Satellite GPS tracking controller – user manual, manufacturers rating and models with photos

The content of the article

• What is a GPS tracker
• Principle of operation
• How to use
• Watch with a GPS tracker for children
• Baby Phone with GPS Tracker
• GPS car tracker
• GPS remote control
• How to choose a GPS tracker

Do you need for personal or industrial purposes to monitor the location of moving objects – cars, children, goods, the elderly, animals? Modern technologies come to the rescue: thanks to the GPS tracker device, through the installation of a beacon, it is possible to organize tracking of an unattended car or a child who goes to school on his own.

What is a GPS tracker

GPS-controller (tracker) – an electronic device for receiving and transmitting information for satellite monitoring of objects. The device is compact in size, easy to use, with a wide range of uses. This function is provided with some models of modern mobile phones. By design and tasks to be solved, devices are distinguished:

• GPS personal tracker – to control the location of people, animals, moving valuable luggage;
• GPS car recorder-tracker – to track the path of the car, control other traffic parameters.

Principle of operation

The tracker combines a receiver of the global GPS positioning system that directly determines the coordinates of the object and a GPS data transmitter via satellite, sending information via a satellite modem to a server (center). The device is equipped with a GPS antenna (external or built-in), a battery, and internal memory. Using a satellite signal, the device determines the coordinates of the location, transfers information to the GPS monitoring system or to the user’s phone in the form of data with the exact coordinates of the object.

How to use

Having decided to buy this unit, the user must figure out what a tracker is and how to use it. The complex includes a tracker, server and user device with an Internet connection: it can be computers, mobile phones with special programs. The global components of the complex – navigation satellites, cellular communications, the Internet provide the use of tracker devices wherever:

• the tracker is capable of receiving a satellite signal;
• there is a cellular GSM connection via a SIM card;
• have internet connection.

Subject to these conditions, the user is able to universally control objects equipped with personal devices, even when located at a considerable distance from their usual position. The tracker is able to store the coordinates on the memory card, transmitting them with a given frequency. If a person uses the tracker, he can use the device to give an alarm signal, and the tracker for the car turns on when the alarm sensors are triggered.

The product market offers many models and modifications with its advantages and disadvantages. Main categories:

• Transport. Using the accelerometer, the tracker is configured to transmit the coordinates of a moving object. This ability increases the autonomous activity of the security system, preventing its thief from detecting. The tracker for the car itself transmits information, “knows how” to call, send SMS, inform about loading, the beginning of movement. Such devices are one of the most expensive, their price is up to 30,000 rubles. It is possible to disable them possibly mechanically or by high voltage.
• For tracking animals. There are options with mounting on a belt, collar or in the form of a collar. The device’s parameters are important – size, weight, moisture resistance function, geofence radius from Wi-Fi, stability. Options, accessories affect the price, the range of which is 3000-10000 rubles. As a drawback, the connection to the cellular network and the possibility of losing the device are considered.
• For people. Using a key fob or watch, you can know the location of a child or an elderly parent by monitoring from a computer or phone. The SOS button at any time will inform about the danger, the microphone transmits what is happening around. The price varies from 2000 to 10000 rubles. The disadvantages of the models – the device can be lost, the operating time depends on the battery capacity.

Watch with a GPS tracker for children

For the use of the tracker by children, the functionality of the device and its design in combination with convenience are important. Trackers in the form of a clock are endowed with a dual purpose – a telephone with a small set of functions combined with a receiver. Popular models:

• Name: K911 “Life Button”:
• price 1990 rub .;
• Features: GPS / LBS geolocation, Android 4.0, iOS 7, OLED screen 0.96 “64×128 SOS-button, trusted numbers, hand-held sensor, creation of geofences;
• pluses: loud call, watch search;
• cons: fragile glass.

Another model, presented in a wide range of colors, having a hand-held sensor:

• Name: Smart Baby Watch Q50:
• price 2200 rub .;
• Features: GPS / LBS geolocation, Android 4.0, iOS 6, OLED screen, 0.96 “, 64×128, waterproof, SOS-button, trusted numbers;
• pluses: excellent speaker;
• Cons: the design is designed for a younger age, older children do not like the model.

Baby Phone with GPS Tracker

A compact, lightweight, beautiful and safe baby phone with a tracker is convenient for connecting a child with parents. Popular models:

• Title: Baby Bear:
• price 3200 rub .;
• characteristics: GPS / LBS geolocation, GSM 900/1800/1900, dimensions 45x85x17 mm, monitoring of external sounds, reverse dialing;
• pluses: volumetric battery 800 mA / h;
• minus: a small number of available rooms – 4.

The devices are equipped with several buttons that are configured to the desired numbers, are available for babies from 3 years:

• Name: BB-mobile Beacon;
• price 3000 rubles .;
• specifications: GPS module, GSM 900/1800/1900, dimensions 44x82x16 mm; monitoring of external sounds, the option “Anti-theft”;
• pluses: tracking is available on a computer and smartphone;
• minus: inconvenience of tracking via ussd request.

GPS car tracker

In modern conditions, car tracking is convenient with a DVR with GPS. Demanded models:

• Name: Navixy A2;
• price 815 rubles .;
• Features: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, accelerometer;
• pluses: reading information from devices, fuel control;
• minus: no listening to a conversation in the cabin.

The GSM car tracker is mounted on an element of the car, information is reflected in the navigator or on Google Maps:

• Name: AutoPhone D-Beacon;
• price 7950 rubles .;
• characteristics: GPS, LBS, GLONASS, 900/1800 MHz, accelerometer; “AutoPhone-response”;
• pluses: non-volatility in sleep mode;
• cons: the predominant presence of beacons in passive mode.

GPS remote control

Keychains are usually purchased for the elderly. A person can use it in an emergency by pressing the SOS button.

• Name: Minifinder Pico (VitEx VG10);
• price 5390 rubles .;
• Features: GPS chip UBLOX, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, drop sensor;
• Pros: determining the location in the room;
• cons: at high cost there is no function of information storage.

Such a model, equipped with the function of searching for lost things with an optimal cost, is also in demand:

• Name: iTag Bluetooth Keychain:
• price 790 rubles .;
• Features: Android, IOS, Type Bluetooth 4.0, location tracking reconnect;
• pluses: voice recording;
• cons: lack of GPS module.

How to choose a GPS tracker

In acquiring a complex device, it’s important to choose something that’s not cheap: the quality of the product is priority, and it doesn’t matter, you decide to buy a GPS tracker for a child or to ensure the safety of a car. The device must function for 9 hours or more, and for reliable operation it must be equipped with:

• GPS and GSM format antenna;
• GPRS / EDGE support and satellite communications;
• dispatch communication button;
• backup battery.

When acquiring a child, it is important to assign a geofence, upon leaving which the tracker sends an SMS notification. The presence of a drop sensor is desirable for the elderly or disabled: if a person falls, an SMS message immediately arrives. The supply of non-volatile memory is necessary if a signal is not transmitted outside the cellular communication zone, the device accumulates information, sending it as soon as possible.

For trackers on a car, the main requirement is the connection to the vehicle’s power supply, the ability to read information about its mileage, speed. Other options are selected according to personal preference. Among the leaders in sales are the models of Russian manufacturers SENSEIT (Moscow), StarLine (Moscow, St. Petersburg).