GPS Basics
Before you spend $50 on a tracker, spend five minutes understanding what you're buying. This section explains how GPS tracking actually works — the two technologies behind every device, the three hardware types, and the terms that matter versus the ones that are just marketing.
How to Judge Basic Tracker Claims
Three things matter at the basics level. 1. GPS chip vs antenna quality. All trackers use similar GPS chips — the difference is the antenna, which is where cheap units fail. 2. Cellular band support. A tracker built on 2G or 3G networks will stop working as carriers sunset those bands — 4G LTE is the safe floor for any new purchase. 3. Update frequency vs battery. Every tracker trades one for the other — "real-time" (10 sec) drains battery fast; "daily" lasts months. Choose based on your actual need, not the marketing claim.
Editor's Picks in Basics
The satellite + cellular system explained in plain English. Two technologies, one small device.
OBD-II vs hardwired vs magnetic — how each one installs, what each one costs, who each one is for.
Every term you'll see in tracker marketing, translated into what it actually means.
Quick Recommendation
Read three articles in this order: (1) How GPS tracking works — so you understand the two core technologies. (2) The three tracker types — so you know which category fits your fleet. (3) Jargon decoder — so you can spot marketing fluff when a vendor tries to sell you something. That's about 20 minutes total and it will save you weeks of misdirected shopping.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A tracker listens to satellite signals to figure out where it is, then sends that location through a cellular network to a server you can see on your phone or computer. Two technologies — GPS for location, cellular for transmission — in one small device.
GPS is passive — the tracker only listens, it doesn't send anything. Cellular is active — that's how the tracker sends its location to you. If the cellular part fails, the tracker still knows where it is, but you don't. This is why "silent failures" (tracker stops reporting without notifying you) are the most important metric we track.
Poorly. GPS signals are weak and don't penetrate buildings well. Most trackers rely on assisted GPS (using cellular towers) indoors, which is less accurate. For indoor tracking, you need a different technology (WiFi, Bluetooth, or RFID). We cover this in our Basics section.
It's when the tracker uses cell towers or WiFi networks to speed up the initial satellite fix. It helps the tracker lock onto satellites faster, especially in urban areas. Almost every modern tracker uses assisted GPS, but the tracking accuracy still depends on how good the antenna is.
Every tracker needs cellular service to send you location data. Companies that charge monthly fees pass the cost to you. No-fee trackers include the cellular cost in the higher upfront price. You're paying either way — the difference is whether you pay once or forever. See our no-fee picks →