GPS Tracking over the Internet

Yes it is possible with software called NetGPS. It's a "plugin" that works with Oziexplorer. It takes NMEA data from your GPS and sends it off (via whatever internet connection you have while mobile) to a small PERL script running on a web server where it stores your position against a username and password you set on your NetGPS. It also passes the GPS NMEA data to Oziexplorer running on your laptop. Setting up the NetGPS server can be the most difficult part, you really need some experience with PERL (or find someone that has!). I'm still trying to get it running on my web server without success. Best thing would be to find a NetGPS web server that someone else has set up and use that.
At home, NetGPS is set up to access the same NetGPS server (with the same username and password) and it responds with the last position received from the remote and plots it on Oziexplorer.
According to others, it works quite well. Check out details here :-
NetGPS
Hope this helps, or at least confuses you (-:
Regards,
Michael.

Hi Aaron

I just did a search in google and found heaps of sites that does vehicle tracking so that might be a option to look into?

Check this out, works with HF radio.
www.bcon.com.au
A new system with a lot of promise. Should be about ready to go.

Regards
Bob

Funny you asked this question when I got home I saw add on the TV over here in the US. They use your mobile phone to locate you...have a look maybe this will become available in Aus sometime soon

www2.sprint.com/mr/news_dtl.do?id=11280

Aaron,

Funny you should ask this question! Why because I am build an SMS to map family & friends system on ExplorOz at the moment. I have the database design completed and I am just evaluating the costs of setting up an in-bound SMS gateway - it appears these cost a few hundred to setup upto $500 and then around $50/month ++ to operate.

The new service will use the iMapPot engine and have your position and last message shown + show the past points and history for each trip that you can configure. So when you send in the SMS it will contain the following info

"Latitude" "Longitude" "Text message upto 100 chars"

e.g: -31.2123 115.4324 We are having a great time - no problems

When you SMS this to the number we will straight away plot it on a map and show the message. Additionally I will be writing an OziExplorer interface so that if you happen to have mobile broadband and be in a service area a live map position feed can be loaded to the Internet map without SMS. Also there will be a page you can enter a current position if you are say at an Internet cafe or similar.

Now we are working on the cost structures of this service and I think it will work out roughly like this:

Membership of ExplorOz required $30/yr (plus $20 joining)
Subscription to the SMS to Map System approx $120/yr or $20/mth
Dependant on the costs of the SMS gateway and the number of interested people these charges may have to change. We may also have a cost per SMS fee but this will be dependant on the gateway fees.

I have one person already who has made a commitment to use the system. Any other interested persons please let me know. As I said we are working on this right now so if interest is high I will push forward a little faster.

You can, but you need an Amateur Radio license.
Look up APRS in Googel and you will see lots of info.
Check this link, and you will see where I am.
Enter the call VK2HL-15 or VK2HL-9
This site can also give you a track over that last few days. It will do maps down to street level, even google earth. We use it exensively when we travel the outback and our relatives both here and overseas have a lot of fun tracking us.

Cheers

www.jfindu.net/bystation.htm

There is a lot happening in this area of technology at the moment and new systems are coming on line all the time. It will prob be very common in a years time. In many countries Police vehicles, diplomatic vehicles, politicians, armoured cash vehicles, petrol and other dangerous goods vehicles etc. etc. are fitted with 'on-line' tracking devices using the cell phone network to transmit data including speed, lights (blue / red), data back 'home'. Rental car companies also have a great interest in knowing where their vehicle is and how fast it is going !

Do a Google search on data loggers, I saw a 'covert' gps position logging and reporting device for public sale on there recently.