old android phone as a vehicle tracker

[unwashed potato!]

i'm wanting vehicle tracking for my vans. i was thinking to go down the route of using an old android mobile to do the tracking as the cost would be very low, but also i think it'd be fun to make an android device do this.

i'm thinking of getting a simple sim that has minimal data allowance. i noticed another thread about cheap PAYG sims and they seem about right for what i need so data will be fine. it'll also use wifi when back at the office overnight/on days off.

my nexus 5 currently records my history every day which i can view online. it's not the most accurate, with random jumps around to roads/woods i didn't go (though this may be down to my n5's terrible gps), so i'm wondering if there's a better way to regularly record location without using much battery and that can be viewed online?

i'd also like a way to have it so the phone sends an email once it's sat at work any time after 7pm, if between 7pm to 7am the van is moved. how would i do this? tasker? trigger? perhaps another app?

any recommendations for the android phone to use for this?

 

[Myshra]

I'd recommend you don't do this as phones are not reliable for asset tracking unless this is just a side project in which case you can use any handset at all, makes no difference as all your requirement is GPS and logging, anything made since about 2010 can do it. Bluetooth GPS receivers help with signal quality.

If you're serious about the need you can get fleet tracking on your business account with all mobile networks for a decent price, phones are liable to breaking, needing constant charge and don't have the same integration as asset tracking platforms.