Selecting the Right GPS Tracking System

Having spoken to many prospective customers over the years, I found that people have a wide range of needs for GPS-based tracking. With the proliferation of tracking products hitting the market, sometimes the prospect gets overwhelmed with information and, as a result, can’t make up their mind on what to buy. In this article, I am going to try to explain the different types of GPS tracking products and what specific needs they meet.

The first kind of device that comes to mind is a GPS data logger. This is a passive GPS tracking device, meaning that the data is captured and stored on the device. Typically, these devices are battery powered, requiring recharging every 3-5 days depending on use. Periodically, the end-user must download the data via a USB cable or wireless Bluetooth connection to a computer for viewing and analysis. They are limited to short-term use by the battery as well as the memory buffer which can store a finite amount of GPS location information. Because the GPS data logger does not have a long-range communications link, they don’t have the ability to detect an event happening in real time such as the unauthorized use of a vehicle or outright theft of it. The upside to these devices is the low cost. So, if you only need to know where a person or vehicle has been in the past and you are budget conscious, then maybe the GPS data logger is the right choice.

The other kinds of GPS trackers are real time. They use a communications link to relay the GPS data over the airwaves and ultimately to the end-user as soon as it takes place. These devices use satellite communication, two-way radio, or PCS/cellular links to relay the data. The first and most expensive of these is satellite. Because it is inherently more expensive to launch and maintain satellites and because there is less bandwidth than other terrestrial types of communication, it is natural to expect the cost of satellite-based GPS service to be more costly. The hardware is more expensive too, because it is more complicated and there are lower economies of scale than that found with cellular. However, a big benefit is that there are virtually no dead spots in a typical coverage area of North America.

Real time GPS vehicle tracking using two-way radio communication is the least common of the terrestrial-based methods. It is used in specialized applications where the two-way radio is also used for voice and data dispatching of service vehicles or tow trucks. The hardware is typically more expensive to purchase and the monitoring service is about the same as some PCS/cellular types of GPS tracking. The real benefit here is with integration.

The most common type of real time GPS vehicle tracking system uses PCS/cellular communication to transmit its data. Because 96% of the population is covered by cellular service, it puts a great deal of competitive pressure on satellite-based systems. Furthermore, most of these devices have the ability to "store and forward" messages if they temporarily lose a cellular connection. The sheer volume of cellular hardware and services has driven the costs down to very low points. This translates to lower costs for tracking equipment and service. Over the past few years, manufacturers have been able to reduce the size while increasing the capabilities and reliability of these devices. With the benefit of real-time knowledge of cost-critical events at prices lower than a dollar per day, GPS vehicle tracking using the PCS/cellular communication method is the way to go for most people.