cell phone type device inside number 12 at some point.

[terryc]

I have the ideal tracker, my bass never leaves my line of sight at a gig and my karate skills are the deterrent !

[jazzyvee]

I guess in  your case Terry all you need then is a T-shirt with this on the front or on our bass case.  :-)

Not having any recent training in martial arts, I'd rather not have to punch someone and risk hand damage. :-)  Can I hire you as my bass bodyguard. :-)  
Joking aside, unfortunately there are other places where instruments get lifted, not just at gigs where your physical presence can be a deterrent. The keyboard player in one of the bands I was in got his Korg M1 stolen by someone from the crew who were helping clear the stage after the gig. Another friend had his bass stolen from his home whilst he was asleep on the sofa in the same room!!! Fortunately it was found at a local music store having been sold to the shop by the thief.

[serialnumber12]

[terryc]

Jazzy my hands are perfectly conditioned for punching the crap out of anyone who would try!
Yes, these people have no morals at all, you save up for yor beloved instrument only for these low life to think it is 'just a guitar'.
What is even worse, the police won't even come to yous assistance now over burglaries because they have deduced that it is not serious enough for them to do!

[keith_h]

I don't have any idea on trackers. If I am out on a gig my wife stays with the basses until I am done loading the rig and ready to leave. I have a monitored alarm system on my house for multiple reasons but my instruments are one of them. I have been looking at getting a larger gun safe that would also hold my basses when we are away from the house traveling. Not only would it provide theft protection but would also provide some fire resistance.
 
Keith

[ed_zeppelin]

I use Snagg: http://tinyurl.com/Snagg-flyer
 
The GPS tracker is about the size of a Tic-tac box. (At my age, I'm considering having one implanted somewhere. Y'never know when you'll get lost on the way back from the bathroom.)
 
The RFID chips (about ten bucks each) are smaller than a grain of rice. I take a strap button off and extend the screw hole a little, dab some glue on the chip, drop it in and stick the button back on. Nobody will ever know it's there (except you guys, of course  )
 
Oh yeah, here's their website (duh, I knew I was forgetting something) http://www.snagg.com/
 
(Message edited by Ed_zeppelin on August 07, 2015)

[mavnet]

Snagg seems brilliant. Would be a great option for Alembic to offer built in, with a tap onto the power coming into the bass (at least on series instruments) to trickle charge the batteries. Might be able to use a smaller battery that way (there's not much room in the electronics cavities of my basses).

[funkyjazzjunky]

Carvin used to offer Snagg

[rv_bass]

I don't know much about them, but perhaps an RFID would work.
 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification

[ed_zeppelin]

There are two methods, each with their own advantages and limitations. GPS trackers (as shown in the innards of the fine *Alembic bass earlier in this thread) allow you and police to track it anywhere on the face of the earth. Handy, that.
 
Their limitations are their size (they're about the size of a Tic-tac box: http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/45197-Hello-Kitty-Tic-Tacs.jpg ) with a battery life of three years on average. They don't interfere with electronics, by the way. So feel free to take a router to your instruments, or a chisel and hammer.  
 
RFID chips only identify it as yours. Most pawnshops, music stores and police departments have scanners that identify all makes of chips, but they don't actually track your valuables.
 
Snagg makes both types, and their GPS trackers seem to be smaller than others I've seen.  
 
To see the latest advances in the technologies, search out tracking devices for bicycles. Lo-Jack and myriad other companies make an astonishing variety of devices and strategies, from devices that notify you by phone if something is even moved to death-rays fired from satellites that turn the thieving miscreant into a pile of smoldering ash. (If I had my way ...)
 
 
*are those two trapezoidal objects in the lower left of the cavity spare pickups? I've studied the innards carefully, and it think I found room for two more knobs. Possibly three.

[dela217]

Those trapezoidal objects are hum cancellers for each pickup.   I have those in my bass too 72 16.

[edwin]

I wonder if the rechargeable Snagg GPS can be powered off the Series power supply.

[pierreyves]

and what about little things like :
https://www.thetrackr.com/

it's expensive, maybe we can find something cheaper ? an idea ?

[paulman]

Hey hope you don't mind if I chime in on this one.  This seems like a cheap solution but it lacks the real GPS tracking we want for our important treasured instruments! 

I deal with GPS tracking through work.  This device is a "kind of" GPS tracker but does not act like say, a Car or Truck GPS tracking device. 

The little button in the video is connected to your phone via Bluetooth or even wifi.   The tracking starts when the phone and tracker are separated and go out of range.  The phone remembers this location and can direct you back to it.  The buzzing of your phone also works in this way.  If your phone was in your car and your were at work some distance away, the buzzing would not work because the proximity distance is too great.  (going back and re-reading the initial post on the thread this is exactly how the Tile works)

This device is more like if you lose something it will tell where you lost it, but not the actual location of the item if it has been moved or...as we want it use it here in this thread stolen...UNLESS (as they craftily point out) another tracker user with the same app as you comes close to the tracker device. 

The device is also battery powered, and all the devices I've seen like this do not have a replaceable battery.  You just have to buy another device. 

So as a global personal item (or person, or car) location device this does not work well.  If you walked out of your car and forgot your keys, it'll work great.   

Or if you forget your Alembic instrument often, this would work well also.  (gets to the gig, "Where's my bass?",  check tracker, "Damn left it at home again!")

I'm not saying it's bad or good, just that the marketing sways one to believe it's more than it is.

This device will work, but it has really crappy battery life once it starts telling you where it is and you need to purchase your own SIM card:  https://www.amazon.com/ABLEGRID%C2%AE-RealTime-Tracker-Vehicle-Tracking/dp/B01535CSCE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1477925061&sr=8-5&keywords=gps+tracker

This device is super and has a long battery life, and will give you a trail of where it's been and currently is!  Also includes the SIM card and service.  Had very good experience with this one: http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/product/spark+nano+gps+tracker+for+business.do?sortby=bestSellers&from=fn

The above company also has other GPS devices that work quite well. 

Happy Halloween!