Tracking GPS, transport logistics systems
 

I'm doing a bit of research on Transport logistics systems that posts your position on the internet. Is anybody here running one on their bike?

From what I can tell they are a GPS coupled with a cellular phone system. It is possible to buy an out of service 53 foot transport trailer in Canada that has the system for about 3000$CDN. I'm sure you've seen the round white tubs on transports , that's what I'm talking about. They can come with batteries that last 90 days before you need to charge up.

I've looked around a bit and http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031027/sfm005_1.html has a 50 country service. http://www.fleetilla.com/coveragemaps.html has Canada, USA, and Mexico.

My concern is the operating cost of one of these things. Would you pay a flat rate for the service depending on coverage or pay a roaming bill for a cellular phone? Ofcourse a lot of countries won't have the service on every road but it would be pretty good to have a method to send text messages to the internet in many places. Yep, they can send messages both ways via a waterproof keypad or perhaps a crappy old PDA you got for free.
http://www.mlogmag.com/magazine/01/roadrunner.shtml

http://www.mlogmag.com/magazine/01/blackberry.shtml
Hmm, if it could connect to a Blackberry I think world coverage would be possible (and free). Those things use their own satellites don't they?

How about the systems seen in Taxis?

I'll have to go to a truck repair shop some time and see what is available. Can some of you guys check into it too?

This seems like an invaluable system for single travellers. Just pull into a large town anywhere in the world and you can talk back and forth with somebody you have asked to keep an eye on you via the internet.

Something tells me it would be possible to set up a working system for about 1000$CDN if being very frugal. I could probably get one of the GPS things for a case of beer if I went to a local tranport company. They probably buy the used trailers and refurbish them with no intention of using the logistics equipment.

Equipment longevity should not be an issue. Trailers are expected to last ONE MILLION MILES. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

http://www.heavydutytrucking.com/2002/11/078a0211.asp
Here's a list of a suppliers as of November 2002. More importantly it shows whether the systems run on cellular or low-earth orbit satellites!

Cheers, Steve

[This message has been edited by StephenRivett (edited 31 December 2003).]

After a bit of reading it looks like the Blackberry is available in 100-140 countries. You could always use a hand held GPS with the Blackberry to send co-ordinates and info home. Say for example, you unexpectedly decided to stay with a family somewhere that phones are not available.

Steve

Okay, Fleetila got back to me and their equipment runs on 600mA when operating so it is easily powered by a bike. The box is 6"x5.3"x1". This doesn't include the antenna but it all you would need to do is use a rod like for a light on a police bike to hold the antenna up out of the way.

They also said that they will be offering worldwide coverage with enhanced text messaging during the second quarter of this year.

Does anybody have an interest in this other than me? I feel like I'm just talking to myself here.

I'm not sure whether I should be bothering to post my findings. I'm doing this because it is now possible to send messages posted on the internet for next to nothing without a flimsy computer, including your position, anywhere in the world. No roaming fees, nothing. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif Just think of all the uses!

Cheers, Steve

I'll post the complete documentation I got later this week.

Stephen:

Yes, I am also interested. But my interest would be in a LEO satellite system that would work in areas where there is no cell phone coverage - by example, Northern Canada, Eastern Europe, Africa.

I am in Toronto, Canada at this time - what city are you in?

Michael

[This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 07 January 2004).]

I'm in Ottawa for the next four months as I need to finish up university.

Leo is available so I've stopped research until I my next trip (not the one to Panama I'm planning this spring) as I can't afford one right now. It looks like all of the infrastructure and equipment is in place. All I'd need to do is find somebody to lease or sell the equipment/service to me for a year or two if I was going RTW. It is meant to be inexpensive in design since it is intended to be sold to companies that own hundreds of trucks. The old cellular system is being dropped because the equipment was making phone calls atleast 4 times a day if not every time the truck unhooked, opened, started, SPEEDING, etc. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif Anybody could sent messages with them now as they are designed to work with PDAs and laptops but sending regular data or installing a panic button would not require a computer.

The blackberry is supposed to be leo from what I understand but I haven't met anybody who owns one.

Steve

Keep talking, I am getting very interested. I am in Toronto as well

I was just watching the 6pm CBC news and they were discussing a Personal GPS Alarm for 3000$CDN. There's a piece of equipment that's about 6" round and 3" thick along with a car alarm control thing. Basically if you are in trouble you push the button on the fob and it sends a message to a satelite. People can also send you a page and you've got x number of minutes to hit the reply button before it tells them you are dead (or just not around the thing, hehe). This doesn't give you the ability to talk back and forth with words but you could set up some kind of morse code system with your friends back home to send simple requests back and forth. I'm sorry but I didn't catch the name of the company marketing this product, but he lost his hand after being trapped by a machine for 3 days. During this time he came up with the idea as he could have used such a device to call for help where cell phones do not work. For this price I think a Satellite phone would be a better way of spending your money but it's fast and silent. They said oil executives in the Middle Eastern deserts carry them.

Steve