GPS and RFID Package Tracking

It was not that many years ago that package tracking was almost totally guesswork. If you ordered something that needed to be shipped to you it might arrive in 3 days or 3 weeks and where the package was in between the shipper and you was a complete mystery. All of that is changing not only because of GPS tracking but also because of radio frequency identification (RFID).

GPS is a wonderful technology that is revolutionizing many areas of our lives; but it is simply too expensive to put a GPS receiver on every box, package or envelope that is shipped. But it really isn't necessary to GPS track every package. Inevitably packages are in a building, or a truck, so all you need to know is which truck or building has your package and where the building or truck is. Buildings obviously don't move so you don't need to GPS track the packages in a building you simply need to know constantly exactly what packages are in the building.

Shipping and delivery trucks, of course, are a different matter. Trucks must be GPS tracked in order to track the packages in them. Very soon every new delivery truck that hits the roads will have a fully integrated GPS tracking system. Older trucks will end up being updated with GPS, sooner rather than later, or the trucks will be likely retired completely. GPS in shipping trucks is used primarily to let the shipper and shipping company know where the packages are. The GPS can also be used for navigation, but most truckers already know their territory and don't need GPS navigation. The big push for GPS-equipped delivery trucks is for tracking packages.

So the only thing left to make the system work is to electronically tag each package. In the state of the art system of the near future packages will be identified by RFID. It will not be long before a RFID electronic tag will be attached to almost all packages shipped everywhere. Unlike current bar coding systems, RFID electronic tags do not require a visual scan and can carry significantly more information. Bar coding is almost everywhere these days, but it requires a close and accurate visual scan by a bar code reader. It is simply too slow and often inaccurate. RFID tags on the other hand require only that the package be within radio frequency range of the RFID receiver or RFID interrogator. The days of running a package under a visual scanner by hand are almost over.

Even today most shipping companies have prototype shipping and delivery trucks with fully integrated RFID interrogators, RFID antennas, GPS tracking and a cellular computer network to tie it all together. Factories, shipping and mail centers are also starting to use RFID throughout their facilities so they know exactly what packages are in their facilities. So the package-tracking circle will soon be complete. The package sends, or is induced to send, out a radio frequency signal, the RFID interrogator inside the back of the truck or in the building picks up the signal, the computer network on the truck or in the building sends out a cellular message letting the shippers computer know what is where and finally the GPS system tells the shipper where the truck is if the package is currently on a truck.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to GPS

Pros and Cons of Vehicle Tracking

Are you trying to determine whether or not you or someone in your family or at your workplace would benefit from vehicle tracking? If you are, you are advised to examine the pros and cons before making your decision. Examining the pros and cons of vehicle GPS tracking will give you a good idea whether or not it is right for you.

One of the many pros to vehicle tracking, no matter who is using is, it that location coordinates can be monitored. If you are a parent of a teenager, who is constantly worried about their activities or their driving, a vehicle tracking device may be able to help you calm your fears. If you are a business owner, your fears may also be calm due to the fact that you know where all of your company vehicles are at all times, as well as what they are being used for. If you are just a car owner who is worried about traveling long distances or late at night, vehicle tracking may be able to offer you assistance in the event of an emergency.

Another pro to vehicle tracking is that it is easy to do. The first step is equipping your own personal vehicle, your teenager?s vehicle, or your work vehicle with vehicle tracking GPS equipment. This equipment is then monitored by a vehicle tracking GPS company. That company is the one that relays and keep tracks of all of their client?s locations or coordinates. They also give you easy access to all coordinates and locations. This is often done on a cell phone or the internet. So, whether you are a business owner wanting to track your company vehicles or a parent who wants to know where your driving teenager is, you could be able to get their exact locations in no time at all.

Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to car tracking, there are also a number of downsides or cons to it as well. One of those cons is cooperation. If you are interested in installing vehicle tracking equipment in your own vehicle, for your own safety, this isn?t an issue, but it can be in other instances. For instance, how would your teenager know if you wanted to install a vehicle tracking program in their car? There is a good chance that they may be dead set against the idea. If you are a business owner, you may also feel that a number of employees find vehicle tracking to be an invasion of their privacy. Although this dispute may pose a problem, you need to remember that you are either the boss or the parent; therefore, what you say goes.

Vehicle tracking, like many other things, has a number of different pros and cons. Even if you think that the cons outweigh the pros, you are still urged to examine vehicle tracking equipment and service, as you may be surprised just how affordable it is.

Quentin Chamberlain is a writer for RM Tracking . com where you can find accurate information about Vehicle Tracking and other related information.

Car Alarms With GPS Tracking For Vehicle Recovery

Today's most advanced car alarms offer GPS tracking capabilities that are extremely helpful in locating an apprehended vehicle. Beyond the ability to pinpoint the vehicle's location, these GPS tracking systems offer many two way communication options to car owners. Owners are automatically notified via phone call or text message if a car has been broken into. Owners can also contact the cars remotely through GPS tracking features of their car alarms.

From anywhere in the world, these car alarms GPS tracking devices can be armed or disarmed with a phone call or text message. Doors can be locked or unlocked by dialing into the GSM alarm. And, the car's status in many areas can be remotely determined. Wondering if the doors are open or shut? Wondering if the car alarm has been engaged? With the capabilities of GPS tracking car alarms you can wonder no more. These systems can even tell you if the engine is running, regardless of its location.

A highly desirable security feature of the GPS tracking devices is that they allow the car's owner to remotely immobilize the car at any time and from any location to thwart a robbery attempt. The car owner can also engage or disengage the vibration sensor, and even determine the reason why the car alarm activated before notifying the owner via phone call or text message.

Within moments of a break-in, the GPS tracking car alarm will call or text the car's owner to advise them of the situation. Because these systems are able to discern the particulars of the break-in situation, the owner notification also offers the owner important information about how to proceed. And, if silent mode has been selected, these things can be accomplished without ever alerting the thief that the alarm has engaged.

The additional cost of adding GPS tracking to your car alarm is actually quite reasonable when compared to the cost of otherwise trying to recover an apprehended vehicle. These GPS tracking car alarm features are being utilized by individual car owners as well as car rental and fleet management firms to manage their assets in a cost-effective, proactive manner. Any car alarm will offer some peace of mind to the car's owner, but these GPS tracking features take this to a whole new level in the global marketplace.

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