finding my lost & dead Droid X2

[thebirdlives]

Very recently, I was talking on my phone and (apparently) failed to put it back in my pocket. I installed plan B, but my phone is already dead, rendering it useless. The only glimmer hope I have left is if I can somehow get the GPS coordinates of the call I placed last. Is this possible? Thanks in advance.

 

[Hadron]

Your network will know, but I think it unlikely they will tell you. Nothing to lose by trying though.

Don't you know where you were when you made the call?

 

[UncleMike]

I know this won't help now, but for future reference...

I setup a preemptive profile in Tasker to help in this very situation. It determines the phone's current location (enabling GPS and using whatever other means are already enabled) and sends the coordinates and location accuracy as an SMS to my Google Voice number when the battery level gets down to 5%. I look at it as a last cry for help, knowing that tracking will likely be impossible very soon thereafter.

 

[zoxxo]

I know this won't help now, but for future reference...

I setup a preemptive profile in Tasker to help in this very situation. It determines the phone's current location (enabling GPS and using whatever other means are already enabled) and sends the coordinates and location accuracy as an SMS to my Google Voice number when the battery level gets down to 5%. I look at it as a last cry for help, knowing that tracking will likely be impossible very soon thereafter.

Hey Mike, Can you post the tasker profile? This would be cool to have in place...

Thanks!

 

[UncleMike]

Here's the task:

Locate By GPS (15)
Stay Awake
A1: GPS [ Set:On ]
A2: WiFi [ Set:On ]
A3: Get Location [ Source:Any Timeout (Seconds):100 Continue Task Immediately:Off ]
A4: If [ %LOCNTMS > %LOCTMS ]
A5: Variable Set [ Name:%mylocage To:%TIMES - %LOCNTMS Do Maths:On Append:Off ]
A6: Variable Set [ Name:%myloc To:%LOCN Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A7: Variable Set [ Name:%mylocacc To:%LOCNACC Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A8: Else
A9: Variable Set [ Name:%mylocage To:%TIMES - %LOCTMS Do Maths:On Append:Off ]
A10: Variable Set [ Name:%myloc To:%LOC Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A11: Variable Set [ Name:%mylocacc To:%LOCACC Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A12: End If
A13: Variable Set [ Name:%par1 To:<defaultnumber> Do Maths:Off Append:Off ] If [ %par1 ! Set ]
A14: Send SMS [ Number:%par1 Message:As of %mylocage seconds ago my location within %mylocacc meters is http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%myloc Store In Messaging App:Off ]
A15: GPS [ Set:Off ]
A16: WiFi [ Set:Off ]

I use this task in several profiles, one of which uses the Battery Level context.

I also have another set of profiles that execute the same task after a period of inactivity. For these profiles, the inactivity timer gets reset upon screen unlock, change in docked state, change in power state, etc. This way, if the phone is left unattended it will alert me, possibly before I know that it's missing.

You can execute the task with no parameters and it will send to the default number. If a parameter is supplied, it will send to that number instead. Don't forget to change the default number.

 

[zoxxo]

Thanks Mike! I hope I never have to use this, but it's nice to have just in case...

 

[Pinmac1]

Mike, could you expand a little on your Tasker profile? I've failed at the first hurdle as I can't even work out where I find A1 and A2, turning on GPS and Wifi. Many thanks.

 

[UncleMike]

Mike, could you expand a little on your Tasker profile? I've failed at the first hurdle as I can't even work out where I find A1 and A2, turning on GPS and Wifi. Many thanks.

A1 - A16 are just the actions in the task, but those labels aren't really part of the task, they're just labels. In Tasker:

1. Create a new task named "Locate by GPS"
2. Set the properties of the task to "keep device awake"
3. Add the first action, Misc > GPS On
4. Add the remaining actions and save the task
5. Create a new profile using the Battery Level context (for example)
6. Specify "Locate by GPS" as the Enter Task