Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Fleet Vehicle Tracking with GPS

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    40
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    199
    Reputation
    10

    Default Fleet Vehicle Tracking with GPS

    I have four vehicles, soon to be five, and am thinking about getting vehicle tracking systems on at least 3 of them to keep tabs on where they are at anytime.


    Whats the best system out there as far as price of GPS unit and the web based service that will give me current position of vehicle.

    It would also be helpful if the unit could download its log when it returns to base once or twice a week.

    I have looked on Google but would like some first hand advice from the forum if possible.

    Cheers,



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    A rock in the ocean
    Posts
    752
    Thanks
    99
    Thanked 135 Times in 79 Posts
    Rep Power
    290
    Reputation
    3356

    Default

    Well there's three parts to consider there:
    the mobile GPS hardware
    the display application
    and the method of getting the GPS data from the vehicle to your application PC.

    Commercial fleets often use something called AVL (automatic vehicle location) where they use a GPS receiver, an interface box and a two way radio to transmit the location back to a base radio receiver, and the transmitted data (possibly along with other vehicle specific data) is displayed typically on a custom written PC application. Taxis, ambulances etc are good examples of this.

    Amateur 'ham' radio operators do this with a system called APRS. Just about any GPS that can output NMEA frames can be fed into a APRS TNC like a 'tinytrak' device - this then feeds data into a radio for transmitting. Any station on that frequency can then receive that information, and display it with freely available APRS software - and even overlay a map on the display.

    A third option is replacing the radio to transmit the data with a mobile phone connection. Far more expensive due to call costs, but not dependant on radio range or special radio knowledge or licences.

    As far as GPS units, pretty much any unit that spits out NMEA frames will do. As for interface boxes or 'tinytrak' devices - anywhere between $100 up to many thousands of dollars depending on level of customisation and logging required etc (tinytrak has no logging and minimal intelligence, other boxes will probably have more features and functions, possibly custom designed to the application).
    Two way radio: if you're patient $200 should do for everything per radio. Licencing and other aspects of setting them up is a complete new kettle of fish. You'd have to research that seperately its a subject in its own right.
    If you use mobile phones, the costs here should be well known. But consider that every speed change, every direction change will transmit a packet of data that the mobile phone will transmit back to you - and each will cost you something.
    As for software: free to the sky-is-the-limit for custom designed

  • #3
    Senior Member
    trash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    4,088
    Thanks
    148
    Thanked 3,229 Times in 1,451 Posts
    Rep Power
    1287
    Reputation
    47674

    Default

    Have a look at the Telstra cars in your local area. All of them have tracking these days.

    They are GPS based, and have a 3G connection. (and WiFi) but you can use GSM instead of 3G if required.
    There are several different makes available on the market, I don't know if Telstra themselves offer the equipment. I've seen them adverstised in "Radiocomms" industry magazine.

    They keep a constant track of where the vehicle is and they log position and speed. They do not need to be in constant contact with a 3G cell and they will report in when they are back in range or polled.

  • #4
    Senior Member CoopsOz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    819
    Thanks
    94
    Thanked 99 Times in 57 Posts
    Rep Power
    235
    Reputation
    607

    Default

    It is very easy for the people you are trying to track to block the signal, maybe it will have to be kept on the low down.


  • #5
    Senior Member
    trash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    4,088
    Thanks
    148
    Thanked 3,229 Times in 1,451 Posts
    Rep Power
    1287
    Reputation
    47674

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mitaux8030 View Post
    Amateur 'ham' radio operators do this with a system called APRS. Just about any GPS that can output NMEA frames can be fed into a APRS TNC like a 'tinytrak' device - this then feeds data into a radio for transmitting. Any station on that frequency can then receive that information, and display it with freely available APRS software - and even overlay a map on the display.
    I've been playing with APRS lately ..... in it's simplest form, dumping serial NMEA data from a GPS directly into a TNC serial port and out onto a 2m radio or something like a UHFCB.

  • #6
    Junior Member Gregathome's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    117
    Thanks
    129
    Thanked 23 Times in 19 Posts
    Rep Power
    199
    Reputation
    125

    Default

    It is a lot easier to track a mobile phone.
    Have a look at google latitude.


  • #7
    Senior Member
    Downunder35m's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    4,063
    Thanks
    101
    Thanked 1,796 Times in 862 Posts
    Rep Power
    630
    Reputation
    15704

    Default

    Google Latitude is more a fun application ,a "toy" to play with.
    Tomtom WORKS would be a professional solution.
    Tomtom GO730 ,Navcore 9.004 ,Bootloader 5.5256 ,Map :Australia 845.2661
    ttmaps and Tomplayer on 16GB SDHC class6
    Password for all my files: downunder

  • 07-01-14, 08:14 PM


  • #8
    Senior Member
    LeroyPatrol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    N.E. Vic
    Posts
    16,229
    Thanks
    3,528
    Thanked 4,710 Times in 2,797 Posts
    Rep Power
    1669
    Reputation
    46551

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Allen View Post
    Tracking a vehicle is not a very difficult task. For vehicle tracking Gps tracking and fleet management system is useful for this purpose so contact with me for more information to buy GPS device.
    I think your'e 5 years too late lol

    Leroy
    XCRUISER HDSR600HD twin sat and terrestrial receiver $OOS *
    XCRUISER HDSR385 Avant - sold out$OOS UltraPlus DVB-T and DVB-S2 tuners $49 Remotes $OOS

  • #9
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Shenzhen China
    Age
    59
    Posts
    2,052
    Thanks
    925
    Thanked 1,087 Times in 637 Posts
    Rep Power
    519
    Reputation
    12660

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol View Post
    I think your'e 5 years too late lol

    Leroy
    he said he could track him, he made no claims about speed

  • The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to jok11n For This Useful Post:

    bob_m_54 (08-01-14),LeroyPatrol (08-01-14)

  • #10
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    2,742
    Thanks
    2,501
    Thanked 2,295 Times in 850 Posts
    Rep Power
    995
    Reputation
    36415

    Default

    We use in all our buses a device from
    Once set up we can log almost every aspect via the internet


    and can see the trip data in real time


    We can also create and download a number of differing vehicle reports



    Apart from the initial cost per vehicle (we have 10 of them, there are no ongoing costs

    Hope this helps,
    Cheers
    In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
    The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.

  • #11
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    2,742
    Thanks
    2,501
    Thanked 2,295 Times in 850 Posts
    Rep Power
    995
    Reputation
    36415

    Default

    I wonder how many there are that when responding to posts NEVER take into account the OP's original post date
    Obviously I'm one.
    In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
    The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.

  • #12
    Premium Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Central Tablelands of NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    13,824
    Thanks
    1,242
    Thanked 3,806 Times in 2,525 Posts
    Rep Power
    1797
    Reputation
    56986

    Default

    Even though this thread was commenced 5 years ago, it is still of interest to see what has developed in this field during that time.
    At first I would guess it was a simple GPS signal sending the location on a timed basis back to base but when you see whats available for telemetry during the major car races, has this filtered down to the domestic user and what about including video too with the increasing use of car cams today?

    For those of you 'on the road' in a company car, it would be no use telling the Boss you were parked and asleep when the telemetry says the vehicles throttle was full open and the Car cam shows a rooster tail of smoke from doing donunts and your three mates (who shouldnt be in the vehicle) are hanging out the windows scholling from 'Darwin Stubbies' will it?
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

  • #13
    Senior Member
    Downunder35m's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    4,063
    Thanks
    101
    Thanked 1,796 Times in 862 Posts
    Rep Power
    630
    Reputation
    15704

    Default

    In this case I have to agree that on old thread can be not only funny but also helpful.
    Tomtom GO730 ,Navcore 9.004 ,Bootloader 5.5256 ,Map :Australia 845.2661
    ttmaps and Tomplayer on 16GB SDHC class6
    Password for all my files: downunder

  • #14
    Premium Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Central Tablelands of NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    13,824
    Thanks
    1,242
    Thanked 3,806 Times in 2,525 Posts
    Rep Power
    1797
    Reputation
    56986

    Default

    Its my understanding that these systems are being incorporated into both locomotives and Multi Unit passenger rolling stock by many of the Railway systems.
    They monitor the speed, brake useage and operation of the 'Vigilance Control' devises and because of the GPS and line side transponders, they are able to see intermediately if a Train passes a signal at 'Stop' other than when authorised to do so and thats something they are very very concerned about.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

  • 11-01-14, 06:17 PM


  • Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •