Wired, OBD or battery: choosing the right tracker
A straight comparison of the three mounting types, what each is good for, and where each one fails.
Three ways to install
Before the model and the price, the first question is how the device is installed: wired into the vehicle, plugged into the OBD port, or running on its own battery. Each method fits some jobs and fails at others.
Wired trackers
A wired tracker is connected to the vehicle’s power and hidden inside it, so it runs all the time without charging. It reads ignition status, and many models can cut the engine remotely through a relay output. Examples are the widely used GT06N, the classic TK103 and the TK303F. It is the usual choice for fleets and theft protection, but it needs a technician to install.
OBD trackers
An OBD tracker plugs into the diagnostic port found in most modern cars, with no extra wiring, so installation is instant and moving it to another vehicle is easy. Some also read fault codes, such as the OBD22. The port is in a known place and the device is easy to pull out, so it suits usage and fault monitoring better than theft protection.
Battery trackers
A battery tracker needs no wiring and can be fixed anywhere, like the magnetic AT4 with a 10,000 mAh battery and water resistance. It suits trailers, containers and equipment with no permanent power. To make the battery last it reports less often than a wired unit, so it is not meant for following a trip second by second.
How to choose
- For theft protection and engine cut-off: a hidden wired tracker, or one built into a car charger such as the HVT001.
- For usage and fault monitoring with instant fitting: an OBD tracker.
- For equipment and trailers without power: a magnetic battery tracker.
- For fuel, engine and driver-behaviour data: a CAN-bus tracker such as the Teltonika FMB130.
- For motorcycles: a small dedicated unit such as the TR06.
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