Programmable wristband with esim and gps

Hardware
1

Hello,

I’m looking for some kind of programmable wristband with e-sim and gps
preferably esp32. a screen or something is not needed.

The only thing it needs to do is whenever it receives a text message with a specific code send back the gps coordinates.

The goal is that whenever one of my kids ever gets lost I can text them from either my phone or HA and Then I know the approximate location of where they lost there wristband.

2

Give them a nice present, a Garmin Bounce, and you don’t need to tinker :wink:

3

maybe,
but my oldest one is 3 years old, so this is a little expensive for someone who can’t tell time yet. and also I do not want it to be cloud based.

I found this one
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Programmable-gps-tracking-bracelet-smart-wristband_60676844385.html
but I’m affraid it is tuya based and also, When my son thinks red is a nice color, he just starts hitting the button, which isn’t good.

Maybe I should invest in something like airtag, but I can’t connect that to HA.
and even worse, if no one with an Iphone is around it won’t work.

4

True with the iPhones around required, but there are also lots of cheaper AirTag clones, which work really well. E.g.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005226745280.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.37.6799584deXAy4S&algo_pvid=f68dc1e7-c9f4-4b9f-95b5-f5198b8f7235&algo_exp_id=f68dc1e7-c9f4-4b9f-95b5-f5198b8f7235-18&pdp_npi=3%40dis!EUR!23.63!5.64!!!!!%402100baf316866628723896798d0774!12000032268456475!sea!DE!0&curPageLogUid=HC1F8skFnGyF

Maybe worth a try.

Or this one possibly more suitable for your kids :slight_smile:

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005703459348.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.75.6799584deXAy4S&algo_pvid=f68dc1e7-c9f4-4b9f-95b5-f5198b8f7235&algo_exp_id=f68dc1e7-c9f4-4b9f-95b5-f5198b8f7235-38&pdp_npi=3%40dis!EUR!25.73!15.44!!!!!%402100baf316866628723896798d0774!12000034059591225!sea!DE!0&curPageLogUid=YoXCxRTQod10

5

I am confused by this requirement. How can a device like this be anything but cloud based if you want to be able to send it a text message? You need either BT that can piggy-back on other people’s phones like an AirTag or it needs some sort of cell phone SIM card to receive texts which would be cloud-based.

6

I was actually thinking about SMS,
and yes, technically that is also cloud based.

7

So the Garmin still could be solution :stuck_out_tongue: But i get your idea…

I wonder more, how do you want to make such a device kids proof. Sand, mud, water, fighting, falling, tinkering, trying to open it, it has to withstand all of that :wink:

Edit:

BTW, it seems, that the Garmin only works in the US, so very local coverage :slight_smile:

8

While this is ‘not here today’ and lacks GPS (which is one of the two power pig of wrist devices), at under USD 50 this is the kind of device that I think will be very helpful for parents. If Apple or Google BLE tracker code can be added, you have might have useful family communication device that does not have the monthly reoccurring cost burden (other than the cost to all of the Apple and Google phone users that this might mooch off of).