Instead of expensive smartphones, you can surf home-made trackers based on an ESP32 in Apple’s rescue network, which can do much more than the company intends.
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ESP32 project: Building a tracker for Apple’s Find My network Building an AirTag clone with OpenHaystack Transmission of any data Stealth mode Summary Read the article in Make Magazin 1/2023
You’ve probably heard of Apple’s Find My protocol for offline searches for devices from this manufacturer. Now implemented in over a billion devices, it enabled Apple to introduce the AirTag: a low-cost, low-power location beacon with worldwide coverage but that doesn’t require a GPS or cellular modem.
But did you know that you can also use the Find My network with your own tracker? And can even transfer any data over the network? Or run your own tracker in a special stealth mode to track your items without alerting potential thieves?
This article explains how the protocol works and how to use and even extend this ubiquitous network with home-made AirTag clones.
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