GPS Tracking and Its Many Uses

A GPS System refers to any form of Global Positioning System, which locates items using satellites that are orbiting the earth. These were once only used by the military, but are becoming very popular in business and personal protection. In fact, many of the packages that you receive by special carrier have been tagged with a GPS so that they can be more easily tracked.

As an individual, a GPS system offers you security and information ? two of the most important components to protecting yourself and your family. A GPS tracking system can prevent theft, increase the change of vehicle recovery, and even help thwart attempted kidnappings.

Attaching a GPS tracking system to your car means that the police will be able to locate the whereabouts of your vehicle should it ever be stolen. As car thieves improve their skills is becoming highly unlikely that stolen vehicles will be recovered before being copped up for parts. A GPS tracking system drastically improves those odds in your favor.

The GPS system has also proven highly beneficial in protecting people and their personal safety. These items have been used to locate cars after kidnappings and hijackings, which has resulted in arrests and victim recoveries that would be otherwise impossible. A GPS tracking system also enables emergency crews to find vehicles that have gone off the road or been involved in some sort of accident. By facilitating quick medical attention to those who are in accidents, GPS systems save lives.

Furthermore, GPS systems allow you to keep track of where your loved ones are and where they have been. Parents all know too well the dangers and deceptions that go along with raising a teenager. Unfortunately, it seems that the more dangerous the world becomes, the more freedom our teens demand. Don?t let your teen trick you about their whereabouts, know for sure that they are safe with a GPS tracking system.

A GPS system is not just for the individual either. Most small businesses are now installing such tools into their company vehicles as a way of managing their fleets. By installing a GPS system you will be able to monitor where your vehicles are going and what your staff is doing on your time and with your money.

Those businesses that use these systems report that the money they save in formerly wasted fuel and labor, more than pays for the cost of the system. No longer can staff members take joys rides, complete personal errands, and use the company car for their own pleasure.

A GPS system can benefit every family and business. A great place to look for one is at BLJ's Self Defense.Com This company offers a wide variety of items and online resources. In addition, BLJ's Enterprises supplies its customers with personal attention to help ensure that they receive the product that is right for them.

BLJ's Enterprises is a top provider of GPS systems, in the United States. At their website, http://www.bljsselfdefense.com, you will find quality products as well as free in-depth information regarding personal protection. Because BLJ's Enterprises is dedicated to matching everyone with the right self product, customer comments and questions can be directed to the owner, Barry Jenkins himself, at barry@bljsselfdefense.com

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Three Major Types Of GPS Vehicle Tracking

There are three major types of GPS vehicle tracking; cellular based tracking, wireless passive tracking and satellite based real-time GPS tracking. This article will outline the advantages and disadvantages associated with all three types of GPS Vehicle Tracking.

Cellular Based Tracking

The initial costs for setting up the system are slightly lower than the other two options. With cellular based tracking average costs are about $500. A cellular based tracking system transmits information about where a vehicle is every five minutes over a land network. The average monthly costs are about thirty-five dollars for airtime and for the information to be displayed over the internet.

Wireless Passive Tracking

A major advantage to this type of tracking system is that there is no monthly fee, so once the system is set up there will be no other costs associated with it. However, setting up the system is a little expensive. The average is about $700 for the hardware, and $800 for the software and database. With this type of system most people say the disadvantage is that the information about where the vehicle has been can only be found out when the vehicle returns back to the companies base. This is a major drawback especially for companies that are looking for a tracking system that will tell them where their vehicle is if it has been stolen or in an accident. However many systems are now inserting wireless modems to their devices so that tracking information can be viewed without having the memory card from the vehicle. With wireless modem wireless passive tracking systems are also able to collect information about how fast the vehicle is traveling, stops made and other detailed information. With this new addition many companies feel this system is a perfect fit because there is still no monthly bill.

Satellite Based Real-Time Tracking

This type of system gives less detailed information, but it works nationwide, which makes it a good choice for shipping and trucking companies. The costs for setting up the system average around $700. The monthly fees for this system vary from five dollars up to one hundred dollars; based on how detailed a company wants the reports to be.

New Technology

In the next few years GPS tracking will be able to provide companies with a number of other advantages. Some companies have already set up a way to have a customers sign and run credit cards onsite through the unit. Others are setting up ways for dispatchers to send re-routing information directly to a drivers GPS unit. Another new advancement for GPS systems is that they will have internet access and stored information about the vehicle so that a driver or mechanic can use the GPS unit to look up diagrams to help them fix the vehicle. In addition to this all of the information will be stored and saved in the companies database.

Chris Simons is a prolific freelance writer. You are welcomed to visit http://gps.theconsumerguide.net, for more information on GPS Vehicle tracking.

GPS Tracking: An Executive Summary-Who, What and Why

GPS vehicle tracking systems are a popular tool for business owners; Original equipment manufacturers from General Motors to Bobcat are including tracking systems in their vehicles. Here's some background information to help you:

Who uses GPS tracking? GPS tracking systems are used by businesses in the service, transportation and manufacturing industries. Businesses of all sizes, with fleets of 1 to thousands of vehicles, rely upon their tracking systems to add to their profitability.

Types of businesses using GPS tracking:

* Contractors who provide HVAC, plumbing or electrical services

* Limousine and taxi companies

* Uniform / Linen Services

* Food and Beverage Distributors

* Street Sweepers

* Pest Management Services

* Snow Plow Services

* Car Carriers

* Landscaping and Irrigation contractors

* Cable Company Contractors

* Bulk and Route Delivery

* Fuel / Oil Haulers

* Hazmat and/or Chemical Haulers

* Produce / Perishable Delivery

* Utility companies

* City, county and state motor pool fleets

What is it? GPS tracking systems consist of a device installed in the vehicle, a central server and software for the owner to access the information.

All GPS tracking devices use data from the U.S. Government's constellation of Global Positioning System satellites to determine a vehicle's location, speed and direction of travel.

The tracking device transmits data from GPS satellites overhead to a central computer server via either a communications satellite or, more often, via the local cellular phone network. The vehicle data is updated every 2 - 15 minutes, depending upon the owner's preferences and manufacturer's settings.

The central server makes the tracking data available to the system owner through the Internet. The owner logs onto the tracking company's secure web server and sees their vehicle data on a map and in text form. Some tracking companies make the data available for download, so the owner could archive it on their own computer.

Why do they use it? Users of GPS tracking systems have many reasons why they've installed them:

1. Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by targeting speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and ultimately, drive up insurance rates.

2. Using the system's automatic mileage reminder reduces downtime and enhances vehicle resale values by encouraging scheduled, preventative maintenance. Your tracking system will remind you when it's time to rotate tires, change oil or perform other scheduled maintenance.

3. Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking systems.

4. Productivity is improved by: a. documenting long lunch hours, b. exposing unauthorized breaks, c. comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver activity, d. logging personal vehicle use after hours or on weekends.

5. GPS tracking systems improve customer service by showing you which employee is closest to the client who just called. WOW your customers--give them precise arrival or delivery estimates, based upon the actual location of your vehicles at the moment they call.

6. Your system can tell you the exact time and date each employee reached each customer. If a customer questions when your employee arrived or left --prove it to them.

7. Is one employee more productive than another? --Check the data. Is it time to add a vehicle? --Use your system and there's no more guessing.

8. Use your system to correlate overtime performed with your employees' overtime requests. See who is putting in extra time.

9. Never make another phone call to find out where your employees say they are.

10. Simplify asset management by displaying everything on one computer screen. Make work easier for your dispatcher.

11. Tracking systems work without any input from the driver. No driver logs needed.

Purchasers of GPS vehicle tracking systems say they recover their investment in an average of six - 12 months, by both reducing expenses and improving productivity. While some users recoup their entire investment at one time by recovering a stolen vehicle, most users are repaid more gradually.

Ken Sink, owner of My Vehicle WatchDog, is a veteran with 20+ years of transportation experience, including fleet management of over 800 vehicles. Visit http://www.MyVehicleWatchDog.Info for more information about GPS vehicle tracking systems from Fleet Management Solutions, Networkfleet and Sprint/Nextel. Submit your info for a quick, no-obligation system quote. Quantity discounts for volume purchases

Vehicle Tracking On The Internet

Groundbreaking technology in Global Positioning System (GPS) Internet vehicle tracking now being sold to the public at www.rodsgps.com.

Millennium Plus is the first to offer publicly, GPS/Internet tracking solutions for all cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles. Deregulation by the FCC of telecommunications services has made GPS/cellular technology available to the public that can deliver an affordable tracking product that can be acquired with light disposable income.

The Millennium Plus Mobile Locating Unit (MLU) uses existing cellular airwaves and takes advantage of the global positioning system created by the U.S. government to track cars, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. Millennium Plus utilizes a constellation of 24 geo-synchronous satellites providing precise navigation and position information to the GPS receiver. This perfect marriage of technologies enables system users to track and contact vehicles at any time of day or night via any standard web browser. In the event a car is stolen, an email and/or a cell phone call can be issued immediately, and the unit owner can disable the vehicle starter and lock the doors.

GPS is the perfect solution for small fleet owners:

One customer states, "I trust my employees, but I elected to enhance my fleet with Millennium Plus. GPS tracking isn't about doubting my employees -- it's about running our business more efficiently and offering our customers the best service possible." With fuel prices on the rise, the benefits of this technology are evident. "On the whole, Millennium Plus has increased our productivity significantly and reduced our fuel consumption. Millennium Plus definitely delivers in terms of ROI."

Millennium Plus offers affordable safety and security: "This is the first time virtually anyone can afford to track their valuable assets and loved ones. From a teen-aged driver out late at night, to the stolen car, Millennium Plus delivers answers to the question, "Where?" within seconds, and all via the Internet. This truly revolutionary security and safety technology grants benefits through peace of mind." Rodney Barkley, Independent Business Owner, Millennium Plus - For more information, Phone 800-587-9046, ext. 2514

Corporate employee for 30+ years starts his own business. A father of 5, with teenage drivers, he knows the value of knowing their whereabouts at all times.

Vehicle Tracking System

VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM is the technology used to determine the location of a vehicle using different methods like GPS and other radio navigation systems operating through satellites and ground based stations. By following triangulation or trilateration methods the tracking system enables to calculate easy and accurate location of the vehicle. Vehicle information like location details, speed, distance traveled etc. can be viewed on a digital mapping with the help of a software via Internet. Even data can be stored and downloaded to a computer from the GPS unit at a base station and that can later be used for analysis. This system is an important tool for tracking each vehicle at a given period of time and now it is becoming increasingly popular for people having expensive cars and hence as a theft prevention and retrieval device.

System: The system consists of modern hardware and software components enabling one to track their vehicle online or offline. Any vehicle tracking system consists of mainly three parts mobile vehicle unit, fixed based station and, database and software system.

• Vehicle Unit: It is the hardware component attached to the vehicle having either a GPS/GSM modem. The unit is configured around a primary modem that functions with the tracking software by receiving signals from GPS satellites or radio station points with the help of antenna. The controller modem converts the data and sends the vehicle location data to the server.

• Fixed Based Station: Consists of a wireless network to receive and forward the data to the data center. Base stations are equipped with tracking software and geographic map useful for determining the vehicle location. Maps of every city and landmarks are available in the based station that has an in-built Web Server.
• Database and Software: The position information or the coordinates of each visiting points are stored in a database, which later can be viewed in a display screen using digital maps. However, the users have to connect themselves to the web server with the respective vehicle ID stored in the database and only then s/he can view the location of vehicle traveled.

Summation: No doubt, Vehicle tracking system whether it is GPS based or any other wireless medium has brought one of the most important technological advances in today’s communication field. Now one doesn’t have to leave a place to know where a particular vehicle is at a given period of time. The automatic vehicle locating system only with the help of a tinny electronic device and tracking software can detect the real-time location of a vehicle by using the conventional cell phone network and Internet.

Riktesh Srivastava
PhD Internet Technologies
MS(Electronics and Communicatios)