GPS-tracker for a car: what it is and how it works

Sometimes you need to monitor the location of transport of the company or private car. Does the company car not deviate from the route? What is the way the cargo is delivered? Occasionally, family issues arise: whether the underage son did not leave for a party with friends without asking, whether the wife really went to a meeting with friends in a certain cafe. To track the movement of cars, GPS trackers are installed on them.

What is a GPS tracker?

This device determines the location of the car via satellite, saves the data in memory and transmits it to the server or to the owner's smartphone or computer via the mobile network. The GPS tracker mini is more often used as an anti-theft device, and then as a tool for tracking the movement of cars of relatives.

In order for the GPS-tracker to work, you need coverage of one or more networks: GPS, GLONASS, European Galileo, Chinese BaiDou. You also need GSM cell phone coverage to send location information to the owner. If the connection is lost, the tracker saves the coordinates and transmits them when the network appears.

The device not only shows the owner the location of the car around the clock, but can also support the alarm service. This comes in handy in case the signal is jammed, the vehicle is de-energized, hidden in an underground garage and it disappears from the field of vision of the mobile network or GPS.

How does a GPS tracker work?

Any GPS tracker consists of these components:

• Receiver, which receives signals from GPS satellites and so determines the coordinates of the object. GPS system is free and can work without internet.
• GPRS module to transmit data to the operator or owner's smartphone. Cellular communication is paid according to the tariffs of the operator.
• Antenna - internal or external.
• Battery - in standalone models of trackers. Such devices are easier to install and do it in such a way that they will be difficult to detect. There are GPS trackers, which are connected to the power grid of the car. There are combined models with two types of power.
• Special software that converts the GPS tracker signals into a route map and speed readings.

More versatile and practical are trackers that support several systems. For example, both GPS and GLONASS. The software should be adapted for different operating systems: Windows, iOS, Android.

Important characteristics of a GPS tracker:

• Interference tracking sensitivity. Models working on A-GPS remain highly accurate even with frequent and strong interference.
• Memory card. It is not in all GPS-trackers. It stores data about the movement of the car. For private needs a small volume is enough. A large amount of memory is needed for large transport companies that track cargo deliveries.
• Temperature mode. Most GPS trackers can withstand up to -10 frost, there are more cold-resistant devices.

GPS trackers with additional functions can:

• Determine temperature readings in the interior or body of the car.
• Monitor fuel consumption.
• Show the indication of activation of the car salon locks.
• Report when the car leaves an authorized territory.

Devices with extended functionality cost considerably more expensive than models with basic capabilities.

GPS trackers are placed depending on the type of power supply of the device. If the device is charged from the mains, it is placed under the dashboard. Stand-alone GPS trackers are installed near the glove compartment, behind the radio or in another place.