153 thoughts on “Google Map GPS Cell Phone Tracker”

  2. Nick Fox

    This is software that lets you track cell phones and then view where you’ve been using google maps. I’m making tutorials right now explaining the software.

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  6. Ilias

    Hello, I found your code through google.
    I think you did an excellent job, and it’s great that you’re sharing it with the world.

    I want to do something similar, but instead of running my own apache server, (which requires an always-on pc), I want to run it on a paid server for example hostgator.
    Also, instead of a cell-phone I want to use the chinese GPS tracker TK102, which can be configured to send a TCP packet to a specific IP and port, through GPRS.
    It should be possible. What do you think?
    Again, great job. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  7. Lee

    Hey your site is riddled with broken links, i found the forums once but i cant find them again, The software works well Just a side note the Read Me is confusing but i would be happy to write up a revised one for you,
    Have you noticed a problem with the time? more specifically the Year shows between 1999 and 2008 and the time of day is always am or inverted of what it should be? where should i look to fix this? is this a java issue or a problem with the Networker.java?

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  8. indy

    I actually made something freakishly similar, but it was using Google Gears based web browsers. It’s for force tracking in 24+ hour paintball events.

    Now I’ve got about 4 days to get a JME app for phones working as a transmitter, not even bothering with a phone side display before a major event! 🙁

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  9. Nick Fox

    @Lee – I’m currently in the process of making version 3 of the software. Thank you for pointing out the time problem. I actually wouldn’t mind help with the Readme file. Lee, could you please point out the broken links, it may have been when I transitioned to a new website. Thanks!

    @Ilias – yes, as long as your device is configurable and can send location updates to a website, it should work fine.

    @Jeong – yes, it’s being used in many countries around the world. Over 37 last time I counted.

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  11. Gil

    Hi, Excellent work since Version 1 i love it it’s simple and runs fast (most important hehe) i just have 1 question.. im trying to use gpstracker on i265 devices but is far as i know they do not support MIDP-2.0 and MIDP-1.0 doesnt support floating point and im stuck there i cant compile it for 1.0.. you have any advice i can get to make it work

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  12. kristin

    I am definately more computer illiterate than your average person. Where/how do I create my own website to include it on this application?

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  13. Lee (tucsondirect)

    Re: the time being out of sync a “simpler”(take with a glass of wine) is to change the sql procedures refrences from “gpsTime” to “LastUpdate” and that will use the local servers time. Then from there should a different value be needed the “gpsTime” is still there.(not sure why its so far off
    I.e. My gps time being sent to server is April 18th 00:09:XX 2010 the gpsTime will show December 18th 2009 12:09:XX Havent quite figured that one out yet, my only guess is the Versions of either Apache, mySql or php. Php is newer so that may be where the problem exists the java client (verified by checking request logs) is sending the correct information)

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  14. Lee (tucsondirect)

    @kristen

    There is a all in one package that will work well (some work needs to be done to secure it) runs on several platforms and is fairly user friendly, its called Xampp you will need to forward ports to your server for outside acces but aside from that you only other problem would be a dynamic I.P. address i personally use No-Ip.com they have a great auto updating client and best of all currently free

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  15. Adam

    Hello, I found your code through google.
    I think you did an excellent job, and it’s great that you’re sharing it with the world.

    I want to do something similar, but instead of running my own apache server, (which requires an always-on pc), I want to run it on a paid server for example hostgator.
    Also, instead of a cell-phone I want to use the chinese GPS tracker TK102, which can be configured to send a TCP packet to a specific IP and port, through GPRS.
    It should be possible. What do you think?
    Again, great job. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  16. MHPM

    Hi Nick,

    I am able to build it using Netbeans IDE. But while trying to run it on My O2 Windows Mobile 5, I am getting the following error.
    “javax.microedition.location.Location” is not available on this device.

    Please help!!!

    Thanks-

    Reply ↓
  17. Brad

    Hi, Excellent work since Version 1 i love it it’s simple and runs fast (most important hehe) i just have 1 question.. im trying to use gpstracker on i265 devices but is far as i know they do not support MIDP-2.0 and MIDP-1.0 doesnt support floating point and im stuck there i cant compile it for 1.0.. you have any advice i can get to make it work

    Reply ↓
  18. Nick Fox

    Gil, Brad – CLDC 1.1 is required for floating point and that is required for coordinates.

    Adam – I think that should work.

    MHPM – I would check 2 things. a) that the cellphone has GPS turned on and b) that java is installed since you are using a j2me midlet on a windows device.

    Reply ↓
  19. Matt

    Re: the time being out of sync a “simpler”(take with a glass of wine) is to change the sql procedures refrences from “gpsTime” to “LastUpdate” and that will use the local servers time. Then from there should a different value be needed the “gpsTime” is still there.(not sure why its so far off
    I.e. My gps time being sent to server is April 18th 00:09:XX 2010 the gpsTime will show December 18th 2009 12:09:XX Havent quite figured that one out yet, my only guess is the Versions of either Apache, mySql or php. Php is newer so that may be where the problem exists the java client (verified by checking request logs) is sending the correct information)

    Reply ↓
  20. MHPM

    Hi Nick,

    Thanks for the feedback. You are right, I don’t have a active GPS device attached to my cellphone. I have Java installed on my device. Can yo help me in sending a dummy data instead of using active GPS device, so that for the time being I can test the whole functionality and build the web application accordingly and if everything goes smooth, I may test the functionality using a active GPS device. The help I need from you is to know the structure of the data that you get from the Location API, so that I can comment out the location part and use the dummy data instead.

    Thanks-

    Reply ↓
  21. Lee (tucsondirect)

    @MHPM To test your server side programming you need only to request a particular url from your server have a look around the site and you will find it, then simply change to fit your needs

    Reply ↓
  22. MHPM

    Hi Lee,

    I need to install the Midlet in my Windows Mobile and then want to send data to server. I don’t have a GPS enabled phone, so at the time of Midlet installation, the the system is throwing error with error message “javax.Microedition.Location.location” is not available on this device and some permission issue woth error code -58.

    I want to bypass the GPS module for the time being and instead want to use some dummy data. I tried Fake GPS but its not working.

    Thanks-

    Reply ↓
  24. Yasser

    Hi Nick,

    I compiled the app using NetBeans IDE 6.8.

    After copying the JAR/JAD file to my Nokia E61 and E90 it installed without any problem.

    My question is how do I know whether the application is accessing te GPS and Operator Data. The active connection of my Nokia phones does not show any active data connection.

    Your comments and advise..

    Kind Regards

    Yasser

    Reply ↓
  25. Nick Fox

    Hi Yasser

    What you need to do is to test out the phone using the website here. You should be using the following URL:

    http://www.websmithing.com/gpstracker2/getgooglemap2.php?lat=47.473349&lng=-122.025035&mph=606&dir=0&mi=0&dt=Wed%20Oct%2024%2011:19:17%20UTC%202007&lm=0&h=291&w=240&zm=12&dis=25&pn=theBrit&sid=11137&acc=95&iv=yes&info=morestuff

    Then go to this page and see if your route shows up:

    http://www.websmithing.com/gpstracker2/displaymap2.php

    Nick

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  26. Lt. David Young

    Mr. Fox,

    First, let me say that this is probably the best bit of software I’ve seen in quite a while. I stumbled upon it via Google while trying to search for alternatives to our rather antiqued (1988) GPS Location sounders.

    Second, either my development setup (NetBeans 6.8++) is has caught a case of “retard” or it is operator error, but upon working through the files for build, I encountered some problems (I also tried following your YouTube “fix-it” video) with several components.

    Namely, missing classes and a wild reference to YOUR user directory for a configuration.

    Please advise.

    Lt. Young

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  27. Nick Fox

    Hi Dave

    I’m glad you liked the app, can you tell me what the missing classes are what user directory you are trying to reference?

    thanks
    Nick

    Reply ↓
  28. Lee (tucsondirect)

    the missing classes, arent “classes” they are resources you simply need to browse to the res. folder that comes in the Dist pack, then you should be able to compile without further issue other than user error

    Reply ↓
  29. Matteo

    Hi, I’m using GpsTracker 2. I built the DB correctly (I hope), all paremeters are correct (also the google maps API)

    In the application I put the link to getgooglemap2.php file, but the response is: NetWorker.getUrl responseCode: 500 Map could not be loaded

    The website part are hosted on http://www.nokiaspace.net/gpstracker/

    If I go, for example, to
    http://www.nokiaspace.net/gpstracker/getgooglemap2.php?lat=47.473349&lng=-122.025035&mph=606&dir=0&mi=0&dt=Wed%20Oct%2024%2011:19:17%20UTC%202007&lm=0&h=291&w=240&zm=12&dis=25&pn=theBrit&sid=11137&acc=95&iv=yes&info=morestuff

    nothing appeare…

    Can you help me Nick?

    Reply ↓
  30. Nick Fox

    Hi Matteo

    Can you please comment out everything on that page and just echo out ‘hello’ to confirm that the page is where it’s supposed to be and that php is working correctly.

    Nick

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  32. Lee

    Matteo, you might want to setup a .htaccess to protect your privacy especially when posting on a public forum

    Reply ↓
  33. Laszlo

    Hi Nick!
    First of all, your gpstracker was the 1st app which operates on my mobile and in the NetBeans without any trouble!! Thanks for it.
    But! I like to modify the source a little bit: save the “queryString” into a local csv file. The best practice would be using BufferedWriter, but the “import java.io.*” doesn’t show it. Could you help me?
    Laszlo

    Reply ↓
  34. Nick Fox

    Hi Laszlo

    When you say “local csv file”, do you mean storing the file on the phone or on the website?

    Nick

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  35. Laszlo

    Hi Nick!
    Thanks for quick reaction!
    The “local csv” means: on the phone. (maybe it could be an off-line tracking).
    Since I could manage this problem: had to change the cldc1_1.jar.
    But a new disfunction appeared: the good old java method for csv file writing doesn’t work. So, I run with this project like a snail :-(.

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  38. Laszlo

    Nick,
    As I promised:
    Thanks again for help and for codes, that were good for ideas, but after all I had to code myself. It was one thing, when the csvWriter started on the emulator, but on the mobile… that’s an another story.
    Sum: the GPSTracker can work in off-line mode, collecting route datas in a local (mobile) csv file. (Tested on a WM6 pocket pc).
    Now I’m working on the visualizer.
    Laszlo

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  39. Rory

    Hi Nick,
    I really am impressed with the gps tracker and would like to get it working!!…
    I’m working on a similar project ,using php/MySQL/J2ME on a nokia s60 device, basically the idea is that I will be able to track a device/person/car in realtime on a website,
    if there is any code of mine you could use or adapt you are welcome to it,(for example, i use the local time on the server to log the time of the update, have code for that if you want it).
    it’s going slow!!….i have managed to create the mobile application using java me on a nokia s60 device which updates the webserver every 30 seconds as to the device location, i can also display the device location on a website in google maps
    my next step is to get the website to
    a/refresh the web page automatically every say 30 seconds
    b/ have only one icon appear on the website (right now all entries from the mysql table are displayed) so as to simulate movement
    I am trying to get your application working because, with your permission, understanding yours will help me to overcome the next steps in my project, for example you have a manual refresh system on your website, i hope to have an automatic on mine so understanding how yours works may help me to build mine

    I,ve installed the mobile application in the Netbeans IDE 6.8 and am running it in the Nokia S60 5th Edition SDK v1.0….i’m using the defaultUploadWebsite private String defaultUploadWebsite = (“http://www.websmithing.com/gpstracker/GetGoogleMap2.php”;)
    Everything seems fine in terms of the application accepts the phone number i put in and tries to access the website (it asks my permission to use the network) but it returns an error
    “NetWorker.getUrl resonseCode:404 Map could not be downloaded”

    Would you help me with this please ? or if you have any advice as to where to get information on the tasks i’m working on it would be greatly appreciated.
    if you are too busy then I understand that too,
    thanks and once again great project!!,
    Rory

    Reply ↓
  40. Nick Fox Post author

    Hi Rory

    What you need to do is log the url to the screen so that you can test the url in a browser. So if you can turn on logging, write out the url and paste it here in a comment so that we can see what is going on.

    BTW, my app does have auto-refresh, one of the drop-down boxes below the map will automatically refresh the map with a timer.

    Nick

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  42. aditya

    hi Nick,I also want to develop same mobile application. But for my college campus area having wi-fi facility.
    I have some problem.
    1.I am not getting how to give friends cell phone no. to get his/her location.
    2.Is it necessary to get permission of cell phone no. service provider and to buy any hardware device?

    I downloaded ur code. n also run on my nokia n95 but it was giving me error nullpoint exception.
    plz give me reply on [email protected]

    Reply ↓
  43. Nick Fox Post author

    Hi

    1. In the phone software, there is a textbox that says phone number, you can put any kind of identifier you want there. It can be a number or a name, then you can check their route on the map using whatever you put in that textbox.

    2. No, you don’t need any extra equipment, just a gps phone and a website. You do not need any permission. Please note that some cell phone companies DO block gps to developers. You just need to test it.

    Nick

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  45. Nick Fox Post author

    Hi Rory

    I found the error, the URL you pasted above has the wrong directory, it’s websmithing.com/gpstracker2 not gpstracker.

    Good luck
    Nick

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  50. jatinder

    Hi Nick,

    I am getting this error in getlocation2.php
    :$mysqli->multi_query: execute command denied to user ‘vedi6868_user’@’localhost’ for routine ‘vedi6868_GPS.prcGetRouteForMap'”
    The project ran in WAMP sooooo nice,
    But not able to run on website,

    dbcnnection not a problem for sure, any CURE? please.

    Thanks,
    Jatinder…

    Reply ↓

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