Pidrop the kiteboard tracker - minimize board losses and more

[CaptainKook]

AitTag works with Macbook, iPad or apple watch. You don't need an iPhone.

Agreed AirTag won't work on remote islands if no MacBooks, iPads or iPhones within Bluetooth range (don't people take these to remote islands??)

It's a great idea but just not sure how many everyday kiters will actually need/buy this product.

[Peter_Frank]

Using Air Tag (Bluetooth) seems like a bad solution.

Range is less than 10 m / 30 feet.

So you rely on your board being found?

If so, why not just write your phone nunber with a pen?

Apart from that, only 14 % use Apple devices here in Europe - so it has to be in US to work for sure, AND the board has to be found (stolen?).
If stolen, the device has to be so small it wont be removed.

RF has more range, but still limited and rely on a paired reciever same frequency.

Even planes black box'es beacon pings at 37.5 kHz only works under water.

GSM (2G/3G/4G/5G) seems like the way if you should be able to track your board?

So if a clever solution can be invented, great.

Peter

[downunder]

Ok,

not sure if there is a problem. Use a leash?

Many ppl use a leash. They mow the lawn usually. If one is skilled, one can ride any plank of wood. And with a second hand prices, used board is cheap.

D.

[LePhasme]

Using a leash while kitesurfing is a bad idea in general

[joriws]

GSM (2G/3G/4G/5G) seems like the way if you should be able to track your board?

So if a clever solution can be invented, great.

European operators are closing 2/3G mobile networks so 'range' for tracking gets reduced.

There are more suitable iot-network Sigfox. Not fully global but very wide coverage, not sure though how well reaches over coastal sea areas. Cheap subscription for users. Some bike trackers uses it for online tracking.

[Gestalt]

I bought a Tracki GPS Tracker (https://tracki.com/) , and a waterproof key/credit card case for it.

This GPS should work even on remote islands.

[LePhasme]

I bought a Tracki GPS Tracker (https://tracki.com/) , and a waterproof key/credit card case for it.

This GPS should work even on remote islands.

The only problem is that you have an ongoing subscription to pay for the network connection, so if you have a cheap board that will quickly cost you more than your board.

[downunder]

Using a leash while kitesurfing is a bad idea in general

Depends. People over 60 do not body drag you know...

And than there are wingers with 2 leashes

[Max Bk]

So I looked into building something similar myself by using a gps tracker, but you can't rely on Bluetooth as you would lose the connection very quickly, so you end up with a device relying on a 3/4/5G connection which means you have to pay a subscription for that or let people put their own SIM card with a prepaid plan, how are you planning to make it work ?

Hi LePhasme,

thanks for your comment. We want to enable the user to select the preferred SIM card. We don't want to force the user to sign a subscription.

Best regards
Max

[Max Bk]

Using Air Tag (Bluetooth) seems like a bad solution.

Range is less than 10 m / 30 feet.

So you rely on your board being found?

If so, why not just write your phone nunber with a pen?

Apart from that, only 14 % use Apple devices here in Europe - so it has to be in US to work for sure, AND the board has to be found (stolen?).
If stolen, the device has to be so small it wont be removed.

RF has more range, but still limited and rely on a paired reciever same frequency.

Even planes black box'es beacon pings at 37.5 kHz only works under water.

GSM (2G/3G/4G/5G) seems like the way if you should be able to track your board?

So if a clever solution can be invented, great.

Peter

Hi Peter,

yes GSM im combination is at the moment the targeted technology. We are still researching on how to solve the problem if the board is up side down in the water. The signal damping under water is that high that you will immediately loose the GSM connection and also the GPS signal.
Best Max