Blocker for Tracker

Rosemarywbb
Rosemarywbb Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited February 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

I have just been informed that a blocker can be purchased on the internet to stop the signal from Tracker by thieves I have just falked out a lot of money for Tracker on my new caravan  has any one else heard about this please and if so surley it should
be made known to the public

Comments

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited February 2016 #2

    Yes its unfortunate but when these things are sold it should be made known that most electronic tracking devices can be easily overcome.Think about it if thieves can overcome bank cards and the like a tracker will represent no real problem at all.We lost
    a caravan in 2010 but it did,nt have a tracker but all the other "security" devices were easily overcome.The thief proof caravan has still yet too be built.

    peter.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #3

    They have been around for a while now, the most common being plugged into the cars cigarette lighter socket. It creates a bubble of around 500 metres and jams all GPS and associated signals.

    Even if you don't have a blocker, if your cars GPS gives you a 'no signal' for no reason, it could be you have just been passed by a vehicle with a blocker.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #4

    As V9 says there is no such thing as a thief proof van. All you can do is make it as difficult as possible for them to steel. A tracker is just part of this arsenal, as are wheel locks, hitch lock and secure compound with CCTV. The more you can slow them
    down and increase the risk of them being caught, the more likely they are to leave your van alone.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #5

    The point of a tracker, as I understand it, is to facilitate the finding of any stolen caravan/motorhome/car once its been stolen in order to recover it before any lasting damage is done? Is it not unlikely that the thieves would be able to maintain the
    signal block 24/7 over a number of days, unless the blocker permanently disables the tracker? 

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,393 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #6

    I have never had much faith in trackers, I really don't know why insurance companies insist on them. The more likely scenario is any thief would use a detector to locate the tracker and then disable it. Blockers only interfere with reception of signals.

    peedee

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited February 2016 #7

    The thieves cannot tell if a caravan has a tracker as it will give no signal until activated. So few are fitted with them that I doubt most thieves would bother and if a blocker is activated then it would probably show up in a police car making it useless
    at that point. 

    Tracker has a very good record for recovering stolen items and  it was recently reported three caravans stolen from Preston Caravans were recovered by the police before they got out of the city. I would not worry about them as their use is very limited.

  • dwlgll20
    dwlgll20 Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited February 2016 #8

    I appreciate this is from Tracker and as such not independent. They say Trackers uses GSM, GPS and VHF which makes total blocking a challenge. As others say trackers form part of theft prevention.

    http://www.tracker.co.uk/news/press-releases/rise-in-use-of-gps-jammers-no-threat-to-tracker/

    From previous occupational experience tracking devices are worth the cost.

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited February 2016 #9

    They all rely on GPS Signals which are not of a very high power. You cannot usually get a GPS Fix indoors and they always say it should have a clear view of the sky. Any transmitter transmitting on the correct waveband will drown out the GPS Signal. You
    can also use dead reconing and work out from the Mobile Masts where the Unit is but it's not that accurate. Havn't a clue where VHF comes in. The only way you could use it would be as a transmitter but it is very short range. So what good is a VHF Signal.
    What does the thief do. Blocks the GPS Signal so the unit does not know where it is and drives off with it. These Signal Blockers don't use a lot of power so you could leave one running for weeks till you find the ariel. Lets face it how long will it take
    to find one there are only so many places you can hide one in a Caravan or Motor Home.

  • Randomcamper
    Randomcamper Club Member Posts: 1,062 ✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #10

     

    From previous occupational experience tracking devices are worth the cost.

    My experience also. I do believe the current technique when nicking a decent car is to drive it a short distance, park it somewhere unobtrusive and leave it for a few days. If the bizzies find it, it had a tracker, if not bung on a set of cloned plates &
    game on.

    Many cars with Tracker are recovered.  I would think it is worthwhile with a caravan if you want it back. Personally I would be inclined towards the insurance payout once some grubby thief has had his hands on my pride & joy....

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited February 2016 #11

     

    From previous occupational experience tracking devices are worth the cost.

    My experience also. I do believe the current technique when nicking a decent car is to drive it a short distance, park it somewhere unobtrusive and leave it for a few days. If the bizzies find it, it had a tracker, if not bung on a set of cloned plates &
    game on.

    Many cars with Tracker are recovered.  I would think it is worthwhile with a caravan if you want it back. Personally I would be inclined towards the insurance payout once some grubby thief has had his hands on my pride & joy....

    In practice if it is not recovered within a couple of days it is unlikely to be so it should be undamaged then.

  • dwlgll20
    dwlgll20 Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited February 2016 #12

    ......... Havn't a clue where VHF comes in. The only way you could use it would be as a transmitter but it is very short range. So what good is a VHF Signal.......

    VHF has benefits, it transmits over longer distances, can travel through walls (eg underground car parks). whilst some say they cannot be jammed, I don't believe in bwing that confident. Certain police vehicles are fitted with VHF tracking facilities as such it helps them to locate vehicles that might otherwise be 'hidden'.

  • Pauldh60
    Pauldh60 Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited February 2016 #13

    Trackers are a good idea, however they all work differently.firstly the basic tracker uses the vhf radio signal.it is true that a tracker blocker can be bought for these.the better units use more sophisticated vhf and gsm/GPS system so you have the best
    of both worlds. The Trackers on sale currently only block vhf or gsm so they would need both.

     

    The clever part of Trackers systems is how they can detect where your vehicle is. if you have a bog standard vhf system the police need to be close to it to pick up the system. however if you pass another vehicle with the vhf/gsm/GPS system it detects your
    tracker and sends a signal to tracker telling them it has picked up a stolen tracker signal near to its location giving the police a starting point.

    I have recovered several stolen vehicles using these systems.