Posts Tagged ‘gps tracking’

What is a GPS Tracking System?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

A Global Positioning System is a sequence of US satellites which goes around the earth remitting one way signals which give all the details about location, routing and timing. A GPS tracking system makes use of a GPS to find out the place, of a person, vehicle or pet.

These packages make note of the location at fixed intervals as a result of which an activity file is created. All this information can be saved within the system itself or can be transferred to another site. This is made possible through a cellular modem, two way radios or even a satellite.

This system is specially beneficial to people who are always on the move. They can get such equipment fixed into your mobile or your vehicle. This comes in extremely useful when you have a break down or something untoward happens as you can be tracked down easily. The only thing to keep in mind is to have the system activated at all times.

If you have teenaged children, it will be a good idea to get such a system installed into their cell phones or automobile. As teenagers are the most common prey to almost all kinds of criminal offences like abduction, a GPS tracker will be extremely helpful in saving them from harm.

The other main advantage of such a system is that they are quite affordable. As they have become very common now-a-days, there are numerous companies who manufacture such systems and we are able to procure even the trendiest models at reasonable rates. They are also weather proof and survive even in the roughest patches.

Another area where they make use of this technology is shipping companies. They are made use of to keep a check on their ships and cargo. Every container which goes out to the sea will have a system installed in them which will enable them to find its location when ever the need arises. They also are extremely useful in air ways in the same way.

In short a GPS tracker is the best answer to find the correct location of anything whether on the earth, sea or sky. There are “n” numbers of these systems that are available in the market today and you just need to find out the one which will suit your requirements perfectly.

There are a lot of GPS tracking gadgets on market these days. More and more people and opting for GPS tracker devices. You can even find it in mobile phones and associated personal gadgets.

A Look At A Postal Code Map

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Countries throughout the world use a postal code map in their postal stations. These maps are compiled for each country, state, country, and region and are kept in a centralized location where they are scanned into scanning machines that are used in postal stations throughout the world.

The kinds of scanners that are used for postal stations are often very large. Letters are collected from villages, towns, and small cities and transported to large, centralized distribution centers where the scanners read bar codes that have been placed on envelopes and parcels.

Many of these scanners also are made to reach the handwritten numbers and letters on envelopes. These letters are often more difficult for the scanner to read appropriately and, when it is not possible to discern the number or letter, the machine passes the letter or parcel to a human for review. The individual reviewing the letter will then direct the item to its appropriate distribution point.

People will find a postal station in almost every small town or city. Mail is distributed to, and collected from, the residents of the town. In most cases the mail is collected by services on a daily basis and transferred to the centralized station where it is sorted and shipped to distribution points in other regions.

The main scanning machines that are used in centralized stations are very large. When mail is dumped on the link chain conveyor it moves very quickly through an ever narrowing group of sorters that lead to the main point for scanning. As the mail is scanned, it is then directed to bins for local, national, and international distribution. When hand written letters or numbers cannot be read, the scanner sends the letters to a human who has a small handheld scanner. The code on the letter is scanned with the handheld scanner and the data is transmitted to the main computer. This allows the main scanner to read the numbers and letters when they come through again.

When the wrong postal code is placed on a parcel, it can be directed to the wrong country very easily. Many people put codes on their letters they are unsure of, when this occurs the letter or parcel can be missing for several years before it finally is returned or ends up at the correct address.

Scanning machines use a global postal code map that is built in to the hard drive of the system and updated regularly. An individual who does not put a postal code on a parcel will find that the postal station will put a label with the correct postal code on it so that the parcel will be sent to the proper location.

In many cases people are able to get maps that contain postal codes for their region or area. However, some large regions have several codes for cities and use many maps simultaneously in their distribution centers.

GPS systems are getting cheaper everyday. It’s not hard to find where you need to go using address validation, address verification and spatial data

How GPS Fleet Tracking Saves Your Company Money

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Sales of GPS fleet tracking systems have grown by more than 300% in each of the last two years. The reason is simple: it saves money and increases productivity. If you have a fleet of five or more company vehicles and you have not investigated the savings you can achieve with GPS fleet tracking, now is the time to take action. Don’t lose thousands - even tens of thousands - of dollars this year because you failed to take action.

You can install a GPS fleet tracking system for just about $300 per vehicle. Then there will be a monthly maintenance fee of less than $50 (in most cases). You can expect to recover the entire first year’s cost in under 6 months. After that, you will be calculating the return on the investment. Some companies have even reported a positive ROI in the first month of using a GPS fleet tracking system. Here are some of the factors that help the company’s bottom line.

1. GPS fleet tracking maps and routing save drive time, fuel and money. In the event of a customer emergency, you know where all the trucks are, and you can quickly direct the closest vehicle to handle the call. Drivers can even decide whether they need to take the fastest, most direct or most fuel-efficient route to the next stop. The GPS fleet tracking monitoring of location also looks at the route ahead and notifies you if there is a tie-up. Then it provides a detour around the problem to keep the driver on schedule.

2. Using data to improve driving habits also saves fuel, reduces carbon emissions and saves money. Your GPS fleet tracking system will compile data on the driving habits of each driver. For example, it will track racing up to an intersection and slamming on brakes habitually or slamming the accelerator to the floor when starting up after a traffic stop, or habitual speeding.

3. Anti-theft and accident report function. Not only will a GPS fleet tracking system help you locate a stolen vehicle instantly and share information with the police, you can also disable the vehicle. In the event of an accident, you will be alerted instantly so you can determine the extent of the damages and injuries and send help to your driver. The GPS fleet tracking program will also create an incident report that will document the speed and direction of your vehicle when the accident occurred. The vehicle locator, anti-theft functions and accident report will qualify each vehicle for a discount on insurance of as much as 33%.

4. Vehicle maintenance tools are also included in many GPS fleet tracking systems. Many interface with the vehicle’s factory-installed computer. Together they monitor all parts of the engine, the frame, even the tires. If a problem is beginning, you will receive a report so you can make repairs when it is convenient instead of when the vehicle breaks down on the road. Proper maintenance improves gas mileage and reduces carbon emissions, as well as reducing maintenance costs.

The capabilities of GPS fleet tracking that reach beyond simply showing the location of a vehicle on a map can save time, abuse, fuel, and achieve savings that drop directly to the bottom line.

– Use less fuel and save on fuel costs

– Dramatically reduce repair costs by as much as 20%, drive vehicles longer, and catch problems before they become big breakdowns

– Save up to 1/3 of the current cost of insurance for each vehicle

– Correct bad driving habits that damage the vehicle, waste fuel, increase carbon emissions, and cost money

– Increase productivity and reduce overtime

– Reduce paperwork related to cargo, customer service, vehicle management and payroll by using system reports

– Eliminate unauthorized breaks, side trips, or after hours use of vehicles

– Improve customer response times, on-time deliveries in an ever-narrowing window, and reduce billing errors, resulting in greater customer satisfaction

Whether you manage a fleet of 5 or 500 vehicles, a GPS fleet tracking system will save you time. It will reduce expenses, make you more efficient, make your drivers more efficient and productive, will improve customer satisfaction and retention, and save a bundle of money for the company in ways that carry straight to the bottom line. Can you really afford to be without a GPS fleet tracking system for your company?

To learn more about GPS fleet tracking, get the free report “7 Ways Your Company Can Save Thousands of Dollars With GPS Fleet Tracking.” Many companies have substantially increased their revenue and decreased their costs by implementing a GPS tracking system for their fleet. To calculate the ROI for your company in under 30 seconds, click through to the GPS tracking ROI calculator.

If You Have Company Vehicles On The Road, You Need GPS Vehicle Tracking

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Are you confused by seemingly excessive vehicle costs? Are you having difficulty explaining why it costs 40% more to operate a specific company car than it costs to operate your own personal vehicle? It might be time to take control of this significant portion of your company’s operating expense. The way to take charge is with GPS vehicle tracking.

Efficiency and productivity are often difficult to monitor for small business owners. Even large companies sometimes have trouble managing costs. Consider, if you will, the phenomenal success in operating cost reduction reported by UPS a few years ago when they discovered that eliminating left turns by their drivers saved time, increased fuel efficiency and saved money. The change was a result of analyzing idling time at traffic lights or waiting for traffic to clear, and it was done with data captured by GPS vehicle tracking.

The information gathered by the GPS vehicle tracking devices in test vehicles calculated the average wait times - either for traffic lights or for traffic to clear the intersection - when drivers made left turns. This information indicated how to save time. They also calculated the amount of fuel used by the truck while waiting to turn. This information indicated how to save fuel. They were then able to calculate wasted time and wasted fuel in dollars. Once expanded to a corporate level, they decided that making left turns was too costly to continue.

In September of 2009, the mayor of Dyersburg, Tennessee reported on initial findings about city employee productivity and responsiveness to resident requests for services. Using new GPS vehicle tracking the city discovered several ways to improve productivity, reduce operating costs, eliminate waste, and improve customer satisfaction.

This is just one example of the waste that can be detected by GPS vehicle tracking. An amazing amount of other data is also provided to managers and company leaders:

- driving speed (fuel efficiency is lost when speed exceeds 60 mph).

- unsafe or inefficient driving habits.

- use of less efficient travel routes.

- leaving vehicles idling for a long time

- ability to identify and re-route the closest person when there is an urgent need.

- wasting time at a particular location

The information gathered by a GPS vehicle tracking system provides vital decision-making data for managers and company executives. The data can help managers correct bad driving habits, improve efficiencies, identify potential problems and protect their investments. It can become a primary tool in improving customer satisfaction. A good GPS vehicle tracking system can even help you create warning systems for drivers, notify drivers safely of traffic problems and offer alternative routes to save time.

GPS vehicle tracking systems enable you to even extend the life of your vehicles. It can help you identify and correct driving habits that are harmful to engines. It can also help you identify problem employees, identify several kinds of waste, prove unauthorized use of vehicles and find ways to make your drivers and your vehicles more efficient. With GPS vehicle tracking, you can help your employees become more reliable and consistent. You can cut costs while improving productivity; and this will result in increased profit.

With GPS vehicle tracking your company can streamline operations, increase customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and increase profits by facilitating the kinds of savings that directly and proportionately improve your bottom line. Because GPS vehicle tracking is inexpensive, you will probably see instant benefits when the devices are installed in your company vehicles.

For more information about gps vehicle tracking, claim your free report “7 Ways Your Company Can Save Thousands of Dollars With GPS Fleet Tracking.” A number of companies have increased their revenue and lowered their costs by installing a GPS tracking system for their fleet. To calculate the ROI for your company in under 30 seconds, see the fleet tracking ROI calculator.

Some Things You Should Know about GPS

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Over twenty years ago, the United States developed a system of satellites circling the globe in order to help its military navigate the globe with accuracy. With multiple satellites in geo-synchronous orbit, units on land and sea can quickly get an accurate location and also a glimpse at the surrounding terrain.

The satellites send a signal to the GPS receivers on the surface of the Earth and then from there, the location is pinpointed. The system was then commercialized in the 1990s and it has literally taken off.

The GPS units have been in commercial use since the early 1990’s and since then they have exploded to many different areas of our lives. One area that they have literally taken over is in the automobile industry. Car GPS systems are some of the most visible of all of the GPS units out there. These gps units help you get from point A to point B when you put in the destination address or place of interest name ( such as Fed Ex Field). Once this is entered, the route is calculated using your specifications ( such s no local roads, etc..) and then it is displayed on the screen for you to follow. If you need to take a detour, the GPS unit will quickly recalculate the route and display the new directions. And the kicker for some of these systems is that some have voice guidance to help you as well.

Manufacturers have taken the last two decades to produce ever smaller GPS devices so their use can become more widespread. Technology has improved so much that the GPS receivers can be inserted into articles of clothing as well as other common conumer items such as cellphones, watches and shoes.

Some companies also offer GPS tracking services. These services are designed with parents in mind. Parents can now keep track of where their chidren are simply by going to the website of the tracking service company. The service monitors the receiver that is on the child and reports back their location.

Cheap GPS units mean only one thing - the adoption of their use by a large swath of the population. These inexpensive units mean that pretty much every car on the road has them on the dashboard so that the driver doesn’t get lost or waste money on gasoline spent going the wrong way.

You can purchase a GPS unit in one of two ways. You can buy a unit for your dashboard and remove it each time you leave the vehicle alone. Or you can get the GPS unit installed into your dashboard as an option when you purchase the vehicle. Either way, you should search online for the right GPS unit for you.

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Worried Parents can Locate Children With GPS Child Locator Gadget

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Way to often the news on TV brings stories about about kids that have gone missing. Luckily, the majority of children return safe again, but unfortunately some dont and every parents worst nightmare comes true. The good news is that you don’t have to endure something like this because there are ways to avoid lost kids with todays technology. I’m talking about a GPS child locator.

Childrens GPS devices at the moment are miniature gadgets and they are incorporated into watches, cell phones, backpacks; even to be found directly in the child’s clothing.

The child locator will then send out a signal allowing you to track the location of your children at all times. You can configure the GPS device to send signals at intervals as short as 15 seconds for near real time tracking of the children.

GPS technology works excellent for tracking children that are at high risk due to child custody issues or similar problems. It is possible to set the device up so that it will alert you not only to the kids location, but also if the kid leaves a predesignated area or boundary. So you can know if your kid leaves their school or the neighborhood playground or pool. Visualize the peace of mind you’ll have when you know that you can simply log into your computer and instantly know where your child is thanks to the child tracker widget.

Some GPS widgets also come with a panic button that the child can use in case of an emergency. The alerts go not only to you, but also to the tracking service so the authorities can be notified fast.

Often when kids are kidnapped the kidnapper will immediately get rid of any cell phone the child may be carrying to avoid being tracked. With a small undetected GPS tracking widget attached to your child’s clothing you’ll still be able to track them and locate them fast. You and more importantly the police will know exactly where to locate your child and this increases the chances they will be found unharmed dramatically.

GPS units for small children can be as tiny as a watch or pager and they use rechargeable batteries that last up to 24 hours. If you want something with an extended battery life you can get bigger GPS tracking units that can transmit for up to 2 weeks on a single charge. Older children like teens can have the GPS units placed in their car to keep track of their locations and driving habits.

Many auto GPS units can be configured to send an alert or alarm, if the car exceeds a certain speed limit.

Personal GPS units are not inexpensive, but you really cannot put a price on the peace of mind you’ll get knowing you can locate your child in case of some emergency. When the safety of your kid is at risk nothing is too expensive. In addition to the cost of the GPS device itself you’ll also need to pay a tracking service which will run anywhere from $25-100 a month depending on the service and features. Having a GPS device for tracking the kid can be a great way to grant yourself peace of mind.

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Having a great GPS tracking system is a smart idea.

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

They can help you stay on track when camping, help you arrive at your vacation spot, or even allow you to keep a watchful eye on the kids. The last several years have made these devices popular and they have been used to save lives on more than one occasion. Having one is definitely important. With one, no one is able to hide.

Of course when you are making the purchase, it’s important that you keep your eyes open for knock offs that don’t do the job. Some of them may not be very accurate and they don’t last long either. When you purchase GPS tracking systems, it’s important that you go with one that has the features that you need and a reputable brand. Here’s a look at some of the options available to you today.

Outdoor GPS devices can help in many different ways. If you lose a backpack, individual, or equipment during your escapade, a GPS locator can keep track of them so you will be able to find them easily. Not to mention many versions allow for water resistance, which can be very important during those rainy weekends.

Automobile GPS devices have really brought the art of traveling by car full circle. Since there are possibilities for your vehicle to break down, having these GPS tracking systems can help out tremendously. Auto accidents, needed directions, and street locators are all important if you need a GPS locator for your car, truck or van.

You also have the opportunity to have dashboard devices or handheld GPS tracking systems as well. Over the years our security measures through the United States have revolved around various locators, but on a consumer standpoint you have more choices. Did you know that your mobile phone most likely has a GPS locator in it?

If you are looking for convenience, then the GPS devices that come in the form of watches are excellent choices. Put in on your wrist and you’re in business. It’s very convenient, especially if you’ll be outside doing various activities, such as hunting or hiking and you won’t have your hands free to use a hand held device.

We could give you hundreds of various different ways you could take advantage of a GPS locator. However, the reason you need one could be different. A prime example of this is when those big name fishermen head out for a tournament. They already know the best places to catch the fish, but getting there is always another story.

No matter how you look at it, GPS tracking systems are valuable in so many different ways. You have to decide if one of them is right for your needs. Of course you should take some time to think about the great results that you can enjoy when you own one of these devices yourself. Just take the time to ensure that you get the best product for the money that you spend.

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Hail the Cabby

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Cabbies never get a break. They do not live glorious lives and the best Hollywood attempts to make them seem hip or cool have yielded TAXI DRIVER and the television series TAXI, both of which will leave you feeling rather depressed, no offense to Christopher Lloyd. A cabby’s daily routine is a jumbled mess of destinations. He or she is truly tossed about, buffeted by the whims of the public.

There are many kinds of axis loose on the streets. The most common is the fore-hire taxi. This is the taxi that is usually painted yellow and is hailed by pedestrians at every street corner in Manhattan. The second is the private hire taxi. This taxi is pre-booked and will not stop for anyone expect for the person who booked it. Jitneys, or taxi buses, are just that: buses that travel pre-set routes and must stop for any one hailing it. The last species, the limousine is seldom for-hire and almost always booked beforehand.

The history of taxis is an obscure study. In Paris, Nicolas Sauvage seems to have started the first taxi service sometime during the 1640s. His vehicles were not called taxis, but “fiacres” as they operated from a depot near the shrine to St. Fiacre. In French, this term is still used to describe horse drawn carriages for hire.

With the innovation of the automobile, taxis were soon fitted with taximeters. These devices were designed to calculate the fare based on the mileage of the fare. The first modern taxicab equipped with a meter was the Daimler Victoria, built in 1897. Gas powered taxicabs started operating in Paris in 1899, in 1903 in London, and in 1907 in New York. During the twentieth century, taxicabs became more and more common, partially due to the integration of two-way radios in the 1940s.

Cabbies are expected to have a strong knowledge of the streets in their area, but more and more taxicab companies are beginning to use GPS tracking devices to speed up fares and assure passengers the shortest route is being taken. However, London’s black cab taxis, for instance, still rely on the strict training of their drivers and refuse to use GPS devices. What can we say? They’re English.

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The GPS Sputnik

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Given how CGI has changed the way we interpret science fiction today, the Sputnik satellite doesn’t look like much. Roughly the size a basketball with antennae protruding, it resembled you retro dining lamp fixture. But in 1957, to think that anything man-made could orbit the earth, much less break through the atmosphere was unheard of. The Soviets had ignited the fears of the so-called Free World and hey had given birth to a new form of technology: the satellite.

So how did this all come about? What made 1957 the galvanizing year that started the Space Race? Was it some accident that the Soviets chose to launch in 1957? Was it the natural progression of human endeavor and technological evolution? The random chance of timing and ingenuity? Well, Shirley, it seem the Soviets, to their credit, had determined in 1952 that a pinnacle of solar activity would come to being between July 1957 and December 1958.

“That’s all well and good,” you say, “but so what?” Well, it turns out the solar activity would better accommodate the sated purpose of the Sputnik project, which was to generate topographical maps the earth. From mapping, the Sputnik project would herald our modern need to have satellite-supported GPS systems and cellular communications. Of course, both of these systems are based upon the use of orbiting satellites. Let’s get digging, darling.

Global positioning systems as we know them were first slipped into orbit in 1978. Used strictly for military purposes, the GPS tracking system was upgraded nearly two decades later. In 1994, the entire system was replaced by a system involving twenty-four satellites. From spinning basketballs, these satellites weigh in excess of two thousand pounds! These blessed satellites orbit the earth two times in a twenty-four hour period.

As they orbit, they are constantly and tirelessly transmitting terrestrial coordinates and relaying cellular phone calls. That they carry out this cosmic dance with minimal interruption or interference. It’s mind-boggling to think that of all the millions and millions of phone calls and relays these metallic beasts of burden carry out they only lose approximately a few thousand calls or requests. So, to the hikers trying to find their position or the taxi looking for its destination, be patient and rest assured you will get that GPS tracking eye you’re waiting for.

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From the Stars to the Streets

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

Houston, the Eagle has landed. When the Soviet Space Program successfully sent Sputnik into orbit in 1957, Congress reacted with swiftness reserved for a national crisis. Indeed, for many Americans, the perceived superiority of the Soviet program was tantamount to a crisis. President Eisenhower moved quickly to establish both NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in 1958.

With its motto declaring “For the Benefit of All,” NASA moved quickly, launching the Explorer 1 satellite on January 31, 1958. Led by the former head of the German rocket program, Wernher von Braun, NASA immediately began to explore the possibility of sending human beings into space. Dubbed Project Mercury, this program involved seven original astronauts, of whom, Alan Shepard became the first American into space, while John Glenn would become the first American to orbit the earth.

With the Space Race underway, NASA began implementing a new tracking system, called the Global Positioning System (GPS). The system involved the use of satellites to track the position and location of both spacecraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Initially developed by the Navy, the first successful GPS tracking system was dubbed Transit, and used five satellites to triangulate positions around the globe.

For years any and all GPS systems were the sole domain of the military and government. When, in 1983, a Soviet fighter plane shot down civilian Korean Air airliner KAL 007, killing all 269 people on board. The plane had strayed into Soviet airspace and although the Soviet had probable cause to destroy the perceived threat, it was determined had the airliner had accurate navigational systems, the tragedy could have been avoided. President Ronald Reagan subsequently announced that civilians and civilian agencies should have access to the GPS tracking systems.

GPS systems have become integral components of modern American life. From the Space Race to racing down the highway, a GPS system is guiding us. Not only has it become the preeminent navigational system for cars, but the scientific community has used it to track wild and domestic animals and migration patterns. Law enforcement uses GPS tracking to find stolen cars and keep tabs on criminals on bail or probation. Now, not only can someone find where they are on a city grid, but also he or she can find nearby businesses and restaurants. The uses, and the wonders, never end.

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