Common Issues with TKstar GPS Trackers

TKstar Technology Co., Limited is a Chinese manufacturer selling GPS trackers in over 150 countries.

Their range runs from bulky vehicle trackers down to portable devices small enough to fit in your pocket.

The devices work over GSM/GPRS mobile networks and GPS satellites, and you track them by SMS or over the internet.

Sounds fine on paper. Here’s where it falls apart.

How To Set Up TKstar Tracker

Setting up a TKstar tracker means working through the user manual, texting the device SMS commands one at a time.

Each command is its own fiddly string of characters, upper case and lower case matter, and there’s one for everything: rebooting, setting the GMT time zone, sleep mode, SMS tracking, online tracking, and configuring the APN.

TKstar is very customisable. But if you want a tracker that just works out of the box, this isn’t it.

TKstar SIM Card Set Up

Like a mobile phone, a TKstar tracker needs a SIM card, and there isn’t one in the box.

You have to source your own, and it has to work both in your country and with the tracker. That second part is where it gets murky.

TKstar’s Amazon product descriptions claim the tracker works on 4G & 2G networks.

But their own Walmart product page tells a different story, and this one’s the truth:

“Our device only supports GSM(2G) network, Pls buy a GSM(2G) SIM card for the gps tracker, Tmobile and SpeedTalk support GSM(2G) network. We recommend:Speedtalk,$5 per month, it is the cheapest month fee in all SIM. The other gps tracker need 1,525 usd per month.”

An American Amazon customer backs that up:

“This is a 2G device and does not support 3G/4G areas at all, get real please. I did not even get a chance to check the battery life because in Greater Chicago area, this 2G device does not work at all. Did return it.” says, Jose on April 25, 2019.

And so does TKstar themselves, answering a customer’s question:

“Hi, the device can only work well with 2G, so please make sure there is 2G network coverage in your area and the card can support 2G.” says TKstar GPS on May 27, 2019.

So to use a TKstar tracker, you need a SIM on a 2G network. Keep that in mind for the next section.

Learn more about which SIM card is right for you.

2G Mobile Network Shutdown

Here’s the problem: Australia’s 2G networks were switched off years ago, and the 3G networks followed in late 2024.

A 2G-only tracker has no network to connect to in Australia. It simply cannot work here.

Any tracker you buy today needs to run on 4G, which is exactly what Solid GPS trackers are built on.

TKstar iOS/Android App

SMS and website tracking are handy, but the app is where you’ll spend most of your time with any tracker.

And the TKstar app is where a lot of customers give up. Search it on the Google Play or Apple App Store and the reviews speak for themselves:

“Useless: I too have had my tracker stopped on the app. And there is no way of updating your password to try and log in. Customer service is always down according to the generic email I receive back. Now I have a tracker and a topped up sim card for no reason. Very poor.”

“The location of TKstar GPS tracker is always wrongly shown on this app, what is the reason? Please guide.”

“Not accurate, refresh every 15 second, but still this app can’t locate actual GPS. What if the car got carnap? Unless GPS can’t locate the location.”

Inaccurate locations and missing notifications are the two complaints that come up again and again, and for a device whose one job is telling you where your stuff is, that’s the whole game.

Learn more about how GPS trackers get so accurate in the first place.

TKstar Customer Support

TKstar’s support is based in China, so between the language barrier and the time difference, getting help can be slow going.

Worth knowing before you buy, because with a tracker this fiddly, you will need support at some point.

On paper, the offer looks generous: their Amazon page promises a 12-month warranty, lifetime technical support, and responses within 12 hours, with contact details for phone, email, Skype and WhatsApp.

In practice, customers report that none of those channels reliably answer:

“Absolutely terrible service, paid for the lifetime activation 2 days ago, nothing happened. E-mailed them twice with no reply, tried contacting them 3 times by Skype, no reply.”

“Can’t get after sales service, don’t answer messages. Crap firm.”

“Rip off company making people pay annual fees and not getting anything in return after trying to contact them and getting no reply. Selling goods that don’t function like they should in PayPal dispute at the moment trying to get my money back. Not to be trusted.”

Is A TKstar Tracker A Good Buy?

If you want to set everything up yourself over SMS, need GPS plus LBS, like built-in magnets, and happen to live somewhere with a 2G network, a TKstar tracker is an option.

In Australia, that last condition rules it out on its own.

There’s also no replaceable backup battery, once the original battery dies, the tracker is done, and so is any hope of using it to find your vehicle.

When it comes to portable GPS trackers, battery life is essential.

Before you pick a tracker for your pride and joy, have a read of the key features of a reliable GPS tracker.

And if you’d rather a hassle-free tracker that works on Australian 4G networks and comes with a local support team, a Solid GPS tracker is the one.