Is the technology NOW available to CHEAPLY track the real time
location of equipment implanted with some sort of tracking chip?

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Clarification of Question by davemudra-ga on 27 Jul 2004 17:48 PDT

Cheaply (meaning less than $100.00 per chip)

Define cheaply.  Because talking about government/military "cheaply"
and consumer line "cheaply" are two totally different things.

Currently, technology exists for a couple thousand dollars to track
cars in real time (i.e. OnStar).

I found a site that sells GPS receivers for 109 bucks. 
http://www.youreq.com/outdooreq/gpsunits/handheld/cobra/gps-100.asp?bhcp=1

Now, assming that there is a little (or a lot) of markup, and cost for
things you'd not need in a pure tracking divice (eg a screen, user
inputs, etc), I'm guessing that the actual GPS components are about 60
dollars in there. Which should answer the question. However, there'd
need to be more than just the chip to make tracking device, eg,
transmitter, power supply, etc. Also, size and weight may or may not
be an issueb for your application.

100 bucks?  No way in heck.  Right now, receivers alone cost $100, as
nano pointed out.  For transmitting and/or recording capabilities,
you're looking at more like $300

http://www.vehicle-tracking.com/

How accurately do you need to track the equipment?  Mobile phones can
be tracked, though the accuracy isn't as good as a GPS based system.

Ian G.