We are pretty sure that in the sixties someone somewhere in the world said “ah, it would take a gadget the size of the palm of a hand that holds all the songs I like inside”, then forty years later they invented the iPod. . The category “it would take a gizmo that” serves a little to this, to fantasize things to invent that someone else will probably invent: among these, one of the most fantasized is probably “a gizmo that reminds me where I parked the car”. Guess what? They invented it.
This contraption we are talking about was bought by a member of the editorial staff of the Post to monitor the position of his scooter as a cheaper alternative to a satellite alarm: he chose the best-selling model on Amazon, which is produced by the Chinese company Lekemi and at the moment you can buy it for around 57 euros. It has been reviewed 344 times, obtaining 4.2 out of 5 stars in an average rating.
How does the Lekemi tracker work?
The Lekemi tracker is the size of the palm of a hand and about two centimeters high. On the back it has a magnet that allows it to be attached to a metal surface, for example under the passenger seat of a car or in a trunk. It is not a burglar alarm, in the sense that it does not ring if a person breaks into the car in which it is located to steal it, but it tracks the location and sends warnings to its owner in some circumstances, depending on how it is configured: for example , if connected to an application – available for both iOS and Android systems – it reports its position at any time. You can also view the movements of the previous three months. If set to do so, it can send notifications if the object it is on is moved out of a certain area or if it is moved in general, detecting its vibrations.
You need a SIM
To work the tracker needs a SIM with some special features, which is not included in the sale of the device. The SIM must have an internet connection, be predisposed to GSM, GPS and GPRS networks, enabled to receive and send text messages and calls, it must not have pins, answering machine and call transfer. According to the reviews, the cheapest SIM to associate with the Lekemi is that of the TIM Home Connect 24 offer: for two years you spend 36 euros, then 3 euros per month, and you have 100 MB and 100 sms per month, both more or less necessary for the operation of the tracker depending on how you want to use it. The tracker also has a small integrated microphone for environmental listening: by calling the number of the SIM inserted inside it, the microphone is activated and something can be heard, even if the quality does not seem exceptional.
What do the reviews say?
Reading the reviews at Lekemi, both negative and positive, you understand that the configuration procedures are sufficiently complex and articulated to be a big obstacle for many people: it is advisable to read all the instructions carefully and contact customer service (available in Italian) in case of need.
In addition to the configuration, one of the issues that is talked about the most in the reviews is that of battery life: according to the company that produces it, the tracker after a full charge should work for 90 days in “rest” mode, the one in the alarm functions are not used, but only the localization function; 20 days in “standard” mode. It can last even shorter if used a lot, the reviews suggest. In general, the battery life depends a lot on the way in which the device is configured: to think about the matter according to your needs, you should always contact customer service. Recharging is done thanks to a USB cable sold with the tracker, to be connected to a battery charger or a computer.
If you are looking for an alarm, read here
If you are interested in a GPS tracker as an alternative to an anti-theft, know that thieves more experienced in car theft can use jammers telephone, i.e. frequency jammers that prevent cell phones from receiving or transmitting radio waves and in some cases make devices that use the GPS system useless. There are anti-jammer devices, but this one does not have this feature. It is also possible that an experienced thief will notice the presence of a tracker and get rid of it before taking your car elsewhere – let's say there are several degrees to which a car theft can be good or bad.
Who can use it, then?
If you are interested in the Lekemi GPS tracker because you are one of those people who tend to forget where they parked and have to leave often your car around, could be for you. If, on the other hand, you would like to use it to monitor a pet, you should look for a suitable tracker, lighter and designed to be attached to a collar; for example Kippy, we talked about here.
One last tip: if you buy this product – but it is a general rule – check as soon as possible that it works well, so that you can return it in case it has failed.
Disclaimer: on some of the sites linked in articles with the tag Consumismi the Post has an affiliation and obtains a small share of the revenues, without price changes. But you can also google for the same things.
