Not All GPS Data Loggers are Created Equal
Electronic data loggers are a perfect GPS tracking solution when details are important, but immediacy is not an issue.
Most people shopping for a GPS tracking device will think that they want a live or real-time GPS tracking system, probably because it is the type they are most familiar with. A gadget that immediately shows the user its location on a computer seems to make the most sense; until the consumer investigates price.
Real-time GPS tracking devices are about twice the price of an equivalent passive model, plus most of them will have ongoing monthly charges from a wireless carrier ranging from $20 to $60.
Choosing passive GPS tracking would be the cost-effective solution, but the decisions don’t end there. A search of online GPS tracking dealers will yield a wide spectrum of GPS data loggers at different price points, with different features, and definitely with different looks.
Looks Different For Different Applications
LandAirSea Systems, a leading provider of passive and real-time tracking devices, sells several passive, or data loggers. In fact the Woodstock company was the first to bring a GPS data logger to the consumer market.
Passive GPS tracking systems capture satellite signals and use the data to determine location of the GPS receiver. Unlike real-time vehicle tracking solutions, passive systems store this raw data in memory, until the user retrieves the device and downloads it to a computer.
The GPS Tracking Key, LandAirSea’s best-selling tracking device to date with more than 125,000 sold in the last 2 ½ years, is favored by users who demand detailed driving data. The unit logs a GPS tracking position update every second, which translates to 3,600 readings every hour. Most comparable real-time GPS tracking devices have a wider recording frequency, from about 10 seconds to every 15 minutes.
The Tracking Key and a recently updated version called the Tracking Key Pro® are palm-sized units, black in color, with no real discernable buttons or antenna. They are designed to be discreet because they are often used in a covert manner: by police and private investigators to track suspects, by business people for fleet management and by ordinary citizens to monitor a loved one’s whereabouts. The Tracking Key and Tracking Key Pro® have strong magnet mounts, so they will stand up to a rugged application, such as vehicle tracking, even off-road.
While all GPS data loggers are different, they do share one characteristic: compact size. GPS tracking users almost always want a unit that is highly portable and lightweight.
Some manufacturers design GPS data loggers to attract a specific group of people. The examples below are meant to be interactive with the end user so their sizes, shapes, colors and features vary. Many are designed in tandem with Bluetooth technology or are paired with cell phone networks for versatile function.
· Units designed for monitoring children tend to be colorful, cheerful and have large, easily-readable buttons.
· Hikers, marathoners and other outdoor athletes have data loggers available that are waterproof, with a sleek and sporty appearance and sometimes an LED display to show speed. Some of these have a clip to be worn on active wear, or they are engineered as a pendant or for placement on the wrist. An added function is a support upload so athletes can compare athletic performance with one another.
· A data logger is advertised for use in race cars, gliders and other aircraft. It records GPS tracking data several times a second and the motion sensor can pick up tilting and crashes.
· A data logger designed for travel bugs records location information using GPS tracking as well as digital photos. There is a microphone to record voice labels, a trip playback function and a photo sharing application. An entire trip can be chronicled on a map with corresponding audio labels and images (geo-tagging).
Consumers should shop carefully for a GPS data logger, choosing only those features required by the intended application. “Bells and whistles” can affect the unit’s all-important memory, battery power and recording frequency. In some cases, the fancier the data logger, the higher the price. Shoppers should weigh function above fashion.
LandAirSea’s Tracking Key and Tracking Key Pro® were engineered for functionality and reliability. They are the choice of professionals including police, private investigators and the federal government. LandAirSea’s passive vehicle tracking devices are versatile enough to be moved from car to purse, to briefcase to backpack, and they will monitor any number of activities. Their prices are more than affordable at $199 and $269 respectively.
Tags: Child Tracking, Data logger, GPS Logger, GPS Tracker, passive trackers
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