Assets Tracking and Management Solutions

Overview

GPS tracking and management systems involve GPS positioning, wireless data communication, mapping and internet technologies etc.. Depending on these technologies, GPS tracking system products vary with different customer requirements and market demands. So, it is not easy for a general user to find a good solution that can meet his requirements best. To help you find your right solution, we summarized several common questions that every GPS tracking system buyer should answer first:

1. How do you want to track your assets? Or which GPS tracking mode (passive or real time) do you need?
2. How big is your tracking area? Or which data communication method can meet your needs?
3. Which mapping platform or software can cover your tracking area with detailed street maps best?
4. How do you want to install and power the tracking devices? Are you going to fix the devices in your vehicles for long time tracking or should the devices be easily removable or portable?
5. How do you want to access the system? Through a office or home based PC, a mobile Laptop or pocket PC or anywhere from the Internet.

Your answers to all these questions have a significant impact on your cost for the system you want to buy.

Generally, GPS tracking systems are categorized into two modes: GPS Passive Tracking and GPS Real Time Tracking. Before you select a system, you should choose the tracking mode first because this has the most significant impact on your final cost.

GPS Passive Tracking uses a GPS data logger placed or installed in a vehicle to record the history of the vehicle's travels and then download the history data from the vehicle at the end of the day, or when the vehicle returns to home. Passive systems are useful for companies or parents who do not have a need to view their vehicles in real-time from any computer, nor do they have requirements for real-time alert notifications for speed or geo-fence violations, and other features that real-time systems offer. The advantages of passive tracking are low cost and no monthly fee. It answers the question: where have my vehicles been?

GPS real-time tracking utilizes cellular wireless networks or satellite communication networks or local RF wireless modems that allow you to receive information and view the location of your vehicle in virtual "real-time". Real-Time GPS tracking answers the question: where are my assets now?

For GPS passive tracking the data communication method varies with the data storage and download method used by the GPS data logger model you chosen. Here are some typical data storage and download methods for passive tracking systems:

• Use GPS data logger's internal memory to save the data and a wired connection to your PC to download the data. This method has the advantage of the lowest cost, but it is not convenient for fleet management.
• Use a SD or MMC card to record the data and then take it out for the data. This is a very cost-effective method, but fleet manager needs access to the device to take out the SD or MMC card.
• Use GPS data logger's internal memory to save the data and a Bluetooth wireless connection ( up to 5 to 10 meters) to your PC to download the data. This method is better than previous two methods, but a Bluetooth enabled Pocket PC may be needed for the wireless data download because of the limited wireless connection distance.
• Use GPS data logger's internal memory to save the data and a RF wireless modem connection ( up to 1000 meters) to your PC to download the data. This is the most efficient method for commercial fleet management.

For GPS real time tracking there are three data communication methods available. Depending on your tracking area and your local wireless network coverage, you can choose one of the following methods:

• Cellular wireless network that covers the same area as your cell phone network. This is the most common data communication method used by current GPS tracking systems. It varies with GSM/GPRS and CDMA two wireless networks.
• Satellite communication network that covers worldwide anywhere on sea and land. This is most suitable for tracking boats, ships or other targets on the sea where there is no coverage of cellular wireless networks.
• RF wireless modem point-to-pont data communication. This method is useful only for a limited communication distance (typically up to 20 miles), but no monthly fee. So, it is suitable for tracking people who work together within a limited area range.

Real time tracking generally charges a monthly fee for the wireless data communication services. The fee varies with your monthly usages and service plan available from the wireless network service providers.

The most powerful mapping platform is so called Geographic Information Systems (GIS). However, the cost for a complete GIS system is very high. For general assets tracking and management, we can use some simplified mapping software instead of such a complete GIS system. Here are the most common used and most popular mapping software available:

• Microsoft MapPoint - simple desktop based mapping software. It covers North America (USA and Canada) and Europe with detailed street maps
• Fugawi Tracker - very popular mapping software for GPS navigation and tracking. It supports different GIS mapping data format and even image files scanned from paper maps.
• Google Earth - global satellite image viewer and locator. It covers most big cities with very good satellite images and road maps. It is free for download now. You can try it out to see if your local area is covered well.

Device Installation and Power Supply

Most of GPS data loggers for passive tracking and GPS trackers for real time tracking offer two installation options:

• In-vehicle fixed installation that will get power supply directly from vehicle's battery through a power adaptor cable. This is most suitable for commercial fleet tracking and management.
• Magnetic mounting for covert tracking or no installation is required by using a power pack or rechargeable battery for a limited time period.

System Access Method

Most of GPS passive tracking systems are designed and developed for desktop PC application.

For GPS real time tracking systems there are more options for you to choose:

• Desktop PC or laptop based tracking system. The tracking software should be installed on an office or home based desktop PC. To receive the GPS tracking data from the tracking device a wireless modem connected to the PC is needed.
• Web based tracking system. This kind of tracking system just needs an internet connected PC for a user to track his assets. That means users can access the system from anywhere through an internet connected PC.
• PDA based tracking system. This system can be wireless modem or web based. It is just the PDA version of the previous two tracking systems. This system is most suitable for personal asset tracking and small business fleet management.

Your Choice Now

According to different customers' requirements and market demands Mobile GPS Online has developed a low cost yet powerful GPS tracking and management solution that supports GPS tracking hardware from different vendors and the most popular mapping platforms mentioned above. This flexible solution makes it possible for a user to set up the system according to his actual needs at the lowest cost possible.

Below are some of our featured GPS tracking and management solutions. They are categorized by the tracking mode, the mapping platform and the system access methods. Within the same system you will have options to choose your right GPS tracking devices. Enjoy your journey to find your right solution!. If you have any questions, please email us at sales@mobilegpsonline.com.

System Solutions

	GPSTrack Passive and Real-Time Tracking System GPSTrack system is a low-cost yet powerful fleet tracking and management system. It helps business owner or fleet manager plan daily work routes, track driver's activities and compare actual routes with planned routes. It is an unique system that combines GPS passive and real time tracking into one product and supports different models of GPS data loggers and tracking devices from different vendors. It is a MapPoint based desktop tracking system. Excellent for fleet management of small businesses. >> More ...
	GEGPSTrack Passive and Real-Time Tracking System The Google Earth GPSTrack (GEGPSTrack) system is similar to the GPSTrack system. They have almost the same features except the route planner offered by GPSTrack only, but the Google Earth mapping software is free and covers most big cities on the world. If your local area is covered by Google Earth, this is an excellent GPS tracking and management solution for your business. >> More ...
	Real Time Fugawi Tracker System Fugawi Tracker System is an cost-effective and scalable tracking system that can track vehicles, boats, planes and people. Its unique feature is that you can create your own maps for your area from scanned paper maps or other digital sources such as land topographic maps, nautical charts, aeronautical charts, military grid maps, and more. This feature has made it popular for customers from some developing countries where digital street maps are still not available. Fugawi Tracker supports network installation too. No matter how big or how small your fleet size is, Fugawi Tracker can meet your needs. >> More ...
	WorldTracker Web GPS Real Time Tracking System (WebGPSTrack) WebGPSTrack is a self-contained complete hardware and software package that allows a user to track his assets from anywhere through an internet connected PC. As long as the power is turned on, no matter it is placed with packages, vehicles, or personnel, you can track it online through a customized tracking website. A dependable, precise, accurate and discreet system with cutting edge mapping from Google and Microsoft. >> More ...
	Protrak Scout Passive Tracking System Protrak Scout passive tracking system is a low-cost yet advanced GPS vehicle tracking system. Designed specifically for covert use, it is easy to install and use. With the complete software and hardware solution, you can track where your vehicles have been and how long they were there. The new wireless data download feature with Protrak RF Scout unit has made the system much more powerful and easier to operate either for covert vehicle tracking or for business fleet management. >> More ...
	Protrak Ranger Real Time Tracking System Protrak Ranger is a miniature self-contained GPS Tracking System that operates up to 120 days on internal AA batteries. The Protrak Ranger is easy to deploy since there are no external cables and antennas to attach and the water resistant case gives you the flexibility to place the unit inside or outside of the vehicle. >>More ...