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GPS trackers are designed to give you some piece of mind. They can help you in many ways ranging from tracking your business assets to keeping your kids safe. But did you know they can also make the holidays a little easier and less stressful? In this article, you will learn why you need GPS trackers this holiday season.
GPS Trackers Prevent Theft
Unfortunately, thefts increase around the holidays which is why you need to be protected. There are always a lot of purchases around the holiday season that can be susceptible to theft. However, if there are GPS trackers on your business delivery vehicles, it can help prevent theft. And if the vehicle is taken, anywhere it is taken can be tracked so that you can get it back as soon as possible. This is also true if there is an accident. If your delivery vehicles get into a wreck, you can locate where they are. You can even alert the owners of the items that are in the vehicle as to when they will arrive.
Better Performance
When your fleet workers are out on the road this holiday season with GPS trackers, they will provide a better performance. Your workers know that you can see where they are and how long it takes them to accomplish their goals. This birds-eye view will give them a boost to stick to their schedule and work as hard as possible. This will also allow you to spend less money since your workers will stick to their schedules and even help on fuel costs since they will know exactly where they need to go.
Improved Customer Service
Your customers are everything to your business. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to keep everything going. That is why you need to be able to give them the best customer service, and GPS trackers can help. The GPS trackers will provide you and your employees with the knowledge of where every driver currently is. You can use this information to help delegate work so that everyone is given their packages as fast as possible. This will make it easier for everyone if you end up having extra customer orders that you were not anticipating.
Now you know why you need GPS trackers this holiday season. Remember that thefts happen a lot during the holidays, and GPS trackers help to prevent them. Trackers help your employees stay focused and provide better performance, and they can help your business improve its customer service experience. The holidays are a fun yet stressful time. Try to relax a little with the help of GPS trackers. When you have them installed, you can rest easy and know that everything is safe and that every employee is providing the best service they can. Do not become victim to theft this holiday season; install GPS trackers on your fleet today.
GPS tracking systems have been helping people for years. They have kept families safe and have kept track of assets, fleets, and even animals. But there is a lot that most people don’t know about them and what they can actually do. In this article, you will learn what you need to know about GPS tracking systems.
Photo by Linda Söndergaard on Unsplash
View Live Tracking Data Anywhere
You can view live tracking data on any device no matter how far away you are. This means that you can always know when your kids are leaving the house or are safe at home. It also means you can track when your assets are being moved and where they are being moved to. No matter what you are tracking, you can view the data on any smartphone or tablet while you are away.
Use Geo-Fences for Live GPS Tracking Systems
Live GPS tracking systems have an interesting feature available. They have something called Geo-Fences, where you can set up a “fence” on a map. Then, when the trackers enter or leave that area, you will receive an alert via text message or email. This is useful in myriad ways. For example, when your teen leaves school you can get a text message letting you know when he or she has arrived home safely.
Keep Your Customers Happy
If you are utilizing GPS tracking systems for your company’s vehicle fleet, you can use the systems to keep your customers happy. Most companies that require an employee to visit a customer’s home give the customer a time window, requiring the customer to wait around for hours. But with GPS tracking systems, you can track your fleet and give the customer an actual time when your employee will arrive to help solve their problem. This will improve the customer’s experience and overall view of your company and its brand.
Save Your Vehicle from Being Stolen
When you have GPS tracking systems installed in your vehicle, you can keep it safer than you ever thought was possible. If the unfortunate event of your car being stolen happens, you can keep track of it. You can even show the live updates via your smartphone to the police to make sure your vehicle gets back to you safe and unharmed.
Remember that you can view live tracking data anywhere and set geo-fences to alert you. Also, remember that you can keep your customer happier and save your vehicle from being stolen or damaged. GPS tracking systems have many uses. They can keep you and your family safe, as well as your assets, and make your business better. No matter what you need to protect, when you have GPS tracking systems, you know everything will be protected and easy to monitor. In the end, GPS tracking systems make your life easier.
Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless all of you and your family this Thanksgiving!
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Sapcorda Plans Centimeter-Scale GPS for Europe (August 15, 2017)
Germany’s Bosch and Geo++, U-blox of Switzerland, and Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric announced the establishment of Sapcorda Services last Tuesday, a joint venture to provide global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning services of centimeter-level accuracy via satellite transmission, mobile cellular technology, and the Internet.
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This expedition is trying to find out if the tallest mountain in the world shrank (January 26, 2017)
This week, India’s surveyor general announced that the government is going to re-measure Mount Everest, in a bid to determine whether the world’s tallest peak shrank (or grew) following a devastating earthquake in 2015.
A team of 30 scientists will use two methods to measure the mountain. The first involves placing a GPS transistor at its summit to measure the distance from sea level; the second involves more traditional on-the-ground triangulation, whereby researchers would determine the distance to the summit based on its angle relative to two baseline points.
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Implications of BeiDou explored in US congressional report (January 25, 2017)
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a staff report titled “China’s Alternative to GPS and Its Implications for the United States.”
The report examines the objectives behind Beijing’s decision to develop the system as an alternative to GPS, its efforts to build an industry around the system, and the effects this might have in security, economic and diplomatic terms for the U.S.
Source: http://gpsworld.com/implications-of-beidou-explored-in-us-congressional-report/
Additional info on BeiDou: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeiDou_Navigation_Satellite_System
Additional info on the different GPS systems: https://www.liveviewgps.com/blog/gps-main-competitors-galileo-beidou-glonass/
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In this modern age, traditional locks and security measures are simply not enough to protectyour motorcycle. And that is why it is good to have a GPS tracker. Because when all else fails,you still want to be able to get your motorcycle back. To understand why traditional security isnot enough, we need to understand why it fails, how criminals attack your motorcycle’s security,and what to look for in a GPS tracker. Once we understand those elements, you will know whyevery motorcycle owner should use a GPS tracker.Lift OffIn times of desperation, or when you find yourself unprepared, your motorcycle has to gowithout a lock. This may be a result of the lock not being in the gear bag, an unforeseen issuewith the lock, nothing sturdy to chain the bike too, etc. Needless to say, there will be timeswhere your motorcycle is receiving less than perfect protection. Without a solid anchor point,motorcycle criminals won’t have touch any part of your security. Even with disk brake locks,criminals can still get away with your ride.This is because, the motorcycle can be lifted into the bed of a truck, or the back of a van. Thisattack is usually done with a team, where the bike is lifted so that it rolls on the wheel without alock on the disk brake onto a ramp. However, in some cases, the team will lift the motorcycleunto a dolly of some kind, or even just lift it straight into their vehicle. Only a GPS tracker iseffective in these cases. The tracker will always be there. Once it is installed, it is protecting yourmotorcycle no matter the situation. With no way to forget this means of protection, your bikealways has a way of being found.Locks Aren’t EnoughA lock is not enough to protect your bike. As we learned above, a lock on your disk brake is notgoing to do much in the way of protecting your motorcycle, but every lock has weaknesses. Ofcourse, all motorcycles should use high-quality locks and even chains, but this alone is notenough. Even the best locks and the strongest chains can be cut with an angle grinder. Mostcan be cut in under a minute. Though this type of attack may be noisy and attract attention, anexperienced thief knows how fast they can get away.Once the locks, chains, etc. come off, your motorcycle has no security. That is unless you use aGPS tracker. No matter how much someone wants your motorcycle, once they steal it, you willhave a way of getting it back. Where most security focuses on keeping you from losing what youhave, a GPS does the work of getting it back. The security offers peace of mind, and theresources to ensure that a criminal never truly steals your ride.Simple Ignition Cylinders
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On most vintage motorcycles, and even many of the contemporary models, there is an issuewith the simplicity of the vehicle’s ignition cylinder. Without a transponder chip in the key, and atransceiver in the cylinder, a motorcycle is very easy to start. There are products like tryout keyswhich will turn in many ignitions as if they were the actual key. These “skeleton keys” are veryeasy to purchase, and allow a criminal to ride away on your motorcycle.Even if you were to get an auto locksmith to replace your ignition cylinder, there are still ways tocircumvent the cylinder and hot wire the bike. The steering lock is simple enough to break onmost motorcycles, and then the thief is free to take off. It would be a better to install a GPStracker on the bike, so that no matter where the criminal ends up, the police can find themotorcycle.What You Need in a Motorcycle GPS TrackerFirstly, you need a product that is built with motorcycle GPS tracking in mind. This means theproduct should be waterproof so that weathering during use and unforeseen storage issues donot leave you with a malfunctioning or broken tracker. You are also looking for a GPS trackerwith superior receiver sensitivity, as fast Time To First Fix (TTFF) is crucial for security.The TTFF is the measurement of how long it takes before the GPS receiver can locate a signaland navigation data from a satellite. The faster the TTFF, the quicker you will know thecalculated “position solution” (aka Fix). Once your motorcycle GPS tracker finds the “Fix” it willneed a way of being monitored. Monitoring is left up to the individual’s needs, based on theirperceived security risks, but it is good to have the option between real-time and periodicmonitoring.ConclusionUsing GPS technology to protect your motorcycle is really the only way to get proper peace ofmind. With third party devices, a criminal will not think to check for this security. That means allof their preparation still won’t allow them to get away. As it is so hard to properly safeguard amotorcycle reliably and in every situation, take the necessary precautions to assure that you canalways know where your vehicle is
Holiday season officially starts tomorrow (Thursday 11/24) with Thanksgiving.
TTW family sends you blessings for a joyful holiday with family and friends.
God Bless you and your families through out this holiday season.
Thank you for everything we could not have done it without you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
DoD Certifies GPS OCX Program to Congress
The Air Force next generation operational control system, known as OCX, recently breach the limit for cost over-run. Thanks to early engagement with Raytheon (OCX contractor) to resolve the program issues, the program recently received certification to continue its activities. The program capability supports military forces, civil, commercial and scientific uses. However, the future of OCX program still depends on Ratheon’s ability to deliver needed capabilities to Air Force at acceptable cost and within acceptable time.
Source: http://gpsworld.com/dod-certifies-gps-ocx-program-to-congress/
Additional info on OCX: http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/gps_ocx/
Memphis Police Using GPS Tracking to Fight Domestic Violence
Memphis is in investing $900-thousand dollars in the fight against domestic violence. The funds will be used to purchase around 800 tracking devices to help the police track offenders and protect would-be or former victims. With around 18-percent of the city’s murders attributed to domestic violence, the hope is that the use of GPS tracking devices will reduce the overall number of homicides in the city.
Source: http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/mpd-using-gps-tracking-for-domestic-violence-offenders
GPS Tracking Reveals Seagull Habits
We’re always looking for unusual and creative use of GPS tracking devices, and happened across this. A British study utilized GPS trackers and GPS tracking software to monitor the movement of seagulls in St. Ives resort. What’s interesting is that the results showed that all 4 seagulls tracked had very different habits– with some flying out to sea, and others foraging for food on nearby farmland. The tracking devices tracked the seagulls for a combined total of more than 20,000 miles.
Air Force Fixes Control System for GPS III
Next year, and the launch of the first of more than 30 GPS III satellites marks the beginning of GPS III. The new satellites boast increased security and better tracking. Perhaps one of the most impressive features is “spot beaming”, a way of creating a localized area of increased power for military use.
The HVAC industry has been growing by leaps and bounds, but not without its challenges. Running an HVAC company requires dedication and commitment, along with training and expertise. The owners of such companies much wear many hats and perform many tasks, from keeping track of the trucks on the road to fielding calls from happy (and unhappy) customers.
That is why so many HVAC company owners have been installing GPS tracking systems and seeing the benefits firsthand.
One of the biggest benefits of GPS tracking software for the HVAC industry is the ability to manage an entire fleet and an entire workforce from afar -without having to go out on jobs or become a micromanager. The ability to manage a workforce and vehicle fleet remotely frees the owners and managers up for more important tasks and allows them to serve the customer better.
In fact, GPS tracking software can actually improve customer service, so it may be able to help with disgruntled customers. If a truck is late getting to a job, the owner can tell exactly where it is and reassure the customer that help is on the way.
In addition to all these benefits, GPS tracking software can help in another important way. Theft is always a problem for owners of HVAC equipment – all that expensive equipment and valuable materials are tempting targets for thieves, especially when the trucks are parked and unattended.
Installing GPS tracking technology in each truck makes it easier for the police to track a stolen vehicle and recover the expensive tools and materials. This benefit alone could more than pay for the cost of installing the tracking technology and software.
With so many benefits, it is easy to see why so many HVAC company owners are upgrading their fleets with GPS tracking technology and software. From improved security and better time management to superior customer service and reporting capabilities, GPS software provides a number of valuable benefits to the HVAC industry.
As parts of the western USA, particularly California, are reaching historic drought conditions, GPS tracking devices typically used to provide earthquake prediction data are providing some important measurements of the earth’s crust. As drought conditions worsen, the earth’s crust rises because of the lack of water in the soil which would normally weigh it down. By tracking the rises in the earth’s crust, scientists are able to measure and track the drought’s severity. In the west, the average rise of the earth’s crust over the last year is 4cm. However, the mountainous regions of California have seen rises as high as 15 cm this year.
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According to a 2014 study released by the Yale Law Journal, using GPS tracking for covert tracking operations for law enforcement departments is incredibly less expensive than utilizing officers for covert tracking operations. In fact, the study estimated the cost of GPS tracking to be 1000 times more affordable than tracking vehicles the old fashioned way, with officers trailing behind their target in unmarked vehicles.
In the study, the cost comparisons are dramatic– covert tracking using the standard 5 car surveillance box strategy is estimated to cost $275 dollars per hour, yet the cost of GPS tracking for law enforcement covert tracking can range from just 36-cents to around $5 per hour.
GPS tracking for law enforcement has been described as a “game changer” in the law enforcement community for both its cost effectiveness and the number of vehicles that can be tracked simultaneously.
The study included both cell phone GPS tracking units, and GPS tracking systems mounted to target vehicles.
Source:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2014/01/09/cell-phones-let-cops-track-people-for-a-thousandth-of-the-price-study-finds/
Visit www.trackingtheworld.com for more information on professional grade GPS tracking systems.
It’s hard to believe that the history of man wanting to know his location on this planet dates back as far as the 1st Century and a stone with magnetic properties known as lodestone, but it does. For more than two thousand years, humans have searched for and developed tools to help them navigate land and sea. Beginning with Chinese lodestone ladles, the monumental efforts of mapping our seas, and the development of the compass, GPS tracking history is rich with landmark developments that have led us to where we are today. Here’s a great article on the history of GPS tracking:
http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/04/you-are-here-book-hiawatha-bray-gps-navigation
