Questions & Answers for PocketFinder GPS Vehicle Locator (Powered by LBT)

PocketFinder will not work in Saudi Arabia.

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• Dec 28, 2012
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Yes, the device is hard wired. One wire for power and the other ground. Depending on what you are connecting to, the device is connected by clamping the wire to another wire or attaching directly to the battery with the lug nut. A nice option is that you can install the device anywhere in the car that you can access an "always on" or constant powered wire. Most customers connect the device right to the battery or fuse box, others connect it to an always powered wire in the dashboard or back by a taillight in the trunk.

Two considerations that lead to a successful installation are:
1. Red wire is connected to a power source that is always powered. You don't need to worry about the device draining your battery because it has a motion sensor in it and only draws 3 to 4 milliamps of power when not moving.
2. Green and Amber lights turn solid. When you first connect the device to power you will see two lights. Both should be flashing. Green represents GPS connection and Amber represents wireless connection with the network. Point the GPS antenna side of the device up towards the sky so that it can connect with the GPS satellite network.

Common installation locations are:
> In the trunk pointed out the taillight
> In the engine compartment pointed out the headlight
> In the dashboard as close to the windshield as possible

If the vehicle looses power, the device has an internal battery that will allow it to continue to locate for approximately 4 hours and you can have it notify you when the internal battery begins to run low.

• Answered by David M from Mission Viejo
• Aug 28, 2012
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PocketFinder devices operate on the GSM network, which covers most of the wireless world. I believe Columbia does operate on the GSM network but you should double check just to be sure there is cell coverage in the area that you intend to use the device.

Also, there is an international roaming fee of $29.95 per month if you're outside of the US or Canada.

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• Nov 29, 2011
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Yes, Any computer that connects to the internet you can use to track the vehicle's location and speed or manage zones and alerts.

• Answered by David M from Mission Viejo
• Aug 28, 2012
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The device is set to locate once every 5 minutes. however, you can call customer service (at any time) and ask them to change the rate to every minute. I did that for my vehicle. I personally really like the 1 minute setting.

Also, the PocketFinder has a feature called, "Instant Zone", which allows you to create a geo-fence from your iPhone or iPad with the touch of a button. That way, if your car is stolen, you'll get an email/text within a minute of its leaving the zone.

Hope that helps!

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• Aug 28, 2012
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PocketFinder devices operate on the GSM network, which covers most of the wireless world. India, however, is one of the few countries that does not have 100% GSM coverage. So the answer to your question is that the device may work in India depending on where you are and whether or not that particular area has GSM coverage. Also, there is an international roaming fee of $29.95 per month if you're outside of the US or Canada.

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• Nov 5, 2011
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The device needs to be connected to your vehicle's battery and/or your vehicle's fuse box. In theory, once the device is properly connected to a power source, you can place the unit anywhere that doesn't pose a fire or mechanical hazard.

However, it's important to keep in mind that the PocketFinder devices require GPS to work, which means they must be able to communicate with the GPS satellites. Therefore, in order to receive the most accurate locates, the devices should be installed according to the installation guide which can be found on the pocketfinder.com website. Just click on “Vehicles” and then “Installation Guide” at the bottom middle of the page for more information. You can also contact customer service if you have any other questions.

Regardless of where you mount the PocketFinder Vehicle, you should always check the strength of the GPS and cellular connections prior to completing the install. You can do this by viewing the two LED lights on the device. The green light represents the GPS signal and the amber light represents wireless signal. When both lights stop flashing and are solid, you have achieved a successful connection to the networks.

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• Jan 6, 2012
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Good question. When the PocketFinder Vehicle isn't locating, the battery draw is 3-4 milliamps per hour. This small amount of drain means that the device should not have a noticeable impact on the battery life of your vehicle or watercraft.

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• May 8, 2012
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The answer is, it depends. In order for GPS to work, PocketFinder needs to be able to see the sky. So the more windows a structure has, the more likely the device will locate indoors. For instance, my device works well in my house, but I have a lot of windows. If, however, you're in a movie theater or indoor mall, it you might have more trouble receiving a locate.

Also keep in mind that PocketFinder needs cell signal as well, so if you can't send a text message with your phone, then the device probably won't be able to transmit the GPS location.

• Answered by Gregory H from Irvine
• Mar 27, 2012
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