Electronic Gadgets, Mobile Phones, PC Gadgets, Spy Stuff, Vehicle Gadgets
Really Cool Portable GPS Tracker
Update: Somewhat annoyingly Think Geek have stopped selling this GPS tracker, however there is a huge selection of alternatives over on Amazon.
This must be one of (if not the) coolest spy gadgets I’ve ever reported on. It’s sort of a cross between a USB memory stick and a GPS receiver and what it does is store where ever you take it on the flash memory.
The Portable GPS Tracker is pretty small so you could either always carry it on you or use it in 007 spy mode by planting it on a person or vehicle you want to monitor. You may be wondering how you retrieve the stored info and secret routes, well that’s where it gets really cool.
Once the tracker has done it’s travels and it’s back in your possession you simply connect it to you PC and download the data. This data can then be plotted on Google Earth, Mapquest, maps.google.com and Virtual Earth to show exactly where it’s been, how long it took and how it got there.
I just think this is so cool (may of said cool a record number of times in this post) it obviously has the spy functionality of tracking somebody else but to me it is even more useful for tracking your own holidays and backpacking adventures. So not only can you bore visitors with your holiday snaps you can also show them exactly where you went.
Full feature list:
- Records time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude
- Works with Google Earth, Mapquest, maps.google.com, Virtual Earth
- Location points are downloaded into its software and then mapped
- Battery duration is 5 to 7 days of typical operation with 4,000 records
- Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included)
- Dimensions: 4″ x 1 1/4″ x 3/4″
- Comes with TrackStick, lanyard, software CD
You can used to be able to buy this nifty GPS tracker from Think Geek for $249.99, a good alternative now is Amazon.
Join 58 Comments
Bert Says: April 21, 2006 at 6:17 am
There is a small image of a globe imprinted into the track stick to indicate that this side must face upn towards the sky. Be sure that nothing metallic is blocking the track stick’s view of the sky.
So i dont think this will work on a plane or under a car!
Gerard ter Beke Says: April 21, 2006 at 6:32 am
IF you think that is cool, check this:
http://www.texim-europe.com/promotion/42/mambo_flyer.pdf
It basically does the same as the above gadget, only it sends the data to you by mobile!
And you can use geofencing, it has a movement detector, and lots of other cool stuff. You can even use it as a simple mobile!
Mike Says: April 21, 2006 at 6:38 am
I could see private detectives using this to track people’s wives…
Jay Gerrard Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:19 am
I think Mike’s wife has cheated on him.
Matt Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:25 am
This software uses a phone’s internet connection to upload GPS data in real time. And you can run it on a $60 prepaid phone. Don’t bother with this expensive USB thing.
Matt Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:27 am
Then again, if you’re going out where phone signals don’t reach, this USB thing might have the advantage. 
mbvndfhtthxfv Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:31 am
how can you know where the personis if its a usb stick, you would have to find the person and get it from them to plug it into you comp to see where they were. whats the point?
Michael McCarthy Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:38 am
So the GPS is in the USB stick or does that have to be purchased seperately? I am a little confused.
Rick Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:39 am
I was thinking this would be cool to track my ski day adventures (I could get veritcal drop skied, etc.), but it has to be exposed/facing up. The way I ski, that’s not always guaranteed :*)
Michael Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:43 am
This is great, as you mentioned it, the tracker could be great to follow your steps in your own adventures when backpacking in Europe!. Great! I want one!
Al Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:55 am
We’ve been dugg 
Just like to say thanks to everybody that dugg us. I knew nothing about this until a mate texted me with the news. Touch wood the server seems to be coping *crosses fingers even more*
Thanks for the comments and other links, I’ll check them all out.
John T. Says: April 21, 2006 at 7:55 am
I know how to put an individual point on Mapquest and Virtual Earth, but how do you plot an entire trail on them? Same thing with Google Maps? Google Earth is much easier but not sure how to do it on these others.
Gadget Spy Says: April 21, 2006 at 8:07 am
TrackStick GPS Data Logger
This small GPS gadget can easily be placed in a car, boat, land speeder, or just about any moving object and will record its own time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude. The recorded information can then be downloaded to your computer thro…
J boucharrd Says: April 21, 2006 at 10:21 am
alittle too much for me at this time
but im interested i wish it could be watched in real time on google, or a gps receiver
JAWA Says: April 21, 2006 at 10:54 am
Seems like something that needs visibility to the sky may be difficult to make unnoticeable. “What’s this USB device taped to the back of my shirt?”… “oh that’s nothing.”
Maybe add a magnet to it and throw it on the outside roof of a car? It may not be noticed on larger/taller cars or trucks. And note that you would have to still retreive the device after deployment. Doesn’t seem like a good spytool to me, unless the subject is atleast partially retarded.
Still cool to track your own movements though.
ZeroPage Says: April 22, 2006 at 6:29 am
Here is the perfect web-application for it:
http://www.magnalox.net
Myself Says: April 22, 2006 at 9:48 pm
You should check out Photofusion, software that correlates photo timestamps with a GPS tracklog. Showing folks where you went on vacation just got a lot more interesting.
jcobreros Says: April 24, 2006 at 4:18 pm
But doesnt it have to be connected to a PC to work (connect to satellites, access the memory)?
I mean, if its got batteries, then they cant last more than 2 hours or so.
Wayne Says: April 24, 2006 at 9:58 pm
The batteries last for about a week of normal use. And when it isn’t in motion, it doesn’t use the batteries at all. It doesn’t need to be plugged into a computer until you want to download the data: It’s not a USB memory stick – it just looks like one. It’s just a GPS data gatherer which you can plug into your USB port.
What I’d REALLY like to see is to have a two-position switch on the outside, and have each datapoint record with the position of that switch. Then, you keep it in your car and flip it to “Business” when you are driving tax-deductable miles, or “Personal” when you drive for other reasons. Download the data to your computer on a regular basis, and at the end of the year generate a business mileage report for taxes so that you don’t have to keep a manual log. I HATE logging my miles, and I forget half the time. With something like that, it could be almost fully automated. Unfortunately, I can’t figure out who the manufacturer is, so I don’t know where to submit the suggestion.
BMW Says: May 4, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Ehmm..m. Sehr gut Seite! Ich sage innig..!:)
Carry your PC in your Pocket » Coolest Gadgets Says: May 24, 2006 at 3:36 am
[...] I can see this being really useful on holiday when I want to post to my site without the fear of some little oik getting hold of my log in details. This may overtake the GPS Tracker USB stick as my favourite portable USB device. [...]
Enrique Says: June 6, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Falcom….. how much does it cost, is there a fee every month???? how much, which maps can be used??
Thanks
Welcome to CrzyLand Says: June 9, 2006 at 10:47 am
[...] read more | digg story posted by crzyland at 3:35 pm [...]
Sesso Says: July 5, 2006 at 4:23 am
Dir ai miei amici circa questo luogo – perch realmente lo ho gradito! Ben cotto! =)
Don Lapre Says: October 17, 2006 at 2:26 pm
How much would something like this cost? Is it going to be for the typical adventure hiker or will it be used for professionals?
Don Lapre
postmaster@espailleure.com
http://www.tured.info
Gift Ideas for the Spy in your Life » Coolest Gadgets Says: December 7, 2006 at 1:56 pm
[...] We wrote about this exceptionally cool GPS tracker earlier in the year and it became our first ever Digg front page (which meant lots of traffic and new readers (thank you digg)). Once the tracker has done it’s travels and it’s back in your possession you simply connect it to you PC and download the data. This data can then be plotted on Google Earth, Mapquest, maps.google.com and Virtual Earth to show exactly where it’s been, how long it took and how it got there. [...]
Ray Says: December 27, 2006 at 9:02 pm
This is a neet little tool, but you can have another type installed on your vehicle that does a whole lot with your vehicle besides just tracking it. You can have your vehicle starter enable/disable if stolen, doors unlocked if locked out. If you just want to track someone your portable one should do fine only. This website has a great one for everything you need on tracking a vehicle via internet.
notastute » Blog Archive » GPS and mountain bikes Says: December 31, 2006 at 8:38 am
[...] A couple of years passed and then I read about this device earlier this year. Cool! It even does native a GPS export to the Google Maps API (.KML files.) But what about all those other GPS units like the Garmins? Well, I also found this post about conversion programs for Garmin and Suunto devices. [...]
William Says: January 25, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Here’s an item that automatically records tax-deductible mileage:
Jason Says: February 6, 2007 at 6:18 am
I love Google earth and it is about time that they created a product like this. This is a slick little portable device and I can not wait to see what comes about in another year or two. I found another really cool site call GPS Tracking Device .NET that shows some pretty cool new technology as well.
Sm0ke42o Says: February 12, 2007 at 6:12 pm
It costs around 250-300 US dollars. Although it is a really cool concept it is way too much for something so simple and cheap to produce. I’ll wait a few more years before I get one of these.
Wendy Says: February 21, 2007 at 7:57 am
I am looking for some type of a tracking device that can be concealed in a roll of electrical wire. I am a home builder and wire is a favotite item for thieves to steal for the copper in it. I thought maybe I could hide the device in a new roll of wire and track it to the thieves whereabouts. Any suggestions?
Al Says: February 21, 2007 at 8:25 am
Hi Wendy, you could try the one at http://www.pimall.com/nais/gpssnitchit.html I’ve not seen it myself but sounds like your sort of solution.
David Cheng Says: March 25, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Tk102 GPS personal tracker is a portable GPS tracking device which can be used as an emergency cellular phone with speed dialing for two-way voice communication. It can silently call any emergency number in the world for immediate assistance. The emergency silent call feature also provides a digitized voice message which can report the time, date, speed, heading, and location of a person in distress.
It can operate in both SMS and GPRS modes. This gives it the ability to transmit its position as a text message or it can be monitored in real-time via the internet. It also trigger an alert when the device enters or exits a pre-defined area. This is ideal for school security, field trips, correctional departments, car dealerships, VIPs, and security guards. it has a built-in high-sensitivity GPS receiver that can provide near-indoor and under bridge location capability where normal GPS is unable to do so.
Its main goal is to help missing children, reduce kidnapping, and provide help for critical situations where immediate assistance is a must. This portable device measures 100 x 45 x 25 mm and has a built-in Lithium Ion rechargeable battery.
Cara Fletcher Says: March 31, 2007 at 1:20 am
I would feel being in James’s Bond film with this GPS tracking device.I find it very cool.
Self Made Minds » Blog Archive » April 2006 – first Digg front page Says: May 7, 2007 at 5:13 am
[...] doing my daily gadget hunt I came across this really cool GPS tracker on Think Geek. It’s the sort of gadget that’s easy to write about and the fact it was [...]
Self Made Minds » Blog Archive » May 2006 – Crazy gadgets and automated content makes extra $$$ Says: May 25, 2007 at 2:41 am
[...] for CG, traffic was growing and income along with it. We were still getting a few sales from the GPS tracker post from last month and I had another $5,000 hour (though I didn’t know it at the [...]
GPS Counter Track prevents you from being snooped upon » Coolest Gadgets Says: August 27, 2007 at 4:00 am
[...] chances are our hearts would have said otherwise. If you think that you are currently being watched or tracked via a GPS system, there are some steps that you could take. One of them would be picking up the GPS Counter Track [...]
Belinda Says: March 30, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Our new model TK201 is very smart and can waterproof.it is ony 39*46*13.it is useful for pet.proteck child ,the older,the disabled ,pet etc.provide peace-of-mind for businessmen.manage personnel.
GPS Expert Says: July 17, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Track Stick only has a three month warranty and I have experienced a lot of problems with them. The “Tracking Key” is a much better device and it’s more advanced. The Tracking Key has a 1 year warranty. You can buy them from several different companies, but make sure you buy from someone who has been around for a long time and will be there to support you just in case.
Make Money By Recommending A Great Product To Your Readers | aw-aw.com Says: January 22, 2009 at 9:05 am
[...] RSS subscribers. When asked about his most successful blog post, Al mentioned his post about a Really Cool Portable GPS Tracker. Posted 2 years ago, this post only took 15 minutes to write and has since been viewed over 100,000 [...]
McCelly Says: January 29, 2009 at 10:18 am
Have you seen the GPS jammers like the one for sale on cellphone-jammers.com
Get your spidey tracer! – VerySpatial Says: February 12, 2009 at 9:39 pm
[...] a pretty cool device for all you spy fans out there (and a for those that aren’t). Use the portable GPS USB Tracker to track your pay throughout the day! Or, if you’re of the nefarious bent, plant it on [...]
fauzan Says: June 7, 2009 at 9:20 am
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Cindy Says: June 15, 2009 at 12:29 am
hello every one
glad to know
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i am glad to introduce it to you.
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,it’s a GPRS/GSM GPS vehicle tracker with quan band frequencies.
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Trackstick Mini Says: August 3, 2009 at 4:13 am
The unit from the review is a rather old version: The Trackstick 1. Trackstick II and Super Trackstick have been available for a while as well. Bigger memory, motion activation and some other smart features. Within one week the latest baby of Trackstick will hit the market, the Trackstick Mini. The GPS will be 7x as sensitive as the older models which means it will get a GPS fix almost anywhere. I’m looking forward to test the new unit and I’ll be happy to share my experiences.
arun Says: November 16, 2009 at 2:30 am
hi sir,
we have started a hourse race we want to know the way of our hourses travel with using gps system. how can we connect it and use it. give as a detailed information about it .
thankyou
Tracking Key Says: November 18, 2009 at 10:58 am
We have sold the Tracking Key since the day it was first released from manufacturing. We are frequently asked to evaluate other passive tracking devices, but none of them have come even close to the same quality as the Tracking Key. It really is the best passive gps tracking device ever invented.
Tracking Key Says: November 18, 2009 at 11:13 am
Just a word to the wise. Any company selling the Tracking Key on Amazon for less than $199 is in violation of the manfactures MAP pricing policy and is not an authorized dealer of this product. This would be an indication they may or may not even be a legitimate company selling the product. A lot of these sellers are here today and gone tomorrow when you need support.
fuuny products Says: December 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm
so interesting here, glad to join you!
Mio Navman Spirit S500T Says: December 10, 2009 at 12:39 am
The portable GPS tracker detailed in this post is awesome.All its features illustrated here are highly impressive.I’m exited to buy it.It will be of great use for my family because all of us have great interest and passion for travelling and visiting new places.
cell phone jammers Says: December 19, 2009 at 11:52 am
Thanks for the post. If you don’t mind my asking, what WP theme are you using? Is it available Free or is it a custom design? Thanks.
Review gadgets Says: December 24, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Thats a very simple portable GPS tracker
Cell phone tracker Says: January 17, 2010 at 3:39 am
Seems ok, thanks buddy.
The portable GPS tracker detailed in this post is awesome.
Really Cool Portable GPS Tracker » Coolest Gadgets « Site Super Tracker Says: January 29, 2010 at 3:28 pm
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Tracking System Says: February 2, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Although I have not used this particular device I did see a news story on how a passive tracker was used to catch a murder in upstate New York
Digg User Says: April 21, 2006 at 5:51 am
It’ll have to be turned off on a plane i asume?