Table of Contents

1. What's in the Box
2. Technical Specifications
3. Activating GPS Snitch
4. Using GPS Snitch
5. GPS Snitch vs Zoombak
6. Pros
7. Cons
8. Conclusion

1. What's in the Box

Figure 1: What's in the Box?

GPS Snitch includes the following items in the box:

• GPS Snitch tracking device
• Wall charger
• Quick start guide
• 100 free Location Tracking Request Credits with activation
• 2 Window Stickers
  

Figure 2: GPS Snitch

GPS Snitch measures about 4.5 inches in length, is narrower at the tip than at the base, and has the "GPS Snitch" logo printed on the shiny black plastic casing.

Figure 3: GPS Snitch, Right Side

The only physical controls on GPS Snitch are the power and "Arming" buttons, located on the right side of the device.

Figure 4: GPS Snitch, Left Side

The DC Jack, used for charging GPS Snitch, is located on the left side of the device. It takes about 5 hours to fully charge GPS Snitch using the included wall charger. Once fully charged, GPS Snitch's battery will last between 5 and 7 days, depending on usage.

Figure 5: GPS Snitch, Side

GPS Snitch's case has a slight curve to it, making it taller in the center than at the edges.

Figure 6: Optional Hardwiring Kit and Vehicle Charger

GPS Snitch doesn't come with a vehicle charger or hardwiring kit for permanently installing the device in your car, but both are available and can be purchased separately.

2. Technical Specifications

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.

4. Using GPS Snitch

Figure 18: Power and Arming Buttons

The Power and Arming buttons are located on the right side of device.

To begin using GPS Snitch, fully charge the unit (it takes about 5 hours to fully charge Snitch), then turn on the unit by pressing the power button once. The green power LED will begin to blink, indicating that the unit is powered on and locating a cellular network. When the LED turns solid green, Snitch has logged into the network.

Once powered on, the Alert button LED will blink as GPS satellites are location. 1 blink mean 1 satellite has been located; 5 blinks means 5 satellites have been located. This blinking pattern provides a crude method for determining signal strength. After a few minutes both LEDs will turn off to save battery power. Snitch calls this "LED sleep mode". You can turn the LEDs back on at any time by pressing the power button once. Pressing and holding the power button turns off Snitch.

GPS Snitch can be "armed" (set to alert if motion is detected) by pressing the Arming button on the device, or remotely via the website. Once "armed", GPS Snitch will send email and/or SMS text alerts to notify you that motion has been detected.

Note that GPS Snitch does NOT need to be armed for the tracking features to function. Arming is a separate feature that can be used to alert you if the device is moved (i.e. alert you when your vehicle moves).

After you've registered and powered on GPS Snitch, stash it in the glove compartment (or door, or anywhere else in your vehicle) and you're ready to start tracking.

Figure 19: Track this Device

To begin locating GPS Snitch, click on "Track this Device" from the homepage, shown above.

Figure 20: Tracking Page

The Tracking page, shown above, displays the map, battery life, GSM signal strength, power status, and armed/disarmed status. From here you can:

• Locate Snitch - clicking this icon initiates a single location request
• Arm Device - sets the GPS into "Armed" mode. If any vehicle motion is detected, GPS Snitch will send an alert to the pre-defined email or SMS address
• Continuous Tracking - Requests continuous location information from GPS Snitch
• Set up schedule - allows you to configure a tracking schedule and define the interval between location updates

What's the difference between Continuous Tracking and "Set up schedule"? Continuous Tracking asks Snitch to report its location in rapid succession, as quickly as the device is capable of. Under some circumstances this can mean 2 to 3 location requests per minute. Continuous Tracking can eat up your service plan "credits" in short order. So unless you've got a fugitive on the loose, setting a schedule is a more controllable solution, allowing you to specify how long you want to track and how many minutes apart the location requests should be.

Figure 21: Locating GPS Snitch

Clicking on "Locate Snitch" initiates a location request. Provided GPS Snitch is powered on, is receiving GPS signals, and is within cellular coverage. Within 30-60 seconds, depending on signal strength, GPS Snitch's current location appears on the Google Map, as shown above.

Figure 22: Advanced Tab

Clicking on the "Advanced" tab displays more details about GPS Snitch's current location, including exact latitude and longitude coordinates and altitude. The map controls are familiar to anyone who'se used Google Maps: you can pan and zoom, and toggle between Map, Satellite, and Hybrid views.

Figure 23: Arming and Disarming GPS Snitch

GPS Snitch can be Armed and Disarmed either via Blackline's website or by pressing the Arming button on the device itself. Once armed, GPS Snitch can send email and/or SMS text message alerts if motion is detected.

Figure 24: Creating a Tracking Schedule

A "Tracking Schedule" is different from "Continuous Tracking" in that it gives you the ability to specify the tracking start and end times as well as the location update interval. This allows you to be more economical with GPS Snitch, and not use up service credits as quickly as continuous tracking, which requests location updates non-stop from the device until disabled.

Noticeably missing from the schedule setup page is the ability to schedule a recurring tracking schedule. For example, you can't configure GPS Snitch to automatically send location updates every 30 minutes Friday and Saturday evenings.

Figure 25: Letting Others See Your Location

Blackline's website allows you to grant friends and/or family the ability to view the location of your GPS Snitch device. The invitees will need to create a free account on gps-snitch.com's website in order to view your device's location, and you'll need to send an invite to each person you want to grant permission.

Figure 26: Alert Message Configuration

Clicking on the Preferences tab and then on "Alert Message Configuration" brings up the list shown above. From here you can turn on or off various features and enable or disable alerts.

Figure 27: Remote Control

GPS Snitch can also be controlled via cell phone; virtually all functions can be performed by sending text messages to the device. Messages must come from a phone that has been established as an authorized phone (you can specify up to 2 phones).

5. GPS Snitch vs Zoombak

Figure 28: GPS Snitch vs. Zoombak

I recently reviewed Zoombak's GPS Car & Family Locator -- a GPS tracking device that advertises similar features but costs about $150 less than GPS Snitch. GPS Snitch offers slightly better performance than Zoombak's device, especially when connected to a power source, such as the 12v cigarette lighter or hardwired to your vehicle's battery (GPS Snitch boosts GPS performance when it's plugged in, and conserves battery life by lowering GPS sensitivity when running on the internal battery).

Unlike Zoombak's device, which operates on T-Mobile's network, GPS Snitch is GSM/GPRS device that will operate on AT&T or T-Mobile here in the United States, and on Rogers network in Canada. AT&T has considerably better coverage than T-Mobile. GPS Snitch can also perform real-time tracking for as long as you tel it to, and can be adjusted to send updates however many minutes apart you want. Zoombak's device can only perform real-time tracking for 60 minutes at a time.

GPS Snitch can also be controlled via cell phone, and the ability to easily turn on motion alarms is a useful feature.

Overall, GPS Snitch is a more customizable solution than Zoombak, had slightly better signal performance, and offers some nice features not found on Zoombak. However, Zoombak's device is $150 less expensive than GPS Snitch, and Zoombak's $14.95 monthly service fee includes unlimited location requests (GPS Snitch charges one credit per location request). Zoombak also provides a 24 hour hotline that can provide location data even when you're away from your PC.

If all you need is basic, occasional vehicle tracking, Zoombak is a more economical solution that works well. Those looking for more flexible options (or live in areas of poor T-Mobile coverage) will be better served by Blackline's GPS Snitch.

6. Pros

• Long battery life (5-7 days, depending on usage)
• Ability to operate GPS Snitch by sending text message commands from a cell phone
• Capable of continuous tracking (although it will get expensive if you plan on using this feature often)
• Tracking Schedules allow you to specify frequency of location updates
• Device can be armed (sends an alert if the vehicle moves) by pressing the Arm button on the device, via the website, or be sending a text message
• Flexible service plan offering; additional credits can be purchased as needed, without requiring you to change service plans
• Operates on T-Mobile or AT&T's network in the USA, Rogers in Canada
• Reports vehicle speed
• Retains months of location data
• Improved GPS performance when connected to a power source, such as 12v or AC

7. Cons

• GPS not sensitive enough for indoor tracking
• Cigarette lighter power adapter not included in the box, sold separately
• Not weather-resistant or rugged; feels a little cheap
• Motion Alerts don't contain any location information, only that the device has moved
• No 3D map view
• Continuous tracking can get expensive
• No ability to configure speed alerts (i.e. send an alert if the vehicle exceeds 80 MPH)
• No way to setup recurring tracking schedules
• Website interface could be simpler to use
• "Security Perimeter" confusing to setup
• No 3D map view
• Requires a one-time $29.95 activation fee (plus monthly service, which ranges from $14.99 per month to $25.99 per month, depending on the usage plan)

8. Conclusion

About the size of a cell phone, GPS Snitch lets owners track their vehicle in real-time, as well as configure alerts if the vehicle moves or crosses a "Security Perimeter". The $399 device operates on the AT&T and T-Mobile network here in the United States, and Rogers Wireless in Canada. Location reports are accessed via Blackline's website, http://gps-snitch.com. GPS Snitch can be controlled via the web, by calling Blackline's 24-hour customer support number, or by sending SMS text messages to the device from a pre-approved cell phone.

Like other real-time tracking devices, GPS Snitch requires a monthly service plan. Blackline, GPS Snitch's manufacturer, offers various plans, ranging from $14.99 to $25.99 per month, with discounts offered if you buy 1 or 2 years at a time. Each monthly plan allows a certain number of locates per month, and any unused credits rollover from month to month (up to 90 days, then any unused credits expire). There's an additional one-time activation fee of $29.95, regardless of which service plan you choose.

If you can stomach the cost, there's a lot to like about GPS Snitch. GPS performance wasn't strong enough for indoor use, but outdoor performance was solid; GPS Snitch worked well in the car, providing real-time location data even when tossed in the glove compartment, door kick panel, or center arm rest.

Continuous tracking mode worked, but ate through the service credits quickly, and isn't a practical way to track the device. Setting up a "schedule" allows you to customize how frequently the unit should upload location data, and how long you need to track the device. This lets you control how quickly the service credits get consumed.

GPS Snitch's battery life is outstanding, providing 5-7 days of average use between charges. I liked the ability to control the device remotely via the web or text messaging, and also liked the ability to receive email/text message alerts when battery life is low or when the unit breaches a "security perimeter".

GPS Snitch offers more functionality than the less expensive Zoombak's GPS Car & Family Locator, but it's also $150 more expensive than Zoombak's device, and doesn't offer an unlimited service plan.

I wished Blackline provided a way to adjust GPS Snitch's battery use, so that power consumption could be boosted in exchange for shorter battery life. This would have allowed GPS Snitch to pull double duty as a personal tracking device that worked indoors and out, rather than being limited to outdoor use.

I also would have liked to see an unlimited usage plan; service credits can get used up quickly, and even moderate usage can get expensive.

GPS Snitch is a solid vehicle tracking solution that offers outstanding battery life, good alerting options, and decent location reporting (including speed and heading information). It's not the cheapest solution out there, but it does offer more flexibility than some of the less expensive options, and has better network coverage and GPS performance. GPS Snitch isn't up to the task of indoor tracking, but gets the job done well outdoors. GPS Snitch is available for purchase at gps-snitch.com.