VHF GPS tracker

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey all,

I just wang to start off by saying that I am very new to hardware building so please bare with me if I am asking stupid questions.

I am looking to make a gps module that can be used to track position, acceleration, speed etc and transfer the data back to a server where I will be able to read all the data being transmitted. I have been doing some research on it and I believe my best bet might be to follow down the path of HAB trackers.

My plan is to set up a gps module then use vhf to transmit the data so I am wondering if anyone knows of any good tutorials to achieve this/good starting points and what equipment I might need? Alternatively if there is a better alternative to achieve the same result.

I appreciate the help.
Thanks.

2

You could provide at least some information as to what it is you are trying to track and what the project actually is.

If you have little experience in this field then your assumption that you should adopt something similar to a HAB tracker may not be correct.

And of course where in the World you are you, this has a significant impact on what frequencies it is legal to use etc.

3

If you have an Amateur Radio license you can use packet radio to do this. This is exactly what packet radio is good for.

4

@srnet
My plan was to try and track myself. I would be able to take the device with me and later be able to see where I have been.

I was thinking along the lines on HAB because I don't want go use 3g to transmit the data for the project and that was typically all I could find when I was looking for gps personal trackers.

I am from Australia.

5

If it is only for yourself then why transmit the data back to a server? Store the data in the device and download it when you get home.

An Arduino, GPS module and SD card module can do this. That should be pretty cheap and fun to put together.

Hint: search for "Arduino GPS logger". When you use a word like "track" that usually means you want to transmit the data.

Sparkfun has a good module to transmit this kind of data via satellite, if you still want a tracker but are outside phone coverage. However at that point, you should probably just buy a SPOT or InReach.

6

A HAB tracker has the added complication of getting data back to some central point, and whilst this is usually quite easy since line of sight ground to balloon is usually very good, doing the same for tracking a person at ground level is a very much harder problem.

HABs dont normally use 3G either, your not going to get the needed range especially in out of coverage areas.

As has been mentioned you need a GPS logger, so you can send the GPS data to an SD card.

7

Use GaiaGPS on a smart phone or tablet to track yourself.

Not as much fun as building an Arduino GPS logger, but it gets the job done and shows you on the map at the same time.

8

Thanks you all for the advice, I will look into the suggestions.

I wanted to transmit the data back to a server because I wanted to be able to view the data at any given time from any device and thought keeping that information on a central point which I could then access would be the easiest way to do it.

9

Hello to everyone,

my name is Makis I m from Athens Greece

I am looking for a solution to a similar (probably a bit more complex project)

build a lightweight GPS finder for my dog. Has to be light to be attached to the dog collar, operate with low voltage battery (up to 9v standard) and being able to transmit data in areas where there is no 3g/4G coverage using most probably a vhf module.
DO you have any idea on where to start?
Thanks!

10

(probably a bit more complex project)

It is in fact an extremely difficult project, especially the transmit/receive data part.

Unless you are a very competent designer/builder of complex electronics, give your dog a SPOT Trace or similar instead.

11

makis_m:
build a lightweight GPS finder for my dog.

Unfortunatly we dont know what dog you have (how big it is) and what you mean by 'lightweight'.

It could be a lot more difficult than you think, a project for the experienced really.

12

we dont know what dog you have

Wild guess: a poodle?

13

jremington:
Wild guess: a poodle?

I was guessing one that would not be seen in long grass.

14

My dogs are english setters so you dont have to wonder anymore.,.,.,. a tracker should be able to get attached to the dogs collar..this is the main size/waight limitation.

What I am asking is a very typical gps tracking product mainly offered by garmin

and dogtra Pathfinder2 GPS Dog Tracking and Training System

I think that there must be a less costly way to send a gps signal to someone using LORA or vhf (no 3g) technology in a 1-5 mile range

So I was wondering if arduino can help towards this end....

15

makis_m:
My dogs are english setters so you dont have to wonder anymore.,.,.,. a tracker should be able to get attached to the dogs collar..this is the main size/waight limitation.

I am not a dog expert so I have no idea how much weight an English setter could reasonably carry.

You need to tell us non dog experts what size and weight you had in mind for this 'lightweight' tracker.

16

You need clear line of sight to get 1-5 mile range with VHF or UHF radio. No trees, houses, hills, etc. between transmitter and receiver.

17

If you happen to see the news broadcast relating to the government hunters using hounds to find the cougar that killed an Oregon woman hiker. The video shows the dogs with tracking devices. The devices are dog backpacks with a VHF whip antenna. Probable frequency is in the 150 MHz business band. The GPS location information is transmitted to a central receiving site.

There seems to be a commercial business supplying the government with both hunters and dogs. The TV news shows a clip with a map showing the dog locations.

This may be what the OP is thinking of developing for his dog. The battery life may be the limiting factor for him.

Paul