Wheelhouse Security (GPS tracking system)

For those that want to feel a little better about leaving your wheelhouse unattended, there’s a product called the “Spot Trace”. It’s a GPS tracking system. Cost for the hard ware is about $100 upfront. Cost per year for the service plan is about $100 a year.

If someone steals your wheelhouse, you will be alerted that’s its being moved. Then you and the police can track its route until the police catch up with it.

It’s similar to the Lojack systems that have been used by a lot construction companies, for a less money.

This will not prevent theft of the stuff inside a house that isn’t being moved. For that, you can go to your local big box hardware store, pick up a motion sensor and LOUD siren with strobes.

I know people shouldn’t have to do these things. I’m just getting it out there that prevention is becoming more affordable.

Do you have one yet and have you tested it? I got one for myself for Christmas and tried putting it in my shack but I wouldn’t work. It seems like the metal from my shack acted like a faraday cage and wouldn’t let the GPS communicate. Once it was outside it was fine.

McCord Stowater wrote:

Do you have one yet and have you tested it? I got one for myself for Christmas and tried putting it in my shack but I wouldn’t work. It seems like the metal from my shack acted like a faraday cage and wouldn’t let the GPS communicate. Once it was outside it was fine.

Correct, metal does not allow gps signals through it very well. Place it I a window, behind a plastic vent or door, even adhere it to the roof or a wall and place a “dummy” vent over it to disguise it.

Only holes in my shack are for windows, door, fish, and the furnace. I mounted it initially in one of my cabinets on the ceiling which is a rubber roof (no metal) and it still wouldn’t connect to the satellites. No point in mounting it by a window because having it in the open would defeat the whole purpose. Just a heads up to those who are interested in the GPS option – it’s not a simple as just throwing it in your shack and thinking you will be protected.

“Do you have one yet and have you tested it? I got one for myself for Christmas and tried putting it in my shack but I wouldn’t work.”

Good to know, I haven’t installed it yet, but was hoping to hide it inside. Will probably install it hidden on the exterior. There’s a number of places it can be hidden on the exterior of my house that I won’t publish for obvious reasons.

Pretty sad these days that a guy has to even think about doing this…

Hey guys,

As a Deputy Sheriff it is important to let you folks know some of the things that may help:

1. Criminals IMO read these threads quite a bit. When Discussing placement of these tracking devices (which work!) make sure to private message the person asking the question. I know we all think criminals are “dumb” but believe it or not I have dealt with people who do plenty of research on the type of “clientele” they are going to steal from.

2. Mark all of your gear with some sort of special I.D. marking. These guys tend to go straight to pawn shops in the metro (or wherever.) Use a metal inscriber to put initials or something along those lines so you have some firepower when trying to retrieve your belongings in the event your gear is stolen.

3. TAKE GOOD PHOTOS! If you have detailed photos of your equipment it will help the police.

4. Write down product info. Serial numbers are key to an investigation. No serial number, Nothing to track.

5. Don’t shy away from the little tings. Put a tongue lock on the trailer. Put a nice heavy-duty chain and lock around the wheel and some sort of frame. If it even looks hard to steal most criminals will move on to something that is easier to take.

6. Blinking light in window. This one is somewhat of a stretch. Find a blinking red or blue LED light and place it in the window. In the off season order up a sticker that says “this trailer is monitored by a tracking device.” Place this near places a criminals would look in, try to open, windows, doors, metal tongue etc. This is a little deterrent that is simply the reason we all put fake “ADT” signs in our front yards.

It is sad we live in a world that we have to do all this. It is up to you to decide if your fish house will be the one in the Outdoor News as “MISSING PLEASE HELP.”

Ok someone invent a combo exterior marker light that has a gps transmitter in it. The signal should go through the plastic lens?