Our company has been selling and servicing GPS monitoring systems across Ukraine since 2004. Over such a period, we have encountered many different tricks drivers use to deceive GPS trackers. There were very clever methods, for which one could even give a bonus, and there were very "stupid" and primitive ways. In any case, we have always managed to correctly and timely determine the cause of incorrect system operation.
GPS Tracker Accuracy: What You Need to Know
The most common and popular question is the accuracy of a GPS tracker. Among most devices available in Ukraine, approximately 10-20% are worthy of attention, while the rest have many drawbacks and calculate mileage incorrectly. When a client looks for a car GPS tracker, they often ask: what is the accuracy? But accuracy can refer to location determination and mileage calculation. All trackers determine location similarly, +/- 5-10 meters, but mileage accounting is a much more complex task.
Factors Affecting Mileage Accuracy
GPS tracker mileage calculation errors can arise for several reasons:
- Trajectory Following: Firstly, it's necessary to perfectly follow the movement trajectory, but most GPS trackers lose points during turns and U-turns.
- Altitude Consideration: Secondly, errors occur when driving on roads with descents and ascents, so it is necessary to consider the vehicle's movement with altitude taken into account.
Based on this, to achieve minimal tracker error, it is essential to perfectly replicate the movement trajectory without losing points, and also to consider descents and ascents when calculating mileage.
Thus, a tracker's accuracy can be up to 99% if you purchase a good option. Alternatively, it can range from 90-99% depending on how many turns and U-turns the vehicle encounters, as well as the number of descents and ascents along the route.
Operational Issues and Third-Party Interference
It's important to remember that problems with GPS tracker operation can arise due to third-party interference. There are situations when drivers disconnect or "jam" the signal. Our GPS monitoring system will definitively detect such acts of vandalism. And with proper setup, such notifications can instantly reach the manager or responsible personnel of the enterprise.
Discrepancies Between Speedometer and GPS Readings
There are also situations where discrepancies arise between mileage readings from the speedometer and GPS monitoring. This is due to tire wear during vehicle operation, or if the tires do not match the original size. Thus, the speedometer may read more or less. Situations also occur when the speedometer (odometer) drive has significant wear.
Real-Life Case Study: Detecting Fraud
A case from life. One of our clients, after installing a GPS system, was very surprised that the car traveled 70-100 km per day, but the GPS tracker showed only 15-20 km. As it turned out, a motor was installed on this car that was clocking up the speedometer (odometer) readings. After revealing this trick, our client recouped the cost of the equipment in just 1 month of operation!