New idea, what do you guys think

[LightningGSX]

I'm sure someone already makes something similar, but mine is easier and cheaper.

Basically its an in car GPS with a GSM modem.You can send a text/SMS message from a cell phone and your car will send back its location.You can also lock/unlock the doors, start/stop, roll up windows/close sunroof, etc from your cell phone.I'm also working in a way to stop the vehicle if its stolen.You can send a "kill" command to the vehicle, it will wait until the speed drops below say 5-10 MPH, and then kill the fuel pump or ignition and send its location to your cell phone.I could use a high gain GSM antenna to make sure it always has service, and it could log location and send the last known if the GPS loses signal.It can be made to passive arm, which would pretty much make a car unstealable, well not totaly, but a thief wouldn't get very far and you would get your car back quickely(and more than likely in good condition).

Its looking like I could keep the price below $350, what do you guys think?

BTW I'm also thinking of making it into a dog collar as well, if I can find parts small enough.

[stikx]

under 350 would be kool with a warranty of some kind..but thats a great idea for a affordable GPS. keep up the work

[xluciusx]

I would love something like that. I live in fear everyday of my car being stolen since my last one was horribly raped twice.

[Khadgar]

sweet 8)

[JET]

There is at least one alarm out there with similar features. I don't remember the name right now, but I saw it when I was looking for my compustar. There is lo-jack (sp?) that does the GPS end, but I don't think it does the windows and stuff.

[LightningGSX]

There is at least one alarm out there with similar features. I don't remember the name right now, but I saw it when I was looking for my compustar. There is lo-jack (sp?) that does the GPS end, but I don't think it does the windows and stuff.
Lojack isn't GPS, its just a radio beacon, and you need special receivers to use it.The receivers are available only to law enforcement, and not too many departments have them, only 22 states nationwide.If you can, try and remember what the other one is, I want to check it out.

[JET]

It looks like someone beat you to it.

http://www.vehicle-tracking-gps.com/dta_nav.htm

That isn't the one that I saw before, but I just did a quick search and found that. Now, marketing is a big key to a products success. I have some excellent connections if you are really getting serious about this. It is possible that they would even buy your idea if they think it is pheasible enough. It would depend on what the market is like though, and it already looks like there are a few similar products out there.

[LightningGSX]

I was pretty sure someone already did it, looking around I see lots of companies already did it.I'm going for low cost, simplistic add on for an existing alarm system though.

[blageo23]

So let me get this straight i can send a text to my car to tell it to roll the windows down. Thats cool. But would I need an existing alarm? I am very interested. Could it also be made to like put the top down or something? That would be sweet.
Mike

[scheides]

Sounds awesome, but is there any sort of authentication for the various commands? It would be pretty crappy if someone could just send an sms to my my car and make it immobilize.