“This product exceeded my expectations. Easy to setup, tracks well, and great app for smart phone, too. Customer service was excellent.”
“This is amazing tracking system for teenagers and workers. We have been a customer for 5 years! Love it. It holds them responsible!”
“Because of my Brick House Tracker we were able not only to recover our stolen vehicle and all the items stolen, but the thief was caught, red handed!"”
Glades Banana Farm & Trucking
“Affordable and extremely effective, excellent product and amazing customer service. Fast delivery and very friendly personnel ”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to track someone?
It is legal to track your own property, including any vehicles that you own, whether they are driven by you or a member of your family. When it comes to tracking other people in the vehicles that they own, many states have laws which regulate the use of electronic tracking as part of anti-stalking laws. It’s a good idea to protect yourself by checking on the legality of your GPS tracking applications. You can learn more about this in our learning library of GPS tracking laws.
How do I know if there’s a GPS tracker on my car?
It can be difficult to identify a hidden GPS tracker, especially if it’s been professionally installed and is well-hidden. Do an exterior and interior sweep on your own or seek professional help if you’re not able to locate a device. For more details, check out our learning article about finding a GPS tracker on your vehicle. Once the device has been located, you can also follow a few simple steps to disable the GPS device.
How can I track a car?
If you need to use a GPS tracker to monitor the movements of a vehicle, there are a number of options available. We invite you to explore our GPS tracking device guide to learn about the different tracking options and which would be most appropriate for your needs. You can also read our article about GPS tracker placement to determine the best location for the tracker to be mounted in the vehicle in order to ensure you get the most accurate results.
How does GPS work?
GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, operates using a series of satellites that orbit the Earth transmitting radio signals. Once the location of the GPS tracker is pinpointed, the device then uses a cellular connection to transmit the identified location to a web server so that it can be marked on a map and recorded. If you’re looking for a deep dive into the science of GPS tracking, you can learn all about it in our learning article about how GPS works.
Why is there a SIM card in GPS trackers?
The SIM card is the source of the cellular signal in the GPS tracker. While satellites are responsible for locating the device, the cellular signal is required to send this information to the user via the tracking platform. This information may appear in the form of a moving dot on a map or an alert that provides location coordinates.
Will GPS work indoors?
The most accurate GPS tracking takes place outdoors where the tracking device is positioned in the direct line of sight of at least three global positioning satellites. In some cases, a GPS tracker can also use local cellular towers or nearby WiFi to help pinpoint locations if the device is not accessible to the appropriate number of satellites, but the most accurate location tracking will take place outdoors.
What does the GPS server do?
A GPS server receives and stores all of the location information that has been captured and conveyed by the GPS tracker. This information is accessible by the user via the tracking platform and can be seen as a location on a map or by generating an historical report.
Why is there a monthly fee?
The monthly costs required for GPS tracking covers two things: 1) access to the GPS server which stores your GPS tracker’s location history and 2) the cellular connection used to send the location information to the server so that the user can access the information remotely. Both of these features are required in order for the GPS tracker to function properly and provide the information to the user.
What is the smallest GPS tracker?
GPS tracking devices can only be as small as the battery used to power them and the antennas used to transmit the location information. While a GPS chip and electronic components can be small enough to fit into a matchbox, in order to ensure that the antennas are positioned correctly and the battery is of sufficient size to hold a charge, a good quality GPS tracking device needs to be at least 2 inches across in size.
When using a battery-powered GPS tracker, it’s important to remember that the battery is powering the GPS as well as the cellular signal. A GPS tracker that is actively tracking will drain the battery faster than one that is sitting inactive. Our smallest, most powerful battery-powered GPS tracker is the Spark Nano which can function for a minimum of two weeks on a single charge.
What is an OBD port for GPS tracking?
OBD ports, or On-Board Diagnostics ports, are available on all vehicles and are used to access the computer system for reading emissions tests and diagnosing vehicle problems. This port can also be used for installing additional vehicle components like OBD GPS trackers. An OBDGPS tracker requires only a simple plug-and-play installation and the OBD port provides power directly to the device from the vehicle, eliminating the concern of a dead device battery.
How do I select the right GPS tracker for my situation?
There are four types of GPS trackers: battery-operated, hardwired, plug-in, and satellite-operated. We’ve created a GPS tracker buying guide to help you determine the best tracker type for your needs. We also recommend contacting our team directly so you can discuss your needs with a GPS expert and be paired with the right tool.
What is the tracking interval?
A tracking interval is how frequently the device sends an updated location to the user, usually in the form of a dot on the map. The faster the tracking interval, the more often updates will be sent. This will typically take place anywhere from every 10 seconds to every few minutes and usually can be adjusted by the user, depending on needs. Learn more in our learning library about how to understand the balance between tracking intervals and battery life.
How does motion activation work for GPS trackers?
Many GPS trackers are motion-activated to conserve battery life and save on cellular transmission costs. As long as the GPS tracker is not moving, it will only occasionally send updated location information to the user. When a tracker begins to move, the GPS device activates and an update is sent. This is particularly useful for monitoring vehicles that are parked or in storage so the user knows exactly when motion begins. It’s also helpful for conserving battery life while the vehicle is not in motion for a long period of time.
What is a geofence and how is it used in GPS tracking?
Geofences are digital boundaries a user draws on a map in the GPS server. These can be used to demarcate important areas like home, a warehouse, a customer’s business, etc. Alerts are triggered when the GPS tracking device crosses the imaginary boundary line to enter or exit the zone, enabling users to track when the zone was entered or left and for how long. Explore our learning article about geofences to learn about their functions and best uses.
How do GPS trackers get power?
GPS trackers may be powered in one of four different ways: battery, hard-wiring, plug-in, or satellite-powered. Which type of device you choose will depend upon your needs and the location where you intend to track. If you will have reasonable access to the device in order to recharge it when appropriate, a battery-powered tracker might be right for you. If the device will be located inside of a vehicle without needing to be moved, a hard-wired device will likely be the best choice. If you plan to use the device in different vehicles on an as-needed basis, the OBD plug-in tracker will provide you with this ease of use. If you are tracking something in the wilderness or at sea where cellular service is unavailable, you may need to go the route of selecting a satellite tracker which is designed for this application. Learn more by exploring our GPS device guide!
What is reverse geocoding? Why does it matter?
GPS trackers use latitude and longitude coordinates to determine locations, but this information is not very user-friendly and needs to be converted--via reverse geocoding--into a street address. This process requires the system to pinpoint the nearest known points on the map, which are usually intersections of streets, to determine the nearest approximation to a street address. Because this process is an approximation, the location of the physical dot on the map may be more accurate than the actual street address that the system identifies.
Learn From the Experts: Video & Articles
At BrickHouse Security, you can find all of the tools you need to make your GPS tracking endeavors a success. Whether you’re looking for a real-time GPS tracker to help you track your assets, vehicles, equipment, or loved ones, we’ve got you covered. We also carry all of the support tools that you may need, from magnetic cases to attach trackers to your vehicles to a user-friendly Android and iOS app to help you monitor your assets from anywhere. Our selection of GPS trackers is expertly curated to include a wide variety of tracker styles, including portable trackers, hardwired GPS devices, satellite trackers, and more, ensuring that whatever your needs are, we have the GPS device that will help you achieve them.
Monitor all of your assets, employees, machinery, and company vehicles, all from one GPS tracking platform. Our state-of-the-art software is accessible from any computer and also includes an Android or iOS smartphone app that enables you to monitor your assets on-the-go. No matter which BrickHouse Security tracker you use, all of them can be monitored from one convenient place.
With GPS asset tracking, you can monitor your valuables, large and small, from anywhere. Using a GPS tracker gives you the most effective means of monitoring the whereabouts of your valuables so you can protect your assets, whether they are an expensive piece of equipment or technology, a boat, a vehicle, a collection, a personal valuable, or something else. At BrickHouse Security, we can provide you with the best tool to get the job done.
When it comes to tracking vehicles, whether they are personal or company cars or a fleet of vehicles, we offer a wide range of tools to help you track whatever needs tracking. Once you know what goals you want to accomplish with your vehicle tracking, our team of experts can help you determine which of our many GPS devices will be most effective for your needs. Whether you’re monitoring a vehicle driven by family members, a teen driver, or an employee, we’ve got the GPS tracking device to help you accomplish that.
A portable GPS tracker is a convenient tracking option for monitoring people and knowing where they are at any moment. While it’s illegal to track a person without their knowledge, there are many relevant personal GPS tracking uses such as monitoring a child walking home from school, keeping tabs on an elderly relative living alone, or even for allowing a loved one to monitor your whereabouts as you go out for a solo hike or a run. Personal GPS tracking devices are smaller than a typical cell phone and extremely portable, making them easy to carry and use.
Parents are always concerned about the safety of their children, and GPS technology offers solutions for monitoring a child’s movements and location at all times. Parents may choose to use small, portable GPS trackers to monitor their children at the park, walking or bussing home from school, going to their friend’s house, etc. Geofences allow parents to also receive alerts the moment their child reaches a destination or leaves somewhere, such as when they leave school property or when they enter their home. The GPS tracking platform and iOS or Android smartphone apps are fully customizable, allowing parents to ensure that they are tracking what they most want to see.
Our smartphone app for iOS and Android allows you to monitor your GPS tracking devices while on-the-go. You can also set up custom alerts so that you’ll be notified of whichever events are of concern for you, such as when your child leaves school, your employee reaches the customer’s address, or your family vehicle is speeding, to name a few. Our GPS tracking platform and apps work together with all of your devices, giving you the ability to track everything you own all from one convenient location.
Sometimes your GPS tracking needs may require you to track internationally, whether because you or a loved one are traveling or because you have business to attend to in another country. Many of the GPS trackers we carry are available in international versions that can track anywhere in the world. Please note that in order for a device to work internationally, users must supply your own international SIM card to operate the device on an international network.
For users who are interested in after-the-fact GPS tracking without monthly fees, a GPS data logger may be the answer for you. GPS data loggers are low-cost solutions which don’t work in real time or on demand but do offer you the ability to look back after the fact and see where the device has been. Usually data loggers are among the most portable GPS tracking devices because they have no need for big batteries or cellular antennas to work. A data logger can be connected to any computer for review of data.
Updated May 25, 2022
