Chuck's research on data recorders
Commercial sources of components
There are no packaged, complete devices available commercially which satisfy the needs of the Turtle Sense devices. The biggest limitation for our applications of these General Radio Packet Service (GPRS) devices is size with a major constraint being compatability with US Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) systems (ATT and Verizon). There are commercial low power GPRS data loggers available, usually packaged for environmental monitoring, but with sizes too large for the Turtle Sense requirements. A filtered web search produced the list below. Once we had a contact in either sales, marketing, or service, we asked the following general inquiries:
I’d like some specific information on your devices 1. Are they compatible with US GSM systems (i.e. ATT, Verizon)? If so, do you have customers in the US we could contact?
2. Do you have a technical support group we could contact (email and/or phone)?
3. Do you have power pack options? If so, at what cost?
4. Is your software for sale without the customer purchasing the device? If so, what is the cost?
5. What is the pricing of your system -for 1 device -for 30 devices
6. What is your delivery time?
EnviroWatch Remote Telemetry, Kelowna, BC
Canada, V1Y 7T2
(http://www.romcomm.com/EnviroWatch.html
This company has an extended line of environmental monitoring equipment, typically dealing with energy companies. Very well tested but expensive for our purposes—components $1600 for example
3GTrack, Hong Kong
This is one of several companies in Hong Kong returned by a search on Alibaba. These seemed to be interrelated (Sirius, Legato, and others) Some used the 3gtrack website for their technical information. 3Gtrack was the only one that had a web site for technical information and they were prompt in their responses, so we have dealt more with them.
From: 3G - Daniel <daniel@3gtrack.com>
To: 'Charles Wade' <cwade13@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 10:47 PM
Subject: RE: Low power GPRS data logger
Dear Sir,
Thanks. We have been selling our GPRS products to US for more than 5 years. It is integrated with GSM Quad Band module working worldwide including US and Canada.
GS828-L2 “Low Power GPRS Data Logger” 1 unit @USD330 30 units @USD300
Lead Time: within 14 days upon receipt of payment Payment: T/T in advance Warranty: 3 years
Setup Software is bundled free. Ultimate Server Client Software: USD2200
Best Regards Daniel R. daniel@3gtrack.com