It's a lot like magic.
Your device tells us which WiFi networks it can see, and we use a WiFi positioning service to locate it on a map. Okay, it's not all magic.
Register your device
Your token is
Install the script
We've created a simple script that sends us data about nearby WiFi APs, each hour. Run this command in your Terminal or go here for manual instructions
Tested successfully on Raspberry Pi 2
wget https://locationmagic.org/install_scripts/locationmagic.sh && sudo bash ./locationmagic.sh -install linux YOUR_TOKEN
Tested successfully on Mac OSX 10.9 ("Mavericks") through 10.11 (El Capitan)
wget https://locationmagic.org/install_scripts/locationmagic.sh && sudo bash ./locationmagic.sh -install osx YOUR_TOKEN
Tested successfully on Ubuntu 14.04. It should work on any Linux flavour that supports `crontab`.
wget https://locationmagic.org/install_scripts/locationmagic.sh && sudo bash ./locationmagic.sh -install linux YOUR_TOKEN
Support for Windows is coming soon.. If you'd like to contribute code, send in a pull request
Start locating!
Your device should have started sending in data.
We haven't received your location yet in the last few seconds. Did the installation go well? Please contact us if you need any help!
What do I need?
You'll need a device - Pi, Macbook, etc - that supports Bash / Shell scripts and WiFi connectivity.
Is the script safe to use?
Yes. We've included the source code of the script here. It's still in BETA though so if your platform isn't listed, we'd recommend a manual installation.
Is there a fee?
None at all! This is a free service from the folks at Unwired Labs.
How does this work again?
Each hour, our script asks your device to search for nearby WiFi networks and tell our service about it. We then use a WiFi positioning service that knows the physical location of these networks to locate your device.
How accurate are these locations?
Typically between 10 and 30 meters. This varies depending on the number of WiFi networks the device is able to send & also the quality of information we have in that area.
Can I delete my data?
Your data is yours to delete. All you have to do is send us a message, we'll wipe it clean from our servers. :-)
How can I contribute.
Awesome! We could always use help porting the installation script to more platforms. Start here!
What's next on roadmap?
We're looking to push out email alerts if your device moves too much right away. If you have something else in mind, tell us!
How do I contact you?
Send us a message here and we'll get back to you within a day.