GPS Bus-tracking on the cheap

Step 3 Download free InstaMapper software to your phone

Again, the InstaMapper tutorial covers this step and the previous one quite thoroughly; I highly recommend reading their DIY section.  More of the basics:

Your phone needs to send its position to the internet so you can get a hold of it.  InstaMapper is one way to do this; please read the tutorial linked above.  You'll install the IM 'GPS Tracker' software as a Java app on your phone.  This will send coordinates and other information to your InstaMapper account.  (PS, it's fun to play with IM in many applications outside of transportation-tracking.)

Though InstaMapper is free-of-charge, the development team does not have plans to release the source files of their Java app.  Alternatives to IM that I have not personally tested include Mologogo, OpenGTS, and GPSMapper.  Know some more?  Post a comment or send me a message.

IM limits its update frequency based on whether anyone is viewing the tracking information on your IM account's webpage and also according to your rate of travel.  This is explained in the IM FAQ.  I initially thought these limits would be debilitating but they have not proven to be an issue through initial testing.

Now you have a personal GPS tracking system based on your little phone there.  You can log on to InstaMapper and see a screen like the one below.