GPS Tracking Reduces Thefts and Speeds Up Recovery
Using GPS for asset tracking is not something new and the technology for GPS has been around since the 1960s. As mobile phone networks developed rapidly over the last 20 years, so did GSM based asset tracking devices. These devices are accurately determining their location and feeding this information to the mobile phone network to allow the user to determine the asset’s location. However, the limitation of these devices became apparent as the technology matured. The heavy power consumption of GSM based tracking devices meant that for many applications the user had to either use a large battery or else connect to power source. Also, jammers became readily available on the consumer market to allow for easy blocking of the tracker output.
The introduction of Sigfox and low power tracking devices has changed the asset tracking landscape significantly. A small pocket sized tracker can have a battery life of months instead of a couple of days, enabling the tracking of non-powered assets. With slightly larger batteries, a tracking device can operate for years. Furthermore Sigfox technology is highly resilient to interference with other signals, making UNB (Ultra Narrow Band) protocol unique in terms of anti-jamming – remarkably GPS trackers can transmit a payload despite the presence of jamming signals.
For protection of powered assets this low power option means (1) Trackers do not need to be connected to a power source – much easier to install with no restriction to where you place the tracker on the asset. (2) The device can run for long periods without a battery change/recharge. (3) The device is more compact so it can be positioned in places not possible for a GSM device making them harder to detect.
We have received many success stories in the past few years as the Sigfox network has matured, and as we expand our distribution globally, telling us of the recovery of stolen assets.
A user in South America told us he had a DigiTraq mini on his motorbike when it was stolen. The motor bike was tracked by this very discrete device and once its final position was identified, the police not only recovered the motorbike but arrested a gang involved in motorcycle theft. A Danish user had his bicycle stolen which had an ST1-A tracking device on it. Again, this resulted in a successful recovery. On a lighter note, one customer told how a thief stole his DigiTraq STA device from his boat. Clearly the thief had no idea what he had stolen and due to the long battery life the user was able to monitor the thief’s movements for some months, unaware that the owner was tracking him, and he was able to demand its return at an appropriate time. Finally, we have had many other examples of quads (or ATVs) being protected with HidnSeek devices on farms and businesses and generating motion alerts allowing time for an intervention before the asset was stolen.
About HidnSeek
HidnSeek are dedicated to designing and building innovative solutions to enable remote tracking and asset management, empowering enterprises to improve their operational efficiency. HidnSeek ultra-low power devices are leveraging the rapid and disruptive deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) networks.
check out https://www.hidnseek.fr for more information or contact us directly by mail at link on the bottom page