How GPS vehicle tracking actually works

From satellite fix to the map on your screen: the device, the SIM, the server and what each one costs you.

Three parts working together

Every vehicle tracking system has three parts: a device in the vehicle that knows where it is, a SIM that carries that position, and a server and platform that put the data on a map and raise alerts. Knowing what each part does helps you choose the right setup and understand what you are paying for.

1. The device: from satellites to coordinates

A tracker contains a receiver for satellite navigation signals (GPS and similar systems). It works out its position from the timing of signals arriving from several satellites at once, which gives latitude, longitude, speed and heading. This step needs no internet; the internet is only needed to send the result.

Besides position, the device reads other data depending on its type and wiring: ignition on and off, battery voltage, CAN-bus data on units that support it such as the Teltonika FMB130, or extra sensors for fuel, temperature and doors. Some devices, such as the GT06N, have a relay output that allows the engine to be cut off remotely.

2. The SIM: how the position reaches the server

The device sends its data over the mobile network through a SIM card; devices differ between 2G and 4G. It reports a point at a set time or distance interval while moving, and less often when parked. When coverage drops for a while, many devices store the points and send them once the network is back, so no part of the trip is lost.

3. The server and platform: from points to decisions

The server turns the points into what you see: live location, trip history, stop durations and distance driven. This is where your rules run: an alert for speeding, for leaving a geofence, or for a vehicle moving when it should be parked. The result reaches you in the phone app or the dashboard, and it can be connected to other systems such as Odoo.

What do you pay for?

The cost follows the same parts: the device and installation are paid once, then a monthly subscription per vehicle for the platform. The price depends on the device, the sensors and the number of vehicles, and devices and installation can be paid in instalments.

Pricing · Tracking devices · Fleet tracking