What is the SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E?
The T1000-E is made by Seeed Studio and available here. I was given the device during a Seeed Studio livestream and this is my honest review. The tracker is the size of a credit card that is IP65-rated waterproof and enables off-grid communications without a cellphone. This is a device with a beautiful case that has the durability of ABS with an advanced chipset and battery inside. The web flasher utility enables you to flash firmware without using an IDE. You will need to update the firmware using the Web Flasher here before using the T1000-E.
Meshtastic Does What? (No Subscription Required)Visit the Meshtastic Seeed Page to learn about the project, which is "An open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on affordable, low-power devices". Explaining LoRaWAN is beyond the scope of this review, in short the framework uses radio communication that is boosted by 'nodes' which connect to form a 'mesh' that permits packets to be routed between devices..
Communicating without loss of service is a luxury sometimes taken for granted especially in countries like the United States. The recent fires across Los Angeles county destroyed cellular communications infrastructure and left many unable to communicate when it mattered most. Meshtastic is an open-source project that uses low-power-radio waves to communicate wirelessly (LoRaWAN) across a 'mesh' of 'nodes'. In practice this means that you no longer need a device enabled with a SIM card to communicate in real-time if you are unable to connect to Wi-Fi.
Field Test - GPS Tracking and No SIMI tracked a trip from Las Vegas to Orange County using an Android phone without a SIM card. Below are some of the pictures. The app allows you to adjust frequency of signal and coordinate history can be downloaded as a CSV file for further analysis. Temperature is currently enabled as a recordable metric and sometimes 'lux' level is available.
I am currently learning more about the chips Seeed included in the T1000-E design and am very impressed. The Mediatek AG3335 GPS chip is $10 by itself and enables highly precise location tracking from anywhere. Consider that one AirTag costs $29 and does not have the messaging features of the T-1000E. Messaging features and GPS tracking are available when paired with an Android or iOS phone, no SIM card or subscription required.
The form factor is a beautiful piece of design overall with the translucent resin case allowing a view of the interior components. I believe it is a perfect device to have in case of a disaster or emergency when cell service might be unavailable and you need to message family or a friend. Unlike some popular tracking services there is no monthly fee to use the Meshtastic network.
Seeed Studio's T1000-E uses the Meshtastic app to enable SMS-like messaging with a paired phone (no SIM card required) in areas without cell coverage. This makes it a choice for further testing to support first responders and is a good choice for those who enjoy outdoor recreational activities. Recently I have started to use the T1000-E as a tracking device on my dog during our walks in case we are separated for some reason. You can track your pets without a monthly subscription fee using open-source software and have coverage off-grid. Seeed Studio is supporting the T1000-E with updates and extending the ecosystem with other Meshtastic devices. The small carabiner and strap are well-made for the price.
My experience with the T1000-E was very positive and I recommend the device. I was given one unit for evaluation and plan to purchase another unit for message testing between devices. No subscription is required and ongoing feature updates are a great value for a tracker under $40. The T1000-E has strong LED and messaging features using a paired device to enable communications and tracking for off-grid, disaster recovery, and first responders. For all of these reasons I recommend the T1000-E for off-grid communication and GPS tracking in real time!
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