Vehicle tracking wouldn’t exactly be considered a new technology, as it has been possible to track vehicles using GPS for about ten years, and without GPS for over 20 years. Around the 1980s, the first vehicle tracking systems, called LoJack, appeared. They boast of a ninety percent recovery rate, which equates to around 250,000 vehicles since the system came out. However, keep in mind that more than 1 million cars and trucks are stolen in the US annually.
These days, you can get two different types of vehicle tracking devices: GPS devices that keep position data stored for later retrieval or transmission in real time, or systems like LoJack that use a radio transmitter to transmit the vehicle’s position. car when required.
A device that has a radio transmitter emits a signal that is silent and specific to the vehicle it is in. When the vehicle is stolen, the device manufacturer activates the signal so that the police can use their equipment to locate the vehicle and recover it. Obviously, this type of device is only useful for recovering a stolen vehicle, but it can be upgraded to also let you know if your vehicle is being moved without your permission. That way, hopefully you can find it before it gets too damaged. The cost of these radio transmitter type units is around $650.
GPS tracking devices have many advantages over older radio devices in that they are more versatile, easier to purchase, and easier to install. Many new cars come with them already installed, like OnStar for example. A GPS tracking device operates by constantly using the global positioning satellite system to find its location. You install it on or in your vehicle, using the car’s battery or separate batteries to power it.
A passive GPS device stores data for later retrieval. You can take the unit out of the vehicle, plug it into your computer for a data dump, or purchase the kind of device that can make a wireless connection to your network. Then when the vehicle enters your network area, the dump can happen very conveniently.
A real-time GPS device transmits a signal to the home base every few seconds, telling the home base of your location via a satellite network or cellular network. This data is placed on a map and can be viewed by logging into the home base website with a special access code. You can literally look at the map and see the vehicle moving through the streets.
Aftermarket GPS vehicle tracking systems typically cost around $600 for real-time tracking, plus you’ll need a service plan for data transmission. A passive device can cost as little as $200. Rising car theft rates make vehicle tracking necessary for many people, but there are plenty of other reasons to use it. Fortunately, it’s not terribly expensive.