What is Reddit's opinion of Traccar Client?

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I hesitate to *recommend* it, but for me it works well. I'm using Traccar. "Downside" is that it needs a server to send data to; which works for me, because I keep ownership and control, as it's running on my own server.

But lets me track routes like this!

There is now way, afaik, without "destroying battery", especially at higher update intervals.

Peeps are right, you'll need constant phone reception. But if you can do that, there are some options. I personally use Traccar; I am a bit paranoid about making my location known to a company/third party, so i host that myself. But my GF and I can ensure that each other are safe, or where to direct emergency services.

https://www.traccar.org/

The cell phone app I use can change the update interval, but higher frequencies do eat into battery life. A battery pack, or a usb charger connected to the bike's electrics is recommended.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.traccar.client

I understand that self hosting this service is a technical barrier, but there are paid services that do similar things. Pet tracking is a possible start for research. But the battery cost is still a problem. Time for a £20 battery pack. :)

Traccar client

I think I have all the permissions needed for running in the background. The thing is phone is not moving for long time so I'm guessing Android decides to sleep because there's no "mobile user" activity going on - this is phone afterall.

The option is in dev menu from what I remember.

Nope I didn't. The one I'm using is "official" for Traccar server so I wanted to use that one. I can try a different one but I don't think it would change a thing.

Buy some cheap chinese-made GPS tracker that works, and then one option might be to run https://www.traccar.org software somewhere. It seems to be open source, which should mean it can be run for free. Amazon sells a ton of variants.

Obviously this is more DIY but we're all trying to be frugal... real tracking services you can get charge you monthly. But if you are fine with paying some of them do offer added value.

But for a tech using van dweller I can think of numerous uses for a cheap rented server in the cloud. Those cost a few bucks a month but you can get more use out of them than just the GPS tracking.

There is a Traccar Client for Android that does seem like it would work to enable a phone to be a tracker for Traccar, going to have to give that a whirl.

Edit: wow, that was easy. Installed the client on my phone, arranged for the Traccar server I also installed to have a reachable address on the internet and boom, I have my phone location on the map.

I'd still buy a cheap tracker supported by Traccar, though. They're cheap, they're far more durable and sealed than a phone, and they report location for months even with power cut if they have a battery backup. Plus you can SMS to them if the map connection fails and have them SMS back location and status, and so on.

Edited: I originally loosely recommended some trackers, but didn't keep in mind that they may have old network hardware. The 3G variants may no longer be able to connect to a network...

You mean with traccar? Mobile phones by there very nature are genreric GPS's and so you need app to relay the information to traccar server. So something like Tracar Client needs to be installed on each persons phone. You then point that client at your traccar server and set it up as a unique id or a unique port depending on how you want to use it. From that point on it is just a question of giving your family a group account (assuming you want everyone to see where everyone else is) and letting them view everything on the web interface of Traccar.

Hope that helps.

I cannot find any screenshots of the web client on the Traccar website.

Screenshots on Google Play for the Android client initially look less helpful than the screenshots from the NextTracks which I'm currently using though. You can go with a group to a city, split up, and see each others' location so you can find each other easier. It's fun.

I think Traccar is more geared towards corporate usage.