Managing your vehicle resources is a lot easier these days with vehicle tracking GPS technology. Whether you are a fleet manager who manages a hundred vehicles or an individual who has a nspecial car, GPS tracking technology will help you keep track of your vehicle assets.
Basically there are two types of GPS tracking technology used to track and manage vehicles. The cheapest and also the one that has been around for the longest period is called “GPS Logging”. GPS logging units are generally placed in a vehicle for a set amount of time and then are retrieved. The unit is normally attached to a computer where the logging software up loads the data into a data base. The information is displayed in map and table form for analysis and use. Logging GPS units are useful due to the fact that they are generally small and inexpensive. They also are very reliable. The major drawback to these vehicle tracking GPS units is that the information is old. Never the less you can make management decisions based on the information loggers provide.
The second and newest type of vehicle tracking GPS technology is called “Real Time” GPS tracking. Just as the name implies real time GPS tracking provides relatively current tracking information on each vehicle being tracked. These tracking units are generally larger and more costly than logger units. They are comprised of a GPS unit and a communication unit. In addition you will have to use a GPS tracking Service Company to access your tracking information. Tracking information is uploaded using standard cell phone or satellite phone technology to the tracking service company which in turn makes it available to its customers.
The service company normally charges a monthly fee for this service. Many service companies provide the tracking equipment and do the vehicle installations. However you can purchase the vehicle tracking GPS equipment and do the installation yourself. If you choose this route you will have to do maintenance and repair work yourself as well.
The real time tracking information is uploaded at different intervals specified by the customer depending on their need. Cross country trucking firms normally have tracking information uploaded every 30 minutes where as a delivery service may need uploads as frequently as every 5 minutes so as to respond to customer pickup orders. As a general rule the more often you require an upload the more the GPS tracking Service Company will charge.
The service company will provide a number of mapping and data base services to the customer including the standard mapping with speed, direction, time stopped and time en route. Advanced vehicle tracking GPS systems provide information on the fuel use, engine performance and fluid levels. Other services such as geo fencing which sends an alarm when a vehicle leaves its assigned area or is being used outside of normal working hours are also available.
Again whether you are a business with a large fleet of vehicles or private citizen, vehicle tracking GPS technology will help you keep track of and manage your vehicle resources.
By: Jim Kesel
Posts Tagged ‘Data Base’
Using Vehicle Tracking GPS Technology
December 2nd, 2009GPS Individual Tracking, Keeping Track of Vulnerable Loved Ones
November 22nd, 2009
It seems that the world is becoming even more dangerous each day. The news reports bring tales of missing children, men, women and senior citizens. Many have medical conditions that require medicines every few hours. Others are victims of crime or accidents. Family and volunteers spend enormous amounts of energy and expense searching for these people. Sadly these incidents end in tragedy. The answer may lie in new technology in the form of GPS individual tracking devices. New GPS device technology has developed individual tracking devices to be made small enough to hang on a belt or around your neck like a pendant or on your wrist just as a watch would. These new non intrusive tracking devices use a combination of GPS and cell phone technology to report its location at timed intervals. Areas that have limited cell phone coverage generally do not offer individual tracking services. New battery technology allows these devices to continue to function for as long as 24 hours before needing to be recharged. Information that is uploaded through the cell phone system is sent to a data base maintained by a cell phone tracking provider where it can be downloaded to your computer, PDA or cell phone.
The system can be programmed to email you if your child or vulnerable individual has traveled out of bounds such as leaving a school, home or treatment facility. This is also handy for keeping track of your teens as well. However many teens feel that GPS individual tracking is an infringement on their personal freedoms. The information on the direction and speed of travel are readily available to allow you to intercept the individual are tracking. Think of the peace of mind that you will have knowing that you can log into your laptop and ascertain the location information of your loved ones day or night. Specialized units even have an alert feature that can be initiated to bring help or medical assistance. Your GPS tracking service provider will automatically notify authorities even if you are not available to respond in a timely manner. The individual that is being track is carrying a cell phone they can be called to ascertain the type of assistance needed. All of which will keep your loved ones safe and reduce your stress and anxiety levels.
The smaller GPS individual tracking devices are relatively expensive. The smaller the device is the higher the cost. In addition the smaller devices require more frequent battery charges to keep them working properly. The cost of tracking varies greatly depending on where you live and what services you require. However considering the value most of us place on our loved ones it may seem a bargain over time.
By: Jim Kesel
How To Detect GPS Tracking Units
November 1st, 2009
The new GPS auto tracker technology allows just about anyone to track anyone else. In addition almost all new cell phones have GPS tracking capabilities built in to them. Some even have the ability to transmit location information even with the battery removed. All of which make you wonder what happened to personal privacy. The answer is that there really is no privacy. Granted there are legal restrictions as to how and when you can use the new tracking technology however detecting GPS tracking units can sometimes be difficult.
There are basically two types of GPS tracking device technology available to the public. The simplest is called a passive or logger tracking device. This device is also the most difficult to detect and defend against. These devices can be as small as a matchbook and can be hidden just about anywhere. They are attached to a vehicle or individual and after a specific amount of time they must be retrieved. After retrieval the device is usually attached to a personal computer and the information is downloaded into a data base that is provided by the device manufacture.
Probably the best defense against passive/logger tracking devices comes in the form of a GPS blocker. These small units normally plug into your automobiles cigarette lighter port and provide protection for about 30 feet in any direction. Small handheld units are also available that run on batteries that also provide short range blocking. These units can range in price from $200 to $850.
The second type of GPS auto tracker or personal GPS tracking units are called real time tracking devices. These units do just as the name implies, provide current real time location information on the individual or vehicle that is being tracked. This accomplished through the use of cell phone technology. Recent technology improvements have greatly reduced the size and reliability of these tracking devices. You can purchase a battery operated unit the size of a small cell phone that will provide tracking information for up to a week before the battery requires charging. More commonly these units are attached to a vehicle and use the vehicles power supply to provide power to the tracking unit.
Real time tracking devices generally require the user to contract with a GPS tracking service company. These companies frequently provide the tracking devices and the software necessary to track the device on your personal computer. Depending on the contract the information is uploaded to you at time specific intervals. The most common information uploads range from 5 to 10 minutes.
Defending against this type of tracking device is relatively easy with a combination cell phone/GPS blocking device. These units range in cost from $300 to more than $1000. Of course either a cell phone or a GPS blocking device may accomplish the same affect. In addition if you feel that you are being tracked illegally you can contact your local law enforcement agency and let them do a scan of the vehicle or personal effects in question. Many small law enforcement agencies do not have this capability and in that case you have the option to purchase a scanning unit and do the scan yourself.
A word to the wise if you are involved in a criminal enterprise. Much of what we have outlined here will not prevent US government agencies from tracking you and your vehicles.
In most cases it is illegal to track just about anyone without their permission. However given the fact that is so hard to detect many tracking devices it is likely that illegal GPS auto tracker and personal tracking device technology will continue to be used.
By: Jim Kesel
