GPS anti-theft trackers for beehives

Hive locks are usually installed on the frames and glued with the wax produced by the bees.

Whatever the GPS box is made of, it should respect each country’s regulations and requirements. Otherwise, all hive products may be unfit for human consumption in case of inspection or analysis. The installation is very fast: the beekeeper cuts the wax on the edge of a body frame of the GPS box surface. The GPS tracker for hive is inserted in the wax, and you’re done.

The GPS hive tracker can be installed on a body frame or on a top frame if the beekeeper is concerned about honey theft alone. Sometimes, the GPS chip can be installed in wood or polystyrene partitions and even within the hive structure itself.

In the latter case, the beekeeper must first modify the hive components to accommodate the anti-theft device. The anti-theft chip will not be placed in or directly under the roof because it disrupts the signal and can be removed easily.

Positioning a GPS tracker in a hive is easy but must be properly thought out. During hive theft, the thief will move the hives carelessly, and we don’t know how they may reinstall them.

The hive theft protection device must therefore be discreet, remain in position, and have the best chance of transmitting its information neither too close to the metal roof nor too close to the ground.

GPS anti-theft trackers can be found in a wide range of prices, from less than €100 to €400. They are always associated with an annual or monthly subscription ranging from €2 to more than €10 per month. A word of caution: all anti-theft devices are essentially GPS trackers, but not all of them are compatible for use in a beehive—nor suitable for beekeeping! The lower-cost models are initially intended for mass markets: scooters, parcels, private detectives... but not for beehives. The beekeeper must check that:

• The material is suitable for food contact. (The box does not contaminate the hive product.)

• Autonomy. A low autonomy cannot be compensated by a recharging system for an anti-theft device, as the box is inside the hive!

• The absence of LEDs that would disturb the bees, of switch or USB connector which would be inevitably propolized (covered with propolis, or bee saliva) within just two weeks.

• Can your communication vector cross international borders? A €20 tracker is a Bluetooth system that communicates with nearby cellphones equipped with an application... your hives aren’t bound to communicate more than a stone’s throw away.

BeeGuard offers a GPS hive tracker specially dedicated to beekeeping: a plastic case that’s suitable for contact with food, up to two years of autonomy before a battery change, no connector, no wire... What’s more, the tracker offers functions in addition to GPS tracking: measurement of the internal temperature of the brood, communication with optional scales, and access to the apiary management application, including the breeding register.

The all-inclusive hive security system is available for rental for just €9,50 (excl. taxes)/month or for purchase at €200 (excl. taxes) + the €36/year subscription.

A GPS anti-theft chip uses an internal motion sensor to detect when the hive thief moves, handles, or opens the hive. This sensor will trigger the alarm through the communication capability of the anti-theft box. The most secure operation is based on the existing and internationally deployed GSM/GPRS cellphone networks.

During transportation of your hives, the tracker will use the GPS, GNSS (including Galileo) satellites for localization during the journey and at each stop. The owner can follow all movement in real time. Less successful trackers will only propose live SMS transmission—not very practical to reconstruct the history of a hive’s journey.

The most efficient solutions to help beekeepers against beehive theft record all the elements transmitted by the GPS tracker in the application or the internet server, so it’s easy to work on the map to thwart possible accomplices and especially to provide the most useful information for authorities.

This data isn’t on the device, but rather on the server, so even if the beehive thief notices the presence of the chip before the authorities intervene and destroys it, it’s too late. His position has been recorded, and all beehive displacement remains available without limitation on the server for its owner and anyone else to see.

Whether the SIM card is physical or virtual, the beekeeper will make sure that the telecom subscription is included with the GPS anti-theft device. You should also check that there’s not just one, but several operators included in the subscription. This makes it possible to reduce areas with no service.

Only the rightful owner should be able to geolocate a hive equipped with a GPS chip. This is achieved via the remote application interface made available by the company that supplied the device.

A hive lock should never be equipped with a Bluetooth or WiFi connection that would allow a hive thief to detect the presence with a simple smartphone.

GPS chips designed for beehives never emit continuous waves. Just the opposite: they remain completely silent in terms of electromagnetic wave emission. This improves energy efficiency, avoids emitting continuous waves near the bees, and keeps them undetectable via electronic devices.

An anti-theft chip for beehives can be bought by mail order directly from a manufacturer such as BeeGuard or via various distributors.

More and more companies indicate on their website that their GPS tracker works against beehive theft. The beekeeper shouldn’t stop at the title of the page. Instead, be vigilant as to the real origin of these products.

A GPS hive tracker is a GPS tracker, but not all trackers are compatible with beekeeping or hive use. Too often, a good deal with a low price often hides an unsuitable or undesirable aspect.

Does the seller offer telephone support?

Does the GPS manufacturer participate in beekeeping shows?

Does he have other products that are ideal for beekeepers?

Is the GPS anti-theft device suitable for using in beehives?

Is the GPS chip’s autonomy sufficient?

Which communication method does the GPS hive tracker use?

BeeGuard offers you to contact us directly by phone or by mail to answer all your questions and provide you with a personalized quote before ordering.