When we wrote the article about Personal Locator Beacons (emergency GPS locators) in March of 2007, see plb.html, we did not know that something much more spectacular was in the making at that time.
In September 2008 the SPOT Satellite Messenger received the prestigious Wall Street Journal Consumer Electronics Technology Award. This marks the sixth industry award since its introduction in November 2007.
The SPOT floats, is waterproof, rugged and resists extreme temperatures. It uses two AA-size lithium batteries and when powered on has a standby battery life of approximately 12 months.
The SPOT messenger offers four features: "Alert 9-1-1" dispatches emergency responders to an exact location (United States/Canada) or to an exact location outside North America (GEOS rescue service), "Ask for Help" sends a request for help to friends and family; "Check In" lets contacts know where you are and that you are OK (via SMS or email); "Track Progress" sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your progress using Google Maps.
The Satamatics SAT-201 is an all-in-one terminal that allows users to track, trace, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets from any location in the world. Satamatics launched the latest version of the SAT-201, calling it the SAT-201i. This version incorporates an enhanced chipset allowing for increased scripting and the delivery of more accurate and reliable GPS data. All SAT-201 terminals are also now IsatM2M ready (the replacement to Inmarsat D+) meaning the end user will experience an enhanced service with faster data forwarding rates, quicker responses to polling requests and shorter time to first transmission over a broad range of applications.
FindWhere is a global leader of real-time GPS location tracking services. The company offers several GPS locators, such as the iFind 1000, iFind 2000, and iFind 3000, but also supports GPS enabled phones on GSM networks worldwide.
The WorldTracker GPRS is a self-contained, water-resistant GPS tracker which is smaller than a small cell phone. The rechargeable device features a powerful Sirf-Star III 20-channel receiver and provides real-time location updates every 15 seconds. Working in conjunction with both Microsoft and Google 3-D satellite mapping technology, the WorldTracker operates reliably from any location in the world. The WorldTracker GPRS allows users to easily set pre-determined boundaries known as geo-fences. "With a geo-fence, you can be instantly alerted when your child leaves a specific area or wanders too far from home".
Easy to use, the WorldTracker GPRS GPS locators feature simple controls including a power switch, two LED indicators and a panic button, which activates a series of 20 location reports in 2 minutes. "By teaching your child to push and hold the WorldTracker’s SOS button, they can send you their exact location when they are in a potentially dangerous situation"
The PocketFinder family of products uses advanced technology to help families stay connected. The smallest known single-board GSM/GPS locators easily fit into a pocket, purse or backpack, and can be accessed via the Internet, cell phone or landline to show their exact location in real time. In addition, the devices include several advanced features, such as allowing users to designate customizable alert areas as electronic "fences" to notify them when a family member or pet leaves or enters a specified area. The devices can even track vehicle speeds to encourage safe driving decisions.
Outdoor enthusiasts, extreme sports participants, Scouting organizations, caretakers of persons with Autism, Down Syndrome, or Alzheimer’s all desire to enhance the safety and security of their loved ones. This small, disk shaped device offers added security that has never before been available at this size and price and will locate both indoors and outdoors.
TrackingtheWorld’s newest GPS locators, the WorldTracker PLD, eliminate two common problems in GPS tracking with their ability to operate without interruption in buildings and parking garages and superior battery life. Equipped with quad-mode capabilities and GPS assist, the WorldTracker PLD operates from any location in the world, including problem areas known for interrupting GPS tracking signals such as parking garages. Considered to be the most affordable and versatile GPS tracking device available today, the WorldTracker PLD is ideal for personal safety, covert tracking and asset management. The WorldTracker PLD utilizes a powerful 1340 mAh , or optional 2000 mAh, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery to provide continuous GPS tracking, reporting and monitoring for up to 2 weeks.
Created for professionals and consumers who need to know where it is now, the PT-10 is a Live GPS tracker that boasts incredible 10 second position updates when moving over 10 mph and updates every 20 feet when moving less than 10 mph. The GPS locators also feature 90-day historical playback -- a highly useful feature that let's you know exactly where the PT-10 has been. With its compact size, the PT-10 can move from person to person and vehicle to vehicle with ease, giving the GPS a number of potential uses -- a fact not lost on the executives at LiveView.
LiveViewGPS president George Karonis believes there is no limit to the applications for the PT-10 GPS locators, saying "when we designed this unit, we really thought about the end user and how they could benefit most from a small compact GPS device that tracks live. We see the PT-10 as a staple for families with young children, teen drivers and elderly family members, businesspeople who travel throughout the year and even companies that can increase efficiency by gaining a better understanding of their employees' whereabouts."
Zoombak's Advanced GPS locators are compact and light, weighing only 2.5 ounces, and offer consumers the fastest and most accurate location technology commercially available. With Zoombak's interactive website, users set up custom safety zones around virtually any location including homes, parks, malls and schools.
Once activated, if the device crosses a virtual boundary, the owner will receive a text message or email promptly alerting them to the location of the device. Consumers can also locate their device by logging into Zoombak.com, sending a text from their mobile phone (coming soon), or contacting Zoombak's live 24x7 customer care location support. With Zoombak, there are no hidden fees for activation or limits on the number of on-demand location requests.
The BlueRanger Starter Pack is a compact, battery operated, discrete tracking device designed specifically for consensual personal tracking, security and assistance. If your child or loved one wears one of BlueRanger GPS locators, you can track their whereabouts in real-time with accuracy down to just 4 meters using your PC and the Internet. Now you can give your kids a little more freedom to grow, while you get a little bit of your life back.
BlueRanger Starter Pack is upgradable to full BlueRanger functionality which does provide a panic alarm, geofence boundaries, multiple contacts, and emergency room phone support. You can do that at any time simply by paying the price difference. If you wish, you might also like to purchase a BlueMap PDA which would allow you to walk or drive yourself to find your child using a hand-held unit that displays where you are in relation to each other (although to stay within the law while driving you probably would have to park each time before using the BlueMap PDA this way, but you can get yourself close, park, and continue on foot).
The GlobalTrack G200P personal GPS locators by Cybergraphy Technology look like a rugged pager from the early 90s, but these palm-sized devices pack more functionality than you would initially imagine. Inside the GlobalTrack G200P is a -160dBm high-sensitivity GPS receiver that will track your every movement and keep it recorded via its simple data logger. The 16MB of flash memory should be more than enough for that kind of information and it's quite helpful that the GPS receiver is very low draw. So low draw, in fact, that Cybergraphy claims a standby time of up to two months. A SIM card in the available slot will grant you access to voice calls and emergency SMS messages. It has both a microphone and a speaker.
True Tracker Pro, LLC markets and sells miniaturized, low-cost, electronic GPS Locators using SiRF Star III technology for extra sensitive reception outdoors and indoors. The Personal Locator Devices immediately locate and help rescue lost or missing children, teens, the active elderly (including Alzheimer's patients), and pets via the internet or any web enabled cell phone. These same GPS Locators can be used in the business arena in order to better manage the logistics of outside personnel, sales people, deliveries, fleet operations, valuable packages or equipment in transit, helping to increase their business efficiency and thus improve profits.
True Tracker Pro, LLC was formed as a company committed to providing next-generation remote Personal GPS Locators in order to immediately locate and aid in the timely rescue of children, teens, adults, the active elderly and pets. Additionally, True Tracker Pro will focus on providing tracking services for municipalities, law enforcement, fire fighters, fleet vehicles and valuable parcels and deliveries.
A key feature of the True Tracker Pro personal GPS locators is the website control panel. Through this password protected user interface, the customer can locate their device(s). Through the mapping software, users can see street address detail for the location of their device, or zoom out to get a wide-angle or bird’s eye view of the device's location. Users can define a territory, known as a Geofence or Safety Zone, in which the device can travel freely but when the device travels outside the Geofenced territory, an alert is immediately sent to a cell phone or email designated by the user. The user can locate the device through the online web panel, or use the cell phone option (must have internet capabilities).
Homeland Integrated Security Systems’ CT-100 is a low-cost personal tracking device. The CT-100 GPS locators transmit their location to your computer, letting you track and find your family, pets, packages and vehicles. Small enough to clip on a belt, throw in a glove compartment, or even carry in your pocket. The tracking device doesn't need a line-of-sight with an open sky, and can work indoors using a combination of GPS technology and cellular signals.
Amber Alert GPS is a relatively inexpensive solution that can track indoors and out, has an SOS button to call for help, supports Geo-Fencing, and can send speed alerts (ie. send an alert if my kid is driving faster than 80 MPH) -- all for under $200. Amber Alert GPS locators sell online for $199, and require a monthly service that ranges from $19.99 to $49.99, depending on usage.
The location report includes GPS and battery signal information, speed, lat/long coordinates, altitude, and Date/Time. The physical location of the GPS is also displayed on the map, which can be zoomed in/out. The report is specially formatted to appear correctly on the small screen of a smartphone.
Pressing and holding the SOS button for 4 seconds will cause Amber Alert GPS locators to send location reports to all authorized cell phones (up to 5) 3 times within 10 minutes. It will stop sending the alert when any authorized number replies by texting "help me!" to the GPS.
The SOS feature works well and I especially liked the fact that the device alerts all authorized cell phones. However, I would have liked to see email alerting options as well the ability to extend the alerting longer than 10 minutes. Still, this is a great feature for a tracking device, especially at the sub-$200 price, and will be a selling point for families/parents.
Homeland Integrated Security Systems' Cyber Tracker, is basically a computer with tracking abilities. As a "smart box" computer, the Cyber Tracker can collect, analyze, and transmit the information it receives through the utilization of sensors. In addition, the Cyber Tracker is able to make real time decisions based on that data. This ability to react to "in case of" situations without requiring a command from a dispatcher is where the Cyber Tracker GPS locators begin to really stand out compared to other products of this type. The sheer versatility of the Cyber Tracker is what truly separates it from the rest of the pack. Through the use of varied sensors the Cyber Tracker has no limit to it's possible applications.
Smart Box
The Cyber Trackers revolutionary technology enables the GPS locators to make decisions based on preset criteria. Unlike other units of its kind, the Cyber Tracker is able to make decisions without an operator command, thereby allowing it to be an ultra effective tool even in areas with no wireless reception.
GPS Tracking
Combining Homeland Integrated Security Systems proprietary technology and software with Nextel's wireless network, the Cyber Tracker brings a level of reliability that is unmatched by other GPS units.
GEO Fencing
A feature of the Cyber Tracker, specific areas can be designated "off limits" or "Alarm Zones" and as such will trigger an alarm if the assigned Cyber Tracker crosses the alarm boundary, notifying the appropriate contact. The opposite is also possible, effectively "fencing" the unit into a specific area.
Monitoring
A key feature of the Cyber Tracker is its ability to be equipped with a near endless range of sensors. These sensors give the Cyber Tracker a versatility that is unmatched among its peers. Some examples of these are temperature sensors, door sensors, light sensors and a full range of vehicle or machine diagnostics.
Over the Air Programming
An important feature on the Cyber Tracker GPS locators is the ability to be programmed remotely. When the Cyber Tracker is installed on your fleet you don't ever want to pull them out to reprogram them. The Cyber Tracker has a unique feature that allows all software updates or configuration changes to be done remotely, without ever having to touch the hardware. This allows your business to save time and money.
The GuardTrax SFL (Security Force Locator) by NovaTracker is the security industry's first "real-time" GPS tracking solution for foot patrol security personnel. GuardTrax enables security supervisors and managers to track, monitor and manage their field security forces in "real-time" at all times. The GuardTrax SFL utilizes GPS antenna GSM wireless communication which pinpoints location and activity data and combines it with mapping and satellite imagery software that is accurate to within several feet.
The GuardTrax SFL GPS locators have an innovative incident reporting system that utilizes a straightforward multi-function button coding system. These coded incident reports, together with the location, time, date, and other critical incident location data, are received by the GuardTrax server where they are immediately relayed from field personnel to supervisors and mangers via email or SMS.
In addition to the officer-initiated or "keyed" incident reporting, the GuardTrax SFL is equipped with a motion sensor that will report if the device has had no motion for a predetermined amount of time. If something happens to security personnel holding a device, the security operations center will be alerted.
Personal Safety Companion is a GPS Tracking solution that will allow the consumer to have available a customized safety tracking and monitoring solution important to their own personal needs. As an example, a family can provide GPS locators to each family member with the added safety of 24 hour per day, 7 day per week full time monitoring for any safety issues or concerns based on GPS tracked movements and characteristics. The system allows every user to set pre-defined personal rules for the safety of each individual being tracked. In the event of a rule violation or GPS movement that is not desired or "allowed" by the rule definition, a 24/7 monitoring center alert will provide immediate personal interaction to ensure the personal safety of the individual being tracked. This can and will include the dispatch of a 911 law enforcement call.
ID Software’s Personal Safety Companion is unlike other GPS locators, because it provides a "personal monitoring" capability that allows for immediate two way communication for any safety event regardless of location or time.
The Contigo 8100 is an indoor-locatable beacon for covert asset tracking, theft recovery and personal security. The GPS locators leverage gpsOne from Qualcomm, which allows the beacons to be located in environments where stand-alone GPS fails, such as indoors. The device also provides a battery life of up to 10 days on a single charge. Using the Contigo platform, subscribers have the ability to pro actively locate or track the 8100, review scheduled position reports online, and receive alerts (via email or cell phone) for multiple monitored zones.
Argyll Telecom, the UK's market leader in mobile personnel monitoring has launched MaxCare, a highly innovative, accurate waterproof device, which can be worn comfortably on the arm, leg, shoulder or waist - it can even be sewn into an item of clothing. Containing sophisticated mobile phone and satellite location monitoring technology, MaxCare GPS locators are totally dependable and simple to use. Should the worker encounter difficulties they simply squeeze the MaxCare unit in order to trigger a duress signal.
This signal is transmitted to Argyll Telecom's 24/7-manned control room where assistance is summoned, guided by the highly accurate GPS location technology, which pinpoints the wearer's position. The arm band uses vibration alerts to acknowledge that the signal has been received and that help is on its way. MaxCare also transmits audio, allowing the operators to monitor the incident and the lone worker to communicate details of their situation verbally. Sophisticated voice recording and audit trails ensure that every incident is captured and can be produced in evidence.
FollowUs, the UK’s leading mobile location solutions service, launched the GPS Person Locator, which can give parents and lone workers peace of mind. FollowUs believes it is the first to offer a GPS locators with pay-as-you-go web based mapping that enables parents locate a family member through their WAP-enabled mobile or PC. The Person Locator is a GPS phone that is the height of a credit card, and is small and light enough to be carried by people of all ages including young children and the elderly. Unique to the product, it uses the new SiRF III chip set that offers accuracy to within 10 meters. The Person Locator will operate world-wide subject to having mobile phone reception. The product, unlike any other, is offered on a pay-as-you-go basis – meaning owners pay for maps as and when they are done – with no recurring payments or monthly subscriptions.
The AnyTrack GPS-100 is a low-cost personal tracking device. The GPS locators transmit their locations to your computer, letting you track and find your family, pets, packages and vehicles. Small enough to clip on a belt, throw in a glove compartment, or even carry in your pocket. The tracking device doesn't need a line-of-sight with an open sky, and can work indoors using a combination of GPS technology and cellular signals.
The omniscout Portable, is a small GPRS/GPS location, tracking, asset recovery and personal protection system. The omniscout Portable GPS locators will determine and report the global location of any mobile asset, vehicle or person in which or on whom the omniscout Portable is located with an accuracy of a few meters.
The omniscout Portable is able to communicate its location and receive commands using the international (GSM/GPRS) wireless networks. These networks are used by cellular communications companies for tracking the assets. If the omniscout Portable is unable to obtain a GPS location as a result of being in a restricted GPS signal area such as in a building or underground, omniscout’s enhanced location technology (ELT) will establish its location through cellular tower triangulation and maintain same until GPS contact is re-established.
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GPS wildlife Tracking or GPS Telemetry is another high-potential growth area for GPS applications. With ever smaller dimensions and weights and the availability of solar cell power these devices can be used in a growing number of cases. For most of us GPS tracking means probably GPS vehicle tracking systems, but we will show even more spectacular applications in quite different fields. Collecting GPS data is one thing, but reading the data is often more complicated and, especially in real-time, rather expensive. The simpler ‘passive’ units store the data in internal memory. Data can only be read, once the unit is retrieved by the user or sometimes when the unit comes within the reach of a radio connection between the unit and a (portable) receiver. More sophisticated GPS wildlife tracking units send the data via a cellular phone network in regular time intervals or on demand in the case of units with two-way communication. It is obvious that this only can function within the coverage area of the cellular phone network. Two-way communication has the extra advantage that the programming of the unit can be modified, even with the unit in use and at distance. This way the user can change the time intervals between reports, or even met the unit in a pause position. The most expensive GPS wildlife tracking systems send the data in regular intervals via satellites (Argos, GlobalStar). This stands for a really global coverage, but is not a real time solution as the satellites can not be reached 24h/24h. Data can only be sent or received when a satellite is overhead. GPS wildlife tracking systems are now available for almost all mammals and even for the bigger birds. In 1994 the first collar, the Lotek GPS_1000 weighed 1.8 kg and was too heavy for mid-sized mammals. Less than 10 years later Microwave Telemetry has developed the PTT-100, a 70 gr solar powered GPS tracking system that transmits the data to the Argos satellite system. We present some other manufacturers and their programs. The above-mentioned Lotek specializes in GPS collars for small to large mammals. Their collars contain a VHF tracking beacon. Other innovations include remote two-way communication, which allows you to retrieve data on demand and/or reprogram the collar while it is still on the animal. Temperature and mortality sensors as well as field uploads and downloads. All the GPS wildlife tracking collars can be equipped with a remote release mechanism or a drop-off mechanism that is activated after the expiration of a factory pre-programmed time delay. Televilt Sweden manufactures three different types of collars as well as backpacks for birds. The GPS-Simplex uses a radio link while GPS-Direct and GPS-Weblink use a cell phone modem (GSM 900/1800). All systems can be fitted with a drop off (pre-programmed or remote control release). Televilt only uses Lithium batteries. GPS-Direct and GPS-Weblink are customer programmable while on animal. Telemetry Solutions is a Californian based telemetry company involved in GPS wildlife tracking since 1998. Last year the development of a proper GPS collar started. The project focuses on equipment reliability (expressed in back-up VHF beacon, two built-in drop off units, custom made GPS receiver amplifier etc.) and how the product is supported. TS intends to deliver a very reliable system and back it up with customer support. This may not seem as anything new; however, wildlife biologists all around the world are used to failing GPS collars and not too friendly customer support. TS intends to change that, to the better. Toma Track is their distributor of GPS wildlife tracking devices in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. BlueSky Telemetry in the UK manufactures GPS tracking collars. The modular design of each collar range enables the biologist to pick and choose different components to suit their individual application. The following options are available: GSM mobile telephone engine, UHF radio modem and Satellite telephone engine, enabling remote setup and download. Other options include Programmable remote drop-off, Temperature, Mortality and Activity sensors and a VHF or UHF radio telemetry beacon. Telonics has a long history in manufacturing wildlife telemetry, conventional telemetry and tracking devices. Their Store-on-Board GPS Collars for animal tracking applications, with or without ARGOS Uplink, are only part of a program of quality electronics for wildlife, environmental research and special applications. 