SMS back when lost or stolen

[Hazelip]

Okay, I'm trying to create a profile that when a particular message
from any number is received to silence the sms notification and reply
back to the sender with the GPS coordinates.

So, I created a profile for receive "peanut" from any number.
The tasks are GPS on.
Notification volume set to 0.
Send SMS to %SMSRF.
Message body is %LOC.

But, this doesn't work. At all.

I'm using Google Voice, and if I specify the number to send an
automatic message to, it works just fine. But, this one isn't
working. Is it because of GV?

Thanks,
Jake

[Pent]

Hey,

Try turning on warning popups in Menu / Prefs / More. Also try action
flash %SMSRF to see what's in that variable.
The SMS action won't accept an email gateway, for instance.

Finally, you can turn GPS on and then immediately have a fix ready,
you'll get the last fix. You probably want to

1) put a Wait 2 minutes after the GPS On
2) click task properties (spanner icon) and click Stay On, otherwise
your device will go to sleep while you're waiting
for the GPS to get a fix.
3) turn GPS off after

Pent

[J. Hazelip]

Try turning on warning popups in Menu / Prefs / More. Also try action
flash %SMSRF to see what's in that variable.
The SMS action won't accept an email gateway, for instance.

Does this mean it won't work with GV as my SMS client?
 

Finally, you can turn GPS on and then immediately have a fix ready,
you'll get the last fix. You probably want to

1) put a Wait 2 minutes after the GPS On

I'm sorry, but how do I do that?  I thought about that, but it wasn't immediately clear to me how to accomplish any sort of pause, delay, or wait.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

-Jake

[Jason]

I don't know about GV working as the default SMS, still trying to get
that to work with the Locale GV plugin, but to add a wait, go to Task
Edit, hit the '+' button, then hit 'Tasker,' and 'Wait.'

[UncleMike]

If I'm not mistaken, the notification for the incoming SMS will have
already sounded by the time the task runs, so the incoming SMS will
not be a secret (I believe that's the intent of setting the
notification volume to zero).

Also, turning on GPS by itself won't cause Tasker to get a current fix
immediately. I think Pent has it on his todo list to add a "Get GPS
Fix" action. In the meantime, you can create a profile with a
location context using a very small radius and allowing both network
and GPS, and normally leave this profile disabled. When you want a
current fix, enable the profile. Enabling a location based profile
will cause Tasker to get a current fix.

One other thing... I've seen network-only location fix accuracy
improve from 3,000 meters to 50 meters just by having Wifi on. If
you're phone happens to be unable to get a GPS fix when it receives
the SMS, having Wifi enabled may make a big difference in the accuracy
of the location it reports. I've only observed this at home, and
haven't looked for it elsewhere, but it may be useful.

Since Pent is already participating in this discussion, I'll invite
him to correct anything I've just said.

[Pent]

And don't forget Stay Awake in the first profile properties.

Pent

[Pent]

> Also, turning on GPS by itself won't cause Tasker to get a current fix
> immediately.  

I thought of that about 10 minutes later, but the laptop was already
off :)

> I think Pent has it on his todo list to add a "Get GPS
> Fix" action.  In the meantime, you can create a profile with a
> location context using a very small radius and allowing both network
> and GPS, and normally leave this profile disabled.  When you want a
> current fix, enable the profile.  Enabling a location based profile
> will cause Tasker to get a current fix.
>

What the man said. So, your SMS context looks like:

Profile: GotSMS
Context: Event: SMS Received:
Task;
GPS On
Profile Toggle GetLocation, On
Wait 2 Minutes
Send SMS %LOC
GPS Off

Profile: GetLocation
Context: Location: xxx (doesn't matter)
Task:
Profile Toggle GetLocation Off

Untested.
Pent

[J. Hazelip]

On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 1:41 AM, Pent <tas...@dinglisch.net> wrote:
And don't forget Stay Awake in the first profile properties.

I have no idea what that is, or where it's located...

On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 1:40 AM, Pent <tas...@dinglisch.net> wrote:

What the man said. So, your SMS context looks like:

Profile: GotSMS
Context: Event: SMS Received:
Task;
   GPS On
   Profile Toggle GetLocation, On
   Wait 2 Minutes
   Send SMS %LOC
   GPS Off

Profile: GetLocation
Context: Location: xxx (doesn't matter)
Task:
      Profile Toggle GetLocation Off

Untested.
Pent

I have no idea where this toggle is located.  I've been to the site, the wiki, and this group.  Y'all keep referring to things that are not readily apparent as to their location, use, or function.  I'm trying to keep up, but I'm quickly losing ground here.

[Pent]

On Aug 1, 2:29 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 1:41 AM, Pent <tas...@dinglisch.net> wrote:
>
> And don't forget Stay Awake in the first profile properties.
>
> I have no idea what that is, or where it's located...

Usually your device will fall asleep after around 40 seconds and the
task will stop. To avoid that, click task properties (spanner icon) on
the task edit screen and click Stay Awake.

Pent

[J. Hazelip]

Thank You!

Now, that toggle and fix location thing?

I'm also still wondering if any of this will work with GV as the SMS client. Can you comment on that directly?

On Aug 1, 2010 9:51 AM, "Pent" <tas...@dinglisch.net> wrote:



On Aug 1, 2:29 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 1:41 AM, Pent <tas...@dinglisch.net> wrote:
>

> And don't forget Stay Awake...

[UncleMike]

On Aug 1, 9:29 am, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 1:41 AM, Pent <tas...@dinglisch.net> wrote:
>
> And don't forget Stay Awake in the first profile properties.
>
> I have no idea what that is, or where it's located...

It's either the properties page for the task. I think it's accessible
by pressing wrench-looking icon near the bottom of the screen when the
task is displayed. I'm not 100% sure though because I don't have my
phone handy.

> > Profile: GotSMS
> > Context: Event: SMS Received:
> > Task;
> >    GPS On
> >    Profile Toggle GetLocation, On
> >    Wait 2 Minutes
> >    Send SMS %LOC
> >    GPS Off
>
> > Profile: GetLocation
> > Context: Location: xxx (doesn't matter)
> > Task:
> >       Profile Toggle GetLocation Off
>
> > Untested.
> > Pent
>
> I have no idea where this toggle is located.  I've been to the site, the
> wiki, and this group.  Y'all keep referring to things that are not readily
> apparent as to their location, use, or function.  I'm trying to keep up, but
> I'm quickly losing ground here.

I think what Pent is referring to is the "Profile Status" action that
can be added to a task. So when you're creating/editing the task,
press the "+" button, then select "Tasker" from the list of action
groups, and then select "Profile Status". This will let you enable or
disable a profile (including the one that ran the task).

The only problem I see with what Pent has above is that the task that
disables the GetLocation profile will only run if you happen to be in
the "doesn't matter" location - which means it DOES matter. There is
no harm in leaving it there, since if you removed it you would have to
replace it with something else (a profile must have a task, and task
must have an action). However, I would recommend using that same
action (disabling the GetLocation profile) as the last action in the
GotSMS profile as well.

[GreatMoloko]

I tested everything except the wait and stay awake things because they
didn't seem necessary (why would you wait 2 minutes to send the
location?)

And it worked!

Now I have 2 additional ideas we could add.

1) Create some kind of loop so it re-txts the co-ordinates every x
minutes (I'm thinking 15 or 30) in case the thief is on the move.

2) Enable the lock pattern stuff. I don't actually use this on my
phone but if it were possible to remotely enable this I think it would
add an extra layer of security once it's stolen.

[J. Hazelip]

It's still not working for me. I don't think you can capture the SMS event when using Google Voice.

[UncleMike]

The wait is intended to give the phone a chance to get an updated
location fix. Without the wait, the process will appear to work fine,
but the reported location may not be current.

I think both of your suggestions regarding the additional steps are
good.

[J. Hazelip]

I am just about to lose my marbles on this...

I created a new profile for receiving an SMS with a keyword in it. The tasks are to turn on GPS, wait 30 seconds, then send an SMS to %SMSRF with some text and %LOC as the message.

I have had three people test this with me, and no one has gotten my auto reply!

What am I doing wrong here?

-Jake

On Aug 2, 2010 10:19 AM, "UncleMike" <njcab...@gmail.com> wrote:

The wait is intended to give the phone a chance to get an updated
location fix.  Without the wait, the process will appear to work fine,
but the reported location may not be current.

I think both of your suggestions regarding the additional steps are
good.

On Aug 2, 10:01 am, GreatMoloko <tomagu...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I tested everything except the wait ...

[Dave]

I have Google Voice and thought I would try. So I set up a task as
suggested:

Profile: GotSMS
Context: Event: SMS Received:
Task;

Misc: GPS On
Tasker: Profile Toggle GetLocation, On
Tasker: Wait 2 Minutes
Phone: Send SMS %LOC
Misc: GPS OffSampleCheckpoint

Profile: GetLocation
Context: Location: xxx (doesn't matter)
Task:

Tasker: Profile Toggle GetLocation Off


Actually, I used one of my checkpoint tasks instead of GetLocation,
but that doesn't matter. The point is to use a task that uses the
location technique.

First I sent the text from my wife's phone. It didn't work. Because,
the phone went to sleep. So, in GotSMS, I hit the wrench icon and then
checked the 'keep device awake' box.

Second test, it worked.

Next, I went to my GV account and sent my phone an SMS. It worked,
the GV account getting the reply and then forwarding it back to my
phone.

Next test, I used my wife's phone to send a text to my GV number. I
don't know if it worked, because the message appeared to come from
+14068738597 -- the GV gateway number. I suppose that I sent a reply
to that number, but I don't know since I don't own it to check. It
could be that is where the hangup is. I ought to add a notify task to
demonstrate that the task acted.

I don't know how to set my default sending via GV to test that part.

Hope this sheds a little light,

Dave

On Aug 3, 12:20 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am just about to lose my marbles on this...
>
> I created a new profile for receiving an SMS with a keyword in it. The tasks
> are to turn on GPS, wait 30 seconds, then send an SMS to %SMSRF with some
> text and %LOC as the message.
>
> I have had three people test this with me, and no one has gotten my auto
> reply!
>
> What am I doing wrong here?
>
> -Jake
>

[J. Hazelip]

For the life of me, I cannot find this getlocation command in the Tasker menus...

> I am just about to lose my marbles o...

> On Aug 2, 2010 10:19 AM, "UncleMike" <njcable...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> The wait is intended to giv...

[J. Hazelip]

What is offsamplecheckpoint?

I don't want to reply to every SMS with my location, just a message with a keyword.

On Aug 4, 2010 7:55 AM, "Dave" <hathaw...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am just about to lose my marbles o...

> On Aug 2, 2010 10:19 AM, "UncleMike" <njcable...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> The wait is intended to giv...

[J. Hazelip]

Here's mine:

Profile: Lost and found
Context: SMS received, message: Peanut

Task:
Misc: GPS on
Tasker: wait, 30 sec
Phone: send SMS to %smsrf message: %loc

This fails. I don't understand your toggle thing, nor can I find an option in the menus to match what you're doing as your last step in the first task.

On Aug 4, 2010 7:55 AM, "Dave" <hathaw...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am just about to lose my marbles o...

> On Aug 2, 2010 10:19 AM, "UncleMike" <njcable...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> The wait is intended to giv...

[BossMan]

Hi,

> Context: SMS received, message: Peanut

does this context trigger? If you're not sure, add a notify action to
it's task. If it does not trigger, try changing pattern in the context
to "*peanut*"

Also, it'd be best to turn the debug on and check with aLogcat what
Tasker says.

BR,
A.

On Aug 4, 2:13 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's mine:
>
> Profile: Lost and found
> Context: SMS received, message: Peanut
>
> Task:
> Misc: GPS on
> Tasker: wait, 30 sec
> Phone: send SMS to %smsrf message: %loc
>
> This fails. I don't understand your toggle thing, nor can I find an option
> in the menus to match what you're doing as your last step in the first task.
>

[J. Hazelip]

If *peanut* worked, wouldn't that send my location to every sender using the word?

On Aug 4, 2010 8:27 AM, "BossMan" <adam.ma...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,

> Context: SMS received, message: Peanut

does this context trigger? If you're not sure, add a notify action to
it's task. If it does not trigger, try changing pattern in the context
to "*peanut*"

Also, it'd be best to turn the debug on and check with aLogcat what
Tasker says.

BR,
A.

On Aug 4, 2:13 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's mine:
>

> Profile: Lost and fou...

> On Aug 4, 2010 7:55 AM, "Dave" <hathaway.d...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> I have Google Voice and though...

[BossMan]

It should, if send action works properly. Put a notify action that
definitely does work properly - at least you will be able to pin point
where the problem is.

BR,
A.

On Aug 4, 2:29 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> If *peanut* worked, wouldn't that send my location to every sender using the
> word?
>

[J. Hazelip]

Is there a way someone can export a working profile, and I can import it?

I know SMS send works. I've used it in another profile.

On Aug 4, 2010 8:37 AM, "BossMan" <adam.ma...@gmail.com> wrote:

It should, if send action works properly. Put a notify action that
definitely does work properly - at least you will be able to pin point
where the problem is.

BR,
A.

On Aug 4, 2:29 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:

> If *peanut* worked, wouldn't that sen...

> On Aug 4, 2010 8:27 AM, "BossMan" <adam.marynow...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>

> > Context: SMS re...

[BossMan]

So it's even more important to either put a notification (at least) or
grab a log, to know what's wrong with the context.

It's possible to export/import (export via profile options; import:
menu->profile data->import) - I don't have such profile tough.

BR,
A.

On Aug 4, 2:39 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is there a way someone can export a working profile, and I can import it?
>
> I know SMS send works. I've used it in another profile.
>

[J. Hazelip]

Okay, I turned on a notify, then logging, and now tasker wont run at all..

On Aug 4, 2010 8:47 AM, "BossMan" <adam.ma...@gmail.com> wrote:

So it's even more important to either put a notification (at least) or
grab a log, to know what's wrong with the context.

It's possible to export/import (export via profile options; import:
menu->profile data->import) - I don't have such profile tough.

BR,
A.

On Aug 4, 2:39 pm, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Is there a way someone can export a wo...

> On Aug 4, 2010 8:37 AM, "BossMan" <adam.marynow...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> It should, if send action...

[J. Hazelip]

Ooh, nevermind. Somehow, I turned the damned thing off.

On getting really frustrated with this profile, and it's starting to cause me to make simple mistakes.

Sorry.

On Aug 4, 2010 9:51 AM, "J. Hazelip" <haz...@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay, I turned on a notify, then logging, and now tasker wont run at all..

>
> On Aug 4, 2010 8:47 AM, "BossMan" <adam.ma...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

> So it's even more impor...

[Ricardo]

Sorry I didn't read everything, maybe it can help you :
http://tasker.wikidot.com/locatephone2

On 4 août, 15:51, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Okay, I turned on a notify, then logging, and now tasker wont run at all..
>

[Dave]

Oops, I was going to use my "sample checkpoint" task, because it sends
a map instead of %LOC, but thought I would leave it simple.

My test was responding to the SMS that says 'Hello'.

Here are my Profile and Task. I don't know how to attach a file, so
you'll have to copy/paste this to a file, then import. IIRC, you have
to be registered for that.

*** Lost or stolen.prf.xml ***
<class cl="TaskerData" sr="">
<class cl="Profile" sr="prof999999">
<nme>Lost or stolen</nme>
<id>999999</id>
<class cl="EventContext" sr="con0">
<pri>0</pri>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg2">
<val>Hello</val>
</class>
<code>7</code>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg1">
<val></val>
</class>
</class>
<mid0>66</mid0>
</class>
<class cl="Task" sr="task66">
<nme>SmsSendLoc</nme>
<id>66</id>
<class cl="Action" sr="act1">
<code>159</code>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
<val>1</val>
</class>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg0">
<val>Sample Checkpoint</val>
</class>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act0">
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
<val>1</val>
</class>
<code>332</code>
</class>
<stayawake>true</stayawake>
<class cl="Action" sr="act4">
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
</class>
<code>332</code>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act2">
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg4">
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg3">
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg2">
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
<val>15</val>
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
</class>
<code>30</code>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act3">
<code>41</code>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg1">
<val>%LOC</val>
</class>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg0">
<val>%SMSRF</val>
</class>
</class>
</class>
<nid>0</nid>
<tv>1.0.5</tv>
</class>
*** Lost or stolen.prf.xml ***

I see that the profile includes the task, but here is the task
separately.

*** SmsSendLoc.tsk.xml ***
<class cl="Task" sr="">
<nme>SmsSendLoc</nme>
<id>66</id>
<class cl="Action" sr="act1">
<code>159</code>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
<val>1</val>
</class>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg0">
<val>Sample Checkpoint</val>
</class>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act0">
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
<val>1</val>
</class>
<code>332</code>
</class>
<stayawake>true</stayawake>
<class cl="Action" sr="act4">
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
</class>
<code>332</code>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act2">
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg4">
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg3">
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg2">
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
<val>15</val>
</class>
<class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
</class>
<code>30</code>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act3">
<code>41</code>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg1">
<val>%LOC</val>
</class>
<class cl="StringArg" sr="arg0">
<val>%SMSRF</val>
</class>
</class>
</class>
*** SmsSendLoc.tsk.xml ***


Like others suggested, I would add an Alert:Notify to your task. I
recently wrote the task to grab the location (%LOC) then create a
google map, then use is.gd and later bit.ly to create a tiny url for
the map, then the whole thing was sent with a blurb via SMS to ping.fm
to tell the world where I was. As you can imagine, it was
intermittently frustrating. But using notifications to narrow down
where the fault was really helped. I took some of them out of my
"production" task, but the last one I kept. It would be easier if
Tasker would put a copy of the sent SMS in my message list, but it
doesn't, so I like to know when it sends messages.

Good luck,

Dave

[Dave]

I think, based on my test, that the fault is in the sms to Google
Voice. You might be sending to the gateway, rather than the
originating phone. The gateway was the number in the %SMSRF that I
got.

If you put the number you are sending to in the notify, then you will
A) know the task is running, and B) know that it is being sent to the
right number.

My $0.02.

Dave

On Aug 4, 7:29 am, "J. Hazelip" <haze...@gmail.com> wrote:
> If *peanut* worked, wouldn't that send my location to every sender using the
> word?
>

[J. Hazelip]

Something really weird happened this afternoon.  After I created a task for the profile toggle where the gps location is obtained (still unsure how that actually works) some kind of logjam unstuck.  Everyone who texted a keyword to me got three to ten replies with some GPS coordinates and my custom text.  It all started about an hour and a half after my last tester sent what appeared to be yet another failed test.

I'm going to try Dave's task and profile, and if this just doesn't work, I think I'll just download a free app that handles this.  I've found a couple that look promising.

By the way, I tried alogcat, but that is one confusing, scrolling deluge of information.

[J. Hazelip]

Okay, using a very simplified version of Dave's profile and task, I have finally been able to successfully receive an SMS and then reply with the phone's GPS coordinates and activate the keyguard with lock pattern.  Yay!

Thanks, Dave.  Being able to work backwards from a working example was just what I needed.

Dave, could I take a look at that Google Map thingy you whipped up?  I would think that setting this task to then post to my social networks could help with my friends possibly finding the phone on the go, too.  Maybe a Foursquare login?  That might be pushing it...

Funny to be putting this much work into something I hope I never use...

Thanks again, people.  You all helped me hold onto my meager sanity for a little while longer.

-Jake

[Dave]

I am glad that it is working for you now. The discussion of my Google
Map shortener is here:

http://groups.google.com/group/tasker/browse_thread/thread/1b70156d171c22ee/

Note that some wrapping occurred in the tasks which I'll copy below.
It is ... maps?q=%LOC on one line.

1. Net: HTTP Get
Server:Port = 'is.gd/api.php?longurl=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=
%LOC'
Timeout = 10
Mime Type = text/plain

2. Phone: Send SMS
Number = 9188144042 (this is ping.fm)
Message = 'Hey, I am here %HTTPD'

In Step 2, %HTTPD contains the response from the is.gd server with the
shortened map URL.


In your case, you'll just use %HTTPD as part of your returned
message. As you can see, it is very simple to turn the LAT/LON into
something someone can use.

I call your attention to this profile:

http://tasker.wikidot.com/locatephone

It actual creates an address based on the GPS location. You might
like that better. For me, I'd rather have a push pin on a map,
because the address is approximate from a GPS approximation. For
example, it returned an address for the house behind mine, on a
different street.

But heck, when your phone is lost or stolen, you can afford to send
out a crap ton of SMSs to recover it. Send both the map, the %LOC,
and the address. Whatever it takes to get it back.

Hope this helps,

Dave