FAQs - Tracking Devices
How does GPS work?
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The GPS tracker is provided by Globalsat and uses a small antenna that receives signals from a constellation of GPS satellites. Using the timing of signal reception from multiple satellites, the receiver calculates its own position, speed and direction.
Our Globalsat solution combines this GPS receiver with a wireless modem. The device calculates your current position and sends the data over the mobile phone network to the online tracking system. The tracking details may be either sent to your computer or the tracking website, depending on which type of set up you require. Authorised users can monitor vehicle movement on maps and reports displaying route information and other valuable information.
What is GPRS?
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a digital, IP-based wireless packet data service offered by GSM-based mobile phone carriers (Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone etc). This is the same technology on mobile smartphones that allow users to connect to the internet.
What is the difference between GPS Tracking and Sat Nav systems?
Handheld/dash-mounted GPS Navigation Systems simply have a GPS receiver and some mapping software. They do not report the vehicle location in real-time to a an online system. They are merely used to assist the driver in navigation.
Do the Tracking devices report back to the system in real time? What happens when the vehicle is out of coverage?
All of our tracking products provide data in real-time (as it happens) or near real-time, as far as possible. This means that each position update is sent by the tracking unit as soon as that update is due.
Occasionally, there are situations where the data cannot be physically transmitted by tracking units in real-time due to no/poor coverage. Globalsat tracking technology provides maximum 'real-timeliness' of data while ensuring minimum data loss. When the tracking units move in areas that have no/poor mobile phone coverage, as soon as the device is in an area with a good coverage, the tracking of the vehicle will continue.
Are there any other additional charges for a Tracking system?
If you purchase the free subscription service for the tracking package, the online account we create for you is free however the sim card used in the tracking devices is a Pay As You Go service. We initially provide you with a £5.00 top up and after that it is up to the user to check the credit balance and top up accordingly. The top up of the sim card is the only additional charge, credit top up can be purchased from a number of places like PayPoint, newsagents, supermarket stores even directly from bank ATM machines.
Some users may find it more cost effective to have a mobile data contract with a mobile network giving a set cost every month.
Can I change the number of times the device reports back to the system?
This can be easily customized. When we set up a device, as standard we keep the device to report back to the system every 3 minutes to preserve battery life and credit balance on the sim card. You can have the device to report back every minute or less which will give you more accurate results on the website or your computer of the vehicle or persons journey. The faster you have the device report back, the more accurate path on the map and higher the cost hence opening a contract with your mobile provider for a new data SIM.
Can my journey be viewed by any unauthorised users?
No, the location can only be seen by people you give your secret username and password to.
Can the tracking device be used in other countries?
The tracking device can be used in other countries with ease, however if you use a sim card from that country, some settings may need to be altered. If you use the same sim card from the UK in other countries, extra roaming charges will be charged by the mobile provider.
How can I topup my SIM card and keep an eye on credit?
When purchasing one of our configured devices we supply an Orange Pay As You Go SIM card with credit. In order to keep an eye on the credit and top up online you should register this SIM card with Orange. This can be done by inserting the card in to an unlocked or Orange Phone. Once the SIM card is in the phone you can create an Orange account by logging on to http://www.orange.co.uk/youraccount/. With the SIM in a phone you will be able to receive the security message that is required to register the card. Once registered you can view the current balance and top up when needed on the Orange website.
What shall I do if I've changed the settings of the device and they now don't work?
We provide a Remote Configuration service, where you grant us permission to access your computer system and we will have it fixed for you, over the air. This saves time and you can see exactly what we done to fix your device so if by chance the next time the device is not working, you will have some ideas of resolving the problem.
