Q. What is GPS Tracking?
A. GPS Tracking is the term used to describe how the location of an object can be determined using the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system operated by the US Military. A GPS receiver is used to read the signals from two or more GPS satellites and compute the longitude and lattitude location. The location data is thenbe viewed on an integrated handheld device or Satellite Navigation system installed in a vehicle. The location data can also be transmitted over either the mobile phone network (GPRS) or, one of the satellite communications networks to an internet server.
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Q. How accurate is your tracking system?
A. GPS tracking is normally accurate to within a few meters, typically between 5 to 10 meters. The number of GPS satellite fixes determine the accuracy of the GPS location.
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Q. Do I need to buy any software to view the locations of my vehicles?
A. No, VeriTrace provides a complete tracking solution including the hardware, software and all upgrades for a fixed monthly fee on a minimum 12 month contract.
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Q. Are there any hidden costs?
A. No, VeriTrace will provide a detailed quotation based upon your defined needs inclusive of all costs for hardware and communications.
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Q. Does VeriTrace supply GPS Tracking?
A. Yes, car, van, truck and trailer tracking system VeriTrace Live and the VeriTrace trailer, container and unpowered equipment tracking system VeriTrace MMT and VeriTrace S1 use GPS satellites to acquire the vehicle or asset location.
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Q. Can I view my vehicle locations over the internet?
A. Yes, as long as the PC, laptop or handheld device (PDA, SmartPhone) is internet enabled and has an internet browser installed. Our software is designed for ease of use and speed with the latter depending very much on your internet connection speed. For example a broadband conection will be much faster than a dial up orhandheld device connection.
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Q. Does your system provide live, real-time tracking?
A. Yes, the VeriTrace Live system uses the GPRS (Mobile Phone Network) to transmit GPS location data from the powered vehicle (car, van, truck, bus, coach etc.) to our servers at programmable intervals between 60 seconds and once per day, week, month.
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Q. Can you track trailers and containers?
A.Yes, iIn the case of trailers, containers and other unpowered vehicles and assets such as plant and machinery we provide location messages via simplex data satellite communications using the VeriTrace MMT and VeriTrace S1 GPS tracking devices.
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Q. Will your tracking system void our vehicle manufacturer warranty?
A. No, we used unly qualified technicians to professionally install our VeriTrace Live tracking devices in cars, vans trauck and other powered mobile assets in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer guidelines.
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Q. Is the tracking system visible on the vehicle?
A. The VeriTrace Live GPS GPRS tracking system is installed covertly inside the vehicle with no externally visible antennas. External Antennas can however be provided if necessary. The VeriTrace MMT and S1 GPS Satellite Communications devices also have inbuilt antennas.
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Q. Can your system be upgraded over time?
A. Yes, all veritrace GPS tracking systems can be upgraded with the latest firmware at no cost to you. The same applies to the internet based fleet management and tracking software.
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Q. Can you provide raw data for us to import into our own software?
>A. Yes, all customers reveive our free asset management software but can also have a raw data feed based on either XML or FTP to allow data to be viewed in third party software.
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Q In what environment will the unit survive?
A. The VeriTrace MMT & VeriTrace S1 units are specified to operate –30˚ to +60˚ C. The units will survive operating temperatures from –40˚ to +85˚ C operating. The units are tested to vibration, shock, humidity, salt/fog, pressure washing, dust/sand and UV exposure per SAEJ1455 and MIL810E/F standards.The units have been tested in conformance for use in the US (FCC), Europe (CE) and Canada (IC) and is also EMC/EMI tested. Full reports are available by request under NDA.
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Q. How do I retrieve my data?
A. Data from the VeriTrace MMT & VeriTrace S1 products is received through Globalstar Data Nertowrk via the VeriTrace servers. Data from the VeriTrace Live product is received through the GSM Network Providers via the VeriTrace servers. RFID data is received through the long range communications netwroks above via the VeriTrace servers.
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Q. Can this unit interferewith any other electronics on (e.g. Aircraft, Cars, Vans, Trucks)?
A. It is extremely unlikely that the VeriTrace MMT and the VeriTrace S1 units will interfere with any onboard electronics in any asset. The unitsare very tightly controlled on output spectrum, conforming to FCC part 25 and ETSI TBR41 emissions standards for operation in band of use. Transmit frequencies are controlled in the 1.615 GHz spectrum — very far from the spectrum used by vehicles and other equipment such as TVs, CBs and Mobile Phones. The units are also certified under FCC part 15 as a non-intentional radiator and able to accept radiation as prescribed by the ruling. Even if the devices were operating on an exact frequency of another device (which is illegal as the band used is licensed exclusively to Globalstar), the extremely low duty cycle and low output power would require the other unit to be within 30 feet to even observe the radio energy. Also, it is interesting to note that these devices are designed to coexist with Globalstar satellite telephones operating in the exact same band. The signal strength and structure provides for the signal to actually ride under the active voice channel. The voice users don’t even know it is there as the signal power is buried in the noise floor of the satellite phone’s channel.
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Q. How do I secure the device to my mobile assets?
A. The VeriTrace MMT and VeriTrace S1 devices may either be screwed to a mobile asset using the provided mounting feet or affixed using adhesives. VeriTrace has available a die-cut adhesive tape kit that securely bonds the device to the asset.
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Q. What RF channel should be used?
A. The VeriTrace MMT and VeriTrace S1 devices are multi-frequency-capable, but Globalstar specifies the channel of use. Currently, channel A is the only available channel for use in North America. Channel C is used in the Middle East and Europe and Channel D in Russia.
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Q. How does the motion sensor work?
A. The VeriTrace MMT and VeriTrace S1 devices contain an integral motion sensor capable of stimulating the units into alternate reporting based on detected motion and stop. Users may configure the sensor to engage fast updates while in motion or simply send start/stop messages.
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Q. How do we set up the unit for geofencing?
A. Geo-fencing setup is handled via a serial interface. Users may write their own geo-fencing tool using the product specification, which defines the serial protocols.
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Q. How long will the battery last?
A. The VeriTrace MMT and VeriTrace S1 products have the longest battery life of any similar device on the market today, using high-density lithium primary batteries. The batteries are not rechargeable. Axonn doesn’t recommend rechargeable systems due to the harsh environmental requirements for AVL (Automated Vehicle Location) applications. The internal battery will lastup to 8 years for twice-daily location reports. Faster update rates will reduce the battery life of the product. At 4 reports a day, service life is reduced to about 4 years. At 6 reports a day, 2.5 years.
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Q. What is the effect on battery life for selecting low vs. high power, and the number of transmits and GPS fixes per day?
A. Low or high settings have minimal impact on battery life. The GPS function consumes the highest percentage of battery power. The setup tool includes a battery life estimation function where each of the above questions may be traded off. The OPTIONS/BATT tab includes a field for user input of GPS failure estimate based on application obstruction-to-sky estimates. Retransmit settings can be entered into the OPTIONS/XMITTER tab. The term used here is ATTEMPTS, which equals the total number of transmits per unique information type. Modifications to the device settings in the configuration tool are reflected in the battery life estimator. This provides immediate feedback for evaluating the battery impact for different settings of the device.
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Q. How does the GPS fix retry work?
A. If the unit fails to acquire GPS location, it assumes the sky is obscured from view. The unit returns to low-power sleep state for 15 minutes then retries. If it fails on the second attempt, it aborts the location function altogether. Failed GPS fixes are counted in a 2-bit field for next successful transmission clipping at count of 3.
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Q. What if the unit never gets a GPS fix?
A. VeriTrace MMT & VeriTrace S1 products will not transmit messages that contain location information without valid location data. Only those message types that have no location information will be transmitted (such as SETUP or RAW or Alarm without fix type messages).
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Q. Does the unit transmit immediately when it wakes up from its initial delay-to-start interval?
A. The unit sends a type 3-0 (SETUP) message on activation (either RUN or alarm wakeup). The SETUP message is transmitted per the configured number of redundant times. Next, the unit enters into the delay-to-start interval. On completion of the delay-to-start interval, the unit executes the first interval delay. After the first delay is complete, the unit will perform the first supervisory report function. The next supervisory report function occurs after the second interval delay, etc.
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Q. What are all the interval settings for?
A. The device may be programmed to wake on a fixed (single) interval. This configures the device to repeatedly sleep during the interval time, waking to perform location fix and transmit. The unit will step through additional intervals sequentially and repeat the entire list if more than one interval is provided. For example, the device may be configured with interval 1 = 1 hour, and interval 2 = 23 hours. The units will sleep one hour, locate & transmit, then sleep 23 hours to the next locate & transmit. The two intervals will repeat forever, providing twice daily reports separated by an hour. Up to 12 intervals may be programmed.
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Q. What does the time in the XML message mean?
A. Message time is tagged by the ground-earth-receiver at time of reception of the message. The first message received is sent to the user with subsequent redundant messages removed if all is provisioned correctly. The UNIXTIME field in the XML message is the time-tag of message receipt by the Ground Earth Appliqué.
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Q. How can I learn more about the product capabilities?
A. Call VeriTrace on +44 1303 254648. Our knowledgeable product representatives will assist you in understanding the many advantages of the product for a wide variety of applications. VeriTrace will be pleased to send you a Users Guide with over 75 pages of detailed descriptions of product capabilities.
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