Typical GPS trackers are wireless, pocket-sized gadgets that allow car owners to easily monitor their automobiles’ whereabouts from their cellphones, tablets, and PCs. A GPS tracker may be a lifesaver, whether you’re a fleet operator wanting to increase logistical effectiveness for business goals or simply a worried family member keeping an additional check on a loved one for safety.
These little wireless gadgets provide an additional piece of mind for those who want to monitor vehicle usage and movement. Most common GPS trackers connect to a car’s onboard diagnostic computer connection and determine a vehicle’s location using cellular data networks and the built-in global positioning system to show the site on a digital map. As a result, many trackers need a monthly membership fee to function.
In addition to location tracking, many also feature telemetric capabilities using information gathered from a car’s OBD-II and trip computer. These capabilities include crash detection with automatic roadside assistance calling and connectivity to emergency services, trip logging, and geofencing. They also enable vehicle health monitoring, erratic driving behaviour alerts based on driver input (sudden braking, excessive acceleration, or airbag deployment), and trip logging.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of options since they have been around for a long. We combed through the vast range available to discover the finest GPS trackers money can buy. However, remember that this is not the end of our list of suggestions.
Bouncie
One of the top all-around GPS trackers that money can buy, the Bouncie is still on our favourites list. It is ideal for those who wish to keep tabs on a driver’s whereabouts, productivity, and safety. Its built-in fleet tracking features, including route history recording, speed monitoring, and geofencing, all of which update every 15 seconds, will benefit small enterprises. The Bouncie also has a connection for roadside assistance and accident notification services. Although the purchase price may be higher in the market range, the monthly subscription cost is just $8. In exchange, you get one of the most complete and feature-rich tracking devices available now.
Vyncs Pro 4G+
Do you need to monitor any new drivers? Considering all of the family-friendly features that the Vyncs tracker offers, it is the best option. The Vyncs have the same monitoring capabilities as the Bouncie. Still, it also allows you to set up more precise geofence zones and sends customized driver scorecards that you can use to assist your kids in becoming better drivers. Even though it costs less to acquire than the Bouncie, it does not provide crash detection. However, it may identify irregular or aberrant driving behaviour, including excessive acceleration, abrupt braking, and speeding.
LandAirSea Sync
The LandAirSea Sync accomplishes the job for under $25 and a monthly membership charge of less than $9 if you’re looking for a more budget solution that adheres to vehicle location tracking and speed monitoring fundamentals. A startling feature, particularly at this price, is that the Sync has the quickest refresh rate of any device (updating position and information every three seconds). This enables users to follow cars in nearly real-time. The Sync can remember trip summaries and route history like most devices but has fewer notifications than the other models we’ve chosen.
MOTOsafety
Another excellent substitute for others on this list is the MOTOsafety GPS tracker. It has trip recording, alerts for aberrant driving behaviour, speed and vehicle health monitoring, and location tracking. Users of the MOTOSafety may set warnings for driving outside of allowed hours in addition to the typical functions, which is an apparent absence from many of the competitors. The unit’s refresh rate is the slowest we’ve observed, happening just once per minute, and the monthly subscription is expensive ($25). However, it is still a rival worth considering thanks to its high-quality smartphone software and extensive range of alerts.
MasTrack MT-OBD
The MasTrack MT-OBD tracker is the best option if your company or other commercial organization relies on a fleet of cars. Its name is short for “mobile asset tracking,” it offers all the capabilities you’d expect from a GPS tracker, plus some extras tailored to fleet management. These features include integrated backup batteries, towing alarms, engine idle monitoring, tampering alerts, and speed threshold alerts. Thanks to the built-in software and web-based interface, managers may monitor cars using a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
How To Install a GPS Tracker In a Car
Depending on the kind of GPS tracker you bought, the installation might be as easy as plug-and-play or need some cabling.
It is simple to install trackers that connect to an OBD-2 port, often found beneath the dashboard, next to the driver’s door. To use them, plug them in. You won’t need to worry about finding a power source for your GPS since the tracker is designed to take power from the OBD-2 connector.
Some GPS trackers are designed to draw their power from the car’s battery. They have electrical leads that attach to the battery’s positive and negative terminals, which are colour-coded and typically have one red and one black information. The positive (red) battery terminal is connected to the red lead, while the negative (black) battery terminal is connected to the black information.
Then, you’ll need to figure out how to: (1) use Velcro or a magnet (if your GPS tracker comes with a magnet) to connect the tracker to anything substantial below the hood and (2) secure the wires that go from the battery to the tracker so that they are kept away from any moving components.
Some GPS trackers are battery- and wireless-powered, so you may put them wherever as long as they are periodically accessible so you can change the batteries as required.
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Where is the tracker plugin?
The OBD-II (onboard diagnostics) port, generally found beneath the dash next to the steering column, is used by all the GPS trackers in this study. It’s usually preferable to consult the owner’s handbook since the location may change depending on the car. After federal regulatory authorities ordered manufacturers to standardize the system to monitor vehicle health and explicitly control emissions, all passenger cars produced after 1996 have been equipped with OBD-II. The tracker is powered by the car’s electrical system when plugged in. While most vehicles with OBD-II connections can accommodate trackers, checking the tracker manufacturer’s website is essential to ensure compatibility. Remember that not all equipment can be utilized in battery-powered automobiles.
How do I get the data back?
Most tracker devices provide data to the appropriate servers and applications through cellular data networks and the global positioning system. As a result, if the monitored vehicle passes through a signal dead zone, updates may sometimes be delayed. The 4G LTE network is primarily utilized by devices made for usage in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In contrast, machines used in other nations may need to use alternative cellular bands.
How often is a tracker’s data updated?
The frequency at which a tracker gets new data from its transmitter is known as its refresh rate or sample rate, which might vary depending on the type. Although most trackers update every 30 to 60 seconds, parents or family members monitoring a novice adolescent driver or a senior motorist may prefer a faster device or one offering real-time information. Therefore, if that’s a priority, it’s critical to investigate the refresh rate of the trackers.
Describe a geofence.
On a digital map, such as Google Maps or any other map program, geofences are preset territories or adaptable zones that may be selected with the swipe of a finger. These areas serve as a “perimeter fence,” alerting users when a vehicle departs from a predetermined region. Geofences may be used with almost all applications that come with GPS trackers. Some applications enable you to specify any shape for more exact area marking, unlike most apps that only let you create circular zones with approximate borders.
Can the tracker explain the cause of the check engine light turning on?
Real-time vehicle health monitoring is a function of specific car trackers, including the ones highlighted below. Some trackers may read “fault codes,” or code signatures, which identify the potential cause of a problem or malfunction, and use an automobile’s OBD-II connection for power and telemetry (detecting speed and unpredictable behaviour dependent on driver input). By model, this feature varies. However, because OBD-II reading technology is commonplace, most producers of GPS trackers incorporated this feature as a courtesy since it’s already hooked into the same port technicians use to diagnose problematic automobiles.
Is using a GPS tracker in an automobile allowed?
Several states prohibit placing a tracker in an automobile without the owner’s permission, according to the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures). Others typically prohibit monitoring without the subject being tracked’s agreement. Several exceptions exist, especially for parental or guardian reasons for monitoring children. Although generally speaking, these GPS trackers are legal in most states. However, rules differ from state to state, so verifying local laws is always good.
How does a tracker alert reach my phone or computer?
Similar to how modern cars’ sat-nav systems use the same networks to direct you to a specific location anywhere in the world as long as there are roads to take you there, GPS trackers use the preexisting network of global positioning and communication satellites orbiting the planet to triangulate location data. Most GPS trackers operate on the dated 4G LTE wireless data spectrum. However, some older models continue to utilize the deteriorating 3G network. But given that the Federal Communications Commission is putting new standards into effect, it’s critical to keep current with the most recent data transmission networks if you have an older device. To make place for developments in 5G, for instance, Verizon said that it would be shutting down its 3G network by 2023, with other carriers following suit. If your device only uses that cellular band, it will become outdated and inoperable once the 3G network is no longer available.
