Using an alarm is a necessary way to protect your car from theft. However, it alone is not enough: hijackers can turn off the alarm before the car owner has time to respond to the alarm.
As a result, many drivers are forced to install a GPS tracker in addition to the alarm. This special device tracks the position, route, and speed data of the vehicle.
How does a GPS tracker work?
Each tracker has a receiver and a transmitter. GPS is a worldwide satellite system. The receiver receives a signal from the satellites and sets the coordinates of the required object. The GPS itself is independent of the internet. Therefore, there is no need to pay for access to satellites from the USA.
Although you will have to pay for cellular services since it is used in the operation of the transmitter, the task of this module is to transmit the signal received by the receiver to a telephone or personal computer. The tracker also has a battery and an antenna.
How to choose the right car GPS tracker?
When choosing an accurate GPS tracker, please pay attention to the software it uses and the satellites it tracks. It is best if the gadget uses the American satellite network and GLONASS. Of course, it must work with the operating system of your device.
The sensitivity of the tracker affects whether you can track your cars in the presence of interference. To get high sensitivity, you should choose models based on A-GPS. Even in the presence of strong interference, they maintain a high level of accuracy.
There are GPS trackers that do not have memory cards and also have built-in memory cards. Thanks to the memory card, you can track the path and position of the car for a long time.
Thermostat mode. Most tracker devices are designed to operate at temperatures down to -10 degrees. Pay attention to this parameter if the working conditions are harsh and the temperature drops below this mark.
What are the main functions of a GPS tracker?
The main task of the auto tracker is to determine the coordinates of the car, its movement time, and speed. This may be enough to monitor traffic or prevent hijacking. Nevertheless, the main scope of the tracker’s tasks can be expanded by integrating it with the security system.
The tracker also has some additional features:
- taking into account the temperature in the passenger compartment;
- fuel consumption monitoring;
- lock operation indication;
- notification that the object has left the permitted area.
Where should GPS trackers be installed?
Since the security and monitoring systems need access to the onboard computer, they are under the dashboard. However, standalone devices with batteries can be installed near the glove box, car radio, or anywhere else.
Standalone trackers have dust- and moisture-proof housing. So you need to remember the timely repair and maintenance of the device.
How to install a GPS tracker correctly?
It is preferable to call a specialist to connect the tracker to the onboard system. Although standalone models are quite easy to mount, you can do it yourself.
To do this, you need adhesive tape and hardware. Also, screws can attach the “beacon” to the body. Sometimes a GPS Glonass tracker is also attached to the wiring, but in this case, it will have to be fixed additionally.
Installing a wired-type GPS Car tracker is difficult since they need at least four wires to connect to a car computer, including an alarm cable. This cable may or may not be connected if the tracker is part of a larger security system.
How can you avoid buying a fake?
Today, the market includes trackers made in the Russian Federation, the USA, China, and the European Union. It is believed that Western European manufacturers produce the best models.
But wait to buy the first product you see. After all, there are many fakes on the market, and at first glance, it can be difficult to understand where the original is and where the imitation is.
Inaccuracies and errors in the readings of a fake device can be noticeable already during the first days of operation. The best way to avoid fakes is to go to a reliable dealer.
What is the price of a GPS tracker?
The brand, specifications, and functionality determine the price. The more features a device has, the more expensive it costs. A decent system can cost about 7,000 rubles. You can buy GPS trackers for up to 6,000 rubles.
It is important to read product descriptions and reviews carefully to save money. Installing a GPS tracker for a car should never be done in a conspicuous place, so the best option is the inside of the dashboard.