Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

It’s been a hectic day at work, and you had to stop by the grocery store on the way home. You quickly gather your bags after checkout and head out to where you parked. Your car isn’t there, so you figure you must have the wrong row. But the more you look, the more you realize that your transportation is gone. Somehow, your car disappeared, and you don’t think it rolled off on its own. Now you have to go through the process of filing a police report and hoping you can get your stolen vehicle back. Unfortunately, the chances are pretty slim.

Actually, your chances are higher than average since you recently installed a GPS vehicle tracking device in your car. You’d intended to use it just to find out where you vehicle went, how long each trip was, where it stopped, and how fast it was going. That way you could make sure your teenager, the only other person who drives your car, is being safe when you’re not in the car with him. But now your GPS vehicle tracking device will have another benefit. It can help you find your car.

Once you get home, you get on the internet and track the real-time location of your car. It takes you minutes to find it, and then it only takes a bit more for the police to head out and retrieve your car. Before long, you receive the good news. Your car has been recovered intact, and the police caught the thieves, too.

Thankfully you now have your car back, but the incident makes you realize that maybe you should have bought the GPS vehicle tracking device which also alerts you in the event of theft. If you’d had that device, you would have been alerted the moment the car alarm was activated. Then you could have started the retrieval process even quicker, and perhaps the police would have recovered the car before the thieves even reached their home. The device could even deactivate your vehicle or slow it down so it will hardly go, making it impossible for a thief to escape in your vehicle.

Your GPS vehicle tracking device enabled the safe return of your car, but if it’s ever stolen again, this time you have the device that alerts you instantly if the car is stolen and can also slow down the thieves. Next time you go to the grocery store, you won’t be left without your ride.

By Greg Bartlett

It’s early in the morning, and you’re still hurrying to get all your kids out the door and to the bus stop. You managed to get everyone dressed, wearing the right shoes on the right feet, and carrying backpacks stuffed with homework. Then you go outside into the cold morning air and wait for the bus to arrive. You were so rushed getting out of the house that you didn’t even have time to get your kids much to eat for breakfast. But now the bus is late, so you have to stand there on the curb, waiting, but you can’t go back into the warm house until it arrives.

Sound familiar? It might not, depending on where you live. You might get up in the morning and be able to glance at the computer and see that the bus is ten minutes late today, so you know you have time to get the kids a little more to eat. If this sounds like your morning and you were able to monitor the bus on your computer, you probably live in an area where buses are tracked with GPS tracking devices.

Some school districts are seeking to help parents determine exactly where a bus is. By equipping the buses with GPS tracking, the schools enable parents to monitor the location of any bus and to verify precisely when it will arrive. Parents can also sign up to receive phone or text message alerts, automatically updating them with bus times and locations so the parents don’t even have to get onto the internet to find out where the bus is.

The GPS tracking units also have a panic button which allows the bus driver to instantly call police in an emergency, such as an accident or hijacking. The GPS unit will also tell police where the bus is located, and if it is moving, it will continue to update the police with information.

Knowing when the bus is going to arrive could save you time in the morning, and definitely relieve some of the stress in your life. You will know exactly when the bus will arrive and how much time you have to get ready. Furthermore, being able to monitor the school bus with GPS tracking means that you know where your child is at all times, and tomorrow morning, you won’t have to wait for twenty minutes out at the cold bus stop.

By Greg Bartlett

You’ve had suspicions for months now that your spouse is not faithful. You may have picked up on little hints, or just have a ‘gut feeling’ that something is not right. You can’t prove anything, though, and sometimes you do wonder if it’s all in your head. It’s beginning to drive you crazy. You want an answer. You want to know the truth: is your spouse faithful or not?

One Missouri woman, married to her husband for 18 years, became suspicious that he was cheating, but she had no proof of infidelity. No proof, that is, until she rented a GPS monitoring device to track her husband’s movements. Since GPS devices tend to be small, it was easy to hide it in his car and then to follow the car’s movements.

GPS monitoring told her exactly where the car went, what stops it made, how long the car was at each stop, and what the car’s speed was. That information allowed her to verify her suspicions within a couple of days, giving her the proof she needed to confront her husband with his infidelity. He denied the affair at first until she showed him the evidence. Their marriage of 18 years ended in a divorce, but the woman was thankful for the GPS tracking device. It gave her peace of mind by providing her with the answers she needed and revealing the truth.

Another woman used GPS tracking to discover that her husband was not at the hotel he claimed he was, but he was rather at his secretary’s house. Since GPS vehicle tracking allows individuals to find the precise location of the car at any time, discovering the car’s (and thus the husband’s) true whereabouts is as simple as zooming in to the actual building where the vehicle is parked.

GPS information can be surprising. One man, suspicious that his wife of 20 years was having an affair, put a GPS device on her car. The GPS device instead proved that she wasn’t cheating on him. GPS monitoring told one woman that her husband was regularly visiting a younger woman. When confronted, however, her husband of 30 years admitted that the woman was his daughter from a previous relationship.

Sometimes all you want to do is have the answers. Is your spouse really faithful or not? GPS monitoring can tell you the truth, providing you with the answers you need and giving you peace of mind.

By Harriette Halepis

Every day, aid workers place themselves in harm’s way in order to help those in need. Sadly, far too many aid workers go missing while attempting to help people. Up until this point, ensuring the safety of an aid worker was largely impossible, but GPS tracking may change all of that.
 
Equipping an aid worker with a GPS tracking device may help countries track down these workers when they disappear. Since many GPS devices are small, it is possible to attach a tracker to clothing, shoes, or inside of a backpack.
 
While any abductors are sure to remove wristwatches and other noticeable GPS devices, smaller, undetectable, devices may be the best way to provide aid workers with some safety. While GPS trackers will not stop kidnappers from abducting aid workers, they will help officials find workers that have been snatched.
 
The abducting of aid workers is quite common in a number of developing countries. Often, citizens and radical groups within a country see foreign involvement as a massive threat to their way of life. This leads to the kidnapping of those foreign aid workers that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
 
Why do aid workers continue to travel to countries where they are not wanted? Many believe that attempting to help people is the best way to ensure that all humans have access to basic necessities such as medical treatment, clean water, and proper sanitary measures.
 
To some, it may seem silly that kidnappers would focus upon those aid workers trying to help improve life. To others, kidnapping foreign aid workers makes perfect sense. Regardless, these aid workers are in real danger every time that they step off an airplane onto the soil of a population in need of help.
 
If GPS trackers can help aid workers from becoming victims, should government be willing to invest in GPS tracking systems? Should governments have any control over private aid groups? If so, should GPS trackers be mandatory for all aid workers traveling to dangerous countries?
 
From a practical point of view, the search for one aid worker can cost governments a lot of money. Simply attempting to coordinate with other country leaders, looking for a lost person, and bargaining with radical groups is a costly affair. The introduction of GPS tracking systems within the aid-working world may cut down on government costs in addition to saving the lives of those that save others.

By Greg Bartlett

Last night your 16-year-old daughter said she’d be working all day today until she got out of work, and then she’d head over to her friend’s house to study for her geometry test.  She promised to drive carefully, but you know she’s already gotten a few speeding tickets.  Your 17-year-old son was planning on going to soccer practice and then hanging out with some of his friends to play video games – so he said.  But you know that last week he said he’d be at his friend’s house and instead he was hanging out with a college student who was providing everyone with alcohol. 

As long as your teens are doing what they said they’d be doing and are driving carefully, you don’t have a problem.  But you’re concerned that they’re not really at work, school, soccer practice, or a friend’s house.  Thankfully, there is an easy way to find out with GPS vehicle tracking. 

If you put a GPS device inside your daughter’s car, you’ll be able to determine where the vehicle is and what stops it makes, how long it stops, and how fast it’s going.  You can receive alerts if she starts speeding and can correct her speeding problems before they become fatal to her or someone else.  If she decides to sneak out at night to meet up with her boyfriend, you will be notified that she’s driving during restricted hours.

With GPS vehicle tracking in your son’s car, you can receive alerts when he reaches school, work, or a friend’s house, and can even be notified if he goes into restricted or forbidden areas – such as the college student’s house.  You can follow his driving in real time or look it up later, finding out exactly where and how he has been driving.

GPS vehicle tracking offers you a way to ensure that your teenagers are driving safely and to correct any problems that arise early.  You can also monitor their activities and make sure that they are not taking side trips on the way to or from work and engaging in dangerous activities, whether it is drugs, alcohol, or something else.  

Your son and daughter are close to the age where they have to make their own life’s decisions, but they still need your guidance now, whether they admit it or not.  With GPS vehicle tracking, you can provide them with independence while ensuring their safety by knowing when, where, and how they drive.

By Harriette Halepis

There has been a lot of talk about GPS enabled shoes and devices meant for use with Alzheimer’s patients. However, one large group of people that can really benefit from a GPS tracking device has been largely overlooked.

 
Autistic adults and children are often unaware of the environment around them. This tends to lead to wandering and other dangers. While people that do not have autism would never think of stepping off a bridge into a large body of water, autistic people often do not fear such cautionary areas.

 
Sadly, hundreds of autistic people fall into harm’s way every year. The good news is that most of these accidents can be easily prevented. If you happen to be the main caregiver for an autistic person, you may want to consider a GPS tracking device.
With the help of GPS tracking technology, it is possible to keep an autistic child or adult within a certain “safe” area. If this person wanders out of the safe area, a primary caregiver will be notified right away. Of course, a GPS tracker cannot physically prevent a person from encountering danger, though this type of device can provide peace of mind.

 
It is also important to notify your neighbours of an autistic child or adult. This way, when your loved one wanders away from home, a neighbour or friend can be called upon quickly. In addition to notifying neighbours, it is also wise to speak with local emergency officials.

 
If your local fire and police departments know about an autistic child within their neighbourhood, they will also know who to look for if your loved one wanders outside of a safe zone. While all of the aforementioned things may seem slightly excessive, they can all prevent an autistic person from a treacherous situation.

 
Presently, there aren’t any GPS tracking devices that have been specifically developed for autistic people, though there are a number of trackers on the market that can be used in this manner. Most of these devices are also cost-worthy, easily attained, and durable.

GPS tracking devices come in a number of forms including wrist watches, bracelets, small devices that can be clipped to clothing or backpacks, and even shoes. Constantly shadowing an autistic person may be difficult to do, though knowing that they are safe while you are away can provide some comfort.

By Greg Bartlett

On July 25, the 85th running of the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race will begin.  Thousands of people will gather at Port Huron to watch the sailboats set out, and a few days later the crowd will gather again at Mackinac Island to watch the finish.  In between the two exciting events, however, everyone just has to wait to find out what happens. 

Or at least they used to.  This year the race will involve GPS tracking of the sailboats.  Now you can visit the official website, michigan.org/gps, and follow the progress of any or all of the contestants.  You can monitor individual boats in real time, watch the different classes, keep track of weather alerts, and see how the race is going overall.  For family and friends this can be a tool which proves peace of mind while their loved one is out on the waters. 

For instance, one mother reports that her 14-year-old son will be in the race with his father.  She feels much safer being able to monitor their progress with GPS tracking, plus she says it is fascinating and entertaining.  She can see on the computer if they make a wrong turn or if a sailboat gets ahead of them.  During the two to three days while the boats are out of sight, she’ll probably get wrapped up in watching the race’s progress on her computer.

The crews can use the GPS tracking information, too, to find out where their competitors are.  While the information won’t replace sailing expertise, it can be helpful, even providing information about speed and wind direction, indications which suggest which boat is most likely to finish first.  The crews can also use the information to find out about the next part of the course and adjust strategy as necessary.

Using GPS tracking to follow the Mackinac race’s sailboats will provide a way not only to improve contestants’ strategy and provide family and friends with peace of mind, it will also make the race more interesting.  Now anyone can watch the entire race and find out exactly what is going on.  Sure, enthusiasts will still want to be there for the opening and the finish, but now they can also find out what their favorite boat is doing every hour of the day.  Be there for the start of the race on July 25, but now you can also watch the entire race from start to finish.  You won’t want to miss it.

By Greg Bartlett

You love your dog, Rover, but sometimes he’s a headache. He likes to live up to his name, but your fear is that eventually he will be one of the millions of dogs who get lost each year. After all, approximately one third of all pet dogs go missing at least once, and Rover has already exceeded his quota. You’re always afraid that the next time he gets out will be the last time you ever see him.

Pet Tracking Collar

If you put a GPS device on Rover’s collar, you won’t have to worry so much. You can check while you’re at work to see if Rover is still there, and if Rover escapes, you’ll be alerted instantly by text message, phone call, or email. Because you can preset the boundaries for Rover to, for instance, your yard and house, if Rover leaves those boundaries, you’ll know immediately.

So Rover does escape, and you get a text message and head out to find him. You can follow his progress in real time and receive turn-by-turn directions from the GPS device about how to find him, plus you can even watch how fast he’s moving. That may not seem important, but if Rover is stolen and is placed inside a vehicle, the speed will be vastly different than if Rover’s just roaming on his own four paws. Some GPS systems will even send you an alert if your pet’s speed exceeds a preset limit, so that if Rover suddenly starts going forty-five miles an hour, you’ll know something is up.

Your GPS device also has an LED light built in, so it’ll be easier to find Rover at night. Furthermore, some devices, like the SpotLight device developed by Positioning Animals Worldwide, Inc. and American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery, allow you to have a team of professionals on hand to help you with the tracking and recovery process 24 hours a day.

Keeping track of Rover is easier than ever, and now you can have peace of mind knowing that your pet is safe. Even if Rover does manage to pull one of his trademark escaping acts, you’ll be able to track him with your GPS device and retrieve your pet before he is injured, stolen, or permanently lost. Recovering your pet is important, and using a GPS tracking device may be the key to ensuring your pet’s safety and health and guaranteeing that you will be reunited with Rover.

By Greg Bartlett

You work late at night, sometimes in dark, empty areas. Your job takes you into huge warehouses past midnight, where it seems like you’re the only person there – and you hope you are. Other times you might be doing office work late at night, after everyone else has left. You tend to be jumpy as you go to your car, but at least you know one thing: your family can see exactly where you are, and if you find out that you aren’t alone, you can call for help immediately, without even using your phone.

Personal Safety

You feel safe because you carry a GPS device. With the GPS tracker, your family can watch your every movement and discover exactly where you are. They can receive automatic updates as you reach locations, or you can manually send them one when you arrive.

But what really helps provide you and your family with peace of mind is your GPS device’s panic button. If you are working late and find out that someone else is there and is interested in the cashbox, it won’t matter if your cell phone’s battery is low or if you are afraid to actually say something in case the intruder notices you. All you have to do is touch a button and local authorities will be alerted. Your family will be notified, too, and can help make sure that police assistance is on the way at once.

Furthermore, your GPS device not only will alert authorities if you’re in distress, but it will help guide them to your location. If you’ve been kidnapped, a GPS tracking unit can monitor your every location and your speed, guiding help to you quickly. If you didn’t have time to hit the button, the device will still alert authorities and your family if you go outside preset boundaries, perhaps the city or even the state.

Knowing that you are safe is what gives you security as you work late at night. Furthermore, your family has peace of mind because they, too, are aware that your GPS device will enable them to monitor your location and you to call for help if needed. Whether you’re working at night and in isolated areas or traveling to remote locations or danger zones, your GPS tracking unit can give you the safety you need and the promise that you will always have assistance if you’re in danger.

By Greg Bartlett

Since GPS technology has exploded in recent years, there are hundreds of companies that sell various global positioning products and thousands of GPS tracking systems. Weeding through the selection to find the perfect GPS tracking system can seem like a daunting task and it can be easy to put such a search off until another day. However, there are a few easy ways to pick the right GPS tracking system.

It is important to first decide if you are looking for a passive or a real time device. A passive device will have to be retrieved before the information can be of any use, whereas the real time GPS tracking system will automatically send its information. You will be able to check its current location at any time on your computer.

If you are searching for a real time tracking device, this narrows your choice of what company to purchase from considerably. Not every company can offer the same amount of coverage in real time tracking, so it is important to pick one of the best. This will insure that your GPS tracking system will always be able to be located, because the top GPS companies will have minimal technical issues.

It is also important to take note of the specific purpose you intend to use your GPS tracking system for. Some companies specialize in fleet management, which will not be the best fit for you if you are intending to track a single family member. GPS devices for personal use need to be small enough to fit into a glove box or be hidden under the seat of the car with a magnet. These devices can also be encased in a magnetic waterproof case and attached to the exterior of your vehicle or even somewhere under the hood.

Knowing the specific purpose that you intend for your GPS tracking system is one of the most important steps in finding the right company and the right GPS tracker for you. Each tracker is designed differently and each has certain purposes that it will work best for. Knowing what you want will make it easy to find a GPS system that will work for you.

If you can’t afford to buy a brand new GPS tracking system, consider buying a refurbished one. A refurbished tracking device will likely be almost new since it had a defective part that has been fixed. Other pre-owned tracking devices that are available to be purchased having likely seen a lot more wear and may not work as well for you.