3. Activating GPS Snitch

Before you can start using GPS Snitch, you'll need to register and activate it using GPS Snitch's website, gps-snitch.com.

Figure 7: Finding the Unit ID and Activation Code

You'll need the Unit ID and Activation Code in order to successfully register GPS Snitch, both of which are printed on the sticker on the underside of the GPS.

Figure 8: Start the Registration Process

With the Unit ID and Activation Code in hand, fire up a web browser and head over to gps-snitch.com and click on "Register" to begin the registration process.

Figure 9: Creating a New Snitch Account

Enter your email address and a password; you'll use these to logon to gps-snitch.com to locate the device and manage your account.

Figure 10: Adding a Snitch to your Account

After entering an email address and password, click on "Add Snitch".

Figure 11: Enter GPS Snitch Device Details

Enter the Device ID and Activation Code, found on the sticker on the bottom of GPS Snitch, and click "Next" to continue.

Figure 12: Selecting A Service Plan

GPS Snitch is an Assisted-GPS tracking device, leveraging both traditional GPS as well as cellular signals to enable real-time location tracking. Using the same wireless network your cell phone uses, GPS Snitch uploads real-time location. Just as with a regular cell phone, GPS Snitch requires a monthly service plan.

Blackline, the manufacturer of GPS Snitch, offers four different service plans ranging in price from $14.99 to $25.99 per month. On top of that, Blackline charges a one-time activation fee of $25.99. Here are the details on each available service plan:

• $14.99/month - TrackStarter 50: Service + 50 Tracking Credits per month
• $17.99/month - Enhanced 150: Service + 150 Tracking Credits per month
• $21.99/month - Enhanced 250: Service + 250 Tracking Credits per month
• $25.99/month - Enhanced 500: Service + 500 Tracking Credits per month

The functional tracking area for all plans is the USA and Canada.

Understanding the service plans is slightly confusing: any service plan, even the cheapest $14.99/month plan, provides unlimited event notifications via email or SMS text message to your cell phone. Each location request, however, costs 1 tracking credit. So, the cheapest plan, for example, only provides up to 50 location requests per month (you can buy additional requests as needed, but they'll cost between $0.05 and $0.10 per credit, depending how many you buy at once).

Unused tracking credits roll-over from one month to the next, up to 90 days. After 90 days, any unused tracking credits expire.

If you'll only occasionally be looking up the whereabouts of your car, then the $14.99/month plan (50 location lookups per month) should suffice. However, scheduled tracking and real-time tracking can eat up the credits quickly.

Figure 13: $29.99 One-time Setup Fee

Blackline (GPS-Snitch's manufacturer) charges a one-time setup fee of $29.99 when you first activate Snitch.

Figure 14: Successfully Registered

Once Snitch has been successfully registered, the website says it can take up to 8 hours for the device to fully activate. In my case, activation was almost instantaneous.

Figure 15: Setting Initial Preferences

During the account setup process, some basic settings can be configured, such as picking a name for the GPS, an icon, setting the time zone, unit of measure, and setting an email address and mobile phone number to send alert messages to.

Figure 16: Choosing a Vehicle Icon for Snitch

GPS-Snitch.com lets you choose from 11 different icons to represent your GPS-Snitch. Unfortunately there's no way to upload a custom image of your own. The chosen image will appear on the website when you login to GPS-Snitch.com.

Figure 17: Registration is Complete

Once GPS-Snitch has been registered on the website and successfully activated, GPS-Snitch.com displays the device home screen, shown above.

This screen displays the current status of the device, battery life, cellular (GSM) signal reception, and the time since the last location request.