Milwaukee’s Tick is a One-Key-compatible tool tracker. I spent some time on the phone with a Milwaukee product manager earlier this week, hoping to understand the product a little better.
I like to think that I have a much better understanding of the Milwaukee Tick, and hope that by the end of this post you’ll feel the same.
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As always, I’m not here to tell you to buy it, or to not buy it. But hopefully you’ll be in a better position to make that determination for yourself.
To start, the Tick is on sale right now, for $10 each at Home Depot. They’re typically $30 each individually (48-21-2000).
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
$10 is a pretty low-risk investment, at least compared to $30, and is exactly half of the price you pay for each when you buy a 50-pack.
The sale pricing is expected to last thru 5/17/2017.
What does it do?
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Potential Stolen Tool Recovery
Well, I thought the biggest selling point was that it could help the recovery of stolen tools. And it can – I was told that there are a couple of success stories each month.
The One-Key Tick does not guarantee that stolen tools will be recovered, but it increases the chances. As Milwaukee’s One-Key user network grows, so does the tracking network.
Tools have been recovered at pawn shops, swap meets, and even a Milwaukee service center.
Tool Tracking and Management
The primary function of the Tick is for YOU to interact with YOUR tools. Lots of tools are left behind at jobsites, and especially commercial jobsites.
Consider the service tech that might leave a drill in a ceiling, or behind a machine. Or a tradesmen that leaves a ladder behind.
It does happen. Friends and contractors have left their tools behind here, numerous times. Once there was a ladder left behind, another time scaffolding.
Maybe someone else on a larger commercial jobsite borrowed your air compressor.
Or your generator.
The One-Key app will tell you where your smartphone last saw your One-Key or Tick-attached tool or equipment.
While I can see the benefit for service techs and teams working on a larger jobsite, there are benefits for smaller residential contractors as well.
When we had some demo work done to prepare for a renovation, the contractor showed up with his trailer, and left it in the drive for a few days. Let’s say his partner had to bring it elsewhere. Having One-Key Tick tracking on that trailer, and the One-Key app on the phones, will allow for knowing where that trailer is, without having to make guesses.
Where’d we leave that ladder? With a Tick attached to the ladder, the One-Key app will answer that question.
One-Key Network
Tracking is well executed, if your tool is being tracked by your phone. You can hide your tools from other One-Key users’ apps, but their phones will still detect the tool and you will receive a location update.
Milwaukee is seeking to grow the One-Key network, and doing so will only make things better for everyone. The more One-Key app users, the greater the chances of stolen tool recovery.
That’s why I think they’ve priced the Tick so low – because Milwaukee wants to expand the One-Key network.
The app is pretty decent too, and I’m tempted to use it to track what comes in for review. And I mean track in regard to inventory management – I’m not going to attach a Tick to everything.
How it Tracks
When the app is active, it can pick up a One-Key tool or Tick’s broadcast, which is sent out every 8 seconds. If the app picks up the same tool at the same location, it’ll update the location info to the Cloud every 5 minutes to save data and battery life.
When the app has been fully terminated, an iOS device will “wake up” the One-Key app when it detects a One-Key or Tick device, and then send an update to the Cloud. Android devices work a little differently. In an Android device, the One-Key app is opened every 5 minutes for a bluetooth scan and location update before closing.
Android 7.0 tend to suppress these types of “wake up” actions for fully terminated apps, and so Milwaukee is working on an update. Apparently Samsung devices especially do this, to help conserve as much battery life for their high resolution screens as possible, and so occasionally there need to be device-specific fixes.
What I found to be optimistic is that Milwaukee is dedicated to providing everyone with a good One-Key app experience.
I was surprised that the product manager was so well-informed about the nuances between One-Key and Android workings of the app, and even more surprised when we talked about they why and how.
Because you’re not actually connecting to a Tick device, there’s no practical limit as to how many different One-Key and Tick devices are being tracked. Ticks and One-Key devices are “advertising” their ID – that’s all. It’s not the same as connecting to a One-Key tool for the purpose of tool customization.
What Information is Collected?
Ben asked a good question, and I passed it along to Milwaukee. What information do they collect and track? I was told that there are 2 buckets of information that they collect separately – general anonymous demographics information, at the “metro” level, and device information. This is similar to the general information that websites collect in access logs.
The other bucket of information has device ID and latitude and longitude information – a tool or Tick’s coordinates. It doesn’t track people, it simply tracks the tools.
All you need to use the app and all its functionality is an email address and password to register with.
Tick Mounting Options and Environmental Durability
The Tick is actually a robust piece of hardware. It’s solidly built, and rated to IP67 standards. That means it’s dust-tight and can be immersed in water up to 1 meter (3.3 feet).
You can fasten it to tools or equipment via screws, pop rivets, or nylon zip ties, and can probably use adhesives too if you’re careful to not prevent it from being opened for battery replacement.
The CR2032 battery should last a year, and is user-replaceable.
If you want to swap a Tick around to different pieces of equipment, zip ties are a good choice. Or perhaps you could fix a strong magnet to the back.
Will the App Cost Money?
This was a big concern of mine, that Milwaukee would sell Ticks and One-Key devices, but later decide that the app wouldn’t be free, or that not all features would be included in the free version.
I was told that the app will continue to be 100% free, and I found it to be convincing.
If there was a different device, let’s call it a Leech, which updated its location via built-in cellular radio, I can see that requiring a paid subscription, especially if the hardware cost was subsidized. But as far as I know, that’s not in the works.
Should You Buy One?
They’re on sale for $10, thru 5/17/2017, unless supplies run out sooner. That’s as low as it will ever get.
Milwaukee wasn’t able to talk about some of the other things they’re working on, but they did say they haven’t yet scratched the surface of what could be done, in regard to both hardware and software.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Will You Buy One?
I’m curious to hear if you already buy a Tick? Will you buy one now, during its $10 sale period?
The sale is only at Home Depot, online and in-store.
Thank you to Milwaukee for sending a review sample unconditionally.
rob
Looks interesting, I am wondering if you could add them to items outside of the tool realm. Specifically items like boats/trailers that can “Walk away” from storage or even the front of a house sometimes. I do like the idea of adding them to high dollar tools, one you didn’t mention but often are highly valued by thieves are snowblowers.
Stuart
There’s no reason why you can’t.
But it’s still not very effective as a theft recovery device. The user network has to be a lot larger for that to be a primary feature with high success rate.
rmkilc
As an owner of 3 One-Key tools along with other tools not available with One-Key, this is the primary reason I want to get rid my One-Key tools. They aren’t helping the user network situation by releasing new tools without One-Key like the Surge Impact Driver and the Mid-Torque Impact Wrench, both of which I want. They need to put One-Key in ALL of their tools (even if it’s just the tracking portion) and don’t even offer regular versions, or get rid of One-Key entirely. I have had my One-Key tools for almost a year now, and I’m seriously considering selling them off and getting the regular versions so I can grow my tool collection with consistency.
James C
I’m wondering how the location works. Does it need location services (GPS) enabled on a phone to report the location? I often keep mine turned off unless I’m using it to navigate (I also keep Bluetooth off and I realize that would be an issue). If GPS is not enabled on the phone, will it be able to report an approximate location or some other identifying feature, like wireless network name?
Tom
My question too – how precise are we talking here and is it the location of the tool itself of just the last phone to have seen it? Very different to know that a tool is at a site vs. knowing it’s within a few feet of its reported location. (Both useful, but for different things).
rmkilc
Yes it uses your phones location services. The Android app has some serious issues as it is constantly pinging your location and draining the battery. I had to turn off the location permission. Hopefully they can get this fixed.
Stuart
I believe that location is presently done with GPS.
I’ve checked the location of my Tick, and it places it accurately most of the time, and sometimes it places it about 1000 feet away. That’s with my phone indoors – it’s much more precise when my phone is outside.
Chris
Just a guess, but it’s probably using the location services of your phone, not necessarily GPS. Location services varies by OS, but is normally a mix of GPS, cell tower assisted GPS (A-GPS) and location via known Wi-Fi SSIDs.
Apps can specify different requirements, depending on whether the app is open or not, and on the needs of the device. For the Tick, I’m guessing here that it will rely primarily on the Wi-Fi tracking, and when the phone has a GPS signal for other reasons, it will use that. Especially on iOS, Apple is keen to prevent background apps from requesting GPS location.
Benjamen
To Tom, it reports the location of the phone that saw it last. The Tick itself doesn’t know where it is.
On location I can’t speak authoritatively for Milwaukee, but I can say how locations services work on an Android phone. You have 3 modes:
High Accuracy which uses GPS, Bluetooth, Wifi, Bluetooth, or Cellular networks
Battery Saving which uses WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular networks
Device Only which just uses GPS.
I’m pretty sure the app just asks the phone to use location services and doesn’t access the GPS natively. One you can get a much better location fix using multiple services and two most other apps use location services.
I’ve been playing Pokemon Go with my kids at the Mall of America. The GPS signal rarely works for me in the mall and my phone uses WiFi. I know because I usually shut down WiFi when I’m out, and it won’t give me location inside the mall. It’s really crappy location too, it jumps around a lot.
In fact I had my phone in Battery Saving mode and it still was finding my Tick.
Justin
So if it’s the last phone that picked up on the tick… how close would you have to get to the tick to re establish coordinates…. for instance I travel all over the US for work I had to fly to Colorado and my employees have the tool box in Indiana tracking says last updated the day I left just wondering how close the tracker has to come with someone who has one key to re establish an updated track on my tools
Harrolldean
At this price, definitely!
Big Dan
As a professional criminal, I would hack the app to unhide user ticks and find them myself. Most would only buy them for their valuable tools so I’d be guaranteed to make a profit off of each one I stole.
I jest, but surely this will be done as long as they rely on other user’s phones to detect your tools (hidden or not) to help expand tracking. Otherwise I’d hide these in every Festool I have. In addition to engaving my initials in discreet locations and recording serial numbers.
Maybe if it was tamper proof with some c4 or acid compound to ensure injury on removal?
Stuart
That’s something they’re keeping in mind, that they don’t want devices inside a truck or work box to broadcast their contents to potential thieves.
James C
As an aside, you might consider instead of initials engraving your drivers license serial number. It’s unique to you (no criminal can say “my friend with those initials gave that to me”) and if the tool is found by the police they can actually return it to you. Better yet, engrave it twice, once in an obvious spot and once hidden. Sure, the crook could file off the obvious one but then they might stop looking and miss the hidden one. Also, if the tool is simply lost, you’d want an obvious identifier for someone to be able to return it to you.
Travis
There is one other thing I would consider before committing to this technology. Milwaukee needs to build the network in order for it to be useful as a theft deterrent and that makes sense. However, the more well known and popular they get, the more people (thieves) will know to look (or even scan) for them when they steal things.
JR
Exactly what Travis said. I would like to see independent security review their app and devices to ensure that there is no trivial way to convert this into a tool for thieves.
My experience with other low cost trackers has been less than stellar. Most seem buggy and prone to just dropping off and needing to be constantly re-added to the app. No thanks.
Benjamen
Remember the One-Key tools all have this feature too. If Milwaukee designed the system well, I’d imagine it’d be near impossible to disable the tracking without rendering the tool inoperable. Sure you could take out the coin cell, but One-Key operates off the battery too.
ktash
I’d get one to attach to my keys if it could locate them precisely ;). Kidding aside, it could be helpful for tools or other things that are frequently used and mislaid. I finally put bright orange tape on my black hearing protectors, since I frequently mislay them and they kind of blended into the background.
Steve
Chances of this working as an anti-theft device are worthless.
-The location tracking is tied to the app, and works based on one key app users, not through a GPS signal or something that is standalone.
So unless everybody has the one key app, it is effectively useless.
If everyone has the one key app, – which will allow the product to work to its theoretical potential, then everyone is going to be aware of the milwaukee tick/one key technology.
The person stealing your shit is likely one of the people aware of the technology, so will do a check for the tick, and either unscrew it, smash it off with a hammer, drill out the rivets, destroy the device with an angle grinder, drill, torch, whatever.
There is no way this would actually work.
Stuart
If a One-Key tool or Tick is associated with your account, others won’t see it in their app.
Mark
The point he is trying to make is if someone wants to steal the tool they simply have to remove the tick or the battery and then it’s useless.
Stuart
It seemed like he was suggesting someone could “check for a Tick” via the app. That’s what I was commenting on.
Quite frankly, there are better theft-deterrents than a Tick, visible or not. This isn’t designed to stop thefts.
derek
I had an extended project at large apartment building (new const) for the Chinese Government. They are all thieves. They stole my equipment several times. At the end of the job they stole my entire gang box. Good thing the only thing in it at that point was cement block. HAHA!
I sure would liked being able to find my ladders and such without walking the entire job. I also would have liked to see the look on their faces when I found my job box in one of their offsite work shops. They would have never checked for the tick.
Richard G.
Even though the price now is tempting to buy, but still, as a theft proof device is worthless unless your item will be stolen by some stupid arse cracked. If it would show location precisely within, let’s say 3-6 feet , then you can use it as a good tracking device (withing buetooth range) but still limited to due to range. If it would be a pure GPS thing, no questions even for $30 , bluetooth not so.
John Hooper
Seems like a good idea if I’ve got it right. So each Tik has a unique code and every code is held in a Milwaukee cloud and if the tool is stolen the cloud can send a message to all the app users…..and an alarm is triggered when an app user comes near a Tik on a stolen tool which alerts the owner of the stolen tool.
Yes?
Stuart
There’s no alarm.
I believe reporting it missing simply sends alerts to you, and possibly Milwaukee, that your tool has been found, and where it’s been located.
Dirck
I’ve “deployed” a handful of Ticks sent by Milwaukee for review and have had mixed results. Some items show as being at locations on routes that I drive but not at places I’ve stopped. Sometimes a location is given with surprising accuracy, but sometimes way off. I think the Tick needs to be hidden to have a chance to work as a theft deterrent or recovery aid because it is so easily defeated. You don’t have to hit it with a hammer, just take off the battery cover and remove the battery!
I put one in a vehicle which was last seen by the app 4 days ago. I’ve been within a few feet of this vehicle several times including today, but the app was not turned on and it did not update the location. I suspect that I’m the only one on island with the app, so if I report anything stolen, I’m going to have to cruise near it myself!
Michael Quinlan
Hidden or inconspicuous things don’t really work as theft deterrents; if a potential thief doesn’t know it’s there, how would it deter theft?
Michael Quinlan
Beyond the effectiveness with regard to locating tools or other items, I’d be concerned with battery drain on my phone. I’ve seen too many poorly written and buggy apps that cause a significant battery drain. An app that’s going to wake up my phone every 8 seconds when it’s near a Tick, and then get my location and transmit that information to a cloud service somewhere every 5 minutes seems like an invitation to excessive battery drain.
If I were to use this at all, it would be with the app on my tablet, which typically stays in the truck and connected to a charger. I could then see when a Tick was last near my truck and know which job to go back to and retrieve whatever I left behind.
Michael Quinlan
I discovered that Google’s Play Store says the One-Key app isn’t compatible with my tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab S2). I’m guessing that Milwaukee listed it as requiring a mobile data connection. This could easily change, and I’m 95% certain is would work if I sideloaded it, but it shouldn’t be on me to work around Milwaukee’s restrictions.
ca
An anti-theft device attached with a zip-tie? Surely they jest.
Pete
I dont see this as a “tool tracker” and people keep obsessing over that, i view this as a equipment tracker.
I own a rental company and we have thousands of items that go out and i would love a rfid system to track them all but realistically isnt not finacially feasable or entirely usefull if we’re trying to track down a missing item. So im super interested in this for valuable equipment but im hearing its not particularly usefull for finding missing stuff. We currently use a GPS system that costs us per month and needs to be charged frequently but at $4,000 per item its tracking its worth the cost.
Here’s how i see the tick being useful- a large company with many service trucks and different drivers in the trucks and each truck needing the same special equipment always on the truck. Assign a tick to each tool on truck #1 and label it ie- ‘truck #1 inspection scope’ then before each shift that driver heads out of the gate and does his visual vehicle walk around and opens his one key app and ensures everything in on the truck. Then when leaving a customers house he opens the app and makes sure everything on the truck. Then at end of shift the driver opens it up and checks all the tools for truck #1 are on the truck.
The yeti
Can’t imagine this product being a thing in a few years . I’d say it’s headed for the clearance racks
fred
$9.98 now at Ohio Power Tool – maybe elsewhere too.
So maybe this is an effort to either get it sold/used at a sustainable level – or a harbinger of the clearance rack you talk about.
Stuart
No, it’s a temporary sale. The intent is to lower the barrier to entry and to expand the network to benefit everyone.
fred
You said it better but that was my point when I said “get it sold/used at a sustainable level”. I bet TTI realizes that there needs t be a critical mass of devices/users to make it really attractive.
Jay J Levan
It’s November of 2019 and you can get 4 packs for $12.
And 10 packs for $28. Both on eBay.
I think the same 10 pack is $38 on Amazon.
So, they are between $3 and $4 per tick now.
Steven
Hmm, Im sure would be thieves could just easily take a hammer and a screwdriver and rip the little plastic pod off the tool.
The only truly effective means of stopping theft is punishment so severe, the crime wouldnt be committed(i.e, chopping off fingers, hands) Also, just because you may know where uour stolen tool/s are doesnt mean enforcement will react, or even do anything. Also, you may be put in a legal situation even if you try to take back your stolen stuff(justice system is so effed)
I like Big Dans idea of c4. If my tools stolen, I at least want to make sure that dick of a thief never gets anything from it.
If jurisdictions allowed “just” street justice, Id maybe buy some ticks.
Damian
Would it work inside a tool box? For example. Invest in a snap on, or other truck toolbox… Or even one of those proto boxes you mentioned the other day… Take out all the drawers, pop one of these in a dark corner, or against the top.
If it is stolen, enough people in pawn shops or enough people at garage shops and yard sales, might get a hit?
Mr. Gerbik
Yeah this thing is a gimmick. And a pretty bad one. It only works if someone is using the app. How many people are gonna leave a battery killing app running all day? What’s the proximity? Why is it so easy to remove? There’s not much use of it if I can pop it off with a screwdriver. Something like internal homing beacon or GPS tracking would be worth the money, not an external removable tick. The best way to deter thieves or to not lose tools is pretty simple. Don’t let anyone borrow tools without your supervision. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with telling someone no, you can’t use my tools. I don’t care how mad they get. Never leave tools on site. Anything can happen. If your tools are your livelihood, you don’t leave them & you don’t forget them. Its a lot easier to take an extra half hour or so to load your tools back up at the end of the day than to show up the next day & find your stuff is gone. Also when your done using something for the day, put it back in the truck. I don’t like having to buy my stuff 2 or 3 times over because I didn’t want to take the necessary steps to prevent from doing so.
imdfonz
I am installing v on all our keys car for simple tracking. Blue tooth will be turned on and I will be able to see where the cars have been driven.. let you know how it works
Doresoom
Just a heads up – the current version of the app doesn’t give you a location history – just where the Tick was “last seen” by a BT device with the One-Key app installed. I’m sure Milwaukee could fix this with a software rev, but I haven’t heard any promises that they’ve got this in the works.
Frank
This Is NOT A GPS Tracker. It ONLY WORKS when another phone that has the Milwaukee One Key app. On that phone goes by the lost item that has the TICK attached to it. ONE should to really understand how this is intended to work before one buys this. IT IS NOT A TRUE GPS TRACKER.
ACalz
Just another gimmick Milwaukee pushed out with out thinking, now they are 10 bucks next they will be giving them away when you but a tool. Not worth a penny, you need true GPS tracker to make any difference at all and have any luck finding your items.
trent
Can the app detect if the Tick goes out of range? That is, can it be used to monitor equipment and have the app/phone notify you if it loses connection with the tick?
There are other devices out there that do this.
If the phone gave an alert when the Tick is out of range, it could be used for backpacks and carry-on luggage when traveling, as well as monitoring tools on a job site.
Stuart
I’ll have to check on that. The app will alert you if a “lost” tool or Tick is found, but I don’t think I’ve seen alerts when a tool goes out of range.
When my wife helped me do some testing, there weren’t any alerts when she set out in the mornings. Only looking at the app did I see that it was “last seen” that morning.
I would say that it would not be a good indicator for backpacks or luggage that grow legs and walk away. The response time might not be fast enough, and the range is not strong enough. By the time you pull out your phone to see what it’s buzzing you about, your stuff would be gone.
Maybe there’s a device that maintains connection with a smartphone and then sets off an alarm if it’s taken out of range?
Jeff
this seems to work like the TILE. It uses blue tooth for locating. I have one on my kitty cat. It helps me locate him if he is in Blue Tooth range. I also have one on my key ring. if lost I mark it lost and if somebody who also has the app d/loaded and their blue tooth on it will locate it and send me and alert to the vicinity last seen. Better than nothing for about $10/per
Nick Contos
If not this, then what would you recommend for theft recovery.
I live in the country where locks don’t matter to determined thieves. I haven’t had a problem yet, but I am worried. Some of my neighbors have had issues, and it seems that it’s only a matter of time until someone gets curious about what is inside my shop.
I am desperate for a low cost way of tracking my trailer, hot rod, or tools if and when they go missing.