GPS for Tracking
GPS for Tracking involves the use of Global Positioning System tools to record the movement of tracking devices over time. Often these tracking devices communicate their location back to a monitoring station by way of cellular phone technology and the Internet.
The GPS navigation system that most people use to electronically map their way from point A to point B is now able to track automobiles, work vehicles, and even people. GPS for tracking technology is like having a land based radar system, and can map out where your “stuff” is. Imagine the types of commercial operations that could effectively utilize these types of locators:
- Delivery vehicles and couriers
- Emergency services
- Utilities, Telecommunications crews
- Maintenance personnel
- Lawn and Landscape Teams
- Pest control
- Electrical and Plumbing Contractors
- Trucking
- Sales organizations
- Government fleet management
For personal use, wouldn’t it be nice to know if your teenager is where he or she SAID they were? And one of the most popular uses of GPS for tracking recently has been to check up on the likelihood that a spouse or partner might be cheating!
There are two main types of GPS units that are used for tracking, you will need to decide which one your situation warrants.
Real Time Tracking:
If you need to know the whereabouts of your GPS at any time of the day or night, this type of real-time unit
is what you will need. GPS technology is coupled with cell phone technology to give you live updates of where your device is at any given moment. Whether you’ve snapped it in a magnetic case
to covertly snap underneath your car, or if you simply hide it in your boyfriend or girlfriend’s overnight bag, this is the smallest GPS we’ve found. It was even featured on a CSI episode! This unit has a rechargeable battery that can run the unit for almost a week, and features a panic button if you want the carrier (or courier) to be able to alert you if there is a problem. (A text or email message can be sent immediately upon pushing the button.) You can even be alerted when the device “travels” beyond a certain perimeter that you have established on your map!
Be aware that real time trackers will also require a cell phone type data plan. Many are now available on a month to month basis, and do not require a long term contract. Be sure you read the details though, there may be an activation charge and some special services (panic buttons, alerts, etc.) may be priced separately. These extra costs can often be more than offset by savings in fuel, employee efficiency, and if mounted permanently, insurance premiums. (Check with your insurance agent.)
As an example of a permanent solution this GPS Tracking model
can be wired permanently to a vehicle’s electric system, so battery replacement is not an issue. These units can also be programmed with various “alert” parameters to notify you if certain routes or speed limits have been ignored.
Loggers:
There is a less expensive type of GPS for tracking. These loggers are not “live”, but can internally record where they have been, what time they were in various locations, headings, speed, etc. The data logs can then be downloaded to your computer and then mapped out for your review. Nicknamed “tracksticks”
, they can be hidden just about anywhere. Long battery life and no monthly operating costs make owning one of these a no-brainer. The Trackstick Mini runs on a built-in lithium-ion battery that can be recharged in about an hour through your computer’s USB port. Again, No monthly fees are required to operate, and the tracking and even geo-tagging software is provided with the unit. It comes with a magnetic, weatherproof mount that will allow operations in all kinds of environments.
You will finally be able to check out the whereabouts of:
- Teenagers and their friends
- Employees in your company vehicles
- Heavy construction equipment that got “borrowed”
- Spouses and mates that you suspect of cheating
With your GPS that you’re using now, it’s easy to find out where you are and where you’re going; with the new GPS Vehicle trackers you can find out where your stuff is and where it’s been.
