Author Topic: Low Jack Anyone? (Read 261 times)

kevin_k · « **on:** March 30, 2004, 08:05:47 AM »

Mica,

Can I get some sort of GPS / Low Jack device installed into my bass? People do it for their pets, so why not a bass. Would the satelite signal interfer with normal operations? I guess it is a little late to be thinking about it, but it never hurts to ask.

kevin_k · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2004, 08:08:50 AM »

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kevin

keavin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2004, 08:14:46 AM »

hey now days, anything is possible, not a bad idea either! (if dogs can get it i dont see why not any other item should be excluded.) but it is possible check out gps.com.

rockandroller · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2004, 01:24:34 PM »

gee - and i thought you were talking about the CARD GAME low jack...

kevin_k · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2004, 01:44:57 PM »

Nope...however I am sure I am being a bit too paranoid. But if it can be done for a couple hundred bucks...why not. I am imagining a small chip/homing device used for locating missing pets. Insert it somewhere in the cavity and forget about it. Maybe it is something I should look into on my own.

valvil · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2004, 02:45:31 PM »

The chips that were inserted in my pets can only be detected close up, so the pet can be identified at places like the Humane society.
I have no idea how large the locating devices that are put in cars are, but if they happen to be too large or too noisy to put inside the bass, another possibility might be to hide them in the case under the foam somewhere. It wouldn't be as good as tagging the bass itself, but I think it'd be very helpful, as the thieves would be unlikely to separate the instrument from the case.

Valentino

hollis · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2004, 02:57:28 PM »

Hello this is On Star, your guitar is heading south on I-5 just north of Eugene...... I like it!

palembic · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2004, 12:24:59 AM »

Oh ...huh ...I see an opprtunity for a good old long PTBO story here.
The device you are looking for can be small enough, and existed in experimental stadium about 6 years ago when I was working on a communication project for a Belgian MIcro-electronic research institute.
But (...aaaha ...that good'ol but again ...it has been a while) ...there are some problems in rather unexpected areas that make the solution not possible. An this has more to do with politics than with technology.
Let me explain the 2 possibilities.
1. GSM-technology.
In EU-countries where mobile phone is becoming VERY spread (there is a nearly 100% coverage) it is very simple to locate a place to more or less 100 square meters precise. The device is a small chip that is not bigger than a lead of a pencil of 5mm long. So this could be a solution for GSM adapted countries and region. As far as I am well informed the US is NOT a region where the use of cell-phones is nation-wide covered. But merely a town thing. As I said in other threads: it has to do with scaling. Every country has HIS technology, as sson you make those technologies compatible ...you got a EU-wide network. I can imagine that there is no company who wants to make a US-wide network.
The GSM-tracking theory was once followed for keeping track of children. It sounds weird but simply ...to put it in an earring or even a piercing. Just as a tool against kidnappers. The idea was left. The research was done.

2. Satellites.
GPS is a US-military-based invention that -in his CIVIL version, there IS a (secret) military version which is far more accurat- can track things also more or less with 10 square meter accuracy.
Not much people now this but there exist also a working RUSSIAN system. It is not called GPS but ...let's say GLOST (I don't remember the name). Also worldwide coverage.
Now 6 years ago the institute I worked for developped a chip (VEEEEEEEEEEERY small) that combined the signals of GPS and GLOST. So now we have the DOUBLE of satellites and 2 systems with different angles. This resulted in a tracking accuracy of ...2 square ...cm!!!!!!!!!!! (about the size of a 50 ct coin).
And ...alas ...here comes politics ruining the dream ...protocols were never exchanged (because the both systems were in origin militar as you remember) so it never started but ...it existed.

3. Chips??
A small tail on story 2 to wet your appetite.
Do we need chips for all this?
Because ...how small we make them or where we hide them ...they CAN be tracked ...taken away so ...there goes the tracking principle.
The same institute started research (and I don't have info on that one) to make chips ...a liquid!!!!
I can hear your puzzled look.
Well .. that means that everyting you can do with a chip would be possible with ...a paint!!!!!
So tracking would be possible on ...paint base!!! So ...it IS very hard to get rid of a paint , or a drop of liquid, or varnish.

Well ...brothers and sisters ... the stories!
Impressive no?
But ...also VERY scary IMHO.
Please take some time off bass-playing to read 1984 of George Orwell:
Big Brother is Watching!!!!!!!

Paul the bad one

bracheen · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2004, 03:28:23 AM »

Wow, Professor Paul the Informed One. That was very interesting, thanks for that insight. Especially about the paint, again Wow! Such paint could be used to coat the electronics cavity if not cost prohibative.
What about an additional system that with the flip of a remote switch disables the electronics making the bass/guitar unplayable and thus unsellable? Of course the downside there would be a thief would merely destroy such loot rather than leave it somewhere unmolested. They obviously have no morality.

Sam

mint_bass · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2004, 06:40:21 AM »

that is indeed interesting

you are full of information paul and i guess this
would really help in the case of a theft very cool

Andrew

811952 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2004, 12:18:49 PM »

Brother Paul TBO,
Everytime I start to read 1984 the video screen starts yelling at me...
Seriously, though, with the preponderance of webcams and security cams post 9/11 I think we're already there...

John

kmh364 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2004, 10:01:40 AM »

FYI, Carvin offers the SNAGG microchip in every guitar and bass they make ($50 value for free, LOL!). They hide a chip somewhere on the thing and register the serial # with SNAGG. Supposedly, if scanned upon recovery, the thing ID's the owner. SNAGG.COM has more info. Personally, I'm all for anything that'll increase the value of my investment while offering a way (like LoJack) to thwart the scumbag(s) responsible for the theft of a cherished instrument.

Mica/Susan/Val: What about offering something like this? I'd pay extra to get it. Nevermind that my Custom Alembic costs a fortune (that's what insurance is for)....it takes a long time to get the thing made (or replaced).

jalevinemd · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2004, 10:29:33 AM »

We had a microchip placed in our Great Dane when he was a pup. That gave me great peace of mind b/c most vets nowadays, at least in the Chicago area, will scan all new patients. The problem with the SNAGG product (no disrespect to them) is that it doesn't function like a LoJack or GPS. The instrument, unfortunately can't be tracked. You are relying on the shop where the stolen instrument is to be sold to have the scanners available. This breaks down for at least 2 reasons. First of all, I doubt most, if any, pawn shops have the technology and no guitar retailer I've ever seen has it either. They simply check serial numbers - if that. I'm sure if you're bringing a '65 pre-CBS strat to George Gruhn's store, he'll be scanning away. But Guitar Center isn't.

Second, I doubt that most guitar thieves are selling through normal channels, anyway. Unless you consider the trunk of a '78 Buick a normal channel. And, if they keep it for themselves, all bets are off.

Alas, while the microchip idea sounds great, I doubt that it is very practical for our beloved Alembics. Having them well insured is probably the best recourse.

Food for thought,

Jonathan