What is GPS tracking and how does it work?
GPS Tracking refers to a Global Positioning System. It entails a network of 24 satellites in orbit and devices on the ground that can establish a person or object’s location on Earth with astonishing precision. GPS Tracking tracks three separate data sets: positioning, navigation, and timing.6
GPS tracking uses a network of satellites to determine the location of a device that was specifically designed for that purpose. The basic idea is that a GPS tracker uses a process called trilateration to determine its physical location based on its distance from three GPS satellites..
There are various reasons why you might want to install a GPS tracking device on your vehicle. Two of the main reasons are to improve a vehicle’s security and to be able to locate it 24/7. By installing a tracking device, the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle increase tremendously with the help of real-time location tracking. Apart from anti-theft purposes, businesses use GPS tracking systems to monitor the behaviour of their drivers, fuel usage and routes taken. GPS-based applications are also invaluable for businesses such as; car rental companies, ambulance services, distribution services and plumbing companies.
Whether you use your GPS tracking device for security or tracking real-time location, most GPS trackers are easy to install and they work without a hitch. After the installation process is completed, tracking devices pick up the signals from the GPS satellites to deliver precise real-time location. Cloud-based tracking software stores all the essential data sent by the tracking device in order to display them whenever necessary. Detailed information such as speed, movement, location, and direction can be accessed anytime. Using the geofence zone feature, you are able to set-up digital zones one the map and opt. in to get notified whenever a vehicle enters or leaves a zone.
Experts recommend seeking the advice of a vehicle electronics professional especially if you are looking to install multiple devices to a large number of fleet vehicles. However, if you are planning to install a tracking device to your vehicle, there are certain factors you need to consider before you start the process.
Deciding the location of the device is essential because if you install the tracker in a spot where there is interference or obstacles that block satellite signals, the accuracy of vehicle tracking device will be lowered. If you are planning to install the tracker on the exterior of the vehicle, you need a waterproof and durable tracking device to withstand harsh weather and environmental conditions.
Other than portable, battery-powered tracking devices, there are two types of tracking devices you can install on a vehicle: plug&play trackers that can be inserted into the OBD-II port and hard-wired trackers. OBD-II port is a vehicle’s diagnostic port and it can be found on all vehicles that have been manufactured after 1996. As the name suggests all you have to do is plug the tracking device and use the tracking software to locate your vehicle. OBD-II port is mainly used by mechanics to check error codes generated by the car computer in event of a malfunction and it is a great power source for vehicle tracking devices. As for hard-wired tracking devices, they need to be connected to the vehicle’s electrical system. If you decide to use a hard-wired tracker just locate a continuous power source that delivers 12v-24vDC. Make sure to check out the user manual. There should be a red wire that must be connected to constant power and the black wire should be connected to the ground. If you’re considering getting a tracking device for anti-theft purposes, it is crucial that the tracker is concealed and it is very hard to find. That’s why it is important that the installation process is done properly in order to prevent your tracker from being discovered.
Keep in mind, that the tracker should be able to pick up direct satellite signals. Some of the best possible locations are; under the seats, inside the plastic rear bumper, under the top of the roof, under the seats or under the vehicle using a magnet. After you complete the physical installation, you will be able to locate your vehicle using cloud GPS software on a PC, Tablet or Smartphone. Each tracking device has its unique software and installation process. Make sure to follow the manual instructions carefully. After you install the device, you need to check if the tracking device is working properly and transmitting location data. You can use a mobile app on your smartphone to view the real-time location of your vehicle anytime, anywhere.
You can test the tracker by turning it on and checking your location on the GPS software to see if it’s correct. By installing a GPS tracker on your vehicle, you will increase your vehicle’s security significantly. Even if your vehicle is stolen, you will be able to track its movements in real-time and alert authorities to recover it safely and as quickly as possible.
Installing Hard Wired GPS Trackers
The experts recommend the fitting of the wired tracking devices done by a vehicle electronics expert especially if you are looking to hide your tracker or have multiple trackers fitted in a fleet of vehicles.
However, our latest tracking device DB2 Self-Install GPS Tracker is an exception to the rule and it is simple enough to be installed by people without any technological expertise. All you need to do is to locate the battery of your vehicle, connect the wires and place the tracker to a location of your choosing under the hood. You can start tracking your vehicle immediately in real-time.
While this process is easy enough to figure out by yourself, we advise following the instructions on our installation video to ensure that DB2 is working flawlessly.
DB2 Installation Guide:
What is GPS tracking and how does it work?
GPS Tracking refers to a Global Positioning System. It entails a network of 24 satellites in orbit and devices on the ground that can establish a person or object’s location on Earth with astonishing precision. GPS Tracking tracks three separate data sets: positioning, navigation, and timing.
What does a GPS tracker show?
A GPS tracking system uses the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network. This network incorporates a range of satellites that use microwave signals that are transmitted to GPS devices to give information on location, vehicle speed, time and direction.
How do I know if my car is being tracked by GPS?
How Can You Tell if Your Car Is Being Tracked?
- Bring your vehicle to a trusted mechanic with GPS experience. …
- Look carefully at the metal parts of your vehicle. …
- Search for a device that’s as small as a pack of cards. …
- Use your hand to search inside of your trunk. …
- Purchase a Technical Surveillance Counter Measures device.
School authorities’ invest a lot of money to ensure the safety of school buses.
But there are myriad aspects like fuel efficiency, maintenance of vehicles, proper routing and so on that really contribute to successful management of fleet operations.
1. Empowering School Fleets With GPS
School buses empowered with Gps tracking system records every movement of each vehicle such as bus location, its speed, movement and more. It provides all this information in real time which helps in predicting the arrival time of these vehicles beforehand to the parents.
2. Establishing Two-Way Communication
The effective use of technology helps in maintaining a two-way communication between the transport staff and the school. As a result, the concerned authorities are always aware of the breakdown, unscheduled stoppage or ignition which is on and off.
Such details offers insight into the behavior of the driver which can determine whether to continue with the existing staff or to recruit a better and more efficient one.
3. Reports About Speed/Route Violation
School Bus GPS tracking Software lets you check whether the driver is using the defined route for pick up and drop services, is taking unnecessary halts and so on.
The speed of the vehicle denotes whether the driver is really concerned about the safety of the children and reaching them on time or not.
School authorities are zealous of offering 100% security to the children through their school transportation service always audit such metrics to track whether the drivers are acting responsibly enough to drive the students from home to school and back home.
4. Making Drivers Aware Of Students’ Security
For the seamless processing of a school transportation system, you must make the drivers and the staff on-board, the buses are aware of the need to keep the students secured.
It is advisable to recruit drivers who has the previous track record of working with some schools.
But in any case they have been working on transportation of heavy duty loads, make them aware that they should be more careful while driving as there are small children on board.
The drivers should be trained to behave decently with the students as well as drive in a way that the security of the school students is never compromised.
In the view of the growing incidences of the kidnapping of school children and keeping the school buses as hostages, training the drivers to have an open eye to whatever is happening all through the school bus cycle is important.
Make them understand the significance of intimating any incidence that seems to be different from the routine to the concerned authorities.
5. Be Ready For Emergencies
Every transport management department should have a set up ready for handling unwanted, unexpected emergency situations.
It may be for any adventitious situation caused due to natural disasters such as rain and storm, or handling irate parents through polite interactions or even managing the student behavior and intervening when they are fighting.
Quick response to such issues helps to nip these problems in the bud and restrict them from turning into bigger trouble. The drivers and the sub-staff must be made fully aware of these guidelines and if possible train them on how to act and exactly when to react or keep quiet.
Training them with practical presentation goes a long way in ensuring that they actually act as expected during the emergencies and never let you down.
6. Implementing RFID Technology
Apart from installing a GPS Tracker on the fleet of vehicles, using Radio frequency identification or RFID technology can also contribute to keeping the track of the students who are boarding or de-boarding the school bus.
Installed at the entrance of the bus, the technology automatically keeps a record of the students on the bus which adds another layer of security and also improves the reliability of the operations of the school transportation system.
7. Weekly Auditing Of Analytical History Of School Fleets
For introducing and enhancing efficiency in school transportation, the authorities should regularly audit the weekly or monthly status. This regular bus activity can be analyzed to get details of all the crucial metrics including the kilometers traveled, unscheduled stoppage, and much more.
8. Stopping Drivers On-Spot
The OBD device attached to the vehicle detects harsh driving, over-speeding or overtaking by the drivers.
Analyzing such details can assist you in determining the rowdy behavior of a driver, if unnoticed can affect the safety of the students on-board.
In any case the authorities spot such misbehavior or any action that can harm children even when the driver is en-route, it is possible to immobilize the engine in the remote location and send the police.
Keep the driver focused on the road and to his task by locking down his mobile phone as the OBD sensors immediately detect if there is any motion.
9. Fewer Hassles, More Saving
Use of the latest fleet management software eliminates errors that are a part of the regular manual routing and scheduling. Automated management also ensures that all the operations are conducted smoothly without inviting any fines from the regulatory bodies.
Advanced software in vehicle tracking helps you evade such inconsistencies and improve school transportation system.
10. Saving Time And Energy
Deployment of the school bus tracking App automates all the related operations that includes routing and scheduling. The authorities can monitor every dimension of the movement of the fleet and control it without having to act all the time.
They can intervene only in the case of some unexpected turn of the event.
It saves time as well as the energy of the staff required to reschedule or reroute the vehicles.
The IoT-based technological innovations ease the tensions of the parents and also helps the children in high-grade classes keep up with their hectic schedule and manage multiple classes on time.
The use of the advanced school bus tracking system lets the authorities understand on how resourcefully the drivers are running the buses.
The highly sensitive app keeps a tab on the overall approach, driving, and behavior of the driver as well as on the working of the school buses to ensure uninterrupted journey all through the cycle.
HOW TO SET UP A GPS TRACKING SYSTEM ON YOUR VEHICLE
There are various reasons why you might want to install a GPS tracking device on your vehicle. Two of the main reasons are to improve a vehicle’s security and to be able to locate it 24/7. By installing a tracking device, the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle increase tremendously with the help of real-time location tracking. Apart from anti-theft purposes, businesses use GPS tracking systems to monitor the behaviour of their drivers, fuel usage and routes taken. GPS-based applications are also invaluable for businesses such as; car rental companies, ambulance services, distribution services and plumbing companies.
Whether you use your GPS tracking device for security or tracking real-time location, most GPS trackers are easy to install and they work without a hitch. After the installation process is completed, tracking devices pick up the signals from the GPS satellites to deliver precise real-time location. Cloud-based tracking software stores all the essential data sent by the tracking device in order to display them whenever necessary. Detailed information such as speed, movement, location, and direction can be accessed anytime. Using the geofence zone feature, you are able to set-up digital zones one the map and opt. in to get notified whenever a vehicle enters or leaves a zone.
Experts recommend seeking the advice of a vehicle electronics professional especially if you are looking to install multiple devices to a large number of fleet vehicles. However, if you are planning to install a tracking device to your vehicle, there are certain factors you need to consider before you start the process.
Deciding the location of the device is essential because if you install the tracker in a spot where there is interference or obstacles that block satellite signals, the accuracy of vehicle tracking device will be lowered. If you are planning to install the tracker on the exterior of the vehicle, you need a waterproof and durable tracking device to withstand harsh weather and environmental conditions.
Other than portable, battery-powered tracking devices, there are two types of tracking devices you can install on a vehicle: plug&play trackers that can be inserted into the OBD-II port and hard-wired trackers. OBD-II port is a vehicle’s diagnostic port and it can be found on all vehicles that have been manufactured after 1996. As the name suggests all you have to do is plug the tracking device and use the tracking software to locate your vehicle. OBD-II port is mainly used by mechanics to check error codes generated by the car computer in event of a malfunction and it is a great power source for vehicle tracking devices. As for hard-wired tracking devices, they need to be connected to the vehicle’s electrical system. If you decide to use a hard-wired tracker just locate a continuous power source that delivers 12v-24vDC. Make sure to check out the user manual. There should be a red wire that must be connected to constant power and the black wire should be connected to the ground. If you’re considering getting a tracking device for anti-theft purposes, it is crucial that the tracker is concealed and it is very hard to find. That’s why it is important that the installation process is done properly in order to prevent your tracker from being discovered.
Keep in mind, that the tracker should be able to pick up direct satellite signals. Some of the best possible locations are; under the seats, inside the plastic rear bumper, under the top of the roof, under the seats or under the vehicle using a magnet. After you complete the physical installation, you will be able to locate your vehicle using cloud GPS software on a PC, Tablet or Smartphone. Each tracking device has its unique software and installation process. Make sure to follow the manual instructions carefully. After you install the device, you need to check if the tracking device is working properly and transmitting location data. You can use a mobile app on your smartphone to view the real-time location of your vehicle anytime, anywhere.
You can test the tracker by turning it on and checking your location on the GPS software to see if it’s correct. By installing a GPS tracker on your vehicle, you will increase your vehicle’s security significantly. Even if your vehicle is stolen, you will be able to track its movements in real-time and alert authorities to recover it safely and as quickly as possible.
Installing Hard Wired GPS Trackers
The experts recommend the fitting of the wired tracking devices done by a vehicle electronics expert especially if you are looking to hide your tracker or have multiple trackers fitted in a fleet of vehicles.
However, our latest tracking device DB2 Self-Install GPS Tracker is an exception to the rule and it is simple enough to be installed by people without any technological expertise. All you need to do is to locate the battery of your vehicle, connect the wires and place the tracker to a location of your choosing under the hood. You can start tracking your vehicle immediately in real-time.
