What is it?

A small device that helps you stay connected to your car through your smartphone. This plug-and-play device connects to the cloud over a 2G SIM card which comes pre-installed; and thereby to the user’s smartphone to monitor the vehicle for its security, health and performance. Once properly installed and synced, the user can track his/her vehicle, get alerts if the car is being towed away or stolen, alert emergency contacts in case of an accident and even measure fuel efficiency and other analytics.

The vision behind the inception of this product is to connect all cars to the internet, so that all car owners can manage all aspects of their car from anywhere, with just a tap on their smartphone. So, how practical and effective is it? We will share our initial impressions through this first report, followed by another one in the next few days.

What's in the box?

This new device is the fourth generation of its kind and it comes in an attractive conical charcoal-grey box that looks quite impressive. The grey and black plug-and-play adapter is what goes into the OBD (on-board diagnostics) port of your car. The fit and finish is nice and smooth and makes for a very sturdy contraption. The box, in addition, contains a simple instruction manual and an extender cable with tape, in case the OBD port of your car is in a cramped, hard-to-reach corner.

How to install it?

Since Carnot is a plug-and-play device, its installation is as easy as connecting a pen-drive to a USB port. But before you do that, you need to find out the OBD port of your car, which is generally located below the steering wheel of your car. Carnot’s website and app have a video installation guide for most popular brands and models of cars available in the Indian market. So in case you have any difficulty in finding the OBD port, you can search for your car model and quickly get an idea about how to plug the device in your vehicle.

Once plugged in, you can download the Carnot phone app which will provide you with all the necessary information. The app will first ask for three emergency contacts to be stored. These contacts will be informed through a text message with your car’s GPS location in case of an accident so that they can provide help. Next, the basic information of your car can be entered with a unique 16-digit code provided in the instruction manual. Make sure your car is not in an enclosed place like an underground parking lot, while installing the device. It needs to be in the mobile range to successfully connect to your app the very first time. Start the car and you are good to go!

How does it work?

It should be noted that it’s absolutely necessary to have an internet connection on your smartphone. Only then, will you be able to get all the real-time updates from anywhere. Of course, you can connect through Bluetooth, but that’s only when your phone is in the car. This smart device gets connected with your car's on-board computer through the diagnostics port. The on-board computer collects data from all its sensors in the car and provides it to Carnot. The device analyses this data and sends across all the relevant information to your smartphone. So, wherever you are, you will be able to see this information on the Carnot app over the internet.

Where can I buy it from?

The Carnot device can be booked from their official website - www.carnot.co.in at a price of Rs 5,999. The company is giving away this product at this special price for now. Otherwise, it retails at Rs 6,999. The manufacturer also ships it with one year of free data subscription and roadside assistance. Post one year of its use, there will be a minimal recurring annual charge of Rs 900. Alternatively, the device can now be bought through Amazon.in as well.

We plan it use the device extensively over the next 15 days. So in our next report we will explain its benefits while practically using it in different situations and at different places.

Click here to read the second report of Carnot's GPS Tracking and Car Security Product

Pictures by kapil Angane