One such device that found its way into my hot little hands recently was the GPS Log Book.
Unlike the usual products that are GPS enabled, this interesting gadget was a little different from others I have encountered in that it keeps a comprehensive log of where you have driven.
Being a bit smaller than a stick of Brut 44 deodorant, the GPS Log Book is totally perfect for the blokes among us and has what must be the most simple operating system out there, that being a plug-and-go operation. There are smartphone apps which do something similar but they suck battery juice, and I have not yet seen anything as simple to use as this button-less device.
I tried the GPS Log Book over a period of about two weeks. Like most males, the first thing I did after ripping the packaging apart was to have a (very) quick scan over the instructions, before plugging the unit into my car. With no buttons to play with, it was all too easy, but the downfall I found was that like almost all electronic aftermarket devices these days, it plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, necessitating the removal of my in-car navigator. On the upside, at least it had a built-in USB outlet, so I was still able to charge my cell phone, while leaving the GPS Log Book plugged in.
It was easy to see that the unit was working correctly, as the status light quickly turned from red to green, indicating that it was recording my every move. According to the manufacturers, the units contain GPS-assist thanks to a U-Blox chip. This enables super-fast connection to satellites, all in a matter of seconds – I wish one of those chips was part of my in-car navigator hardware.
After driving around for a week, I thought it was time to see what information the GPS Log Book had gathered. Just like when I 'installed' the unit, the 'un-installation' proved just as easy – remove from the cigarette lighter socket and it's all done. After using various devices that require a piece of cardboard packing to stop them popping out of the cigarette lighter socket, one thing I noticed with the GPS Log Book is that the unit doesn't jiggle loose and I was subsequently told that it was a 'no-jiggle loose' design – clever.
Downloading the info from the device to my PC (it's also Mac compatible – Ed), was initially a cause for concern, as I didn't pay attention to the set-up instructions. However, once this was sorted, it was all good.
As with most things these days, setting up the unit prior to the first download requires about five minutes of filling in information and uploading to a secure online server, or the Cloud, as some marketing bright spark has named it. To be honest, I was a little apprehensive about registering the make and model of my car, as well as a few other details, but this soon dispelled when I realised that, despite the belief of my parents and ego, I'm really not that important in the world and registering to the GPS Log Book site is not much different to signing up for other internet-based products.
Once up and running, the downloading of information just requires the unit to be plugged in and everything happens automatically in a matter of seconds.
So, the big question? What does the GPS Log Book actually do? Well, a lot more than appears at first glance. Essentially the unit keeps a record of everywhere you drive. When downloaded, this information is available on screen in a map format. This is then further analysed to tell you where you have been, how far you travelled and how fast you were driving.
So, for argument sake, one day I travelled from work to home during rush-hour traffic (a distance of 16.58 km). It took 34 minutes and I did an average speed of 29kph. Facts like these interest me, as they probably do most blokes, and I took great satisfaction in comparing different routes to find the most efficient ways to travel.
A lot of the people I know with GPS tracking systems actually use them as I did, as a reviewing tool, and this is where the GPS Log Book excels. Some time-critical companies (couriers come to mind) benefit from live vehicle tracking, but with data charges this can sometimes be a cost that smaller companies decide they can to do without. Running a GPS Log Book is very affordable, with an annual subscription of $29 being all that is required. To entice buyers, the first year is included in the purchase price.
Like a lot of businesses these days, my company doesn't own any vehicles and instead pays a mileage rate for business use. Generally this involves keeping a log book and there are times when I have forgotten to enter mileage details, meaning that I have been unable to claim a travel allowance. Thanks to GPS Log Book, this is now a thing of the past, as every trip is recorded.
One special feature that will be beneficial to truckies is the ability to split trips and allow certain portions of a trip to be 'tagged'. This means that a user can separate out areas which are 'off-road' to help claim the refund of Road User Charges. Alternatively, the split trip function also means that certain portions of business trips can be marked as 'personal use', something that will please company accountants.
Another feature is that 'zones' can be set up to record when vehicles pass into (or beyond) a certain area.
However, the device doesn't remove the need for log books in which commercial drivers must keep an active record in case they are stopped, but it is nevertheless a good tool for companies to check the accuracy of the drivers' log books. In the case of a friend of mine who left his log book at home and who operates a similar GPS system, he was able to send the GPS logged printout to police after he was stopped at a checkpoint. After checking the GPS log was correct, he was let off with a warning. If he had a GPS Log Book installed, it would have provided the same information, making the $129 for a unit suddenly sound very affordable.
In conclusion, would I recommend the GPS Log Book as a worthwhile piece of kit? Absolutely. It won't stop your vehicle from being stolen or an errant teen (or worker) from driving it, but it will tell you where they've been and how fast they were going. Now that is money well spent. n
For more information contact Clive Kemp, ph 0800 GPS LOG or visit gpslogbook.co.nz.