HOW IT WORKS

Testing

One of Altech Netstar's features is the ability to test the unit. We strongly advise our customers to make use of the free testing facility.

All that they have to do whilst driving their vehicle, is to phone the toll free number 0800 112222 (hopefully using a hands-free car kit), identify themselves and the town or city in which they are traveling, and request a test.

The customer will generally be notified within a few minutes, and if the test was unsuccessful, the customer will be requested to book the vehicle in at a convenient fitment centre, for a system check.

Back-up batteries

Altech Netstar's Back-up Battery Replacement Policy

The Altech Netstar system in your vehicle is powered by the vehicle's battery. After stealing a vehicle, thieves may disconnect the main battery for a period of time. The Altech Netstar back-up battery then provides power to the unit to enable it to transmit its signal. This power generally lasts for around 8 hours. Altech Netstar's average recovery time is under an hour, so this provides ample time in which to recover the vehicle. If however the vehicle is not recovered within this time the back-up battery will run out of power, which will be restored once the main battery is connected again.

Traditionally, back-up batteries used in tracking devices have been about the size of a cell phone and have been installed separately from and wired to the tracking device. After about two years, the standby power in these batteries deteriorates, requiring them to be replaced, at a fee of around R350.

In 2004 Altech Netstar introduced a new back-up battery system - it is substantially smaller than its predecessor, and is integrated into the tracking device. This integration facilitates installation and also makes it far easier to conceal the unit, thus providing a higher level of protection. Because it forms part of the main Altech Netstar unit, this battery cannot be replaced, and to compensate for this it has a far longer lifespan than the traditional battery. It is designed to provide 8 hours of back-up power for five years, after which time this period of back-up power will gradually reduce. It is likely that this back-up battery will still provide power for up to seven years with normal use. This substantial lifespan also eliminates the inconvenience of replacing the battery every 2 years or so.

 

Basics

Altech Netstar provides a nationwide stolen vehicle recovery service, using a proprietary land-based radio network. The key elements of this service are:

Altech Netstar tracking units
The Altech Netstar unit is a small device installed into the customer's vehicle. It is able to receive various signals and transmit responses to these through the networks to the control centres.

Fitment centres
Over 100 fitment centres situated throughout SA are responsible for the installation of about 10,000 Altech Netstar units each month. These are managed by qualified auto electricians, and the technicians have been carefully selected and trained by the Altech Netstar Quality Control team.

Control centres
There are eight control centres situated in SA. They operate 24 hours per day and are responsible for all recovery activities in their respective territories. This includes activating Altech Netstar units in stolen or hijacked vehicles, co-ordinating the ground and air recovery operations, liaising with the SAPS and communicating with the customers.

Networks
The communication networks enable the process of activating Altech Netstar units, receiving signals back from these vehicles, and sending other commands to the Altech Netstar units.

Ground recovery teams
These teams are dedicated exclusively to Altech Netstar. They consist of highly trained recovery personnel that are able to respond at immediate notice. Each team consist of a driver and a tracker, who uses mobile tracking equipment to locate the signals from a stolen vehicle. These teams will retrieve stolen vehicles from any location in the country. Whilst they may at times work in conjunction with the SAPS, Altech Netstar does not rely on the overburdened SAPS to recover its customers' vehicles.

Air recovery teams
Altech Netstar is the largest user of helicopter services in SA. We recognize that stolen vehicles have to be recovered as quickly as possible, and in an average time of under an hour. This is achieved through the use of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft around the country. The air recovery teams consist of the aircraft pilot and the airtracker. The tracker is responsible for locating the signal, guiding the pilot and the ground crew to the stolen vehicle, and communicating with the control centre. With the use of the sophisticated tracking equipment that replicates a network, the aircraft is able to track and locate vehicles that may have left the network.

The Altech Netstar service includes the free recovery of your vehicle in the southern African countries of Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zambia.

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