Tracking systems

Good afternoon all. Following a conversation with my MH insurer, Caravan Guard, I am eligible for an additional premium discount if I have a tracker. Can anyone recommend a good but affordable system? They have issued a list of approved trackers but the list is very long. Many thanks

chromachris wrote:Good afternoon all. Following a conversation with my MH insurer, Caravan Guard, I am eligible for an additional premium discount if I have a tracker. Can anyone recommend a good but affordable system? They have issued a list of approved trackers but the list is very long. Many thanks

I haven't fitted a tracker yet, but I've done a fair bit of research on the subject. 
I decided a fully monitored system was the way to go - more expensive - but I think more likely to find the van if it went missing. 
This knocked a lot of the much cheaper trackers out of my search and I narrowed it down to three companies:

Scorpion;
Phantom (now often called Moving Intelligence, the product is iTrack);
Meta Trak.

Then there's the question of what level of Thatcham security: I'm looking at S7 or S5, and deciding I didn't want a driver's key fob system (S5 option) so I'll go for S7. Also, we already have an aftermarket alarm on the vehicle, with built-in immobiliser, in addition to the factory fitted one, so don't really want/need a third one.

But if you don't already have an alarm fitted, it would be worth considering options from these companies that include both a tracker and an alarm.

I ended up phoning them all up as it's difficult to elicit specific information from their websites.
Some of the questions I asked, which you may consider are:

• At what voltage does the 'low battery' warning kick in?
  
• What draw on the battery does the tracker use when a) idle, b) when it 'wakes up' periodically?
  
• Can I specify more than one contact phone number, e.g., my mobile, my partner's mobile, our landline, which would be contacted in descending order?
  
• Is the system compatible with our existing 3rd party alarm?
  
• Does the tracker use the 2G or 4G network (2G will be phased out before long)?
  
• Can it be transferred to another vehicle in future?
  

Other options to think about are:

• Do you want a system that allows you to set up a 'ring fence' so the control centre/you are is alerted if vehicle exits this area?
  
• Does it have service/garage mode? 
  
• Privacy mode?
  

It's also worth checking the phone/computer app that will come with the system. We used the Android app library on our phone to look for and check the reviews for the various apps. Broadly, Moving Intelligence's app got better reviews than Scorpion's.

In the end I've decided Phantom/Moving Intelligence  (iTrack, S7 product) is probably the one I'll go for. 
Obviously, this is a list of trackers and questions that are tailored to my particular circumstances, but I hope it gives you a few things to bear in mind.

Slow-Lane has given a very good summary.  I reinforce that any new system must work on 4G.  The EC632 tracker Sargent has been fitting until now to the EC700 only works on 2G which I understand may already have been turned off in some countries.  The tracker must also have its own standby battery.  I assume this is a requirement if it is Thatcham approved.  Sargent is rolling out a new EC660-2 tracker which I now have that works on 4G rather than 2G and has a rechargeable standby battery rather than the non-rechargeable battery fitted to the EC632.  Finally, there is merit in having a vehicle alarm as well as a tracker as they do different things and complement each other.  Better still if the alarm is connected to or integrated with the tracker so that if the vehicle alarm is triggered the manned tracking station and owner are alerted.

Like Slow-Lane, did quite a lot of looking and I also opted for the Phantom / Moving Intelligence.  When it was fitted I didn't even have to call them to activate it, it was done by the fitter and MI called me to tell me how to access the app.

Chromachris,

I support everything said here because I have a Cat 6 tracker and a Cat 1 alarm fitted - and it does give me some peace of mind - in addition to physical security measures that have been discussed elsewhere.

However, a good tracker will cost £500+, with an annual or life (higher) subscription on top of that.  Do you know how much your premium discount will be, because you might wish to set that saving against the overall cost of a tracker.  I only ask because it seems that costs are driving your question.

Personally, I would go ahead with the tracker, but it is worth consideration.  If you do go ahead, remember that you get what you pay for.

Regards,

I use a battery operated independent tracker which activates (alerts and tracking on phone) only if the vehicle and special fob are separated. Inexpensive annual subscription. Not caravan specialist insurance approved but easy and cheap. I take the view that I don't need to know where the vehicle is, if its where it should be. In fact I have two on board. Each acts as a decoy for the other.

I have the tracking system that it was installed by auto sleeper as standard, called AS Monitor, it works very well, works off your phone, and also you can check the levels of your leisure battery and your vehicle battery from anywhere in the world

Snowwolf wrote:I have the tracking system that it was installed by auto sleeper as standard, called AS Monitor, it works very well, works off your phone, and also you can check the levels of your leisure battery and your vehicle battery from anywhere in the world

G2 should stay in UK until the end of the decade but it's already been turned off in some countries.  If the motorhome is in one of these countries e.g. Switzerland, it won't work.  I don't know if it will work if the owner is in Switzerland but the motorhome is in UK.