Gateway’s entry-level vehicle tracking system is made up of three parts: GPS/Radio Hardware, Wireless Network and Web Application.  Options and features may vary depending on a user's requirements, so feel free to call and discuss your specific requirements with Gateway.

The GPS/radio hardware is a device that is permanently installed in a vehicle or is carried by a person.  The primary functions of the device is (1) to determine its location on the earth, (2) monitor surrounding conditions of the device and (3) link with a remote computer.

The GPS (Global Positioning Satellites) portion provides information such as time, latitude & longitude coordinates, altitude, speed and direction once every second when in normal operation.  Some devices have a sleep mode option that helps conserve battery power.

The device processes the GPS information along with other digitals inputs and trigger events.  Inputs are connections to items such as ignition switch, motion/vibration sensor or door opening.  Trigger events are conditions such as an interval timer expiring, speeding or when a device enters/exits a defined address.

The device also contains a wireless transmitter.  This allows for a real-time or near real-time connection in which the device’s information is relayed back and forth to a remote application computer.

The GPS/radio hardware is a one-time cost and typically includes all the necessary accessory items such as power cables, antennas and chargers, if applicable.  For permanent installations, there is a secondary one-time charge for labor.

A wireless network is a radio communication system that allows transmitting devices to send and receive voice & data in a predetermined coverage area.  Most common are cellular phone services but companies and public agencies do operate their own private networks.

With Gateway’s vehicle tracking solution, the wireless airtime rates are bundled into their monthly web service.  This allows Gateway to eliminate the need for their customers to pay any activation fees and waiver any service contracts required by most wireless carriers.

A web application is a method that allows one or more users to view specific information regarding their GPS/radio devices from any computer on the Internet.  Gateway’s computers first collect all the information from the GPS/radio devices and then store it onto a database for save keeping.  Then through a standard Internet browser, a user requests the information they need to view.

The web application provides street map views of both the real-time location of their vehicles and their historical route in the past 90 days.  The web application also provides this information in a text report form such as their trips from job to job, total fleet summary that include mileage and fuel consumption.  A detailed report allows a user to review the more detailed update by update activity of a vehicle traveling.

Gateway’s web service combines both the wireless airtime and web access to retrieve the customer’s location.  Since Gateway bills in advance, there is no need to collect deposits, last month’s fees or force customers into unwanted service contracts.

The following are links to addition information about vehicle tracking and their associated components for review.