# \*sniff\* My GPS has left me for another man **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 29, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361 "2009-06-29T16:48:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/21 "2009-06-30T17:24:03Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > You know, I never stopped to think about it that way ,… they broadcast and recieve, so how hard would it be to give them an innate lowjack? You register them when you buy them so if you input the serial number into a website, you should be able to locate the GPS unit? Um, I’ve had GPS receivers for years and they don’t broadcast, except perhaps into your FM receiver in the car. I guess you could drive around and see if anyone’s listening to music you might have stored on the device. :dubious: And you don’t need to identify where it is, just identify everywhere it’s not and what’s left is it’s location. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/22 "2009-07-01T10:51:31Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Um, I’ve had GPS receivers for years and they don’t broadcast, except perhaps into your FM receiver in the car. I guess you could drive around and see if anyone’s listening to music you might have stored on the device. :dubious: > > And you don’t need to identify where it is, just identify everywhere it’s not and what’s left is it’s location. :smack: I’ve heard that there are some that can update their own maps while in use and thus would have to broadcast to get that information. If not, that would be a useful feature. But while having a built in lowjack would be a useful feature, all the thief has to do is disconnect the power source. When you did find it, it would probably be when the unknowing buyer tried to use it. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/23 "2009-07-01T13:34:49Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m totally going to check out the Pittsburgh and Boston Craigslist pages for good deals on GPSes! Boston’s a good spot, too. Last week someone not only stole the GPS I had in my Budget rental car (along with my iPod, I hope they keep my songs on it) from the 15-20 cars in the lot, but they managed to get another Budget renter’s one as well. Of course, Budget will be okay, they charged me $600 to replace an average Garmin (in addition to charging me rental for it after it was stolen). I think they managed to out steal the thieves who took the GPS. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/24 "2009-07-01T16:02:13Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Boston’s a good spot, too. Last week someone not only stole the GPS I had in my Budget rental car (along with my iPod, I hope they keep my songs on it) from the 15-20 cars in the lot, but they managed to get another Budget renter’s one as well. > > Of course, Budget will be okay, they charged me $600 to replace an average Garmin (in addition to charging me rental for it after it was stolen). I think they managed to out steal the thieves who took the GPS. why the hell did they charge you for the gps unit? You didnt break it, it was stolen. The insurance should have replaced it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/25 "2009-07-01T16:36:19Z")
Seriously - what the hell? Would they have made you pony up $25,000 to replace the car if they’d stolen that? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/26 "2009-07-01T16:49:41Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > why the hell did they charge you for the gps unit? You didnt break it, it was stolen. The insurance should have replaced it. Probably because I had my corporate insurance covering it. Either way I get reimbursed, so I wasn’t too worried. It just seems all so ridiculous, the over the top charges. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361/27 "2009-07-01T18:05:17Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > why the hell did they charge you for the gps unit? You didnt break it, it was stolen. The insurance should have replaced it. Claims for something as frivolous as a GPS to your insurance company ( when there was no other damage to the car) can end up you losing your insurance eventually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniff-my-gps-has-left-me-for-another-man/501361.md?page=1)