The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. GPS trackers connect to a series of satellites to determine location. The tracker uses a process called trilateration which uses the position of three or more satellites from the (GPS) network and their distance from them to determine latitude, longitude, elevation, and time. It’s easy to figure out how to use a GPS tracker. The tracker is often powered inside the car by the internal battery, cigarette lighter, accessory socket, or onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) connector. The only exception to this rule is GPS trackers which have a long-running internal battery. These GPS trackers are usually built to track assets that have no power supply or source. The data it gathers is then sent to the program which is called a GPS tracking platform, which enables the user to combine and evaluate the data. The GPS platform is a robust software system that will not only report back the location of the tracker but will often grant additional information which will be attached to every single report it requests from the GPS tracker. Dyugps has developed various models of GPS trackers to fit any type of vehicle. The GPS trackers include different ports which can be used to add various accessories such as cameras, temperature sensors, fuel sensors, relays, RFID readers, and more.
GPS trackers may be powered in one of four different ways: battery, hard-wiring, plug-in, or satellite-powered. Which type of device you choose will depend upon your needs and the location where you intend to track. If you will have reasonable access to the device in order to recharge it when appropriate, a battery-powered tracker might be right for you. If the device will be located inside of a vehicle without needing to be moved, a hard-wired device will likely be the best choice. If you plan to use the device in different vehicles on an as-needed basis, the OBD plug-in tracker will provide you with this ease of use. If you are tracking something in the wilderness or at sea where cellular service is unavailable, you may need to go the route of selecting a satellite tracker which is designed for this application. Learn more by exploring our GPS device guide!
Geofences are digital boundaries a user draws on a map in the GPS server. These can be used to demarcate important areas like home, a warehouse, a customer’s business, etc. Alerts are triggered when the GPS tracking device crosses the imaginary boundary line to enter or exit the zone, enabling users to track when the zone was entered or left and for how long. Explore our learning article about geofences to learn about their functions and best uses.
Many GPS trackers are motion-activated to conserve battery life and save on cellular transmission costs. As long as the GPS tracker is not moving, it will only occasionally send updated location information to the user. When a tracker begins to move, the GPS device activates and an update is sent. This is particularly useful for monitoring vehicles that are parked or in storage so the user knows exactly when motion begins. It’s also helpful for conserving battery life while the vehicle is not in motion for a long period of time.
OBD ports, or On-Board Diagnostics ports, are available on all vehicles built for sale in the United States since 1996 and are used to access the computer system for reading emissions tests and diagnosing vehicle problems. This port can also be used for installing additional vehicle components like OBD GPS trackers. An OBD GPS tracker requires only a simple plug-and-play installation and the OBD port provides power directly to the device from the vehicle, eliminating the concern of a dead device battery.
The yearly costs required for GPS tracking cover two things: 1) access to the GPS server which stores your GPS tracker’s location history and 2) the cellular connection used to send the location information to the server so that the user can access the information remotely. Both of these features are required in order for the GPS tracker to function properly and provide the information to the user.
The most accurate GPS tracking takes place outdoors where the tracking device is positioned in the direct line of sight of at least three global positioning satellites. In some cases, a GPS tracker can also use local cellular towers or nearby Wi-Fi to help pinpoint its location if it cannot communicate with a sufficient number of satellites, but the most accurate location tracking will take place outdoors.
The SIM card is the source of the cellular signal in the GPS tracker. While satellites are responsible for locating the device, the cellular signal is required to send this information to the user via the tracking platform. This information may appear in the form of a moving dot on a map or an alert that provides location coordinates.
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