CGMETP » GPS

The shocking costs of “free” navigation

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:28:12 +0000

Using “free” navigation abroad could cost over *20p per mile in roaming charges

185 mile Calais to Paris trip costs *£24 to £39 in roaming charges one way, *£52 to £78 return journey

Garmin, global leaders in satellite navigation**, today revealed the cost of using “free” satellite navigation on your mobile phone abroad. Users can rack up a phone bill more expensive than the cost of their fuel used for the journey.

The company found that using one of the most well known turn-by-turn navigation services on a mobile phone generated a bill of £36 in data roaming charges for a journey from Calais to Paris – some 185 miles – meaning a cost for navigation alone of over 20 pence per mile.

Garmin’s Head of Communications, Anthony Chmarny said: “Using free satellite navigation isn’t as free as it would like to make out, especially when you are using your mobile phone abroad. Many of the well known navigation products use the mobile phone network to download maps as they go, meaning people could end up with a nasty shock when their mobile phone bills arrive – the costs could be double that of the fuel used for the journey they were navigating.

“We tested the route from Calais to Paris four times and each time it came up with the same results: between 12-13 megabytes of data per journey. On a pay as you go mobile phone this meant £36 to £39 to get from Calais to Paris – some 185 miles on a contract plan the cost is a little less, but still equates to £24 to £26 per single journey.”

The European Union has confirmed that from 1st July 2010, users will be able to use €50 of data whilst abroad before being cut off (unless they request otherwise). Chmarny added “For someone using so called “free” navigation abroad this could leave them in the absurd position that they get half way through a journey and no longer have access to navigation to complete it.”

“We are encouraging anyone driving abroad this year on holiday to be aware of the costs. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether a mobile phone application has maps included or if it relies on the mobile network to download maps, which can lead to huge mobile bills. All Garmin’s nüvi range of sat navs and Garmin Asus Smartphone’s have on-board mapping*** and do not need to download data information, so users know that when it comes to navigation there are no hidden costs of using their Garmin device abroad.”

The Garmin range of sat navs start from as little as £89.99 and most models come with lifetime traffic and speed camera databases.

The top 10 travel destinations in France (according to Travelerinc.com) along with the cost of using satellite navigation on a mobile for a return journey from Calais if maps are downloaded over the mobile network (based on 20 pence per megabyte):

1. Paris, 185 miles, £74
2. Avignon, 614 miles, £245.60
3. Saint-Tropez, 730 miles, £292
4. Grenoble, 540 miles, £216
5. Marseille, 667 miles, £266.80
6. Lyon, 474 miles, £189.60
7. Cannes, 747 miles, £298.80
8. Bordeaux, 540 miles, £216
9. Valence, 539 miles, £215.60
10. Saint-Etienne, 510 miles, £204

*Journeys carried out from 19-22nd June 2010 using an Android mobile phone with an O2 UK pay as you go SIM card and an O2 UK data plan. – Navigation service used was Google Maps Navigation – All other data services disabled for the journey – The test journeys did not include any speed camera data or traffic data charges – Different operators charge different costs for data roaming so overall charging example may differ.
**According to Canalys report for sat nav sales made in 2009
*** Depending on specific nüvi models

About Garmin
The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information visit Garmin’s media centre at www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/uk/press . Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 000-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

GARMIN CONTACTS:
Anthony Chmarny
Garmin Europe Ltd.
Phone|+442380524065
Mobile|+447912540203

Tracking Systems: One Stop Solution of All Your Tracking Needs

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:49:23 +0000

Competing with the technology is a wild goose chase task. Human beings are not able to track each and everything but for the technology it is a task of a few minute. With the advent of various tracking systems, tracking can be done easily. From cellular phone tracking to vehicle tracking, it can be done with an ease with the various tracking software. Tracking systems helps in detection of an instrument’s or vehicle location within a short span of time, round the clock.

What is Vehicle Tracking System?

A vehicle tracking system enables a third party to know the exact location of any vehicle. Basically, it is done with the help of GPS (global positioning system), which is an electronic device that is installed in all the passenger vehicles. GPS enabled vehicle system combine the merits of GPS with vehicle tracking system technology and thus, monitors the tracking movement of any vehicle. The different types of vehicle tracking systems available in the market are wireless passive, labeled cellular and satellite real time. All three systems have its own brighter and darker side depending upon the usage.

What is Mobile Tracking System?

It is a new technology which helps in tracing the signals of any lost mobile phones. The integration of GPS chips into the mobile phones has made it possible to track a phone location more accurately. Tracking is possible because cell phones constantly disseminate radio signals which are easily tracked by GPS.

In this competitive business scenario, tracking systems plays a vital role in contributing towards the success of any business. These systems help in optimum utilization of all the business resources. For e.g. if you consider the case of vehicle tracking system, it helps in detecting the vehicle location at any point of time, number of halts in a specific destination. Not only this, it helps in reducing theft chances, reduces the insurance cost of vehicle, optimizes fuel cost and thus, improves overall efficiency and operational productivity. Presently, shipping industry is one of the biggest users of this tracking system.

In order to gain more information about the various tracking systems, their advantages, various tracking software can be easily availed by the medium of internet. Numbers of websites will provide you quality information about the authentic providers of this useful service.

SkyTrax Improves Vehicle Location Positions According to Systems Integrator BaxTek Solutions

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:38:29 +0000

Wayne Baxter, President of the BaxTek Solutions noted, “The optical sensor is aimed at the ceiling and captures digital images of overhead position markers. Machine vision software decodes the image to recognize location and calculates the orientation angle and exact position of the vehicle. A wireless link transmits the data to the STS Controller which collects location data from all OPS sensors. The Controller stores data in a standard database and makes it available in real-time for high value applications. STS provides the capability of GPS and more. Rotational orientation, inch-accurate location, direction of travel, and velocity are available. And of course, STS works indoors where GPS is unreliable.”

BaxTek Solutions, (www.BaxTek.com) a leading Systems Integrators has found that many clients in the manufacturing, distribution, and warehousing sectors are gaining value from the Sky-Trax System. It is designed to track the movement of vehicles, such as fork lifts, inside factories and warehouses. Sky-Trax automatically determines vehicle position with great accuracy and provides real-time position data to the driver. It can record precise location data for the movement of goods within a bulk storage area and guide the driver to the next pick-up or put-away spot. The Sky-Trax system captures and displays the location of all vehicles, aiding managers, warehouse operators and/or computer systems such as WMS (warehouse management systems) or ERP (enterprise resource planning systems).

Sky-Trax works like a GPS, but unlike GPS, it works reliably indoors. Sky-Trax technology is based on optical components instead of radio wave technology so the system is immune to radio interference and not affected by building construction materials or contents.

BaxTek Solutions (www.BaxTek.com) is one of the leading Systems Integrators in the barcode verification, data collection, and supply chain industry that offers a diverse suite of products including RFID, RF Terminals, Printers, Wireless Access Points, Software, Remote Portable Terminal and Printer Management and Repair Services. The company specializes in traceability and tracking solutions for the food industry from “farm to fork.”

BaxTek Solutions represents all major Auto ID hardware manufactures (including LXE, Zebra, Motorola, Datamax, Intermec, Vocollect, Alien, Cisco, Unitech, Datalogic, Honeywell, and Sato.) Software solutions include Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), asset tracking, inventory tracking, custom, and mobile applications such as, DSD (direct store delivery) and field service. BaxTek Solutions’ diverse customer base includes manufacturers, distributors, as well as firms involved in logistics, mobility, and government projects. BaxTek Solutions’ team of project managers and engineers take a partnership approach to every project, achieving a rapid return on investment for clients.

BaxTek Solutions

www.baxtek.com

Tina Nagaitis

Marketing Manager

Solutions@BaxTek.com

866 722 9835

Different Forms Of Vehicle Tracking System

admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:48:30 +0000

Vehicle tracking systems are becoming an evermore popular option for fleet managers. There are many benefits to a system that allows you to track your vehicle fleet; purchasing a system however can be quite an expense. Normally a tracking system will be attached to software that must be installed back at headquarters. This means that the operator has access to information on all of the vehicles in their fleet, their location, speed, distance travelled and maintenance details.

A vehicle tracking system will work wonders for the efficiency of your fleet. No more is it necessary to have piles of maps in each vehicle in order for operatives to find their way. GPS tracking will give your operatives information on directions and locations. While it may take time for your vehicle drivers to utilise the system effectively, ultimately it will create a system where efficiency is held in the primacy. Cutting out delays and reducing fuel costs is of importance to all fleet managers, a tracking system will help you do this.

Fundamentally there are three distinct types of vehicle tracking systems available on the market today. All have various advantages and disadvantages. These three kinds of system are labelled cellular, wireless passive and satellite real time. But what is the best solution for your fleet? Here is an outlay of the pros and cons.

Cellular tracking has a lower initial set up cost than the other two forms of system. Cellular systems utilise cellular transmissions to transmit information on the whereabouts of your vehicle fleet. It is not strictly up to date however; locations are reported approximately every five to ten minutes depending upon the system you opt for. This type of system does however carry service costs based upon a monthly fee, meaning that it is an ongoing expense and not a one-off payment. The information is normally displayed over the internet using the accompanying software.

Wireless Passive tracking systems differ from cellular systems in the way that they can be considered a one-off payment. Once the system has been installed and set up, it is in place for not further fees; it can be expensive however to set up and install. The reason for this expense is the dual components of hardware and software that must be installed as well as the creation of a database. There is however a fundamental problem with this form of tracking system, the information can only be retrieved once the vehicle has been returned to the depot.

Some companies, because of this major disadvantage will not want to employ this kind of system as it simply does not provide information at the right time. It also provides no protection if the vehicle is stolen or involved in accident. Modern passive systems are however installing added modems in vehicles so real time information is available. This addition has also meant that the system is also far more detailed. This kind of system now can give information on vehicle speed and when stops have occurred. Subsequently, many companies are opting for this option as it becomes more advanced and still retains no monthly fee.

Satellite based tracking systems, while not giving the detailed information of the other two systems; do provide a solution around the entire country. Subsequently shipping and trucking companies are more likely to select this sort of system. This can be an expensive system to employ although monthly fees do vary on the detail that the company wishes to be given.

As evermore developments are made in the GPS vehicle tracking industry, it is possible to combine the benefits of these three systems. What we can be certain is that as the technology clearly advances; these types of system will become increasing widespread in a number of industries.

Excellent GPS Receiver in Taiwan

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:35:25 +0000

S Receiver Market

In Taiwan, GPS suppliers besides taking over most international companies’ orders, also successfully develop GPS watches for hiking, golfing and cycling. GPS receiver navigation devices have developed rapidly in recent years and are now much more than talking maps. Auto electronics, consumer electronics, home appliances, information and communications technology (ICT), and telecoms companies have worked together to give them a much more diverse range of functions including use in those of MP3 players, digital photo albums, movie players, and real-time road-condition receivers. They now provide information on navigation, recreation, and entertainment, all in a single unit.

Taiwan’s GPS industry started to take off in 2007. After MiTAC bought Navman, they’ve become the second biggest GPS company in Europe. Also, their sales of 800 million of PND has made them become the third largest GPS supplier in the world. At the same time, TomTom and Garmin have expended their ordering to Taiwan OEM’s from components to fabrication products. The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled byGPS technology. One of their principal subsidiaries is located in Taiwan. Including Japanese and European orders, Taiwan’s GPS sales were around NT$171 billion. The total growth rate was 70%, which makes its growth very noticeable compared to the 2007 ICT industry growth rate of 4.6%, or 730 billion dollars.

Even though this year, European and U.S. consumer electronic product sales are still being effected by the current economy situation, IEK is still very pretty positive about the GPS market in Taiwan. The Taiwan GPS industry market will grow strongly once the market moves from Europe and the, U.S. to the newly developed countries.

GPS for Hiking

What’s a suitable GPS for cycling? Color mapping, long life battery or replaceable batteries, topo, street/road, & bike trail mapping, text-to-speech (gives me the street name), prefer selectable car vs bicycle mode, a way to pick future routes, possibly software that would use steet & topo to avoid large hilly areas on long distance biking, large SD card, fairly waterproof, screen can be seen in sunlight. One of the Taiwan GPS receiver suppliers announced their product as an all-in-one GPS receiver.

Dedicated massive-correlator signal parameter search engine within the baseband enables rapid search of all the available satellites and acquisition of very weak signal. An advanced track engine allows weak signal tracking and positioning in harsh environments such as urban canyons and under deep foliage.

With very fast signal acquisition speed, it has very low average power consumption for locate on demand type of applications.

GPS for Golfing

Golf GPS systems are rapidly evolving from only player enhancement to complete course management systems. The primary goal of a golf GPS system is to provide players with distances to all kind of features on the course and especially to the green they are playing. Some courses are better fit to use the capabilities of GPS than others. In order to obtain a satisfactory accuracy the GPS receiver must have a non-obstructed view of the sky. This makes that courses with lots of trees are less suitable for golf GPS.

Golf GPS system should contain the following:

Provides you with GPS distances from “any” location on the hole to the 200, 150, 100 yard / meter markers, to the front, centre, and back of the Green.

Record the GPS distance, club used and landing position for every stroke you make.

Stroke length Statistics: tells you the average and longest distance you hit each club in your bag. You know exactly how far you drive the ball.

Club Selector! Suggest which club to use for your next stroke based on the historical stroke data already stored from previous scorecards!

Taiwan GPS suppliers, Mobile Action Technology Inc and Polar have released their new GSP products for sport.

GPS for Cycling

Whether you are a road biker or a mountain biker, there’s a GPS that will work well for you, and it can mount right on your handlebars. All of them have high-sensitivity chipsets for superior satellite reception in urban canyons and under canopy. While they are excellent cyclometers, they aren’t all that great as navigation devices. If you are primarily wanting to track your performance though, Taiwan suppliers who make sporting GPS receivers would be your excellent choice. They are suitable for whoever wants data acquisition and a dashboard lap timer.

To get a complete report on Taiwan GPS, please go to http://gps-receiver.ready-online.com/index.html

Satellite or Wireless Now the Preferred Method of Vehicle Tracking

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:29:21 +0000

ronics markets have been inundated over the last few years with new vehicle tracking devices. One of the most popular of these devices is the GPS tracking system. Consumers appreciate these systems because of their ability to provide directions and search out the shortest route to a particular location. The systems are able to do this with the use of a coordinate based program. An added benefit of some of these systems is their ability to record specific patterns of travel, including where and when a vehicle travels and the speed at which it traveled there. This allows insurance companies to provide to teenagers some incentive based discounts.

The growing vehicle tracking solutions industry will be significantly affected by a new law that has been passed in Brazil. This law will serve to boost the client base of those companies, with expectation being as many as 500,000 new customers. This is a 75% increase annually within a five year period of time.

The New Law Defined

Brazil has a very serious problem with auto theft. The auto theft crime rate is much higher in Brazil than in other more industrious societies like the United Kingdom and the United States. In fact, Brazil boasts a number of 52 million vehicles nationwide and every day, fifteen percent of those vehicles are stolen. Less than half of those stolen vehicles are ever recovered. In an attempt to reduce the rate of car thefts, Brazilian authorities have now passed a new law that requires all vehicles being newly registered to have a vehicle tracking system in them. Before the passage of this law, there were only 10% of all of the Brazilian vehicles with any type of tracking system installed.

What is the System to Be Used?

The tracking system that the government is requiring new car owner’s to have installed is made by a company called Ituran. This wireless tracking systems works by using a combination of a satellite vehicle tracking system and land-based receivers. A sensor which is installed in the car will emit a red alert signal to a specialized call center if the vehicle is stolen or otherwise tampered with. Then, the call center will track the location of the car with a satellite receiver which is installed in the car. Upon location, a call is made to police with the exact location of the vehicle and, hopefully, an arrest can be made. Ituran’s tracking system has another great benefit. It allows the vehicle to be remotely turned off and disabled by the call center employee upon suspicion of theft.

This system is rather inexpensive compared to the cost of other systems by other manufacturers. The equipment can either be rented or bought from Ituran by insured and/or uninsured vehicle owners. The cost for each tracking system will range from $400 to $500 dollars and the vehicle owner will need to pay a monthly fee of $15 for the

service of monitoring and tracking the vehicle.

Established in 1998, Ituran’s company is based in Israel. It’s second largest customer base, however, is in Brazil. Their vehicle tracking systems are very advanced technologically and are modeled after the ones that the Israeli Air Force uses to track down and locate down aircraft and pilots in enemy territory. This fact alone give great credibility to their tracking systems.

The Brazil project is expected to have an expenditure of $60 million for Ituran. However, once this project is underway, there are plans to propose similar projects for countries like Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Poland, who all have high crime rates.

How GPS Tracking Is Making The World A Better Place

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:21:02 +0000

Many people may have seen the wealth of internet sites offering a variety of vehicle tracking systems for use in the commercial field. There are fewer sites on the internet however advocating the use of these vehicle tracking systems for use in the private sphere. If you decide to install a GPS tracking system in your car you will then be privy to a variety of details that will not only reveal how you drive, but ways to increase your fuel efficiency and the effectiveness of your regular routes.

A GPS vehicle tracking system will enable you to gain information of your every move while you are travelling. By accessing the related internet site you will be given access to details of your fuel consumption, your direction of travel and your exact mileage. This can be especially useful when you are returning your mileage on a company car, this way, either as a manager or employee you will able to produce the exact mileage of the vehicle while on business duties and hence it will be easier to fill in tax returns.

For families a vehicle tracking system can make perfect sense. At the moment the internet is full of stories on young drivers having these GPS vehicle tracking devices fitted not only to reduce their insurance premiums, but to also give parents valuable information on how their youngster is driving. The knowledge that your parents know exactly how you are driving could act as a powerful deterrent to those racers who make up the statistics of crashes and deaths.

Internet vehicle tracking has more applications in the commercial sphere however; it can give managers valuable information on how their employees are driving company vehicles. Not only does this reduce the instances of speeding and law breaking, it also reduces maintenance costs as employees are more likely to look after the vehicles they are given.

GPS vehicle tracking systems usually incorporate an internet site that relays the information to the user; it is by using this online software that it is possible to program the system to find more efficient routes for vehicles. By doing this it is possible for companies to reduce the mileage of their vehicles and also in these days of sky high fuel prices the provision to reduce fuel consumption.

GPS tracking over the internet is not just being used in the form of vehicle fleets. Advancements in technology, specifically the reduction in size of GPS devices has meant that personnel can be given tracking devices that give information of their personal whereabouts at all times.

Not only is this useful for managers to know where their staff are, but also in terms of safety it gives employees a much needed safety net and backup system should they be attacked. For instance; if a traffic warden is attacked while fitted with a GPS tracking device, they will be able to inform the headquarters of the incident and be able to dispatch the emergency services to the warden’s exact position quickly and efficiently.

There is little doubt that the advancements of GPS technology combined with the internet has meant that tracking systems, for both vehicle and personnel tracking have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of systems. So whether a manager of a fleet, a controller of a widely dispersed team of staff or even a concerned parent worried about your child’s driving. Have a look at the many GPS tracking solutions available on the internet today.

An Overview Of Some Of The Latest GPS Tracking-Enabled Cell Phones

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:07:19 +0000

The attack on the Twin Towers in New York brought attention to more than just the spread of terrorism around the globe; it also showed how vulnerable our communications systems are, especially in regards to cell phones. The FCC has ordered app cellular phone companies to institute technology allowing for cell phones to be traced within 100 meters. The cellular companies for the most part have integrated the GPS technology into the actual phone itself instead of taking on the momentous task of changing and modifying their networks of towers.

Now before you get all excited about the fact that your phone may have GPS technology let me set you straight. This is not the kind that you have in your car or use on your boat when you go fishing offshore. This is exclusively for tracking where you are when you are making a call. If you are a good guy this can be great news, if you get lost or in trouble and dial 911 they can locate you. If you are a bad guy, or a terrorist, this isn’t great news for you because they can now trace your calls and find out exactly where you are to take you down.

Now, on to a brighter outlook, the cell carriers are working to enable customer accessible GPS service. Some of these are available now and able to be utilized through third party providers.

Motorola is the maker for cellular phone GPS tracking units for Nextel using the Motorola i205, i305, i530, i710, i730, i733, i736 and i830 iDEN®. As on of the leaders in bringing this technology to the market, Motorola sources say that the phones are programmable which allows for software developers to design the applications that will allow the user of the phone access to the GPS data in addition to the providers of the service.

As of now, the Nextel Corporation offers a wide variety of cell phone GPS tracking solutions made for use with the above mentioned Motorola cell phones. The Mobile Locator One is of the well-known cell phone GPS tracking solutions developed by Nextel. In addition there are other solutions are provided by the affiliates of Nextel itself, as well as by third parties like Trimble and Mapquest.

Nokia recently announced that they were offering their Xpress-On GPS available as optional hardware to the owners of the Nokia 5140 model cell phones in North America. This would allow for the phones to be used over the GSM networks through location service applications.

Hopefully with the advances we are seeing it won’t be long before the GPS technology is widely available. It is already available in smart phones like the Treo as an upgrade with additional software.

Types Of Vehicle Tracking Systems And Their Applications

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:53:13 +0000

The popularity of vehicle tracking solutions in businesses that own fleets is steadily growing. Having the ability to track the whereabouts of any fleet vehicle brings many benefits, however, some systems can be expensive and for managers weighing up the worth of a system the cost, benefit balance is an important part of the decision making process. Most tracking systems utilise a device within the vehicle and a base station at the headquarters. The result is that managers have all of their vehicle’s locations, speeds and maintenance details at their fingertips.

In terms of the benefits, most experts agree that ultimately a vehicle tracking system will result in greater efficiency for a business; especially the GPS devices that enable drivers to find their way without the need for piles of maps within the cab. Additionally some systems give speed and direction information to the operator, meaning that up to date information can allow managers to organise their fleet more effectively. As with most technological gains, getting used to them may take time, once the staff can use it effectively, greater efficiency and hence greater profit are bound to follow.

On the market today there are three main types of vehicle tracking system. Naturally all have a variety of advantages and disadvantages that should be noted before investment. Generally these varieties are labelled cellular, wireless passive and satellite real time. Here is a brief overview of each.

Cellular tracking is the cheapest of all three to set up initially. It works by using cellular transmissions to give the vehicle location and direction to the manager. However, information updates can be slow; most would regard this as nearly live information rather than up to the minute data. Some of the better systems report vehicle locations every five to ten minutes; although the better systems will normally cost more. Cellular systems are not a one off payment either; there will normally be a monthly or quarterly charge for tracking services. In terms of the interface, this type of system usually uses the hosting company’s website.

If monthly payments are not desirable, wireless passive technology is a better, more affordable solution. Only paying once means that after the system is set up, no further fees will be applicable; however set up costs can be expensive, especially considering the large amount of hardware that has to be installed. Additionally this type of system requires a large database to track vehicle movements. A disadvantage of this type of system is that it is in no way live. Vehicle information is only reported to the system at the end of the day when the car or van returns to the depot. The information is relayed by a wireless receiver that records the information from the in-car component on its entry to the depot.

Due to this disadvantage wireless passive systems have been used less extensively than the other two. Some companies want the up to date information, others greater assurances for the safety of their fleet and the behaviour of their drivers. With development however passive systems are becoming more advanced, making provisions for live tracking. As they become more advanced, undoubtedly their popularity will increase.

Satellite or GPS systems are widespread for companies that spread their operations over a large area. As a result shipping and trucking companies use GPS when tracking vehicles worldwide. Once again this type of system normally incurs a monthly fee although most experts agree it is the most all encompassing solution.

As these three systems become more advanced the decision making process will be made more difficult for managers, ultimately weighing cost against usefulness is needed. Once this consideration has been made the choice will be that much easier.

Auto E University

Obtaining Information From A GPS Tracking System

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:09:50 +0000

GPS tracking system is a high-end gadget of the modern era, intended to determine the position of a vehicle, person or an asset to which the device is connected. So far it is the most convenient device to get information about a remote asset in regular intervals.

After its introduction in 1978, when it was in its experimental stage, it has become an essential and practical technology to meet high expectations of people in the direction of monitoring remote assets. As the name Global Positioning System suggests the device can be used anywhere on the earth. The technology behind the function of GPS is related to global positioning of the satellites moving round the earth.

However, your GPS tracking system will work only if you have access to Global Positioning System and a GPS receiver. The GPS satellites transmit the information to the receivers and it becomes easy to calculate the location, speed and direction of the asset connected to it. For an effective calculation of position, it is essential for the GPS receiver to receive transmission from three or more satellites.

The information that is stored in the receiver unit is transmitted to a database that can be accessed through the internet or mobile phone. Usually, the GPS tracking system give real time information with a map on their background to display the exact location of the tracked object. However, the downside of the device is that it can hardly trace an object placed inside a building.

Now, it is clear that the GPS receiver is able to receive the information only and store it in a database. Hence, you must need another device or technology to access the information from the database for independent positioning and timing info. A cellular phone modem is the a technology for the purpose; thereby causing it an essential part of a GPS tracking system. There are different possibilities through which it is convenient to obtain the position information.

1 – The modem can be programmed with your mobile number and a timer is set to get information on that particular intervals of time. Adjusting the time interval is just a matter of calling the modem and changing some settings.

2 – Program your cell phone modem as a mobile phone with its own number that allows sending small text messages. Whenever you want any information about the position of your asset, just call the modem`s phone number and you will get an SMS message coordinating with the position.

3 – If you have installed suitable software and map on your mobile phone, the message locating the position on a map can be translated to the mobile phone screen.

All the above three technologies have got same kind of advantages. You can use them without a service contract and without paying for monthly fee. This even will nott allow anyone to know about you using these technologies. As per the disadvantage, in the first two cases you have to translate the SMS text to a position on the map. However, for the third option, you need to purchase the software and the maps.

It is also possible to view the information through Internet or a mobile phone with Internet facility. This possibility allows you check the real-time as well as past information.

The ultimate way is to use a mobile phone with GPS tracking system.

You may be wondering how the system can work in an area where there is no coverage of cell phone. The only solution is to replace the cell phone modem with a satellite modem.

GPS is a free service and is provided for the benefits of public. It has come up as a useful technology in every sector where monitoring remote asset is essential. Thanks to this new age technology, it has reduced the burden of insecurity to a large extent and enhanced performance when used for professional purpose.