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Comment by Eric_WVGG | Hacker News Reader

I guess bicycles thieves are either savvier or have an easier job.

Their modus operandi is to throw a bicycle into a truck or van, move them in lots of fifty across state lines, and tear them down to components.

Any trackers will be quickly rendered useless once they're in the van, and immediately found and discarded.

I'm definitely planning on getting Airtags for my bikes, but mostly for amusement and occasionally forgetting where I parked, I don't have much faith in them as an anti-theft device.

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> Any trackers will be quickly rendered useless once they're in the van

You can build a custom LoRa based tracker with 100+km range (line of sight), a van won't disable that. You'll have to use signal triangulation, though, because GPS reception in a van won't be great.

Any recommended further reading on the LoRa solution?

The easiest way to implement that would be using a Crossfire Diversity Nano receiver [1] with a backup battery. It supports GPS out of the box, directly connectable to the receiver.

For a custom solution, ExpressLRS [2] is an open source system that can be flashed to FrSky R9mm receivers that you can hack on to add features you want. Or buy Semtech [3] and ESP32 modules and build your own hardware to maximize transmit power (standard hobby receivers only have 25-40mW telemetry)

PS. TTGO LORA32 modules [4] already have ESP32 and Semtech module assembled, only need flashing (again, lower power than a dedicated 30dbm module)

[1] https://www.team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:xf_nano_div_rx

[2] https://github.com/ExpressLRS/ExpressLRS

[3] https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002116232826.html

[4] https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000010599226.html

Thankyou! I've been having fun with ToWL[1] but this might be the next step.

[1] http://www.phreakmonkey.com/2016/08/towl-telemetry-over-oppo...

You need elevation to get line of sight at 100km+. On flat ground, the curvature of the earth will block your signal.

>I guess bicycles thieves are either savvier or have an easier job.

They do have an easier job, I think, given that bicycles don't usually weigh between 400lb (sports motorcycles) and 900lb (cruisers).

Hint: tight up under the Brooks saddle with hot glue.

yeah, I'm gonna do that short term, and looking into a 3D-printed mount that clamps onto the rails for the long term

still kind of silly since a saddle is an easily stolen part

Heck, my B17 is worth more than one of my bikes.

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