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 four primary types of GPS trackers:

Bluetooth Trackers.

OBD Trackers.

Satellite Trackers.

GPS Trackers (Wired & Wireless).

Bluetooth Tracking: 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.

Use Cases:

– Small Items (Keys, Wallets)
– Pets

Price Range:

$5 – $100 AUD

Pros:

– Simple Setup
– Cheapest Variant of Tracking
– Tiny in Size

Cons:

– Short Operating Range (<100 Metres)

OBD Tracking: The Pros & Cons

OOBD 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.

This 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 – $400 AUD

Pros:

– Simple Setup
– Telematics

Cons:

– No Backup Battery
– Poor Theft Defence
– Can be Tampered
– No Tracking While Vehicle is Off

Satellite Tracking: 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 rural areas.

Use Cases:

– Hiking
– Tracking Shipping Containers
– Rural Tracking

Price Range:

$600 – $1,000 AUD

Pros:

– Works Anywhere in the World (Only Above Ground)
– Wired or Wireless
– No SIM Card

Cons:

– Expensive Hardware
– Expensive Subscription
– Complex Setup

Wired GPS Tracking: The Pros & Cons

Wired GPS trackers get their power from your vehicle’s battery instead of using it’s own by connecting to your vehicle’s battery.

GPS trackers use the Global Positioning System to discover the exact location of your tracker.

After the location is found it transmits that data, along with other information like speed, etc, through the cellular network.

This is why GPS trackers need a SIM card and charge a monthly fee, to transmit the data that the trackers receive.

Use Cases:

– Fleet Management

Price Range:

$100 – $600 AUD

Pros:

– Automatic Recharging
– Telematics (Fuel, KM logging)

Cons:

– Wiring a tracker to your vehicle makes it obvious for thieves to find
– Short or No Backup Battery
– No Tracking While Vehicle is Offline
– Potential to Drain Battery
– Complicated Installation

Wireless GPS Tracking: 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. Click here to find out more.

Wireless GPS trackers get their power from their own internal battery and do not connect to any external power source.

Please note that most other wireless GPS trackers do not have these features.

I am only talking about Solid GPS in this section.

Use Cases:

– Theft Prevention
– Tracking Medium Sized Objects

Price Range:

$150 – $300 AUD

Pros:

– Place Anywhere on an Asset
– Simple Setup
– Tracks 24/7 Even with no External Power
– Find more Benefits here.

Cons:

– Manually Recharge Solid GPS 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.

(If you’re on mobile, rotate your screen to make it larger)

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.

Solid GPS trackers 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.le.