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This seems to be an unnecessary saga. When we bought the new Motorhome in June 2007 we had a Phantom device fitted. Don't know why as we have never had any worries about security before. We know it worked when it was fitted because Phantom called me to say that it had been triggered. Since then I had often thought about how we would know that it was still working but never did anything about it, after all it is quite a simple device that should not fail. At Peterborough Show this April we visited the Phantom stand and spoke to Mark who assured us that the device is bleeped regularly by Phantom to check that it was in order. He offered to check the records and they showed that the Motorhome was always in the same position. This position was about 20 miles from the dealer and 80 miles away from home. He then checked the current position, it hadn't moved, but in fact was at Peterborough. The unit was checked at Peterborough and found to be faulty so arrangements were made for a new unit to be fitted.
Following the fitting of the new unit, we checked it on the way home from holiday in May. The positioning was working but the movement sensor was not. We had driven from Meadowhall to Leicester Forest with the movement sensor switched on and not once did it trigger. Following that Phantom arranged to have a new movement sensor fitted. In the period before fitting the new movement sensor we went away for the weekend and as we believed there was a fault I left the sensor switched on. After 20 minutes the unit finally triggered an alert.
We have now had a new movement sensor fitted and were assured that it was working correctly. On the last two evenings I have had to move the Motorhome on the drive, so, to test the system I deliberately moved and braked violently. On neither evening did it trigger.
The unit is now 12months and 25 days old and Phantom now tell me that it is not their responsibility and they will now only provide service if they receive a purchase order from the Motorhome dealer.
Moral to this story, deliberately trigger your Phantom at least once a month. In fact use another device as the Phantom cannot be relied upon.
Gerry
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This is an interesting topic for me.
At present I m working on a project no dissimilar to motorhome tracking devices using GPS positioning and GSM notification.
One thing I have found looking at most of the GPS/GSM modules that could be used for this application is a note saying that the GPS antenna must not have gains of more than 27dB and no less than 12dB. Ignoring dBs when you start looking at suitable seperate antennas they either are amplified and have too high gain figures, or are completely passive so well below minimum gain.
Also there are notes on not using a combined GPS/GSM antenna due to the posibility of jamming the GPS signal.
All boards also advise not locating the antennas close (within inches) to the main control processor.
Not having seen (physically) the Phantom device I wonder if the design and possibly installation had been done correctly.
Suprised also that there is a movement detector activation. The three units I am 'playing' with all have a range ring alarm function which can be set to activate if the target moves more than a predefined distance (anything from 10 Metres to 1 Kilometer). There are also several other parameters (door opened, tilt, heat etc) that can be input to give a GSM alert.
Martin.
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The unit is now 12months and 25 days old and Phantom now tell me that it is not their responsibility and they will now only provide service if they receive a purchase order from the Motorhome dealer.
Hi Gerry,
I'm sorry to read of your troubles. As you say it's impossible to know whether it's working unless you trigger it deliberately.
I assume you bought the unit through a dealer. Legally your recourse is to go back to the dealer you purchased it from. Under the Sale of Goods Act you have a very good case for getting it repaired / exchanged. You should reasonably expect the unit to last at least 5 years and would be covered under the Act for that amount of time.
I would suggest that polite but firm dialogue with the dealer would be your first course of action.
JohnW
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Unlocked our car using the key fob whilst visiting our MH on a storage site - set off the alarm on next door caravan. Went off after twenty seconds or so. Couldn't believe it so tried again - same result.
Only worked on second click that opens the rear doors and boot.
Owner turned up later - PHANTOM had called him.
Our car is a Fiat Sedici.
Keith
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Mine is now fixed, thankyou Pahntom. I have triggered it and it works for the first time ever.
If it were not for the insurance insisting on such a device then I doubt whether I would have another one.
Gerry
The following members of MHF thanked GerryD for this posting
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Mines a Cobra by the way.
