LoJack Question

[KevinC]

Any update? Typically, they only broadcast for a few hours after recovery unless the police fail to quickly update the records to show the vehicle was recovered.

Still chirping away.

 

[ScannerSK]

Still chirping away.

Interesting. Is it once every second or more like once every fifteen seconds? It will be once per second when police are looking for it.

The towers typically broadcast once every 64 seconds.

If you would like the reply code, you can attach to this thread or private message me a zipped recording and I'll run it through the SDRTrunk program.

 

[KevinC]

Interesting. Is it once every second or more like once every fifteen seconds? It will be once per second when police are looking for it.

The towers typically broadcast once every 64 seconds.

If you would like the reply code, you can attach to this thread or private message me a zipped recording and I'll run it through the SDRTrunk program.

It hasn't gotten the speed up message apparently since it's once every 15 seconds or so.

 

[ScannerSK]

After this many hours have passed, the probability is rather high that the vehicle is still stolen and waiting to be recovered. Often thieves park a stolen vehicle somewhere for a few days to see if it is recoverd. If not recovered after a few days, then they feel more confident driving it around.

 

[KevinC]

Often thieves park a stolen vehicle somewhere for a few days to see if it is recoverd. If not recovered after a few days, then they feel more confident driving it around.

I know that all too well. They did that right in front of my house. I caught it on my Ring and after it was still there overnight I called the SO and it was stolen.

So SDRTrunk decodes LoJack?

 

[ScannerSK]

Yes, or at least it did at one time. I still use an old version of the software and do not use newer versions.

 

[KevinC]

Yes, or at least it did at one time. I still use an old version of the software and do not use newer versions.

Just downloaded and it does. Got it going but it's too close to my bedtime (yeah, I'm old). I'll try to decipher what I'm seeing tomorrow.

 

[KevinC]

Good stolen. Speed up message sent, but it timed out. it's raining here so lots of accidents, I'm guessing this got put on the back burner.

 

[YalekW]

The new LoJack system is available nationwide.

"New LoJack – Nationwide Coverage
"New LoJack which includes both Stolen Vehicle Recovery + Connected Car technology has nationwide coverage through an impressive network of GPS and cellular towers."

LoJack Coverage Areas | LoJack

Find LoJack coverage areas. Includes coverage areas for products such as the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System and LoJack SureDrive.

www.lojack.com

When it mentions "through an impressive network of GPS and cellular towers", its only using the backbone of cellular data and GPS data. Not its own stuff.
Also, Southwest Michigan? Have not heard a thing on 173.075 since the old protocol's discontinual around this geographical location.

 

[ScannerSK]

Also, Southwest Michigan? Have not heard a thing on 173.075 since the old protocol's discontinual around this geographical location.

I wonder when it will be phased out nationwide? I find it odd they can phase it out when customers paid for lifetime service. I wonder if they are even notifying owner's that their LoJack system will no longer function after a certain date? Possibly as the company was sold twice the new owners are under no obligations to prior agreements.

 

[ScannerSK]

There is a LoJack thread I was unaware of that discusses fairly recent LoJack recoveries. Most of these appear to be related to the new GPS systems however interesting nonetheless.

LoJack NewsDrive | LinkedIn

Your source for all the latest news and happenings from LoJack and LoJack LE.

www.linkedin.com

 

[BinaryMode]

I wonder when it will be phased out nationwide? I find it odd they can phase it out when customers paid for lifetime service. I wonder if they are even notifying owner's that their LoJack system will no longer function after a certain date? Possibly as the company was sold twice the new owners are under no obligations to prior agreements.

I don't know the contract, ToS and all that, but they could do it and just send you the upgraded new hardware. But I doubt they'd want to spend the money. Or they inform the customer of the changes. Simple as that.

 

[KevinC]

I wonder when it will be phased out nationwide? I find it odd they can phase it out when customers paid for lifetime service. I wonder if they are even notifying owner's that their LoJack system will no longer function after a certain date? Possibly as the company was sold twice the new owners are under no obligations to prior agreements.

Judging by the number of activations in my area a LOT of vehicles still have the legacy system installed.

 

[KevinC]

There is a LoJack thread I was unaware of that discusses fairly recent LoJack recoveries. Most of these appear to be related to the new GPS systems however interesting nonetheless.

LoJack NewsDrive | LinkedIn

Your source for all the latest news and happenings from LoJack and LoJack LE.

www.linkedin.com

I wonder if I can add my own story?

 

[ScannerSK]

Judging by the number of activations in my area a LOT of vehicles still have the legacy system installed.

Many years ago a number of people shared their LoJack tower data with me. It appears LoJack attempts to activate stolen vehicles first in the area from which they were stolen and finally, after a few weeks to a month, they appear to send out activations nationwide for the vehicle. Brand new local activations are easy to spot as they send out a flood of activation requests initially from all towers in the area and then slowly dwindle down the number of activation requests issued over the course of weeks to months. It's good to know the system still has fairly decent activity taking place. Maybe it will be around another year or two.

 

[IC-R20]

I live in one of the many LoJack-free areas so I can keep a radio on it in the background without getting pinged to death. I don’t hear it as often as 10 years ago but still sometimes get a chirp passing down the freeway. One time when I was walking out of the grocery store I saw a wheeler loader go around on a flatbed tractor trailer with the once a second chirp sounding. It was moving onto the main road towards the freeway, thought someone might be missing a big ole Caterpillar somewhere 🤣 oh well.

 

[Craigmoe]

When it mentions "through an impressive network of GPS and cellular towers", its only using the backbone of cellular data and GPS data. Not its own stuff.
Also, Southwest Michigan? Have not heard a thing on 173.075 since the old protocol's discontinual around this geographical location.

I'm' in SW MI and hear the data bursts all the time...

 

[ScannerSK]

The data bursts from the tower are on the same frequency as the data bursts from the vehicles. The data bursts from stolen vehicles are spaced 1-2 seconds apart when being tracked or first activated otherwise the rate slows down to save battery power. The data bursts from the towers are longer bursts with each tower transmitting its data every 64 seconds.

 

[IC-R20]

I'm' in SW MI and hear the data bursts all the time...

Yes though they are starting to modernize. Mist new installs now are cellular based and use it to send the coordinates from a GPS receiver. No idea if you can still get the legacy VHF unit.