How to use GPS

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We have Magellan Triton 500 North America.
Does anyone know how to use it as a tracking device? If my son were to carry it around with him, how could we use it to track his where-abouts?

Short answer: No.


Longer answer: You would have to connect it to a transmitting device, such as a cellular telephone; but since most modern cell phones can be tracked in some way all by themselves, the redundant function would be a waste of time, money, and effort. Besides, there would be nothing to stop him from either (1) dropping it off at a friend's house and going on about his business, OR (2) shutting the device off and removing the battery - assuming, of course, that he knew that he was carrying it.

Here is a link to the Magellan Triton 500 - North America website.

Good luck.

The device you are describing is a navigation tool, not a tracker; it does not transmit.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=p46.GPSTracking.Android&feature=search_result

There are many android apps that will use SMS to send the location of the phone to a predefined number. This is one of them.

You need 1 android phone for him which will need a GPS reciever (almost all have it), a really good battery, and an unlimited texting plan. Depending on the app, you'll also need a phone for yourself (with a really good data plan) or a computer. The phone is probably a better idea if the service or app you are using will work on a phone.

^ This.

Again, there is nothing to stop the user from dropping the phone off at a safe location, going somewhere else to have fun, and then coming back for the phone.

"Gee, mom! I was at the library! Don't you trust me?"

Or shutting the phone off entirely.

"... must be a bad battery ..."

Well I'm looking for an alternative to buying my son a cell phone .. and he has that GPS already. I was hoping we could use it as a tracking device. The police officer asked me if he had a GPS .. so I wondered.

Thanks for your responses. In a nut-shell, the answer is NO>it won't be helpful to us at all (disregarding the behaviours part)

If a GPS is left on and is carried, it can maintain a log of where it's been, but you can only access it by accessing the GPS, and even then the possessor of the GPS can delete the log file.

That GPS does not do what you are asking for.

http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=103

This one does; it has a satellite transmitter. The user can turn tracking on and off with a single button press and it's probably more expensive than a cell phone once you have the device, basic subscription, and tracking subscription.

Maybe you should talk to your local cellphone providers about whether they have a plan that allows calling and texting specific numbers but no other calls data or text. Such a plan is probably cheap if it's available and bundled to your account.