LoJack

acme97 · Sep 9, 2011

Has anyone installed one of the LoJack system on their equipment? I was wondering how difficult it is, and if you were able to deduct for expense on taxes. I know there is no deduction on insurance at least with Kubota, but I'm trying to figure if it's still a good thing. Price wise, they run about $800 per unit.

Fixemall · Sep 9, 2011

I have loJack on my two bobcats and large trencher that are often left "on site" never thought about it for the tractor or baby bobcat as they are always in the garage.

KTurner · Sep 9, 2011

Would LoJack equipment stand up to a tractor environment? The ride is a bit rougher than a car

Keith

North Country · Sep 10, 2011

KTurner said:
Would LoJack equipment stand up to a tractor environment? The ride is a bit rougher than a car

Keith

They make a "ruggedized" commercial version.

Commercial Solutions

Travelover · Sep 10, 2011

Here is a less expensive option from Garmin. You can hard wire it to your car / tractor with an adapter cable. It is about $200, which includes first year's tracking. After that $50 a year. You can track it from a computer or smart phone.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=67686&ra=true

acme97 · Sep 10, 2011

North Country said:
They make a "ruggedized" commercial version.

Commercial Solutions

This is the one I was talking to the company about. It's a one time price, with no yearly service fees. It's activated upon filing of a police report. From what they claimed, a 98% recovery rate. You can also put them on trailers.

North Country · Sep 10, 2011

Travelover said:
Here is a less expensive option from Garmin. You can hard wire it to your car / tractor with an adapter cable. It is about $200, which includes first year's tracking. After that $50 a year. You can track it from a computer or smart phone.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=67686&ra=true

The garmin device needs a clear view of the sky for satellite lock - hard to hide it. The LoJack doesn't use GPS.

Travelover · Sep 11, 2011

North Country said:
The garmin device needs a clear view of the sky for satellite lock - hard to hide it. The LoJack doesn't use GPS.

I didn't know that. How does LoJack determine location?

North Country · Sep 11, 2011

LoJack FAQ:

It is based on wireless Radio Frequency technology. From ground or air, police can track the silent signal from your LoJack whether it is in a garage, an underground parking facility, or in a warehouse. This differs from most GPS-based tracking systems, which require direct line-of-sight to the sky.

Frequently Asked Questions about the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System

Travelover · Sep 11, 2011

North Country said:
LoJack FAQ:.........

Thanks, very slick.

David_Kb7uns · Sep 11, 2011

Another problem with LoJack is the law enforcement agencies in your area need to have cars with the LoJack receivers in them and not every agency has them.

Look with police cars that have 4 18 inch antennas in a square pattern on the roof.
If they have 3 13 inch antennas in a triangle that is for the ETS Pronet bank robbery systems.

David Kb7uns

acme97 · Sep 12, 2011

North Country said:
LoJack FAQ:

It is based on wireless Radio Frequency technology. From ground or air, police can track the silent signal from your LoJack whether it is in a garage, an underground parking facility, or in a warehouse. This differs from most GPS-based tracking systems, which require direct line-of-sight to the sky.

Frequently Asked Questions about the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System

That was what I thought too. I'm inclined to still get the LoJack.

J_J · Sep 13, 2011

Not to confuse anybody, but if a thief has any idea about LoJack, he would quickly move it to a building built like a Faraday cage. We used a cage like this in the Navy to repair and tune navigation equipment. No signals in or out. He could then go inside the cage and seek out the LoJack. He would look for a frequency around 173.075 MHz. VHF band.

The thief's other option would be to leave the machine at another location that he could watch.

Probably should do both, use LoJack and disable the engine from starting.

Did you know that if you put your cell phone in one of those silver metal foil bags, you can not receive calls or be tracked by GPS.

North Country · Sep 13, 2011

J_J said:
Not to confuse anybody, but if a thief has any idea about LoJack, he would quickly move it to a building built like a Faraday cage. We used a cage like this in the Navy to repair and tune navigation equipment. No signals in or out. He could then go inside the cage and seek out the LoJack. He would look for a frequency around 173.075 MHz. VHF band.

That assumes the thief is smart. Seeing as how he's already decided to steal something instead of work for it, we can generally eliminate that possibility. LoJack claims a 98% recovery rate, so we can start with the assumption that only 1 out of 50 thieves have a clue.

J_J said:
Did you know that if you put your cell phone in one of those silver metal foil bags, you can not receive calls or be tracked by GPS.

I get the exact same results by turning it off. Cheaper, too.

acme97 · Sep 13, 2011

J_J said:
Not to confuse anybody, but if a thief has any idea about LoJack, he would quickly move it to a building built like a Faraday cage. We used a cage like this in the Navy to repair and tune navigation equipment. No signals in or out. He could then go inside the cage and seek out the LoJack. He would look for a frequency around 173.075 MHz. VHF band.

The thief's other option would be to leave the machine at another location that he could watch.

Probably should do both, use LoJack and disable the engine from starting.

Did you know that if you put your cell phone in one of those silver metal foil bags, you can not receive calls or be tracked by GPS.

It's not the smart one's I'm worried about, that's what my insurance is for. It's all the others. I do think that if I decide to get it, placement will be of importance so that it's not found either quickly if at all. I have an email into them to ask how it is wired into the system, suggested locations etc.

two_bit_score · Sep 13, 2011

Auto theft detectives like Lojak. Good enough for me.

Rustywreck · Sep 13, 2011

J_J said:
Not to confuse anybody, but if a thief has any idea about LoJack, he would quickly move it to a building built like a Faraday cage. We used a cage like this in the Navy to repair and tune navigation equipment. No signals in or out. He could then go inside the cage and seek out the LoJack. He would look for a frequency around 173.075 MHz. VHF band.

The thief's other option would be to leave the machine at another location that he could watch.

Probably should do both, use LoJack and disable the engine from starting.

Did you know that if you put your cell phone in one of those silver metal foil bags, you can not receive calls or be tracked by GPS.

That explains why I can't make or receive calls in my house - it has foil faced foam on the inside as a vapor barrier.

two_bit_score · Sep 13, 2011

Rustywreck said:
That explains why I can't make or receive calls in my house - it has foil faced foam on the inside as a vapor barrier.

:laughing:

schmism · Sep 13, 2011

North Country said:
I get the exact same results by turning it off. Cheaper, too.

this is not accurate

phones like iPhones still connect to the network when they are powered off. This is considered a "Feature" so that when you power the phone on the system already knows what tower to connect to and has messages already downloaded to the phone makeing access times quicker.

because of this your phone is still "tracked" when it is "off". You can remove the battery from the phone, but alas iPhones (and most other "smart" phones) do not allow this.

So thus the foil bags are the best way to keep "them" from spying on you as it does block all signals.