Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

There are many different uses of GPS tracking in the world today. Almost anyone can purchase and use a GPS, although there are different types available, depending on your needs. There are basically two different types of GPS systems. The first type of GPS tracking is passive, while the other is active. Passive tracking occurs when the GPS unit itself records and keeps the data that it receives from the vehicle or person that it is tracking. This information can later be downloaded and processed onto a computer. The other type of tracking is active, which means that the information the GPS unit is receiving is continually passed along to a computer, which then records and analyzes the data.

GPS Tracking

An active GPS tracking unit can work in a variety of ways, although the most popular tends to be via satellite. This means that the unit is attached to an object and when it is turned on, it begins transmitting radio waves, which pass along to a series of satellites. These waves can determine a variety of things, such as the speed of the object, the location, the height or depth, the current status of the object, and many other factors. Each GPS unit is good for different things. The satellites receive this information, which they then pass along to a central computer system located somewhere in the world. Technicians that work with these computers then record the data and pass it along as needed.

GPS tracking is now used even to track people, although there are legal issues involved, depending upon whom you are trying to track. People can be tracked through their cell phones, their personal GPS unit, or even through their car. Electronics are a popular way to track someone down, while credit cards are a non-GPS way of finding who you want. One county in Texas has even begun a program that requires truant teenagers to carry a GPS for a specific number of weeks. Once these teens have been admitted to court, there is a stringent schedule they must follow in order to avoid going to jail. Other places have used GPS tracking for criminals, and some people are seeking to have more liberties while maintaining the perpetrator in custody. Whatever the case may be, GPS tracking continues to evolve and becomes better every day. Make sure you understand all about this new technology.

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

Fleet operations have the unenviable task of monitoring their drivers as they travel their daily routes.  It is a necessary part of the operation to help insure that their drivers are using safe and responsible activities.  A huge burden of liability rests on the companies who have many company-owned vehicles moving along the streets of most major cities and towns.

GPS & Safe Drivers

More of these businesses have turn to GPS Tracking systems to augment their driver safety policies.  Here is how properly outfitted devices can help in this arena:

Awareness

This is true not only when the driver is on the road, where they need to be the most aware of their surroundings and the things happening in front of them, but when they are on their own time as well.  Paying attention to details is always a good choice in remaining focused on any task.  Driving a vehicle, especially a large delivery truck or even semi, requires a constant focus.  But there are always too many distractions.

Responsibility

When a driver is part of an organization that values safety and responsibility, they feel like a part of something bigger than just making deliveries every day.  This is what motivates people to become heroes when they assist others who are involved in traumatic situations.  In fact, the training that they receive often kicks in without them thinking about it.

Safety Alignment

By emphasizing safety, it becomes a part of their everyday routine.  From making sure that their vehicle is operating correctly, to driving with added ownership of their actions at the wheel they are immersed in safety activities.

Encourages Positive Behavior

When drivers value safety and responsibility, they make better decisions on the road.  Knowing that lives are at stake helps a great deal, also.

A GPS Tracking device helps the driver realize that they are being monitored not only for business purposes, but to also ensure that rules of the road and laws are being obeyed at all times.  This will help make sure that the incidents of moving violations are low while driving up customer satisfaction.  Drivers will be more productive as well.  This is a decision that you will not regret making for your business.  Check out one of these systems today.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Greg Bartlett

Insurance-it’s on everyone’s mind these days as the health care debate remains in the media spotlight.  Health insurance is just one of many forms of insurance which most people have.

Insurance & the GPS Tracker

When did you last consider your other insurance and how much you are paying?  For example: car insurance.  Did you know that many car insurance companies offer discounts to vehicles equipped with anti-theft devices?  Some states even require auto insurance companies to offer discounts for anti-theft devices (Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas).  And just in case you don’t think your car will ever be stolen, consider some statistics.  According to the FBI, a car is stolen in America every 33 seconds.  Those living in urban areas are at an even greater risk for car theft.

Don’t be lulled into complacency because you have an older car.  The National Crime Insurance Crime Bureau reports the top ten most stolen cars in 2006 were models were 1995, 1991, 1989, 1997, 2005, 1994 (several different models from this year), and 1990.  If you happen to own a motorcycle, you are at an even greater risk.  In 2008 60,763 motorcycles were reported stolen.

And while car thefts have fallen slightly over the past year, it is in part due to the advances in technology in anti-theft devices.  One such device is a GPS tracker.  A GPS tracker has two components: the satellites that do the tracking and the receiver that is attached to the vehicle.  There are roughly 24 satellites that can determine the location (latitude and longitude) of the receiver (can be a person, in this case your vehicle).  This information is sent to a database that is accessible by internet or through mobile devices.

Active GPS tracking systems give real-time information about the location of the receiver, while passive tracking is more like a log of events that occurred.  If your vehicle equipped with this type of anti-theft device were to be stolen, you would be able to determine the exact location, which is why insurance companies often reward such preventative measures with discounts.  These discounts can start around 5% and go as high as 30%.

As previously mentioned, some states require companies to offer discounts, but many, many companies in other states also offer incentives and discounts to owners who equip their vehicles with anti-theft devices.  If you are paying too much for car insurance, consider the investment in a device that will offer you many benefits-one of which would be lowering your monthly insurance costs.

By Greg Bartlett

Many people may wonder why some businesses find it necessary to install tracking devices in their vehicles. While it may seem like an unnecessary precaution to install vehicle tracking, some companies have found that fleet tracking has allowed them to better serve their customers, as well as save on fuel consumption. A company in the United Kingdom began tracing the effects of their tracking systems and found that some businesses saved up to 15% of their annual fuel costs. These savings have allowed them to quickly pay off and profit from the purchase of the vehicle tracking devices. Also, once an individual knows that they are being tracked in their car, they are much more likely to be conscious of their speed, time spent idling, and wasted gas mileage.

What is Vehicle Tracking?

GPS tracking can work in a variety of ways. Basically, the system starts with a tracker, or object which is placed onto or into a vehicle. This tracker can be passive or active, which will be explained later. Once the unit is activated, it begins transmitting signals. Currently, there are two different places where these signals can be passed along to. One option is to use the cell phone towers and pass along the signals to them, which will then pass it along to a central computer. The other option is to use a series of satellites in outer space. The information from the satellites is also passed to the central computers, where it is recorded and analyzed.

As stated before, there are two types of GPS vehicle tracking. Passive tracking involves an internal recording device in the GPS unit, which then downloads the information onto a computer when connected. The other type of tracking is active tracking, when the signals from the GPS are continually transmitted. While passive tracking is usually cheaper, the active GPS will keep you continually alerted as to your vehicle’s whereabouts.

A new GPS vehicle tracking company has started in the Philippines, with updates maps of the country, and up-to-date information on the unit at all times. Perspective Mobil Tracker claims to be able to keep you knowledgeable of all aspects of your vehicle - the speed it is traveling, whether its doors are opened or closed, how far it has traveled, and other facts. Tracking vehicles is a very new concept, but one that continues to flourish and that may be right for you.

By Greg Bartlett

Difficult economic times place everyone in a situation of having to watch their spending more closely, protect their assets more carefully, and make sacrifices in day to day living. Small business owners must work even harder to make sales and make sure customers don’t default on payments. One industry that has been particularly hard hit is the auto sales industry. Fewer people are buying cars, and more are unable to make payments after losing a job or seeing a pay decrease at work. If you own a Buy Here, Pay Here car lot and you’re worried about losing your stock if a customer defaults, then you may want to consider purchasing a GPS tracking device for the cars you sell.

Buy Here Pay Here & GPS

GPS tracking is becoming more and more versatile all the time. One option now available that can benefit independent car lot owners is a smart tracking device. When you purchase the device, you can add it to the cars in your lot while leaving the tracking capabilities deactivated. When a customer leases or finances the vehicle, the tracking device stays with the car. Many car dealerships already offer customers a free oil change or service package at the end of the lease or finance agreement, so when they bring the car in for service, you can remove the tracking device at the same time. The benefit of the smart tracker is that you can activate it only when you need it, pay for just one day of use, and avoid monthly service fees. If, for instance, a customer defaults on his loan and fails to return the vehicle, you can activate your GPS tracking device in order to find the car immediately.

Not only will the smart GPS tracking device protect you from customers who default on their agreements, but you’ll also be protected against stolen vehicles. While vehicle theft overall has decreased over the past five years, still, the cost in stolen vehicles during 2008 was $6.4 billion. By taking the initiative to install a GPS tracking device in the cars for sale on your lot, you can protect yourself from significant losses. No one can afford to lose even one car to auto theft when the average cost of a stolen vehicle is over $6,000.

Your business stands between you and unemployment. Don’t let auto theft be the deciding factor in whether your business survives or fails. GPS tracking can give you the advantages you need to make sure you not only make it through the economic crisis, but that your business continues to thrive.

By Greg Bartlett

Are you a loner?  A child?  A young woman living alone?  A senior citizen?  An outdoorsy camping type?  Then you might need to consider your personal safety and GPS tracking.  Being out and about in the city, or alone in the woods, or anywhere for that matter, has always carried certain risks (even back to the days of highwaymen and bandits, cutthroats and robbers).

Personal Safety & GPS

However, we do have an advantage over our ancestors from the Dark Ages-and that is technology.  We all know how GPS can help you find your way and give directions, but a GPS tracking device can keep track of you wherever you go.  If you are wearing a GPS tracker and get lost in a storm, crash your car, or are abducted, the tracker will let emergency personnel know your exact location.  “So what do you think my cell phone is for?” you may ask.

Cell phones can easily run out of coverage or battery, while a GPS tracker has a battery than can last from 10 to 30 days, depending on which kind you buy.  The FBI reports that during 2008, 778,161 missing persons were entered into the NCIC database.  Another source cites the number of Americans reported missing daily at 2,300.  The news is also full of horror stories of people gone missing-campers trekking off happily into the woods to never be seen alive again; college girls out for a run are mysteriously abducted; children are snatched from their neighborhoods.

You can’t help but wonder if things would have turned out differently if the victims had been wearing a GPS tracking device for their personal safety.  While these are definitely statistics on the morbid side, what about your personal safety during travel?  A dangerous storm, your tire blows, your cell phone dies, you are stranded.  A GPS tracking device can help keep you safe by registering data about your location (via satellite) and downloading to an internet source.  Active GPS tracking systems are considered to be “real-time.”  Passive GPS tracking systems are more of a record of what happened-where the vehicle or person went, how long they were there, etc.

Some GPS even notifies a phone or email if unauthorized movement, tampering, or other suspicious activities occur.  If you are concerned about your personal safety or the personal safety of a child, elderly relative, or any loved one, consider making the investment in a GPS tracking device.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

By Harriette Halepis

WBZ Boston, Lowell, Massachusetts, January 29, 2010 - The state of Lowell, Massachusetts, recently proposed that all Lowell police cars be fitted with GPS trackers. Other states that have outfitted state-owned vehicles with GPS trackers have managed to increase productivity and emergency response time. However, the Lowell police force is not allowing the installation of GPS trackers without a fight.

Tracking Police Cars

Due to planned protests, the annual awards ceremony that is usually held in the Lowell memorial Auditorium had to be cancelled.  Those who are a part of the Lowell force feel that the installation of GPS trackers would be a violation of personal rights, though City Manager Bernard Lynch doesn’t quite see the situation in this manner.

Instead, Lynch argues that the city “…wants to make sure that…police officers are doing what they’re supposed to be doing… (WBZ)“ While this may sound paranoid to some, the fact of the matter is that many other states through the nation have found that city employees spend a lot more time tending to non-work related tasks then they do to work related tasks.

Further, tax payers don’t see anything wrong with ensuring that police officers are actually working for that tax money. As one resident put it “it’s tax dollars at work. You see a cruiser sitting on the side of the road, at least back at dispatch, they know where they are (WBZ).” This resident isn’t the only one, many people within the Lowell area wonder whether or not police officers are spending their time wisely.

As for those members of the Lowell police force, a press release that was sent to the Lowell Sun states that “the chief has proclaimed his lack of trust in our members by proposing the GPS system (WBZ).” At this time, no further comments have been made by force representatives. Thus, the proposal has not yet been implemented, though both state officials and city taxpayers would like to see the proposal set into motion.

GPS trackers installed in police cars across the nation would not only ensure that police officers are respecting state time, but they would also ensure that stolen police vehicles are returned in a timely manner. Also, back up crews would likely be able to reach officers in distress faster with the help of a GPS tracker.

By Greg Bartlett

Teen drivers, the bane of every parent.  Most parents are or at least should be concerned when their teenager borrows the car for an evening out.  Car accidents are, after all, the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers.  But what can parents do in order to permit their teens to still be free to do their activities while not endangering themselves or passengers?  After all, isn’t one of the benefits of your teen getting a driver’s license that the teenager no longer has to depend on you to drive him or her everywhere?

There are steps parents can take to help reduce the likelihood of accidents, such as driver’s ed, curfews so the teens don’t drive during dangerous times, and reminding the teens of safety issues.  The “little” things like wearing a seat belt or speeding can make a huge difference in a teen’s life.

But even despite your precautions, what happens if your son decides to take some of his friends out for pizza, and the peer pressure makes your son want to show off rather than follow your instructions?  Just a little bit of speeding, and your son and his friends might end up in the hospital, or even the morgue.  Or what if your daughter decides to sneak out after curfew?  How will you know to stop her until it’s too late?

Teenage Drivers & GPS

GPS tracking is one option parents can use to help ensure the safety of their teenage drivers.  When a car is equipped with a GPS tracking unit, the unit will monitor the car’s activities.  Parents can get a report of their teen’s driving activities so that they know how fast the teen has been driving or if the teen has been out after curfew.  While this won’t stop teens from unsafe driving, it can alert parents to problem areas that need to be addressed.  Better yet, some GPS tracking units will even alert the parent via a text message, email, or phone call the instant the car exceeds a certain speed or is driven during restricted hours, allowing you to stop the problematic behavior immediately and hopefully prevent an accident.

Driving is an important part of your teens’ lives, and of course you want to give them the freedom to drive themselves around - so long as they’re safe.  If you add GPS tracking to your other precautions, such as education and curfews, you can help ensure that your teens are not another accident statistic.

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

There are those who still question the need for and use of GPS Tracking systems in their businesses.  That is unfortunate, because they stand to gain from these devices in ways that will help increase their profitability.

GPS Tracking Questions

Here are the most important questions about GPS Tracking systems and the answers:

How Does GPS Tracking Differ from GPS Navigation?

GPS stands for Global Positioning Systems and is a part of technology provided by satellites as they orbit the earth.  These satellites and the systems contained in them are able to link to devices on the ground that are in tune to certain frequencies on which both are locked.  These frequencies allow communicating bi-directionally which gives benefits to the end user.

GPS Navigation systems have become popular with product manufacturers in the form of small devices that attach to vehicles or other transportation methods for the distinct purpose of displaying driving directions and other valuable data such as destination, and estimated times of arrival based on speed.

GPS Tracking has been developed for the specific purpose of tracking moving objects (vehicles and other assets) as they move across the landscape.  These devices are used more for verifying activities and providing data than they are for providing consumer feedback on a small screen.  These units provide location, direction of travel and speed information which is captured in near real-time.  This data is then used by businesses, law enforcement and even consumers in tracking assets.

How Do Businesses Benefit?

By using GPS Tracking, businesses are able to better manage assets in near real-time which allow them to be more responsive to their customers’ needs.  This gives businesses with fleet vehicles the ability to be able to make instant changes in schedules which improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.

What Type of GPS Tracking Do We Need?

You have a choice between a passive and a ‘real-time’ system.  Passive systems are those that are not tracked actively when the device is in use.  The device stores information which is downloaded for later retrieval and use.  This device is only good when instant updates are not needed.  Tracking over several days for a history of usage is the best way to describe its use.

The devices that are of the most benefit to businesses are those that are ‘real-time’ or nearly so.  These units send out a constant signal so that the information can be relayed to a local PC.  These GPS Tracking systems also allow businesses to set up boundaries called ‘geo-fences’ that set off alerts if a vehicle traverses a preset boundary.

What Can We Expect to Pay?

When these devices are purchased in quantity the discounts can be fantastic.  Often, the cost can be as low as about $100.  But, the key here is that the cost is so low, that the devices pay for themselves.  Other cost that you should be aware of is that there are monthly fees associated with continuous monitoring.  But, also there is a model called the Smart Tracker that does not incur these charges until the device is activated as needed.

Are Savings Possible?

Most insurance companies offer a significant savings in premiums when these units are installed and used on vehicles.  This helps them reduce their risk of loss and they are more than willing to share in the savings by offering lower premiums.

There is little to debate over the implementation and use of these devices in any business that has major dollars tied up in outdoor assets.  The ways that they are being used are many and varied and they will continue to provide a platform for successful business operations for years to come.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Greg Bartlett

Are you involved in a business that utilizes vehicles on a regular basis? Does it seem harder to keep track of the automobiles that your employees and clientele are using? Many rental companies have found that the number of vehicles damaged and/or stolen has risen exceedingly in the last several years. Other businesses that send employees out on house calls realize that the amount of work completed each day has diminished greatly, while the number of hours an individual is on a job just keeps getting greater. While this may be due simply to accidents or poor driving, most often it is a result of poor accountability and a lack of responsibility on the part of drivers. Vehicle tracking may be the solution to your problem.

GPS & Vehicle Tracking

GPS tracking has progressively assisted in many areas throughout the last several years. A GPS tracking device can be used on a variety of objects, whether inanimate or animate. Wildlife conservatories use them on animals that are becoming extinct, police use them on criminal transports, and the paparazzi use them on important stars or politicians. A GPS device is a small object that can be attached to a car or stuck into a pocket. This tiny mechanism will then emit rays, when turned on, to a series of satellites throughout the universe. These satellites then transmit the rays to a set of computers that record time, date, speed, and a number of other factors about the device.

Vehicle tracking is a type of GPS tracking that has become more important recently. A recent vehicle-tracking device that has been developed is the CoDriver OBD. This can be used to know either where your vehicle is at all times, or else to trace the individual that is driving the vehicle, so that you will know its speed, distance, and location. This is useful for parents, spouses, and even friends. Another use of GPS vehicle tracking has been used for fleets of cars or machinery. With the use of a vehicle-tracking device, individuals have been able to recover lost trucks, tractors, and other work-related vehicles.

Vehicle tracking is not a toy; it is a responsible decision to take care of your car. Although not everyone can afford to purchase the top of the line model, there are many types of devices for every circumstance. Take time to decide if this method is right for you.