Quality GPS monitoring for $ 150

    Good day!
    In 2010, in the “I PR” section, we talked about our (at that time) flagship - the M2M-UA GPS gps tracker . It was noteworthy that the model had a built-in interpreter of the Python language and allowed the end user to create their own versions of firmware. At the end of December 2011, we released a new model of our device, reducing the size, leaving Python, and dividing the price by 2. Who cares - under cat.

    Harsh realities


    3-4 years ago, the price of $ 350 for a monitoring device with the ability to connect level sensors (fuel consumption), executive sensors and other goodies did not scare anyone. But after China set new price levels, the market for this equipment has changed, and it has become extremely difficult to lure the end customer. At the moment, the manufacturer that has a high-quality monitoring service and an adequate price for its products wins .

    GSM



    The fact that we will use the Telit module as a GSM module was not in doubt initially. Because porting software from one Telita to another is extremely simple and, of course, abandoning the idea of ​​hardware “open” (although this time, to save space, the programming connector had to be removed inside). After several years of warranty and not very repairs, not the last argument was the separation of GPS and GSM (the previous device was on the “combined” GE863-GPS). The choice fell on the relatively new Telit GL868-DUAL chip, its main feature is SMT installation, which allows you to change a failed module without any difficulties, and diagnosing problems becomes much easier (the 863 chip was on BGA feet, and the probability of then put the module in working condition always tended to zero, primarily because of the “pie” of the module itself).

    GPS



    Everything is more complicated here. I wanted to find something Chinesegood and for quite sane money. Also, Russian partners who need GNS (although it is not yet painfully acute, but the public sector is also making itself felt), and providing for a painless (as much as possible) transition to chips with Glonass support was also an absolute necessity. The choice fell on the Uranus 626r chips due to the combined antenna, extremely sensitive receiver, a lot of formats for issuing source data, and of course the mount. This chip can be connected either through the connector or with the “pin” method, which allows you to replace this chip with any adapter available on the market through an adapter without making changes to the main board. Also, with the strengthening of customs regulations, a device without the inscription “GPS” is much easier to send. In the absence of a GPS signal, the tracker enters the positioning mode at the base stations of the operator.

    Characteristics of the GPS module itself:
    • 68 channel receiver
    • Hot start - 1 sec
    • Cold start - 35 sec.
    • The ability to pick up coordinates for the almanac
    • Consumption ~ 23 mA
    • Weight - 18 g


    General functionality



    It is as close as possible to the main device - three discrete inputs, 2 outputs for executable mechanisms, a digital input (for connecting digital displays and other devices with digital puncture) and two inputs for connecting two analog sensors. The main difference from its predecessor is its small size and built-in GSM and GPS antennas. This allows you to install in an extremely short time + does not require special skills (you can power it through the cigarette lighter - then the device turns into extremely mobile, which allows you to control hired vehicles without tapping into the wiring).

    Python, protocols and self-development


    In this device, as I already wrote, Python is used (a kind of, but very similar, firmware example - I already laid out, and this device is no exception. This makes working with the device extremely flexible, and allows its introduction not only into the "ordinary" world gps monitoring, but also to any other industry related to the transfer of data from device to device.This
    time we do not make secrets from the protocol, and everyone can make their own service for collecting data from the device, just configure IP (via the cord, SMS or through our service c) where the data will be transmitted and configure the parser.

    Cost


    The retail price per unit of equipment is $ 150 in Ukraine, and, most importantly, the price will be the same in the Russian Federation (the issue of delivery, warranty, repair fund, etc. is currently being decided). At the moment, in search of representatives in Belarus, Moldova and other border regions.

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