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By Greg Bartlett

GPS technology is quickly becoming one of the best ways to monitor important people, vehicles, and assets in your life.  It is also becoming a great way for businesses to save time and money.  The Global Positioning System (GPS) involves at least 24 satellites that the Depart of Defense put up in space.  They orbit the earth in a very precise manner twice every day.  These satellites connect with individual tracking devices on earth, and the satellites and devices send and receive radio signals to each other.  As the device travels, it sends information to the satellites in space.  The satellites then use the information to compile into a travel report including route and speed.

The Tracking Key

The GPS tracking key is the most popular and most commonly used of the three basic types of GPS tracking devices.  The three types are data loggers, data pushers, and data pullers.  The data pusher is a real-time GPS tracking device that “pushes” or sends the device’s location intermittently every few seconds.  A data puller is also a real-time GPS tracker that sends the device’s location intermittently every few seconds; the difference is that you can also “pull” up the device’s location at any point you wish.  The GPS tracking key is a data logger.  This is not a real-time GPS; instead, the car’s travel information is “logged” on the device and can be retrieved later.  The GPS tracking key is a small device that can be placed discreetly on the underside of a car.  It is magnetic, so it attaches to virtually any part of the outside of the car.  Most are weatherproof, allowing it to be splashed by puddles or hit by dirt and rocks without being damaged.  There is a USB port located at one end of the tracker so that you can retrieve the logged information onto your computer.

So who uses the GPS tracking key?  Anyone who has an invaluable vehicle or asset that they wish to follow.  For example, if you have a teenage driver whose route you want to follow, you may want to install a tracking key.  If you have an employee whose travel route you want to trace, a tracking key may come in handy.  Some critics claim that the GPS tracking key is an infringement on one’s privacy.  Strong supporters of GPS, however, believe that it is wise to be completely informed of your children’s or employees’ travel patterns.