What is it?
A device that can be tracked via GPS (Global Positioning System) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) to accurately locate something valuable when lost.
The idea of GPS tracking is not new: the military have been using it for decades and the latest smartphones have it built-in. The difference with the T8 is the added features that give it more flexibility for a fraction of the price.
Good Points?
Although the device is compact in size, similar in thickness to a £2 coin, it packs in a lot of technology.
The T8 GPS tracker is designed for multiple purposes such as the standard operations of tagging valuables such as luggage, cars and keys, but fitted with a SIM card and given to a loved one it can allow two-way communication in an emergency.
The accompanying software gives more control and can be set up for alert areas, such as a garden. If a pet or child leaves the designated space you can be informed via SMS. This voice communication can reassure a child or elderly relative until you arrive.
You can also view the last three months of historical locations and routes taken which can be useful when monitoring trends.
Bad points?
The unit regularly reverts to the less reliable and less accurate location-based service communication type. This means the positioning can be out as much as 500 metres.
Best for ...
Keeping tabs on the location of valuables, pets or family members in danger of wandering off and getting lost.
Avoid if ...
You require something more discreet or less intrusive.
Score: 8/10.
T8 GPS Tracker, £28 (tomtop.com)
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here