CGmart sim only tracker - fitting question

[mi2itsdl]

Just got myself a CGmart sim only tracker. It comes with two aerials/antennas. One for GPS and one for GSM. Now seeing as my bus has no trim on the a-pillars and the dash is metal, where do you locate them.

The stereo/alarm shop that are fitting it, are a bit reluctant to do so, as they are concerned about the antennas getting no signal from a location under the metal dash.

So, has anyone fitted one yet, and do the antennas work hidden under the dash some where. Do they still get a reliable signal.

Also the wiring harness seems to have an SOS and reset button. What is the point of having an accessible reset button. Sort of defeats the object of arming it.

Any info much appreciated,

Simon

 

[Tezzah]

I hid mine in the engine bay. I cut off all the excess wires (including the panic one leaving only live, earth and reset) and it works fine. The antennas are surrounded by metal.

 

[Sydney1]

Ditto mine. Just went with the basic functions and cut off the unused wires. Put one in the motorhome too

 

[Doris]

Funny that this q has come up as I had an ice/alarm installer look at mine this week.."ideally hidden in a fibre glass pop top" he said.I asked about inside the fire wall or above the headliner and He said " no way,it'll never see through metal" however between you me & the gate post,my Dad has one fitted in the roof / cab cavity of his t4 and it works!!!!.....however,its fair to say that it would be a better signal if it wasn't behind any metal.the installer explained the the gps antenna needs to see straight up into the sky,whereas the gsm antenna just picks up the signal like a mobile phone.So I suppose it's down to how much strength you are prepared to sacrifice. If you have wooden units below a pop top with windows in your bus, you may be better putting the gps one in there. However if it must go behind metal,imo... Under the dash is the lesser of the evils as its thiner metal then straight out the windscreen.

The reset is just in case of software crashing I think mate.my Tom Tom has one.

Hope this helps, and the testimony of the other lads who have theirs behind metal & working is reassuring.

Hth

 

[antoine]

I was thinking of running mine from the engine bay with the antennae going up one of the air vent channels at the back so it was hidden but not tucked away behind 5 layers of steel.





still not convinced yet though.

 

[AGC]

One of the antennas is magnetic to stick to metal so I guess it shouldnt affect the signal.... However, saying all that my antennas are located under the dash and I dont get a great signal, in fact when I first fitted it I left the cable neatly tied up and got no signal at all Ive also had mine exchanged because it started giving me false "move" messages

 

[AGC]

I hid mine in the engine bay. I cut off all the excess wires (including the panic one leaving only live, earth and reset) and it works fine. The antennas are surrounded by metal.

What panic one..... do you mean the reset button one!!!

 

[AGC]

Sorry, just reread and see you left the reset one

 

[sharky71]

is this a fit and forget item?also is it monthly subscription and how much was it to buy :?:
regards

sharky. :mrgreen:

 

[Spence68]

I fit trackers for a living, the GPS puck needs to have a clear view of the sky or you will have false position reports. They'll see through fibreglass and windows with no problems.......

On classic vehicles it's tricky to get a good position, dual band GPS & GSM ariels are available which can be stick in the windscreen, although these aren't very covert.

 

[Doris]

Spence,can you get extension cables for the gps antenna? So you can place the antenna in the right spot.my cable is long, but not long enough to reach the fibre glass pop top.

are they all a standard socket connection?

The CGmart one has very small pin & brass screw connection.

What do you think as a pro?

 

[Spence68]

There are several different type of connections to be honnest. As for lengthening the cable, I wouldn't advise it. We tried it for a while on some trailer tracking units but we kept getting false positions or loss of position.

How long is the lead on the CGmart ariels?

 

[Doris]

Ok mate.I can't get to the bus for a week or so,maybe someone else can help?

It's probably easier to move the tracker unit,and run the power cable further to it.

 

[Spence68]

It probably would be easier to move the tracker but you want it somewhere where some pikey won't find it easily....

 

[Nugsy]

never heard of these before (where have i been) but sounds like a superb idea, especially as some tosser tried to nick my bus just before xmas. Luckily the most basic antiftheft device worked. I take the rotor arm off. got a battery cut off, electric fuel pump (switched) and gener berg locking shifter to go in but what harm is a little more. will watch teh post with interest

 

[antoine]

never heard of these before (where have i been) but sounds like a superb idea, especially as some tosser tried to nick my bus just before xmas. Luckily the most basic antiftheft device worked. I take the rotor arm off. got a battery cut off, electric fuel pump (switched) and gener berg locking shifter to go in but what harm is a little more. will watch teh post with interest

only one step short of my current security method.....

noonesgonna drive that away :lol:

 

[Doris]

you want it somewhere where some pikey won't find it easily....

Agreed! Just finding it a bit difficult to put it somewhere on a vehicle which, by modern standards, is virtually devoid of interior trim! I'm lucky to have pop top but Spence......how do you get on with a tin top bus?,no matter where you put it,it would be behind metal!!??

 

[Spence68]

I'd probably mount the unit on top of the glove box as it would be awkward to get at and fiddle with. As for the GPS puck, I suppose the best covert location on a bay would be looking through the holes of the speaker grill in the top of the dash. Either that or see if it could go under the padding strip on top of the dash.

Just remember that trackers aren't 100% pikey proof, there are ways around them but they are great if some scumbag doesn't know one's fitted

 

[Doris]

Cheers Spence, good advice

 

[Nugsy]

I'd probably mount the unit on top of the glove box as it would be awkward to get at and fiddle with. As for the GPS puck, I suppose the best covert location on a bay would be looking through the holes of the speaker grill in the top of the dash. Either that or see if it could go under the padding strip on top of the dash.

Just remember that trackers aren't 100% pikey proof, there are ways around them but they are great if some scumbag doesn't know one's fitted

Thats where i was thinking after looking at the website but wasnt sure on the dimensions of the antena. You could have it in the cool air vent or something, or as above through the speaker grill.