Showing posts with label secure outdoors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label secure outdoors. Show all posts

Thieves' Worst Nightmare- Secure Outdoors MT300

Have you ever had a vehicle stolen? How about a kayak? Have you ever wanted to know where your car is, especially when your teenager borrowed it? How nice would it be to go to the location where your items are with the police in tow?

At a recent outdoors show I found just such a device. Secure Outdoors (secure-outdoors.com) makes a couple of different devices that can track an asset. Unlike previous devices, this one doesn’t have to be tied to the item. If you want to track your truck and make sure it doesn’t get stolen you can do that. Let’s say you buy a new Pro Angler and want to make sure it doesn’t leave your tailgate at a WalMart. Simply move the device from the truck to the PA and you’ll know if it moves.

Derk Arnold of Secure Outdoors was intrigued when I mentioned tracking kayaks at the show and wanted me to try it out. With the MT300, I have made several trips, several stops and even left it parked for a few days to test battery life.

So what is the verdict?

The MT300 is amazing! Let’s start as we always do with the good.

THE GOOD


The MT300 device is extremely sensitive. If you move it from your right pocket to your left pocket, it will send you an alert. Alerts are available via email and SMS Text to your phone. I can set a geo-fence that I would only get an alert if the device went outside a certain area. I love the sensitivity but 120 texts about movement get old after a while so set that fence. ( I did say I was testing it). It sends an alert when motion starts and also when it stops. In a car, that could be a lot of messages.

Another cool feature is mapping. You can see every time motion starts and stops on a map available in the intuitive software interface on the web. This is a capture of my movements to and from Lady Bird Lake one day last month.



If you zoom in on the map it can show you the corner of the house that you are storing it in.
The MT300 is small and compact and can run up to two weeks on a single charge. You can buy a weatherproof box for it with a larger power source and get up to eight months of life on a single charge.

Smaller than a 6XD crankbait, this device will fit just about anywhere. Couple that with the powerful magnets and it will stay just about anywhere that has metal.


THE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT


Whether tracking cars, kayaks or ATVs, I think we would agree that this is a pretty cool device and service. The first stumbling block for some is the price. Mobility and technology don’t come cheap. The MT300 is $450. That covers the first two years and of course the equipment. It has no monthly charges. $450 might be a struggle if you only think of it as protecting your $300 kayak but looking at versatility in tracking different items, it might be a little easier.

Secure Outdoors knows the price may not be approachable for all and are working on the MT200 model which is only $250 and allows you to hard wire it into a power source for single asset tracking or add the right connectors and you can move it back and forth to multiple devices with power.


FINAL THOUGHTS


I appreciate the opportunity to test this out and think some of you could find the value in this system. A comparable though not equal company sells devices that offer tracking but range from $500-1,000. They also are not portable in most cases. When you compare apples to apples, the Secure Outdoors MT300 is definitely winning the race.



Here is some additional info from Secure Outdoors about their product:


Secure Outdoors supplies wireless tracking devices that are designed to locate and communicate vital information about the asset or package in places where other devices simply cannot work. Secure Outdoors products are designed for end users who “Must Find” and know the status of their valuable asset. As a result, we annually save our customer’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss prevention and loss recovery and best part is the MT300 can be used on one asset to the next.

MT300 Capabilty and Technology 

  • No Contracts, Activation, Monthly, or Early Termination Fees
  • Two years of unlimited Data and Tracking Portal included
  • The Ability to Locate Your Asset at Any Time (it does not go to sleep)
  • Up to 10-14 Days of Tracking on a single charge
  • An Integrated Panic Button Alert That Sends Current Location to Multiple Email Addresses and Phone Num-bers via Text Messages
  • Plug-&-play, self contained device, fits in the palm of your hand (No external antennas)
  • High tracking sensitivity for fast and accurate real-time reporting (2 – 5 minutes available)
  • Internet/Smart Phone mapping globally with 5 available map types
  • Geofence feature sends alert if the asset moves from up to 5 customizable pre-defined area
  • Durable, lightweight, small, water and vibration resistant housing 
             (2 1/2" x 1 3/4" x 3/4") makes the device perfect for external & outdoor use.
  • Low battery alerts when device reaches 20% battery life remaining.

*   MT300 comes standard with Battery, wall charger, magnetic clip holder, 2 years     
      of  unlimited data and Portal Tracking.


Great Gear or Gimmicky Gadgets?

One of the perks of tackle and boat shows, whether working them or just spectating, is the abundance of gear and gadgets in one place. Instead of having to visit five or six stores spread out all over town, I can peruse more than 100 in no time at all without having to waste all that gasoline. (That's more money for gear, right?)

Last weekend I was at one of these shows, the Texas Tackle, Hunting and Boat Show in Mesquite, Texas. Vendors covered the floors as expected and I found a little bit of time to check out some cool new stuff. The question for everyone to decide, is it great gear or a gimmicky gadget?



Secure Outdoors


I visited Secure Outdoors because I had seen a forum thread that they would be at the show. I approached and saw the banner that said Secure Outdoors Asset Tracking. That got my curiosity up so I asked what kind of assets? Derk quickly gave me a demo. When he moved the small pager sized box it sent an email and text message to him. He only moved it about two feet. They come in small units that hold a charge for a couple of days or in a weatherproof case with battery that can last about eight months. You can change the assets it is tracking to really anything. He showed me golf carts, trucks, trailers, and boats so I naturally asked about kayaks. He admitted he hadn't thought of that. Imagine being able to track within a few feet of where your kayak, truck, trailer or other assets are. Kind of cool. Two years subscription will run you about $18 a month, subscription and equipment included. So check it out and you tell me great or gimmicky? Would you buy it?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdAxE088IEE#t=16
Website: http://secure-outdoors.com/




CastAway Invicta



This new rod was tucked in the corner of a booth on a rod rack. It is basically a 40Ton carbon fiber blank that is super light and has a new style grip on it. The best way to describe it is a golf club grip style. It is soft to the touch, offers good cushion and feels good in the hand. It is also sporting a new reel seat.The real question is how will it do when wet and then when slimed. My guess is it will get slightly tacky when wet but I'm afraid slime might make it tough to keep a handle on while casting. It felt nice but what do you think. Is it great or a gimmick?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V84zi43SxGo
Website: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Castaway_Invicta_HG_40_Casting_Rods/descpage-CSC.html



Power Pole Micro



One of the most talked about new accessories, the Power Pole Micro is designed specifically for kayaks. They will begin shipping a portion of the pre-orders  later this month. At $595, the Micro isn't cheap and some say overkill but others seem to disagree. Mounting brackets made by YakAttack are being customized for most major kayak models. An added bonus I learned at the show is your existing YakAttack Park-N-Pole can be used in the unit. This will allow you to not travel around with a permanent pole sticking up in the back of the kayak. The cost and added cause some to be wary but others were quick to lay down their money to be first in line. What say you? Gimmick or great?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eL3qSTgnxM
Website: http://www.power-pole.com/jlmarine/power-pole/micro.aspx



Hydrowave Mini



Another recent arrival to the market, the Hydrowave Mini is a more compact, simpler version of its predecessor. Utilizing a 9v battery and external speaker the Mini has four fish attracting settings. Early adopters have warned against short battery life in the portable unit. Since we had a couple of days at the show, we put it to the test. We were able to get 13 hours out of the unit before the battery needed to be changed. Hopefully a 12v wire-able option will be available in the future but for now, on a device that isn't left on the whole trip, it's an option many are considering. The $139 price point is also an attractive reprieve from it's big brother's $400 price. The question is, does it work? Is it great gear or just a gimmicky gadget?

Video of how it works (not the Mini): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptEltwVTYws
Website: http://www.hydrowave.com/freshwater/shop.htm



NuTech Jigs



Small, affordable and innovative, the NuTech jig is said to keep the hook upright and allow for more hookups when a fish takes a taste test. I visited the booth and talked with the inventor. He was able to give me a demo of how it works and I promptly bought five to try out. At about $4 each, the NuTech jig is available in several styles and even some spinning blade versions. Sometimes thinking out of the box is necessary to catch fish and sometimes to catch fishermen. Which is it? Great or Gimmicky?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYF29CWcY1M&list=UUSCLRsRFY1agJusu51PsEIA&index=3
Website: https://nutechlures.com/



Let me know on Facebook or the comments here, which things you like, which you don't and of course whether they are great or gimmick.