found tracking device ?

So I just got this truck and have found many things under carpet and other places as I do some deep cleaning to get a stinky funk out of the vehicle.

But yesterday I took apart rear seat to wash the seat covers and clean the foam under it. Because like I said it smells like moldy ...

Found this device attached to the rail of the seat under the foam. Mind you it has a flip switch with battery in it and still emits a red light.

Any idea what this is :

 

I’ve never seen anything like that. Almost looks like a key fob? Maybe it’s an old FOB used at a factory to clock in?

 

Anything on the backside of the board? All I see is an 8 bit microcontroller and some passives, nothing that looks like a transmitter.

edit: That Q1 transistor might be something? I don't really see what it would be driving though.

 

Tracking devices don't have blinking lights. That's some Hollywood magic.

 

It might be a beacon, who knows.
1. Was it on?
2. How was it "attached"?

 

You'd be surprised...

 

Not covert ones...

Also never seen one with a button battery.

But I'm thinking professional grade stuff. Who knows what is coming out on Amazon.

 

It was switched on , But it was not on because battery is old. But after i moved it around it came back on. It was hidden under the seat cushion Behind the plastic. Ziptied to the frame of the seat. So some one did not want it found as it was under layers of the seat. Perhaps his wife was tracking him?

 

Truck starts just fine. I turned the device off. But I am wondering what the heck is going on with this device.

 

I think I figured it out. Its a key finder. Not sure why it was hidden under the truck. But perhaps when he left it going hunting or fishing. Or perhaps wife was checking on him. Only issue is why hide it so deep into the seat and tightly zip tie it.

 

But why hide it so hard?

 

I was on a team that built an autonomous boat (similar to a self driving tesla but for the water) on my senior capstone in college. We used an arduino so it was not nearly as compact as a PCB like this, BUT....that PCB has no GPS antenna. I've never seen one smaller than say my thumbnail or there abouts - the antenna itself would be the size of that button cell, let alone any way to transmit and record the data.

I've identified some stuff on the PCB. All basic components, I think. I have a degree in Mech Eng though, not a spark chaser, so this is the best I can do. I can't ID that blue thing but someone else might be able to and tell you what it does.

 

Ah I was already on my quest when you posted this.

Maybe for this?
https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/blog/car-tracking-device

 

Looks like an adjustable inductor for tuning.

I still don’t see any antennas, but it wouldn’t have to be very big. Definitely no gps. This is more in clap on clap off level of technology.

 

the blue thing looks like a speaker to me. probably a beeper for low battery.

i dont think this thing is a a gps tracker.

 

Similar size ones are out there at Wally World and Amazon and cheap! I don’t think that one is though.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Produes-G...Positioner-New-Arrivals-Hot-Selling/655805683

 

It reminds me of those prank devices that make a noise at random to bother the victim

https://www.thegreenhead.com/2008/12/annoy-a-tron-2.php

$14 AnnoyingPCB - The Prank Device That Won’t Stop Beeping for 3 Years

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KG6XHN1/

 

It's just an older style key finder. Something triggers it and it flashes and beeps to help you find your keys.

 

I had one of these in 2004
Remote controlled fart sound maker.
That's why it was hidden so we'll behind rear seat.