Toyota 

Installing gprs on a car. Installing a GPS tracker. Connecting the tracker to the car

Content

For many transportation business owners, purchasing tracking equipment becomes a necessity. A GPS tracker for a car helps monitor fuel consumption, movement, and online location determination. There are many options for this equipment, the devices differ in characteristics and cost.

GPS tracker for a car - what is it?

Visually, the device looks like a black box the size of a pack of cigarettes, but expensive models can be even smaller. A car GPS tracker is installed in the car’s cabin and helps to accurately determine the coordinates of an object. The error of such devices rarely exceeds 2.5 meters. The entire system consists of a receiving and transmitting device. The beacon on the car for tracking movement transmits data to the computer, which is received by the GPS receiver.

To track the movement of the car, GLONASS or GPS is used; the computer has special software that receives data from the car beacon. The tracker can be connected through the dashboard or run independently on batteries. A GPS beacon for a car receives a signal from several satellites that are in orbit and, based on the delay in the response, the system determines the location of the car, then transmits the data to a computer or phone. In addition to determining coordinates, a car tracking beacon can:

  • transmit and receive sound through a microphone;
  • record the route taken;
  • track drainage and fuel refilling.

GPS tracker for car without monthly fee

In addition to purchasing a tracking system (beacon), there may be additional costs for software, server support, etc. For this reason, people are looking for a GPS car tracker without a subscription fee. You can find many offers that offer such conditions, but a reasonable person should understand that the company must make money from something. It is possible that the conditions will indeed not include monthly payments, but additional costs will be hidden in other clauses, for example:

  1. A GPS tag for a car does not require a monthly fee, but to use the software you must connect to a specific tariff for your phone, for which you will have to pay. The company will then receive its share of the sold stake.
  2. The entire monitoring and tracking system only works on special software that needs to be purchased. It will not be possible to combine a beacon for a car with other software and there is no choice left.
  3. In some cases, you sign an agreement in which there really is no monthly fee, you can install a transmitter module, and they will give you the necessary software. After a year, you need to renew the contract, then they tell you that you need to pay for using the services, but you no longer want to change the tracking system.
  4. There are real offers in which car tracking is carried out without monthly payments. The software is provided for one computer; it can only be used from that computer. This is acceptable for a private individual who wants to protect their car from theft, but it is absolutely inconvenient for companies where several managers and more than one car work.

GPS tracker for car with microphone

The catalog of these products can offer many options. Different countries produce trackers for cars, some are of good quality, others are of poor quality but at a low price. Another distinctive feature is the presence of additional functions in the tracker, for example, some options help track fuel consumption (draining/refilling the tank). Sometimes company owners and individuals decide to buy a GPS tracker for a car with a microphone from an online store. This will allow you to hear everything that happens in the vehicle cabin. The hearing radius is usually 8 m.

GPS tracker for a car on a magnet

There are several options for mounting this device. The magnetic GPS tracker for a car is a stand-alone version of the device and is an improved version of the clip-on model. This car beacon has a powerful magnet, which helps to secure it unnoticeably in any part of the car. In case of theft, hiding the tracker well is an important condition so that you can then track the movement of the car. The device is powered by rechargeable batteries, holds well on any iron surface, and does not fall off when driving. Detecting a tracker on a magnet is much more difficult.

Installing a GPS tracker on a car

As a rule, this procedure is carried out by specialized employees who will configure the device correctly. Installing a GPS tracker on a car is inexpensive, but if you wish, you can do it yourself. If you are not sure that the settings are correct, you should entrust the matter to professionals. The tracker is installed on the car in several stages:

Preparation

You need to insert a SIM card into the special slot on the car tracker. If the beacon is placed in a company car, then the parts of the device that can be opened should be sealed to avoid unauthorized tampering by another person. This will help monitor the integrity of the device and the reliability of the data from it. Next, you need to connect the device to the vehicle’s on-board network. As a rule, 3 wires are used for this from the dashboard terminal block or from the cigarette lighter.

It is better to hide the device from prying eyes in the car so that it is not possible to dismantle it. Typically, the tracker is installed inside the dashboard. The tracker must not come into contact with any moving parts of the machine. Please note that the device's antenna must be directed towards the sky for better reception. Some models have a removable antenna, so keep in mind that the distance between it and the tracker should not exceed 30 cm.

Connection

After the previous steps, you need to properly connect the device to the panel. For this you need 3 wires from the cigarette lighter or on-board network. Connect the constant positives and negatives to the block in series. The last wire is the ACC line with a non-permanent positive, it must be connected to the backup battery. After this, it will install GSM and GLONASS/GPS antennas.

DIY GPS tracker for a car

Some people do not trust the manufacturers of these devices and want to make a GPS tracker for their car with their own hands. The easiest way is to use a smartphone. All modern models of these devices are equipped with a GPS modem, which can become a beacon for the car. This is a convenient way to protect against theft for individuals. You can create a beacon yourself as follows:

  1. Download a special program from the Internet on your mobile phone.
  2. Go to the "Gpshome" resource.
  3. Register and go to your personal account.
  4. Next, you need the “Settings” section, where you can add the necessary data about the object to be tracked.
  5. You'll need to look under your phone's battery to rewrite the IMEI (cell phone's unique numeric identifier).
  6. Enter your data into the form on the website.
  7. Launch the installed program on your mobile and see if tracking has started in your personal account on the website.

How to choose a GPS tracker for a car

There are many offers from manufacturers of these products, so it becomes difficult to decide which tracker to order. There are some parameters that will help you decide on your purchase. GPS beacon for a car, which one is better to choose:

  1. Ask a consultant about location accuracy. If the error is more than 2.5 meters, then even a low price is not a reason to buy such a device. The tracker must correctly and accurately determine all parameters.
  2. Find out the speed at which the beacon is able to receive a signal and transmit it to the computer. The lower this value, the better.
  3. Give preference to models that can pick up reflected satellite signals. This is true for cars that move within the city. The absence of this function will lead to an error in displaying the route (as if the vehicle was not moving on the road).
  4. Availability of additional functions. If you need a microphone, a fuel sensor, then inexpensive models do not have them.

Price for a GPS tracker for a car

If you want to receive accurate data about the location and route of your car, you should buy a good tracker. The price of these devices is in approximately the same segment. Here are some popular device models:

  1. Starline Mayak M17. The device is connected using a wire, the price is from 6,000 rubles.
  2. GPS Marker M100. There is a cable for connecting the device to the panel, there is also an emergency battery, price - from 4,500 rubles.
  3. Voyager 4. The device is connected to the car's network, but can operate temporarily from the built-in battery, price - from 6,200 rubles.
  4. Proma Sat 1000. Magnetic autonomous tracker for a car, which, according to the manufacturer, holds a charge for about 2 years. Price – from 11,200 rub.

Setting GPS tracker settings for cars

After purchasing the device, it must be properly configured, taking into account the characteristics of the car. Manufacturers usually provide manuals regarding basic setup rules, so you should pay attention only to the necessary parameters. We recommend entrusting the setup to our employees, which will allow you not only to save time, but also to correctly configure the device.

When setting up the device, you need to fulfill a number of requirements:

  • It is necessary to select the interval mode of its operation in order to prevent attackers from noticing the signals and detecting the bookmark. As a rule, a period of 1 day is set.
  • Setting up the accelerometer and activating motion triggering must be enabled. The car owner will immediately receive a notification if the car starts moving without his permission. This option will be useful when evacuating a car, since the driver will have time to return to the parking spot.
  • It is necessary to activate the transfer of coordinates via the GPS/GLONASS protocol
  • Install a proprietary application from the manufacturer on your phone, which will make the process of managing the model simple and provide control at all stages of working with the device.

Why install a GPS tracker in your car?

A compact device capable of receiving information from satellites and then transmitting it to a computer or mobile device. Satellite data allows you to determine the location of the vehicle.

Using a beacon installed in a car, you can track the vehicle’s route and its exact location using GPS and GLONASS satellites. For example, if a car owner has lost his vehicle, then equipping the car with such a mechanism will play a decisive role in the process of searching for the loss.

The device does an excellent job of performing its main function, since, based on statements from specialists from the traffic police, about 80% of the detected cars had beacons of this type installed.

Every motorist must monitor and care for his car. The number of thefts is increasing every day. Statistics show that it only takes attackers 5 minutes to turn an ordinary motorist into a victim. Technologies are moving forward, car thieves are improving their technology, no matter how sad it may sound. But the technological capabilities of those who want to reliably protect their car are also growing. The most effective means of combating hijackers today are GPS beacons.

You need to take care of your car today. Most experts say that in addition to installing a mechanical gearbox lock, a hood lock and other anti-theft devices, you need to equip your “pet” with a GPS search beacon. The operating principle of such a device is quite simple. A GPS beacon installed in a hidden place in the car will determine the location of the stolen vehicle and transmit certain coordinates to the car owner. What does this require?

Cellular connection will be required. The coordinates will be sent to the owner in the form of an SMS message, or you can track the location of the car using the web interface of the monitoring system. The monitoring server can be opened on any device equipped with an Internet browser. Among other things, the car owner can track the movement of his vehicle, speed and much more. No criminal scanner will detect the device, because the GPS beacon can only be turned off and on by the owner at the right time. Are there any disadvantages to such a device?

The only disadvantage of a GPS tracker is that during cloudy weather, when the sky is overcast, or if car thieves hid the car in a garage, then it is impossible to obtain exact coordinates. All that remains is to focus on the data from the mobile operator’s base stations. Using GSM and UMTS cellular networks it is possible to determine the approximate location where the car is hidden.

How to install a GPS beacon correctly?

The most popular are two types of GPS beacons: with a combined power supply and with autonomous power supply. Such devices are no larger in size than a matchbox. This allows you to hide the beacon in the most unpredictable places. This “bookmark” can be installed on all types of vehicles. It could be a motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, boat, anything!

The power supply to a GPS tracker with a combined circuit is connected in two directions. The main circuit is the vehicle power supply circuit, the backup power supply circuit is the battery. For stable operation of the device, it is enough that electricity regularly appears in the power circuit. The power will be connected after each ignition is turned on, which will keep the built-in battery in working condition throughout the entire life of the installed “bookmark”.

Self-powered beacons are larger in size than their “comrades,” but not by much. This is due to the fact that the device housing has its own high-capacity power supply. Such a GPS beacon installed in a car does not have unmasking wires, which makes it practically invulnerable. All the difficulties are related to the fact that such a device can work unstably, for example, during frosty days, when the battery capacity decreases at subzero temperatures.

Where can you safely hide a GPS beacon?

In order to reliably hide the device, we will identify and find out the strengths of the beacon:

  • Small device dimensions. It is very difficult to physically find a GPS beacon; it may take several days
  • The GPS beacon works offline if the power supply from the vehicle is interrupted
  • The ability to set the beacon’s operating algorithm, which allows the device to send signals to the owner at a certain time, and then go into “sleep” mode, which will protect the beacon from detection by the scanner

It is necessary to wisely take advantage of all the advantages and choose the optimal place for the “bookmark”. But this is not enough! Many motorists install “bookmarks” in already “bored” places. Hijackers are not asleep; they have well learned all the main points where beacons are often hidden. These places are: a place under the bumper, a place under the trim, in the driver's seat or passenger seat. Show a little imagination, find another place.

But if you can’t find a good and hidden place for installation, we will help you! It must be remembered that the “bookmark” should be made part of the car, literally disguised. But it is worth remembering the following rules:

  1. The installation location should be easy to maintain; a situation may always arise that requires replacing the battery or SIM card
  2. The beacon must “breathe”, it must have enough space, otherwise there may be problems with transmitting data over a distance
  3. The GPS beacon must be hidden away from hot components and assemblies. High temperatures will be detrimental to a self-powered device

All this leads us to the conclusion that it is better to hide beacons inside structural elements, under the luggage or engine compartment, but away from too hot components. What do experts advise on this matter?

Experts say that it is necessary to buy two or three beacons and install them all at once in different places. The first “tab” powered by the on-board network will become a bait for hijackers, but it also needs to be hidden responsibly. Hide the first device under the bumper, under the trim. Let the hijacker understand that now all the cards are in his hands after detecting the beacon. This is where a second beacon with an autonomous power supply system comes in handy. Hide this device under a stand, under a holder, under a body element. Make a second GPS beacon part of the car.

Once you have found a place to install your “bookmarks”, you can safely proceed to configuration. Nothing complicated, but worth the effort. The first step is to change the factory password. The second thing you need to do is press the button on the GPS device and send an SMS command. You should not save the distinguishing name of the “bookmark” in your phone contact information; choose a neutral nickname. After the SMS command has been sent, the beacon will automatically register with the monitoring service, after which it will send you a message to your phone containing your login and password. That's all - the lighthouse is ready for service.

Connecting the device to the vehicle's on-board network is not difficult. It is enough to get into the space, but this requires disassembling part of the dashboard. In general it will look like this:

  1. Remove the right side of the front panel
  2. If there is a center pad, remove it
  3. Pull out the hazard warning button and disconnect the terminals

As a rule, beacons with a combined power supply system have four output wires. In order to connect a GPS beacon to the on-board network, you need to use three of them. The alarm input wire may not be used. All that remains is to connect the alarm output wire, connect the plus and minus. This completes the device connection.

Thanks to the robust case, good moisture protection and ease of use, you can independently connect the GPS tracker to the car both inside and outside the car.

The device does not have any special requirements for installation and location, so installing a GPS tracker on a car with your own hands is not difficult. The only thing that needs to be taken into account during installation is the need for free access for maintenance.

Installations connecting the device

When installing a GPS tracker for a car with your own hands, you need to ensure that the gadget does not come into contact with hot and moving parts of the vehicle: the engine, heating system and other similar elements. Installing and connecting a GPS tracker to a car involves the following algorithm of actions.

How to install a GPS tracker on a car:

  1. Having purchased a GPS device, immediately change the factory password;
  2. activate the tracking tracker by pressing the button on the gadget. After this, the beacon will be automatically registered on the monitoring site. The service will send a response message with your login and password;
  3. connect the gadget to the car’s on-board system by disassembling the dashboard. Typically, beacons that have a combined power system have an output with four wires. Use three of them, connecting them in series with the “plus” and “minus” of the on-board network;
  4. check the connection of external GSM and GLONASS antennas, insert the block with wires into the GPS device.

If you only need one function - security, it is worth purchasing a simple GSM beacon for your car. A device of this type “sleeps” all the time and turns on only to receive a command from the owner or at the time of theft, generating an alarm signal. You can set the time for the beacon to wake up in the settings - when the vehicle starts moving or the hood is opened. The tracker is characterized by minimal energy consumption, so it works without recharging for a very long time.