[Technology] Does anyone have experience of asset tracking systems?

[Papak]

Early stages but wanted to get a head-start and see if anyone can recommend (or reject) any asset tracking devices?

Looking for global coverage, not sure if GPS / Bluetooth etc. at this stage.

Items would be shipped and returned over a timespan of weeks or months.

Probably looking for real-time / near real-time tracking to be able to see the exact location of the items for scheduling purposes, stuck in customs etc.


Thanks!

 

[Papak]

Bump - is this a topic that NOBODY on NSC has any experience of?

 

[Goldstone1976]

Bump - is this a topic that NOBODY on NSC has any experience of?

Missed it the first time. I have some experience & knowledge.

Both BT and GPS have significant black-out zones.

How big are the assets you want to track? How many at a time? How essential is it you don’t lose track of any (as opposed to ‘keeping track of 90/95/99% is ok”)?

 

[Papak]

Missed it the first time. I have some experience & knowledge.

Both BT and GPS have significant black-out zones.

How big are the assets you want to track? How many at a time? How essential is it you don’t lose track of any (as opposed to ‘keeping track of 90/95/99% is ok”)?

Thanks for your reply.

I would say large - heavy wooden crates at least 1m x 1m x 1m for example (I can get specific sizes if you need things accurately.

Multiple boxes sent as a shipment but depending on cost only 1 box would need to be tracked as we have never had individual crates from a consignment go missing, this is more to know if they are stuck in customs somewhere or not yet started the return journey from the storage location despite being requested to send back to base.

 

[dazzer6666]

Thanks for your reply.

I would say large - heavy wooden crates at least 1m x 1m x 1m for example (I can get specific sizes if you need things accurately.

Multiple boxes sent as a shipment but depending on cost only 1 box would need to be tracked as we have never had individual crates from a consignment go missing, this is more to know if they are stuck in customs somewhere or not yet started the return journey from the storage location despite being requested to send back to base.

Couldn’t you use simple luggage tags (apple airtags or cheaper equivalents) ? They have a long battery life (at least a year) and are pretty accurate.

 

[Papak]

Couldn’t you use simple luggage tags (apple airtags or cheaper equivalents) ? They have a long battery life (at least a year) and are pretty accurate.

Maybe, my knowledge of them is limited (plus old and probably out of date) as I thought they used BT and needed to be picked up by other users to provide updates.

I will investigate, thanks.

 

[dazzer6666]

Maybe, my knowledge of them is limited (plus old and probably out of date) as I thought they used BT and needed to be picked up by other users to provide updates.

I will investigate, thanks.

No….the AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the ‘Find My‘ network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy.

 

[Justice]

Couldn’t you use simple luggage tags (apple airtags or cheaper equivalents) ? They have a long battery life (at least a year) and are pretty accurate.

Don’t air tags rely on other iPhone users within distance?

 

[dazzer6666]

Don’t air tags rely on other iPhone users within distance?

Yep

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Early stages but wanted to get a head-start and see if anyone can recommend (or reject) any asset tracking devices?

Looking for global coverage, not sure if GPS / Bluetooth etc. at this stage.

Items would be shipped and returned over a timespan of weeks or months.

Probably looking for real-time / near real-time tracking to be able to see the exact location of the items for scheduling purposes, stuck in customs etc.


Thanks!

Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a PI to find out who she’s having an affair with?

 

[Papak]

No….the AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the ‘Find My‘ network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy.

That's what I meant.