Best CAT5 vehicle tracker?
Discussion
Need to start looking into these with the new car arriving in a few months.
What's the best on the market at the moment? I've seen SmarTrack's range recommended - has a mobile app and a few other features that seem like a benefit over the competitors. But notice Tracker is still the only one that uses VHF as well as GPS/GSM, so potentially offers the greatest chance of location/recovery?
Anyone else looked into the market of these and/or have any personal recommendations?
What's the best on the market at the moment? I've seen SmarTrack's range recommended - has a mobile app and a few other features that seem like a benefit over the competitors. But notice Tracker is still the only one that uses VHF as well as GPS/GSM, so potentially offers the greatest chance of location/recovery?
Anyone else looked into the market of these and/or have any personal recommendations?
sixspeed said:
Need to start looking into these with the new car arriving in a few months.
What's the best on the market at the moment? I've seen SmarTrack's range recommended - has a mobile app and a few other features that seem like a benefit over the competitors. But notice Tracker is still the only one that uses VHF as well as GPS/GSM, so potentially offers the greatest chance of location/recovery?
Anyone else looked into the market of these and/or have any personal recommendations?
A tracker is a means of a way to try and recover your car once it's stolen. Personally, if any of my vehicles were stolen, I wouldn't want them back anyway.What's the best on the market at the moment? I've seen SmarTrack's range recommended - has a mobile app and a few other features that seem like a benefit over the competitors. But notice Tracker is still the only one that uses VHF as well as GPS/GSM, so potentially offers the greatest chance of location/recovery?
Anyone else looked into the market of these and/or have any personal recommendations?
There's a new device that's been out for around 1.5 years, and we have just started fitting them in Scotland called Autowatch Ghost. This device prevents your car from being stolen in the first place, it physically prevents your car being stolen from your drive, even if the thief has the keys.
Look into online, plenty of videos. £399 fully supplied & fitted, no yearly fee's.
Thanks, Jay
If you need a CAT 5 system for just insurance purposes, then have a look for what the cheapest CAT 5 system is (both the product, installation and subscription costs) and then as long as you've got a certificate that says "CAT 5 system installed in vehicle registration XXXX XXX" and your insurance company is happy with that, then its fine. Alternatively, try and find another insurance company as you may find that it could be cheaper overall to pay an increased insurance premium with a company that doesn't require a tracking device.
However, if you want the best system to maximise your chances of recovery, then I strongly suggest that you have a tracking system that includes VHF
EDIT: OP, what is the car that you're getting? Some manufacturers are more picky than others with regards to warranty etc.
However, if you want the best system to maximise your chances of recovery, then I strongly suggest that you have a tracking system that includes VHF
EDIT: OP, what is the car that you're getting? Some manufacturers are more picky than others with regards to warranty etc.
Ok, thanks. I must admit I've always been of the thinking of "if it's stolen do you really want it back?". It is for insurance purposes, and I did think the VHF systems give the best chance of recovery mind you. But maybe its better to just get the best value tracker to tick the box, and not worry, should it ever happen.
The car is a Huracan Performante.
The car is a Huracan Performante.
sixspeed said:
Ok, thanks. I must admit I've always been of the thinking of "if it's stolen do you really want it back?". It is for insurance purposes, and I did think the VHF systems give the best chance of recovery mind you. But maybe its better to just get the best value tracker to tick the box, and not worry, should it ever happen.
The car is a Huracan Performante.
Congratulations - that's a lovely car! We worked on just a normal Huracan a few months back, fell in love!The car is a Huracan Performante.
There is a company called Smart Track - they are based in England somewhere, and they appear to be the standard supercar owners choice. We follow them on Instagram and see them do nothing but these high end performance supercars - their website appears to be www.smartrack.eu/
https://youtu.be/SCcFlBDKRqw
sixspeed said:
The car is a Huracan Performante.
Oh wow, very nice sir! 
If I were you, on a car like that, the first people I would ask is Lamborghini parts/service themselves. They might possibly either offer a Lamborghini branded system, or officially recommend a specific 3rd party system. If I were you, I would go with their advice. A few pounds' saving here or there is almost irrelevant when it comes to a car like that!
Slightly less of a special car but i''m looking at buying a 340i touring which to me is the most expensive car i've ever bought and i'm worried it's going to get knicked.
As with most places in the UK i live in a nice affluent area in Leeds which is surrounded by not so nice areas and not to forget Bradford, where there is more and more targetings of BMW / Audis, etc. My car will be parked on my drive which doesn't have a gate or high walls to stop people looking in and i fear could be targeted.
I was thinking if a tracker is a couple of hundred quid, if they did break in, get the keys and steal it i could at least get it back and repair it outside of my insurers especially if they've driven it and not crashed it or anything. Which is why i'm looking at one
As with most places in the UK i live in a nice affluent area in Leeds which is surrounded by not so nice areas and not to forget Bradford, where there is more and more targetings of BMW / Audis, etc. My car will be parked on my drive which doesn't have a gate or high walls to stop people looking in and i fear could be targeted.
I was thinking if a tracker is a couple of hundred quid, if they did break in, get the keys and steal it i could at least get it back and repair it outside of my insurers especially if they've driven it and not crashed it or anything. Which is why i'm looking at one
richatnort said:
Slightly less of a special car but i''m looking at buying a 340i touring which to me is the most expensive car i've ever bought and i'm worried it's going to get knicked.
As with most places in the UK i live in a nice affluent area in Leeds which is surrounded by not so nice areas and not to forget Bradford, where there is more and more targetings of BMW / Audis, etc. My car will be parked on my drive which doesn't have a gate or high walls to stop people looking in and i fear could be targeted.
I was thinking if a tracker is a couple of hundred quid, if they did break in, get the keys and steal it i could at least get it back and repair it outside of my insurers especially if they've driven it and not crashed it or anything. Which is why i'm looking at one
Tracker wise,as a minimum,make sure that it has vhf capability.I would go with a Tracker Locate that uses the MESH network. Start looking at an Autowatch Ghost or Clifford Blackjax as a minimum.Combine it with a disclock and have your location services connected drive app enabled on your car as and when you get it.As with most places in the UK i live in a nice affluent area in Leeds which is surrounded by not so nice areas and not to forget Bradford, where there is more and more targetings of BMW / Audis, etc. My car will be parked on my drive which doesn't have a gate or high walls to stop people looking in and i fear could be targeted.
I was thinking if a tracker is a couple of hundred quid, if they did break in, get the keys and steal it i could at least get it back and repair it outside of my insurers especially if they've driven it and not crashed it or anything. Which is why i'm looking at one
Think about a security post and make sure that your doors and frames are nice and secure and that you have decent locks such as Avocet etc...
Edited by Billyray911 on Sunday 28th January 23:08
Cat 5 Trackers are only effective if they are used correctly, used in combination with a 3rd party Alarm/ immobiliser, they can combat Key Cloning, and anti hijack scenarios. Both of these products fitted and used correctly will provide a strong deterrent against theft.
Using them correctly WILL help keep what you have safe. There are many companies across the UK that are up to the task.
Using them correctly WILL help keep what you have safe. There are many companies across the UK that are up to the task.
Cat 5 is the highest category but the new category S5 offers a similar level of protection and possibly more. They have driver cards and the Meta I had fitted has an additional immobiliser.The app is fantastic and seem to have very cheap subs. Really pleased!! Heard some horror stories about the Ghost so personally I would keep away. I used www.selectautosystems.co.uk they seemed to know there stuff and I had total confidence. They were recommended to me and I feel they advised me correctly. They even removed a old device that was badly fitted FOC.
scooty68 said:
Cat 5 is the highest category but the new category S5 offers a similar level of protection and possibly more. They have driver cards and the Meta I had fitted has an additional immobiliser.The app is fantastic and seem to have very cheap subs. Really pleased!! Heard some horror stories about the Ghost so personally I would keep away. I used www.selectautosystems.co.uk they seemed to know there stuff and I had total confidence. They were recommended to me and I feel they advised me correctly. They even removed a old device that was badly fitted FOC.
I am interested in a Cat 5 device for my M240i ... maybe OTT for a car like mine but I like the idea of a Tracker to help reduce any potential insurance claim if I am unlucky !Does the additional immobiliser come as part of the Cat 5 installation with the Meta or did you pay extra ?
I bought a Jaguar XK Dynamic R in October.
As the area I live in does not have many performance cars I had it fitted with a Smartrack Cat5 P5 (it's been re categorised in the last few months).
Initially the approved installer did not wire the ignition correctly and in 5 days I had 22 calls from the monitoring centre. Now some would find this an inconvenience but I found it vaguely reassuring. Fixed within 4 days by their installer who came to me.
Most of the tracker company's control the provide/install price so there are not many special offers out there.
I paid £699 inc for the supply/install and am paying £16.99 per month. I took that subscription route as a 'suck it and see' as they offer an 'as long as you own the vehicle' package for around £600 which I can take up within the first 12 months.
Plus point of the Smartrack over Tracker brand is that it can be transferred to another vehicle, tracker cannot.
Appreciate that a car thief does not know your car has a tracker fitted, so there are no warning stickers, so they could still cause damage trying to break into it
The phone app is a lovely little gadget, not only does it tell you location and time but also the battery charge!
I've not yet forgotten the security fob, but when I was getting the car regassed last week I forgot to leave the fob in the car and walked to the waiting room with it in my pocket, my phone went off within a minute and it was Smartrack advising that the car had been moved 30ft! I reassured them that I was in a garage and they'd just pulled it into a bay for work
Also had a garmin 55plus dash-cam installed (small and unobtrusive). Was originally going for a Blackvue DR900 2C, but the downsides were
1) it was significantly bigger
2) It had no screen for playback
3) It didn't have speed warnings or camera alerts (you pay an extra charge for this subscription)
My car
As the area I live in does not have many performance cars I had it fitted with a Smartrack Cat5 P5 (it's been re categorised in the last few months).
Initially the approved installer did not wire the ignition correctly and in 5 days I had 22 calls from the monitoring centre. Now some would find this an inconvenience but I found it vaguely reassuring. Fixed within 4 days by their installer who came to me.
Most of the tracker company's control the provide/install price so there are not many special offers out there.
I paid £699 inc for the supply/install and am paying £16.99 per month. I took that subscription route as a 'suck it and see' as they offer an 'as long as you own the vehicle' package for around £600 which I can take up within the first 12 months.
Plus point of the Smartrack over Tracker brand is that it can be transferred to another vehicle, tracker cannot.
Appreciate that a car thief does not know your car has a tracker fitted, so there are no warning stickers, so they could still cause damage trying to break into it
The phone app is a lovely little gadget, not only does it tell you location and time but also the battery charge!
I've not yet forgotten the security fob, but when I was getting the car regassed last week I forgot to leave the fob in the car and walked to the waiting room with it in my pocket, my phone went off within a minute and it was Smartrack advising that the car had been moved 30ft! I reassured them that I was in a garage and they'd just pulled it into a bay for work
Also had a garmin 55plus dash-cam installed (small and unobtrusive). Was originally going for a Blackvue DR900 2C, but the downsides were
1) it was significantly bigger
2) It had no screen for playback
3) It didn't have speed warnings or camera alerts (you pay an extra charge for this subscription)
My car
Dash-Cam Man said:
sixspeed said:
Need to start looking into these with the new car arriving in a few months.
What's the best on the market at the moment? I've seen SmarTrack's range recommended - has a mobile app and a few other features that seem like a benefit over the competitors. But notice Tracker is still the only one that uses VHF as well as GPS/GSM, so potentially offers the greatest chance of location/recovery?
Anyone else looked into the market of these and/or have any personal recommendations?
A tracker is a means of a way to try and recover your car once it's stolen. Personally, if any of my vehicles were stolen, I wouldn't want them back anyway.What's the best on the market at the moment? I've seen SmarTrack's range recommended - has a mobile app and a few other features that seem like a benefit over the competitors. But notice Tracker is still the only one that uses VHF as well as GPS/GSM, so potentially offers the greatest chance of location/recovery?
Anyone else looked into the market of these and/or have any personal recommendations?
There's a new device that's been out for around 1.5 years, and we have just started fitting them in Scotland called Autowatch Ghost. This device prevents your car from being stolen in the first place, it physically prevents your car being stolen from your drive, even if the thief has the keys.
Look into online, plenty of videos. £399 fully supplied & fitted, no yearly fee's.
Thanks, Jay
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