Do I need a Passive or Real Time GPS Vehicle Tracking System?
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Improvements in technology and reduced manufacturing costs have seen many new vehicle tracking systems coming on to the market in the last year or so.
As a consumer this is excellent as it gives you a greater choice, but with that bigger choice can come more confusion often making it harder to make that final decision on what to buy.
The best way to research a market like this is to look at what is already popular and selling well, because many will have already done the research on these items and made the decision on what is the best GPS vehicle tracking device or system.
These makes it easier for you, but in the GPS vehicle tracking marketplace there is something you need to know which is fundamental to the choice that you will eventually make.
Currently there are 2 types of vehicle tracking devices to look out for. These are Real-time and Passive. They have many differences.
Real Time GPS Vehicle Tracking System
A Real Time vehicle tracking system allows you to locate a vehicle live by logging on to a website or other specialist software on your PC at any time of the day or night.
Once you are connected to the Internet you will be able to view realtime information on the current location, speed and direction of travel of one or more vehicles. This information will be displayed on maps to show you exact locations to within about 15 meters. Additional analysis functions may also be available but will depend on the software provided.
Vehicle tracking devices which use real time technology will require a monthly subscription to use the service and this price will vary from company to company so shop around. Normally a subscription will be purchased along when you by the GPS tracking device.
Real time GPS vehicle tracking is normally used by companies and fleet managers, but there are now some innovative solutions available to consumers and these are proving to be very popular.
Passive GPS Vehicle Tracking System
A Passive GPS tracking system is nowhere as sophisticated as a real time system and because of this it is less expensive.
Passive tracking devices are self-contained compact portable units that are placed somewhere inside a vehicle and which will record locations, movement and speed of the vehicle it is in.
They are restricted on how long they can record data. This is not due to battery power but to the memory storage capacity of the unit.
To access and view the information they record you have remove the unit from the vehicle, connect it to your PC or laptop computer, usually through a USB port, and then download the data to you computer.
Using software on your computer or via an internet web site interface you will be able to view on a detailed street map where the vehicle has been in intervals of probably about 15 minutes. Information on the speed the vehicle has been traveling will also be available.
Passive vehicle tracking systems are easy to setup and use and a are perfect for parents who want to monitor the driving habits of there children. For an example of a professional GPS mini-tracker have a look at the unit sold by Track Key.
So many types of vehicles can be monitored and tracked with a GPS vehicle tracking system, including a Car, Truck, SUV, Motorcycle, ATV, Big Rig, Camper, Van, Minivan, RV, Boat, Trailer etc. In fact the list is probably endless!
Benefits of a Portable GPS Vehicle Tracking Device
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The advance of technology, miniaturization, more powerful GSM networks and the implementation of high sensitivity GPS has prompted the development of a new breed of portable vehicle tracking system.
The tracking devices for these systems are truly portable and will work anywhere in the world, which basically means you can now track anything, anywhere!
Portable GPS Tracking will Operate Anywhere!
The integrated high sensitivity GPS ensures that these devices will operate in places where previous GPS units did not, such as in urban canyons, in natural canyons, under heavy foliage and even indoors.
These compact devices can be easily attached to any tracking subject as they are so small and can utilize a magnetic mount. The units have a long lasting rechargeable built-in battery for their own power source and an integrated antenna system and therefore don’t need to be wired in to anything else. They are highly reliable, completely independent and portable units with no installation costs.
Because of the highly sensitive nature of the internal antenna these units permit installation in locations where a direct sky view is not actually available. This makes them particularly suitable for operation in and under vehicles.
Some can even be remotely configured from a PC using a web site interface on the Internet.
A web interface is also the normal way for viewing and monitoring the current location and status of the device and to look at historical data on when the unit (or vehicle) has moved, stopped, started and where.
Applications for a Portable GPS Vehicle Tracking System
Vehicle Tracking is easy as these devices allow you to monitor the location of vehicles and other moveable assets of all kinds.
Asset Tracking by using the units hidden in valuable goods to track them when out for delivery or transfer.
Theft Prevention by using the tracking device to monitor the position of valuable items like cars, autos, vans, trucks, boats and trailers for long periods and be informed when they start to move.
Covert Surveillance on-demand by quickly attaching units to targets which can now be tracked in difficult environments.
New Business Concepts can be designed and realized because each unit is compact and totally self-contained.
Your imagination is the only limit on what you will be able to do with a portable GPS Vehicle Tracking System.
How Does A GPS Vehicle Tracking System Work?
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A vehicle tracking system using GPS takes the location, speed, direction and time data provided via satellite from the Global Positioning System to the GPS receiver unit in a vehicle and transmits it to a central computer connected to a private network or the Internet.
Vehicle Tracking Systems are Easy to Use
If you are the user of a GPS vehicle tracking system you will be able to sit at your PC or laptop computer, login to the system and monitor the movement, direction and speed of any vehicle that has a GPS tracking unit installed for your system.
You should also be able to look back at historical data of where the vehicle has been, when it was there and how long it stayed there.
On more expensive systems the amount of historical data you can store is considerable and you will also get analysis tools to monitor trends and calculate vehicle running costs.
You will be able to do this at any time because the GPS unit in the vehicle will operate correctly in all weather conditions.
GPS Vehicle Tracking is Very Accurate
Because they use GPS, these tracking systems are extremely accurate and will be able to show you vehicle positions on a digital street map that is correct to within 15 meters.
For the user GPS tracking is very powerful yet simple and easy to use. If you can use a computer you will have no problem enjoying all the functionality that it has to offer.
The latest development of these systems now allows you to view the vehicle location data on a map on your cell phone, which is updated automatically every couple of minutes.
Vehicle Tracking Systems can provide a lot of Historical Data
For the fleet manager or anyone running company cars, vehicle tracking systems are invaluable as they can provide up to date and historical data on routes taken for all their drivers whenever they are driving. If they are doing overnight or late deliveries you can check the system first thing next morning to check that everything went to plan.
With the lower priced consumer GPS tracking products you may find that in order to used the data it records you will have to take the unit out of the vehicle and connect it to your PC or laptop via a USB port. The data can then be uploaded and viewed on mapping systems such as Google Earth.
However there are also tracking systems for the consumer which operate similarly to the systems used by fleet managers, but these will obviously cost more and there is normally a monthly subscription.
The best GPS Vehicle Tracking System for you is the one that provides you with what you want and is affordable.
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