The Accuracy of GPS Trackers: What You Need to Know

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has become a big part of modern life, a useful process at the heart of any vehicle tracking system.

Through a tracker’s connection to satellites in space, the device can determine a person or object’s location on Earth with astonishing precision.

However, with technology as advanced as this, is there room for error? Can GPS trackers be wrong?

What Do The Numbers Say?

The Global Positioning System is a critical infrastructure and is used by hundreds of millions of people all over the world for many purposes, such as tracking an asset’s location and gathering geographical data.

Anything from Amazon parcels being tracked through GPS to ensure prompt arrival to cargo ships and freighters utilising GPS trackers to determine their location.

The military also uses trackers on their submarines, tanks, planes, and trains. Military equipment often uses trackers with two GPS receivers instead of one for greater accuracy.

The most common use of GPS is found on mobile devices and cars to help drivers navigate through the world accurately.

Unfortunately, in rare instances, GPS trackers can fail too. They can provide incorrect information despite the high accuracy rate.

How And Why Do GPS Trackers Fail?

GPS signals can be blocked by bridges, mountains, tunnels, concentrations of high concrete buildings, and so on. Anything that blocks the connection between the tracker and the satellite will cause interference, resulting in inaccuracy.

Even if there is interference along the way, if your tracker loses signal, it should continue to record your location until it regains connection. After a connection has been reestablished, your tracker will upload all the information stored when there was no mobile coverage.

Another factor that causes inaccuracy is if your GPS tracker hasn’t been used in a while. Normally, a secondary activation solves this issue.

And while many things affect a GPS tracking device’s accuracy, most of these issues can be fixed easily. And as technology advances, your Solid GPS tracker will only get more accurate.

How Do I Fix My GPS Tracker’s Accuracy?

GPS trackers may fail sometimes, but there is no need to panic when that happens since it’s pretty easy to fix minor issues. There are several steps you can do to troubleshoot and fix the device and be back on track.

Check the app

Apps fail, and they can sometimes give incorrect information. Before anything else, check the application you’re using and make sure there isn’t an issue with the app. If it seems to be the app, try to reset it and wait a few seconds. It might not even be the GPS tracker at all.

Make sure your tracker hasn’t been moved

In the Solid GPS’ case, we recommend hiding your unit inside the boot, under your car seat or anywhere hidden inside your vehicle. Most of the time, your unit should be able to get a good and clear signal.

Reset your tracker

Sometimes, turning your unit off for 10 minutes and back on again is the best thing you can do to get your unit up and running again. We also recommend you do this if you’ve just finished recharging your tracker.

Contact support

When you order a Solid GPS tracker, you can contact Australian support at any time if you need help with your tracker.

Conclusion

Technological advancements have exploded the popularity of the Global Positioning System. Creating a massive impact on society and how we live with anything from navigating through the world to even keeping your assets secure.

Through GPS, It’s easier to find anything lost and bring it back home. And while the Global Positioning system is not perfect, no technology is; nevertheless, there is no denying how useful and crucial GPS is to the modern world.

Learn more about the history of GPS trackers and how they work.