What is the Best Type of GPS Tracker?
The world of tracking is a weird and wonderful place. Those unfamiliar with it just assume all devices are the same. After all, they just track things, right?
That’s not entirely true.
When it comes to the tracking industry, consumers and manufacturers alike have to deal with price gouging, ruthless competition, and the differences between GPS, Satellite, Bluetooth, and OBD Tracking.
Unless you’re familiar with these terms and what they mean, you’re prone to get ripped off.
I’m here to unveil the mystery behind the tracking industry and give you the knowledge you need to become a tracking expert or at the bare minimum, give you the basic tools to get you the best deal possible when it comes to the best tracking devices.
Let’s take a look at the differences between the 5 primary types of GPS trackers namely:
- Bluetooth GPS Tracker
- OBD GPS Tracker
- Satellite GPS Tracker
- Wired GPS Tracker
- Wireless GPS Tracker
1) Bluetooth GPS Tracker: The Pros & Cons
Often small, convenient, and cheap, Bluetooth trackers are nifty devices sold by companies like Tile and Apple with their AirTag.
They operate on the Bluetooth network, which limits them to short-distance communication.
An important thing to take note of is that Bluetooth trackers are different from GPS trackers. These are usually effective for misplaced keys, wallets, phones, or even tracking your pets.
Use Cases:
Keys
Wallets
Pets
Price Range:
$5 to $100 AUD
Pros:
Simple Setup
Cheapest Variant of Tracking
Tiny in Size
Cons:
Short Tracking Range (<100 Metres)
Short Battery Life
Easily Detectable
2) OBD GPS Tracker: The Pros & Cons
OBD trackers are a variant of a GPS tracker, but instead of wiring directly to your vehicle’s battery, it connects to your vehicle’s OBD port.
It is easy to install as all you need to do is plug it into your vehicle’s OBD port and you’re done.
One downside to its easy installation is that your OBD tracker is also easily removed. An amateur thief will have no problem detaching the device from the port.
An OBD tracker allows you to receive in-depth telematics from your vehicle like:
Fuel Consumption
Mileage
Engine Temperature
Fuel Levels
Driving Behaviour
Use Cases:
Fleet Management
Price Range:
$120 to $400 AUD
Pros:
Simple Setup
Telematics (Fuel, KM Logging)
Can Be Easily Uninstalled
Can Be Switched Between Vehicles
Cons:
No Backup Battery
Poor Theft Defence
Can Be Easily Disabled
Requires Constant Power
3) Satellite GPS Tracker: The Pros & Cons
Satellite trackers are a variant of GPS trackers, but rather than using the cellular network to transmit location data, these trackers use satellites.
As a result, a satellite tracker can be used anywhere in the world, including locations without mobile coverage.
While regular GPS trackers rely on mobile signals to transmit data, satellite trackers connect to a satellite network that provides global coverage for your assets to be located anywhere around the globe.
Use Cases:
Hiking
Shipping Containers
Rural Areas
Price Range:
$600 to $1,000 AUD
Pros:
Works Anywhere Above Ground
Can Be Wired In or Wireless
No SIM Card Required
Cons:
Expensive Hardware
Expensive Subscription
Complex Setup
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Solid GPS sends an instant alert the moment your car moves, day or night. Share live location with police in seconds. Trusted by 30,000+ vehicle owners.
4) Wired GPS Tracker: The Pros & Cons
Wired GPS trackers are charged from your vehicle’s battery instead of using its own internal battery.
GPS trackers use the Global Positioning System to discover the exact location of your tracker.
Then the location of your asset along with other data such as speed, signal strength, etc is transmitted to a dashboard for you to view your vehicle.
This is why GPS trackers need a SIM card and charge a monthly fee, to use the cellular network and transmit the data that the trackers receive.
Installation can take over an hour to complete per vehicle. It can even take longer if you are planning to self-install these trackers as depending on the tracker, it can be complex.
Since this type of tracker is wired-in and installed to your vehicle, it is not easy to transfer these devices between vehicles.
Use Cases:
Fleet Management
Price Range:
$100 to $600 AUD
Pros:
Automatic Recharging
Telematics (Fuel, KM logging)
Real-time Tracking
Strong Signal and Accurate Positioning
Cons:
Easy for Thieves to Find
No Tracking While Vehicle is Offline
Short or No Backup Battery
Complex Installation
5) Wireless GPS Tracker: The Pros & Cons
Full disclosure, we sell a wireless GPS tracker called Solid GPS.
That, in my opinion, is the best option out of all these tracking types and the best wireless GPS tracker.
Since no wires are connected, you can hide your wireless tracker nearly anywhere inside your vehicle.
One advantage of it being a portable device is it’s easy to transfer from one vehicle to another, saving you time and money.
Wireless GPS trackers get their power from their own internal battery and do not connect to any external power source.
Just so you know, most other wireless GPS trackers do not have these features.
So, I am only talking about Solid GPS in this section.
Use Cases:
Theft Prevention
Tracking Anything On/Off Wheels
Price Range:
$150 to $300 AUD
Pros:
Simple Setup
Long Battery Life
Australian Made
SIM Card Included
Cons:
Manually Recharge Every 3 to 6 Months
No Tracking Without Cell Service
Conclusion
People don’t have much time these days and I understand that. Below is a simplified table of the information above
Every different tracker has certain use cases that may make them the most appropriate. However, most people will find wireless GPS trackers to serve their needs the best.
The Solid GPS tracker can be ordered for an affordable monthly fee, giving you access to state-of-the-art hardware that receives and transmits location data from cellular networks all over Australia. Protect your assets by checking out our plans today!
If you are interested in a reliable GPS tracker then look no further than Solid GPS.
Sources:
https://www.bouncie.com/blog/types-of-tracking-devices-gps-gps-cellular-bluetooth-and-more-explained
https://www.eelinktracker.com/news/6-things-about-obd-gps-tracker-you-should-know.html
https://www.trackstar.com/resources/satellite-vs-cellular-vs-bluetooth-ble-a-comparison
https://www.lightninggps.com/blog/lgps/wired-vs-wireless-gps-trackers
https://www.liveviewgps.com/blog/types-of-gps-tracking-devices/
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Solid GPS sends an instant alert the moment your car moves, day or night. Share live location with police in seconds. Trusted by 30,000+ vehicle owners.
