There are three major types of GPS vehicle tracking; cellular based tracking, wireless passive tracking and satellite based real-time GPS tracking. This article will outline the advantages and disadvantages associated with all three types of GPS Vehicle Tracking.

Cellular Based Tracking

The initial costs for setting up the system are slightly lower than the other two options. With cellular based tracking average costs are about $500. A cellular based tracking system transmits information about where a vehicle is every five minutes over a land network. The average monthly costs are about thirty-five dollars for airtime and for the information to be displayed over the internet.

Wireless Passive Tracking

A major advantage to this type of tracking system is that there is no monthly fee, so once the system is set up there will be no other costs associated with it. However, setting up the system is a little expensive. The average is about $700 for the hardware, and $800 for the software and database. With this type of system most people say the disadvantage is that the information about where the vehicle has been can only be found out when the vehicle returns back to the companies base. This is a major drawback especially for companies that are looking for a tracking system that will tell them where their vehicle is if it has been stolen or in an accident. However many systems are now inserting wireless modems to their devices so that tracking information can be viewed without having the memory card from the vehicle. With wireless modem wireless passive tracking systems are also able to collect information about how fast the vehicle is traveling, stops made and other detailed information. With this new addition many companies feel this system is a perfect fit because there is still no monthly bill.

Satellite Based Real-Time Tracking

This type of system gives less detailed information, but it works nationwide, which makes it a good choice for shipping and trucking companies. The costs for setting up the system average around $700. The monthly fees for this system vary from five dollars up to one hundred dollars; based on how detailed a company wants the reports to be.

New Technology

In the next few years GPS tracking will be able to provide companies with a number of other advantages. Some companies have already set up a way to have a customers sign and run credit cards onsite through the unit. Others are setting up ways for dispatchers to send re-routing information directly to a drivers GPS unit. Another new advancement for GPS systems is that they will have internet access and stored information about the vehicle so that a driver or mechanic can use the GPS unit to look up diagrams to help them fix the vehicle. In addition to this all of the information will be stored and saved in the companies database.

By: Chris Simons