The GPS tracking industry has, up to this point, had an exciting 1st quarter of 2013!
The pace at which major events and breakthroughs are occurring really is unprecedented. The entire GPS ecosystem is undergoing an important face-lift, new nano-satellite technology is front-and-center; GPS tracking continues to protect our roads, keep loved ones safe and secure, catch criminals, monitor offenders, and more. GPS really is ubiquitous, and is becoming more so every day. This article is going to touch on wireless rechargeable GPS tracking devices, and how some of these recent and upcoming developments can & will affect their performance in the field.
EasyTracGPS' flagship wireless GPS tracking device, the ComTrac Live PSL.
As you can see, the device is very small, having about the same proportions as a credit card or small flip-phone. Now, as far as wireless tracking devices are concerned, small is great…but it also has its disadvantages as well. Battery life has been, and still is, the most important variable to consider when discussing small, wireless GPS tracking devices. The smaller the device, the smaller the battery, which subsequently yields fewer hours of continuous tracking on a single charge. To conserve battery life, most tracking providers incorporate a “hibernation mode” into the programming of their wireless devices. This ensures that when a device remains stationary, it will shut down the majority of its systems and functionality. When the device detects motion, it then restores itself to full operation. Motion-activation has been an invaluable tool in wireless tracking applications and, as gyroscopes, battery chemistries, and programming scripts improve, will only serve to further enhance field performance and maximize results.
Wireless GPS tracking devices also enjoy a distinct advantage when standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their hardwired cousins….they can actually serve as 2-in-1 multifaceted devices.
In the first image above, outlined in green, you see that the Live PSL can also incorporate a belt-clip. In many scenarios, wireless devices are used to track individual people….i.e. security guard personnel, bodyguards, law enforcement officers, fire and rescue personnel, children, teens, elderly family members, etc.
- 3.7V 1340 maH lithium ion battery pack.
Depending on its use, the smaller battery that wireless devices normally utilize should be more than sufficient to track a security guard over the course of a single shift, or to track a child as they play in the park or travel on a school field-trip. The image on the left outlines a smaller internal battery of a wireless tracking device. The 1340 maH battery that is included with the Live PSL offers 10 hours of continuous tracking on a single charge, which is perfect to track someone for a day, or a shift, and then recharge overnight in preparation for the next day.
By adding a few accessories to a wireless GPS tracker, predominantly a larger battery pack and magnetic mount enclosure, you can transform the device into a discreet vehicle tracking device as well…and with a very small form-factor too.
So you see, by substituting a larger battery pack and a few additional components, you can effectively transform a smaller, flexible personal tracking device into a discreet wireless vehicle tracking device as well. From the illustration above, you’ll notice that proper installation of a wireless device within a magnetic enclosure is facing down. This is to allow for the fact that GPS signals bounce off of the ground, and so need to face downward toward the surface.
Wireless GPS tracking technology has come a long way. 10 years ago, the devices were much larger and the technology was much less reliable than today. It seems like, as each new day unfolds, devices and batteries are both getting smaller better. Be on the lookout for more news on wireless GPS micro and nano-technology!
Are you a fan of GPS technology? We are too! 
