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Thread: Vehicle tracking company
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28-06-2017, 09:02 #11
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- 40
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Re: Vehicle tracking company
My insurance don't require a tracking so I don't bother.
When my Hilux was stolen, 3 other vehicles fitted with tracking devices was stolen (1 x hijacked) in my area the same week and not a single one was recovered.
So my Fortuner is also not fitted with one as having to pay tracking over and above my insurance premium with no guarantee that your car will be recovered if stolen doesn't make sense.
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28-06-2017, 10:32 #12
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- Apr 2016
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- 626
Re: Vehicle tracking company
We use Bidtrack. They send us a monthly test alert and are reasonably priced.
I've also got Netstar. Rubbish. A unit change every second year- or less.
Be sure to read the TnC section pertaining to faulty units, incorrect installation etc.
Netstar decided to exclude these but nothing found in the Bidtrack contract.
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28-06-2017, 10:33 #13
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- Feb 2013
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- Hillcrest, Durban
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- 35
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- 2,711
Re: Vehicle tracking company
I have insurance with Discovery and my tracker comes with my premium.
Who are you insured with?
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28-06-2017, 12:13 #14
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- Jun 2009
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- Centurion
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- 42
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- 1,622
Re: Vehicle tracking company
I have the cheapest tracker in my car that I could find at the time. It turned out to be the Tracetec unit.
The only reason I have it is because the insurance co requires it. The car that I drive (generalization I know) does not get targeted as much due to it standing out like a sore thumb as it is very uncommon. I do know of about 3 cases where STi's were highjacked/stolen to be used as getaway vehicles, but these days the more "blending in" 3 German brands are just as fast, if not faster, and in more demand...
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28-06-2017, 12:30 #15
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- Jul 2014
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- 48
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- 1,356
Re: Vehicle tracking company
We had Netstar and when we reported out bakkie missing they found it chop-chop. If I'd waited 15 mins before calling the cops I could have driven it back to the factory. But after the vehicle was recorded by the cops as missing the BS that followed in getting it out of the pound etc etc etc was worse than the robbery.
I think all these trackers are much of a muchness ... so long as the device isn't removed it will work. IIRC the Netstar one has its own battery so it doesn't rely on the car battery which is inevitably stolen.
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28-06-2017, 12:40 #16
- Join Date
- Jun 2016
- Posts
- 34
Re: Vehicle tracking company
1 x Hilux (byelux) missing with Netstar fitted - now have Tracker - found Tracker to be quite ok. Touch wood I dont have to rate them in the near future.....
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28-06-2017, 12:40 #17
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- May 2009
- Location
- Johannesburg
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- 6,444
Re: Vehicle tracking company
Yeah, pretty miffed with Netstar as well. They used to be pretty decent back in the day but I guess complacency has caused a decline in service.
Cars are now fitted with Discovery DQ Track unit which as I understand it is C-track in the background.
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28-06-2017, 14:37 #18
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- Jun 2013
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- on the ocean or in the bush
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- 1,490
Re: Vehicle tracking company
@SlashHarken i am involved in the industry , 1 of the business mentioned here is 1 of my business.
you are welcome to PM me and we can chat on the phone .
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28-06-2017, 15:08 #19
- Join Date
- Aug 2013
- Age
- 37
- Posts
- 330
Re: Vehicle tracking company
Tracker is good, my company vehicle was stolen from the yard during the night, tracker called to notify that vehicle was in a high risk area, I gave the go ahead to track the vehicle and 10minutes later the vehicle was recovered together with SAPS assistance. This was in May 2017.
In 2015, my driver was hijacked, tracker phoned for same above reason. Unfortunately did not track the vehicle as my driver said everything was fine when I called him (not knowing they had him at gunpoint). Tracking unit was disconnected shortly after.
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28-06-2017, 15:31 #20
- Join Date
- Apr 2014
- Location
- Western Cape, Cape Town
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- 41
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- 2,476
Re: Vehicle tracking company
All the companies pretty much use the same technology of which there are 2 "flavours"; despite what the sales person will tell you.
Old "low-jack" radio frequency system that need to activated after the vehicle is stolen and only then the vehicle can be tracked; usually cheaper per month but off course less chance of a good recovery. EDIT: you also get GPS-cellular units that work on the "activate-first" model.
Newer GPS-cellular units which is in constant connection with the tracking company via the cellphone network; gives a much better recovery rate since vehicle position history is available for tracking. Also comes with extra features like alert buttons, high risk area alerts, route definitions, telematics, possible collision detection etc (extra features may cost extra per month as there is a lot higher data cost to the tracking company)
Second part is the installer, most of the installers are third party contractors (usually also guys who install car radio and alarms) and where 99% of your hardware issue will originate from. Netstar used to use the cheapest installer that also did cheap jobs.
Third part of the equation is recovery or hi-jack rescue; for this reason I will stick with the big boys AND also ask what is the reaction size and distance from your current area travelled. No use if you and your vehicle can be tracked but the reaction team is stationed 5+ hours away.
For this reason stick with the big boys:
Digicore/Ctrack; Tracker; MixTelematics/Matrix and Netstar
Out seeing them all in action and seeing a lot of market reports here I rate Tracker the highest since they are the only ones with a direct on the ground relationship with SAPS and they have old-SAPS members with decades of experience in senior positions in the recovery side, Matrix and Ctrack middle and NetStar third. AFAIK all the companies sport recovery rates in the high 80%
Stay away from the small fries if the tracking service is anything security related; have seen recovery teams that look like they bought everything on sale at the GICS closing down sale drive a 90's Subura with extra lights and stripes and needed a jumpstart from SAPS after arriving very late on a recovery scene.
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