Dirty Bird
Captain
Flight distance : 41442379 ft
United States
Offline
|
Greetings fellow drone pilots. A few years ago I reviewed a self-contained 3G cellular tracker called Ping GPS. The unit worked fantastically for drone tracking but, sadly, the company behind the project was small, units were hard to come by, and a few months ago the company folded. When the server went offline Ping GPS was rendered obsolete. Fortunately there is a new & affordable solution available now from T-Mobile. The device is called the "SyncUP Tracker".
Very similar in dimensions to the Ping GPS, the SyncUP Tracker is a small, self-contained, GPS tracker utilizing a 4G LTE cellular modem for connectivity. The device is 1.94" x 1.94" x .62" thick, weighing in at 1.59 ounces. It is .6 ounces heavier than the Ping GPS, but the SyncUP includes a more robust 900 mAh internal battery. Included in the package is the SyncUP Tracker, lanyard, and a USB power supply with a magnetic POGO charger cable. Access to the device is via the T-Mobile SyncUP Tracker App. This allows you to add trackers to your account & configure the devices. The unit includes both automatic & on-demand tracking. Automatic tracking intervals can be set from every 2 minutes to once every 24 hours. There is also a "Quick Track" feature that updates position every 10 seconds while actively viewing the device within the app. When you exit the app the tracker reverts to the scheduled reporting interval. It also includes an audible beeper to help locate a drone that is hidden from view.
How well does it work? I tested the SyncUP Tracker yesterday on a Mavic Pro. Tracking was spot-on & the Quick Track mode was fantastic. Connectivity was perfect. It runs on the T-Mobile/Sprint network, so as long as you have good cellular coverage in your area results should be similar. Battery life is stated as up to 7 days, depending on how often you have the device reporting back. It senses movement & only seems to report when it is actually moving. Thus, even if set to 2 minute intervals, it doesn't blow out the battery when sitting still (mine are set to 2 minutes, they have been on for 24+ hours, & both are still at 85% battery). My only complaint is the beep function could be louder.
I have written the developers and made a couple requests. Most importantly to include altitude info in the tracking data. Obviously altitude data is crucial to locating a missing drone. Is it hidden in the brush, in the tree tops, or on a roof? Altitude data is invaluable. I also requested they include track logging (breadcrumbs) so you can track flightpaths. Lastly I suggested they add "Drone" as device/activity type (I guess they didn't consider drone use?).
Now for the best part. How much does all this cost? The SyncUP Tracker is only $60, with a $30 activation fee, and $5/ month for the service. This is by far the least expensive of any of my previous tracking solutions (Flytrex & Ping). But it gets even better. Right now if you purchase a SyncUP Ttracker on T-Mobile's monthly payment plan (24 months, no interest, $2.50/month), and activate the $5/month service, they will credit you back the $2.50/month tracker payment. The tracker itself becomes free. You pay only the tax, $30 activation fee, and $5/month for the service. This is an excellentt drone tracking solution for flying in areas with cellular coverage. (Note this is an independent review. I purchased the devices at my own expense and have no affiliation with T-Mobile)
Below are some photos, including a comparison to the Ping GPS...
|
|