A portable gadget that allows users to monitor and track their whereabouts is called a GPS tracking device. The most popular application for these gadgets in vehicles is car tracking systems.

 

Although tracking devices and in-car navigation systems are similar, there are some significant variations. GPS navigation systems provide driving advice after displaying the user’s location on a digital map. On the other hand, GPS trackers make use of GPS technology to monitor a vehicle’s present location, current driving behaviour, and past travel patterns/behaviour. The GPS information is subsequently transmitted to a computer, smartphone, or tablet.

 

With advances in technology and battery life, asset tracking is no longer limited to just tracking vehicles or to tracking via GPS satellites. Battery powered devices track outdoors and some even track both outdoors and indoors. Examples of assets that can be tracked include trailers, generators, bins, tools, pallets, beer kegs, parcels, inventory, etc.

 

Here are the top 4, set and forget battery-powered tracking devices.

 

1. The Oyster3 (Outdoor Tracker)

The 4G LTE-M Oyster is a small, sturdy GPS tracker that was created for supply chain tracking systems, flat rack containers, trailers, skip bins, and other assets where super long battery life is needed without compromising performance and update frequency.

 

You can put it on assets that are exposed to rain, dust, and maritime environments thanks to the robust and UV-stable IP-67-rated housing.

 

The Oyster can function in ultra-low power modes by utilizing cutting-edge technology. The Oyster can be mounted to assets and tracked without replacing batteries, thanks to its exceptional battery life (up to 10-year battery life on once-a-day reporting).

 

In addition to flash memory for storing non-volatile data, the Oyster contains a built-in GNSS Module with concurrent GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS, a 3D accelerometer, and an LTE-M cellular modem.

 

Three “off the shelf” AA 1.5V Lithium batteries are used in the Oyster. These can be purchased at retail locations from producers like Energizer. Lithium LTC batteries are recommended for extreme temperatures.

 

Due to the exceptional performance and capacity of the lithium batteries, the Oyster3 may be used in climatic situations and temperatures that other tracking devices cannot.

 

Features

  • High-precision GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS
  • No installation is required. Simply “place ‘n trace.”
  • Magnet mount available
  • Adaptive Tracking – Periodic or Movement-Based
  • Up to 10 years of once-daily updates
  • Up to 3.5 years once hourly updates
  • Up to 7 Years , movement-based tracking depending on movement and settings
  • Weatherproof and ultra-rugged IP67 Nylon Glass Housing with compact and ergonomic design
  • ‘Battery Low’ and ‘Battery Critical’ alerts
  • Unauthorized movement alert, Geo-Fences, and many more features
  • LTE-M connectivity

 

3. The Oyster Edge (Indoor/Outdoor Tracker)

 

The Oyster Edge differs from the Oyster3 as it simultaneously scans for GNSS, Wi-Fi routers, and cell towers at the same time, and it combines Bluetooth low energy and location tracking to enable innovative and cost-effective asset management and sensor monitoring applications. It tracks both indoors and out and can be Integrated with a large number of Bluetooth tags and sensors from third parties to collect and report on important asset data like temperature, humidity, moisture, shock, vibration, door open/close, and many other things.

 

Features

  • Simultaneous GNSS (GPS/BeiDou), Wi-Fi AP MAC Address Scanning, and Cell Tower location for indoor/outdoor asset management
  • Bluetooth® 5.2 Gateway for tagged asset management and sensor monitoring
  • Deploy-once battery life with up to 10+ years on only 3 x AA user-replaceable batteries
  • Magnet mount available
  • Cloud-based location solving (versus on-device) for substantial power savings
  • Adaptive Tracking – Periodic or Movement-Based
  • 10+ years of once-daily updates
  • Up to 4.5 years once hourly updates
  • Up to 7 Years , movement-based tracking depending on movement and settings
  • ‘Battery Low’ and ‘Battery Critical’ alerts
  • Weatherproof and ultra-rugged IP67 housing
  • Unauthorized movement alert, Geo-Fences, and many more features
  • LTE-M Connectivity

 

4. The Yabby3 (Outdoor Tracker)

 

The Yabby3 is a compact and ultra-rugged battery powered GPS asset tracker featuring up to 10+ years battery life using 3 x user-replaceable lithium AAA batteries available from many retail stores. The Yabby3 is smaller than the Oyster3 and relies on accelerometer activity to determine when it is in trip compared to the Oyster3 which can use both accelerometer and GPS fixes  to determine whether it is in Trip. 

 

Features

 

  • Concurrent GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS 
  • Long battery life up to 10 years with once a day reporting
  • ‘Battery Low’ and ‘Battery Critical’ alerts
  • 3D Accelerometer 
  • Adaptive Tracking – Periodic or Movement-Based
  • Small size, IP67 Rated
  • Easy to install simply “place-n-trace”
  • Easy to conceal
  • Magnet mount available
  • Suitable for outdoor tracking of all types of assets 
  • Tip Detection
  • Unauthorized movement alert, Geo-Fences, and many more features
  • LTE-M Connectivity

 

5. The Yabby Edge (Indoor/Outdoor tracker)

 

The Yabby EDGE is a compact and ultra-rugged Indoor/Outdoor battery powered asset tracker featuring cloud based location solving for up to 10+ years of battery life. Ideal for assets that move between indoors and outdoors. With its compact size and indoor tracking ability there are an endless number of assets that can be tracked. 

 

Like the Yabby3, the Yabby Edge uses its accelerometer to determine trip starts. Unlike the Yabby3, the Yabby Edge is both an indoor and outdoor asset tracker.

 

Features 

 

  • Simultaneous GNSS (GPS/BeiDou), Wi-Fi AP MAC Address Scanning, and Cell Tower location for indoor/outdoor asset management
  • ‘Deploy Once’ Battery Life – Over 10+ years of battery life (once a day reporting) on only 3 x AAA user-replaceable batteries
  • ‘Battery Low’ and ‘Battery Critical’ alerts
  • Cloud-Based Location solving – Position calculations are handled in the cloud (versus on-device) for substantial power savings
  • Adaptive Tracking – Periodic or Movement-Based  
  • Tip Detection
  • Ultra-Rugged – IP67-rated housing ensures the device can withstand fine dust, high-pressure spray, submersion for 30 minutes in 1m of water
  • Unauthorized movement alert, Geo-Fences, and many more features
  • LTE-M Connectivity

 

More on Bluetooth sensors in a future blog.

West Coast GPS is your premier GPS service. We commit to helping you protect, monitor, manage, and recover your lost assets. Learn more about our services today!