There is no doubt that when a vehicle is stolen or hijacked, one wants it found and returned as quickly as possible and the perpetrators put behind bars.
Ross Hickey, managing director of Trinity Telecomms which distributes Wavecom products in South Africa, says: "One of the quickest and most effective vehicle tracking systems on the market uses GSM technology to locate a stolen vehicle. The advantage of GSM technology over, for example, satellite tracking is that the vehicle does not need to be in an unobstructed visual line with the tracking device to be able to accurately locate it."
According to Hickey, car thieves have learned that a stolen vehicle can be hidden from the 'eye in the sky' by parking in an undercover parking garage or under a bridge. This is done to allow them time to plan and execute the getaway actions of the vehicle. "But with GSM technology this ploy of hiding a vehicle immediately after it was stolen does not work because the vehicle need not be in line of sight of the tracking device.
However, to guarantee an effective GSM vehicle tracking service, the modem in the vehicle has to be rugged enough to withstand extreme weather and driving conditions. This is the area in which Wavecom has concentrated on, thereby supplying a solution to vehicle tracking companies who use GSM technology.
"Wavecom supports fleet management and vehicle tracking in various formats from plug-and-play devices like the Fastrack modem to board-mounted solutions like the Integra or WISMO 2C2 or WISMO2D engine options depending on customer integration level requirements," Hickey adds.
The range of products include:
WISMO Quik
With a full range of voice, data, fax and SMS options, the WISMO Quik can handle most applications. It is also fully compatible and upgradeable with future WISMO Quik products thanks to an identical mechanical footprint and hardware and software interfaces.
Key product features:
* Dual band GSM/GPRS module.
* Compliant with ETSI GSM Phase 2+.
* Class 4 (2 W at 900 MHz).
* Class 1 (1 W at 1800/1900 MHz).
* 3,6 V d.c.
* 300 mA average current in communication.
* Overall dimensions: 58 x 32 x 6,5 mm.
FASTRACK
Housed in a rugged metallic casing, the external FASTRACK modem is built to withstand the toughest environments.
Key product features:
* Dualband GSM modem designed for data, fax, SMS and voice applications.
* Fully type approved.
* Fully compliant with ETSI GSM Phase 2+ specifications.
* Operating temperatures: -20°C to +55°C.
* Overall dimensions: 98 x 54 x 25 mm.
For more information: Derick Roberts, Trinity Telecomms, 011 465 7377, [email protected]
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