Instant GSM for maximising vehicle tracking possibilities

August 2002 Data Acquisition & Telemetry

No matter what the hijacking and car theft statistics say, when your vehicle is stolen or hijacked, you want it found and returned as quickly as possible and the perpetrators put behind bars. That is the key reason why not only the drivers of expensive motor vehicles, but many insurance companies as well, insist on an effective vehicle tracking and recovery system.

Ross Hickey, Managing Director of Trinity Telecomms who distribute Wavecom products in South Africa, says: "One of the quickest and most effective vehicle tracking systems on the market use GSM technology to locate a stolen vehicle. The advantage of GSM technology over, for example, satellite tracking is that the vehicle needs not to be in an unobstructed visual line with the tracking device to be able to accurately locate it.

Car thieves have learned that a stolen vehicle can be hidden from the 'eye in the sky' by parking in an undercover parking garage or under a bridge. This is done to allow them time to plan and execute the getaway actions of the vehicle.

But with GSM technology this ploy of hiding a vehicle immediately after it was stolen does not work because the vehicle need not be in line of sight of the tracking device. Another advantage of GSM technology is that it is cost effective to use in fleet and truck management. Fleet owners can track their vehicles via the Internet and have management control over the routes their drivers take and the time spent loading or off-loading the vehicles.

However, to guarantee an effective GSM vehicle tracking service, the modem in the vehicle has to be rugged enough to withstand extreme weather and driving conditions. This is where Wavecom supplies the solution to vehicle tracking companies who use GSM technology.

"Wavecom supports fleet management and vehicle tracking in various formats from plug-and-play devices like the Fastrack modem to board mounted solutions like the Integra or WISMO 2C2 or WISMO2D engine options depending on customer integration level requirements," Hickey added.

The range of products include the following:

WISMO Quik

An all-purpose GSM/GPRS solution, this features a range of voice, data, fax, and SMS options. Suitable for most applications, it offers flexibility that works to reduce the time to market by streamlining development cycles and costs. It is also fully compatible and upgradeable with future WISMO Quik products thanks to an identical mechanical footprint and hardware and software interfaces. Key features are:

* Dual band GSM/GPRS module.

* Compliant with ETSI GSM Phase 2+.

* Class 4 (2 W @ 900 MHz).

* Class 1 (1 W @ 1800/1900 MHz).

* 3,6 V d.c.

* 300 mA average current in communication.

* Overall dimensions: 58 x 32 x 6,5 mm.

INTEGRA

This permits a fully type-approved GSM/GPRS modem to be installed in an application without increasing a product's time to market. Using WISMO wireless technology, the INTEGRA modem provides complete dual-band GSM/GPRS capabilities. Key features are:

* Dual band integrated GSM modem.

* Fully type approved.

* Compliant with ETSI GSM Phase 2+.

* Class 4 (2 W @ 900 MHz).

* Class 1 (1 W @ 1800/1900 MHz).

* 5 V d.c./1A.

* 310 mA average current in communication.

* Overall dimensions: 46 x 64 x 12 mm.

FASTRACK

Housed in a rugged metallic casing, the FASTRACK external modem is built to withstand tough environments. Key features are:

* Dual band GSM modem designed for data, fax, SMS and voice applications.

* Fully type approved.

* Fully compliant with ETSI GSM Phase 2+ specifications.

* Operating temperatures: -20 to +55°C.

* Overall dimensions: 98 x 54 x 25 mm.

For more information: Derick Roberts, Trinity Telecomms, 011 465 7377, [email protected]

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