GPS Locators

DarkAisling · #1 09-05-2009, 08:52 PM

Does anyone have any experience using GPS locators for their dogs and/or their kids?

That situation in the Yukon (2-year-old follows dog, dog and boy spend 24 hours in the bush, both now safe and sound) has got me thinking. If either one of them had been wearing a locator they might have been found much more quickly.

I have a long leash for my dog while we're out camping, and when the little one is really mobile he'll get leashed to me when we're out camping (yes, I'm one of those people . . . after losing son #1 in a mall and the Vancouver airport). A locator might be a nice thing to have . . . just in case.

mtylerb · #2 09-06-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAisling

Does anyone have any experience using GPS locators for their dogs and/or their kids?

That situation in the Yukon (2-year-old follows dog, dog and boy spend 24 hours in the bush, both now safe and sound) has got me thinking. If either one of them had been wearing a locator they might have been found much more quickly.

I have a long leash for my dog while we're out camping, and when the little one is really mobile he'll get leashed to me when we're out camping (yes, I'm one of those people . . . after losing son #1 in a mall and the Vancouver airport). A locator might be a nice thing to have . . . just in case.

You could go with something like the SPOT Satellite Messenger, but I believe that requires the user to press a button to update his or her location. I guess you could go with a PLB, but launching SAR may be overkill, if someone has just wandered to the other side of a store. You could attach a Blackberry to the child and just install Google Maps and turn on the community feature, then check for their location on your own Blackberry/Google Maps combo, but that might get expensive.

I like the leash idea and will probably employ the same tactic if my kids start "disappearing" on me.

DarkAisling · #3 09-06-2009, 08:06 AM

The problem with the BlackBerry idea is that (with mine, anyway) is that the Google map app actually has to be opened to start logging my location. I have my location shared with the other-half so he knows how close to home I am when he's watching the little one. Frequently it shows me in completely the wrong place if I'm not monitoring the app.

If you use a "leash" for your little ones, two things will happen: some people will stare at you and make snide comments, and some frantic parents will run up to you and ask you where you purchased it.

Wal-Mart has these really cute little stuffed animal backpacks that firmly attach to the child. The have a really long tail that mom and dad can loop around their wrist. They've also got elastic "leashes" that velcro around the child's arm, and then loop around mom or dad's wrist. They're both in the baby section. I like the backpacks better, as I think they're more comfortable, a little more discrete, and you can put a little snack in it for the child so he thinks the purpose of the pack is to carry his snack (vs. being a leash).

EDIT: Added a picture of one of the backpacks. Our's isn't Pooh. Ours is a monkey.

RedHeadedFisherman · #4 09-06-2009, 08:44 AM

check out,...
http://pc-hardware.suite101.com/arti...rsonal_locator

http://www.laipac.com/personal_locator_gps.htm

my aunt had a similar prob >
hope it helps

AB RANGER 007 · #5 09-06-2009, 09:33 AM

Garmin has a unit for keeping track of your dog while hunting. Check out their web site.

Bruce

Whiskey Wish · #6 09-07-2009, 11:23 AM

Many years ago when our son was about 3 he started this nasty habit of disappearing without warning. He pulled that stunt on us in Stanley Park when we had a large extended family group deciding who all was going into the whale show. There was a lot of us so initially we just started calmly walking around and calling him but he would not answer and it wasn't long before panic started to hit big time and Security or Police (?) took notice and asked the problem. We told them and they shut that park down COLD. It was amazing and reassuring but we were still scared spitless. The place was swarming with family, police and volunteer searchers, no one in, no one out. Turned out he was hiding behind the Popcorn Vendors machine watching the popcorn pop and just didn't feel like answering. That is when we discovered one of life's truisms " You will never know REAL fear until you become a parent!"
He pulled this same stunt twice more before 2 things happened. We realized he thought it was fun to do and I finally LOST it and warmed his bum with the palm of my hand in public. The behaviour stopped abruptly.
I always wondered why someone didn't invent a simple electronic device that could attach to a child that a paniced parent or caregiver could push a button and the device would beep or whistle or make some kind of shrill noise and not stop until a reset button was pushed. Make it good out to about 500 meters or so and make it attach so it would not be easy to take off.
I can imagine a weekend at West Ed Mall could be interesting though....lol

Keep Your Powder Dry
Dave.