AirTags, tracker tags etc.

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Discussion

Rushjob

Original Poster:

2,125 posts

271 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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Quick question for the tech minded of you.

Father in law is getting a little deeper into his memory loss and we’ve discussed him getting a tracking device of some sort to keep on his key ring.
He’s happy with the idea and mentioned it would actually make him feel more confident in himself when out and about. So the question is which one?
Mrs RJ and myself use IPhones but FIL has android, not sure if that has any impact on what to order so over to you lot. Thanks.

snobetter

1,236 posts

159 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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Apps for phones also like Life 360 which allow you to keep a tab on each other.

Rushjob

Original Poster:

2,125 posts

271 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
snobetter said:
Apps for phones also like Life 360 which allow you to keep a tab on each other.
Don’t want an app, otherwise I would have asked for app recommendations thanks. One of the issues is he occasionally forgets his phone but never his keys which are always in his pocket. Hence the tag for his key ring.

Mammasaid

4,662 posts

110 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
What's the use case? For him to find his keys or for you to find him?

If the former, then Tile works well with both Android and iPhone, otherwise an Air Tag plays with IPhone.

Note none of these are true trackers, they rely on either Bluetooth (Tile) or the iPhone network (Airtag), so can't give realtime location, only when they are 'seen'.

Edited by Mammasaid on Tuesday 26th November 11:54

Rushjob

Original Poster:

2,125 posts

271 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
Mammasaid said:
What's the use case? For him to find his keys or for you to find him?

If the former, then Tile works well with both Android and iPhone, otherwise an Air Tag plays with IPhone.

Not none of these are true trackers, they rely on wither Bluetooth (Tile) or the iPhone network (Airtag), so can't give realtime location, only when they are 'seen'.
For us to find him…….

ymwoods

2,190 posts

190 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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The best standalone will probably be an Apple Airtag, but as already pointed out, these rely on other people's phones to see them and report the location. In general they work quite well and can be used to track the tag worldwide...but I can guarantee you that it will be that one time you need it that your luck would have it that no one with an iPhone goes near to you.

AB

18,004 posts

208 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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Tractive Dog Tracker

Something like this? Not suggesting you put it round his neck but if you could find something similar which would attach to keys then you may be on to something.

Far Cough

2,419 posts

181 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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Problem with a tag is if he goes walkabout in the woods or somewhere remote they will be useless as no network to shake hands with.

The dog tracker above is interesting as I have that one for the my dog but it's a bit big for a set of keys. You might be able to get a cat sized one but the battery won't last long. With it's phone network connectivity it's never out of range and also sees WiFi and bluetooth

MesoForm

9,411 posts

288 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
Far Cough said:
Problem with a tag is if he goes walkabout in the woods or somewhere remote they will be useless as no network to shake hands with.

The dog tracker above is interesting as I have that one for the my dog but it's a bit big for a set of keys. You might be able to get a cat sized one but the battery won't last long. With it's phone network connectivity it's never out of range and also sees WiFi and bluetooth
We've got a dog tracker from Pawfit (for the dog, not a human) and it needs charging every 3 days on average, if the OP's father-in-law is getting forgetful then that might cause an issue keeping it charged. It's about the size of a matchbox.

If the FiL only goes out and about near people then one of the bluetooth trackers (AirTag, Tile) would be the way forward.

If you need to track it using Apple and Android I think Tile is the answer, AirTags can't be tracked using an Android phone.

C69

734 posts

25 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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As others have already said, if you're an iPhone user then an AirTag will work best with your phone. However, it's going to be very dependant on there being other Apple network devices in his vicinity.

A more reliable solution would be a GPS-based tracker that's able to communicate with your phone. There are plenty of them that are aimed at people with dementia, but prices seem to vary a lot (and many also require a subscription).

Far Cough

2,419 posts

181 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
MesoForm said:
We've got a dog tracker from Pawfit (for the dog, not a human) and it needs charging every 3 days on average, if the OP's father-in-law is getting forgetful then that might cause an issue keeping it charged. It's about the size of a matchbox.

If the FiL only goes out and about near people then one of the bluetooth trackers (AirTag, Tile) would be the way forward.

If you need to track it using Apple and Android I think Tile is the answer, AirTags can't be tracked using an Android phone.
The tractive goes into power saving mode when at the home WiFi location and battery lasts 2 weeks +

MesoForm

9,411 posts

288 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
Far Cough said:
The tractive goes into power saving mode when at the home WiFi location and battery lasts 2 weeks +
Hmm, maybe I should've got one of those! I don't think it connects to our WiFi so maybe I need to change a setting somewhere.

Countdown

43,906 posts

209 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
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The airtags work well as long as there's an IPhone nearby.

Rushjob

Original Poster:

2,125 posts

271 months

Tuesday 26th November 2024
quotequote all
Thanks for al the ideas.

A mate has just mentioned he has a spare unregistered Tile we can use so we're going to give that a go. Apparently the one he has is equipped with a call button so he can press it to contact us if needs be.

Cheers again.