If this technology would work wonders, like making your vehicle drive itself back to you, it'd be worth every penny. Alas, if the vehicle is locked in a metal shed or put in a container, it won't be able to fix the GPS position or transmitt the signal. The monitoring is limited to certain countries, least of all in the Sahara. Besides, what would be the use of knowing where your stolen transport is, it it happened to be in the middle of a bandit country.

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com

My company has a vessel/vehicle tracking system that we use to track vessels globally. This is obviously GPS based with a sat. link for transmission of position. With a vessel this goes through sat. comm. system, read large dish in dome, but on vehicle it would be a whip antenna.

We are looking at putting this on our vehicle for some company publicity and to track the journey. This again has the downfalls of locked in metal containers and middle of bandit country etc.

Do the African countries have big problems with antennas on cars i.e. do they perceive them as radio links and therefore not allowed?

Jasper

I have an HF Tranceiver fitted to my Land Rover from when I was in Australia. The aerial is approx 2m long, and very obvious! I leave it at home when in Africa/Asia as it is clear what it is(and the necessary paperwork for permits would take longer, and cost more, than the trip itself!!). I take a satphone, well hidden, for emergency comms).

If the antenna can be de-rigged and stowed for most of the time, (brought out when there is nobody around etc.) then that might be an option. Otherwise, I would think you risk inviting unwelcome interest.

Thanks Sam, one of the criteria to my company is that it is VERY unobtrusive, I still need to see the actual antenna.

I will have sat phone also and do not wish for more interest than necessary.

Jasper