You’re searching for your automobile in a large, open parking lot full of cars, possibly after a huge concert.
You won’t be able to recall where you parked your automobile since there are no markers or indications.
So you keep gazing at the never-ending automobile pasture, puzzled as to why life is sometimes so tough.
Isn’t it true that knowing how to monitor a car’s location is an undervalued skill?
Although losing your vehicle in a parking lot is inconvenient, there are other reasons why auto monitoring systems are necessary.
Car theft is, without a doubt, the most serious of them all.
In the United States, about 800,000 automobiles are stolen each year.
What’s more concerning is that these figures show a consistent pattern that extends almost a decade.
Is It Possible To Track A Car’s Location Without Using GPS?
Those of you who drive high-end automobiles are likely to have a GPS system installed in your vehicle that you are unaware of.
Some current automobiles include built-in GPS systems, however they are still considered expensive vehicles.
The majority of low-cost vehicles lack GPS.
Fortunately, there are a few alternatives to using a GPS device to monitor a vehicle.
I’ll go through the various approaches and how to utilize them (or not).
If you upgrade your automobile-tracking system, the odds of your car being taken irrevocably are small.
Hopefully, now that you’ve read this, open-space parking lots won’t be causing you any more problems!
GPS Car Trackers on a Regular Basis
Of course, I must point out that GPS trackers are the most effective means of securing your vehicle’s whereabouts.
Most individuals would depend on insurance in the event of theft, but this is not always the case.
So, in essence, you’re the only one who is to blame for not properly securing your vehicle.
It is preferable if you get a GPS car tracker that allows customers to monitor their vehicles using their mobile phones.
However, there is a clever technique to utilize your phone as a GPS if you want a less expensive option.
Phone Tracking Using GPS
Download one of the numerous free phone GPS trackers if you have an additional smartphone.
Then you just have to leave your phone in the vehicle.
Remember that the phone’s location must be switched on for this approach to operate, and that the phone must be properly hidden.
If you conceal it behind the driver’s seat or deep in the trunk of the vehicle, it’s doubtful that the auto thief will find it.
The main disadvantage of this strategy is that it only works when the location is turned on.
Even if the location is unknown, there are techniques to trace cellphone signals.
Signal Tracking on Cell Phones
If you misplace your phone or it is stolen, you may call the police to trace it down.
After then, the police may contact the mobile phone provider to discover more about the phone’s recent activities.
If the phone’s location is disabled but the thief connects to a Wi-Fi network, monitoring the position of the network may reveal the location of the phone.
Also, if the thief uses the phone to call or text, the position of the phone may be tracked.
As a result, having a functional phone in the vehicle may be just as beneficial as having a GPS gadget.
One drawback to this strategy is that it’s difficult to track a phone that has been switched off.
Another disadvantage is that finding an automobile might take a long time.
Before the cops and the phone company reach an agreement, your car might be long gone.
Car Trackers for Business
Many businesses now utilize fleet management systems (FMS) to keep track of the vehicles that their personnel drive.
It’s critical for business owners to know where their cars are at all times.
So, if your automobile is covered by the company’s fleet management system, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about!
Aside from the location, fleet management vehicle trackers may offer data on:
- Management of fuel
- Traffic
- the state of the engine (OBD II)
- Weather
- Speed
When it comes to FMS, there are a few extra things that you can find useful.
The distance calculator allows you to calculate the distance traveled and plan the remainder of your trip.
Asset trackers may also be useful if your vehicle is transporting valuable goods and the cargo becomes misplaced.
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Tracking of Radio Transmitters
It may surprise you to learn that the police radio, which was used for tracking in the 1960s, is still a highly useful piece of equipment that may help you locate your vehicle today.
This does not, however, imply that you can monitor your car using the built-in FM radio.
The FM is only a receiver; a transmitter capable of transmitting a traceable signal is required.
You should connect a radio transmitter to your vehicle and purchase a receiver that can receive this signal.
CB radios, such as this one, can undoubtedly provide you with the results you want.
However, keep in mind that radios can only tell you where the signal is coming from, not where the car is.
They also need either batteries or wire to function, so if they aren’t transmitting, they are effectively worthless.
Tracking of License Plates
A car’s license plate might provide more information about it than any other source.
Officials can identify all automotive characteristics, the owner, and the vehicle’s history with this simple combination of letters and digits.
The most significant reason license plates are such a valuable source of information is that they may even assist you in locating a vehicle.
However, there are several requirements that must be satisfied in order for this strategy to operate.
You’ll still need a locating device since the license plate doesn’t emit any signal.
The first approach is to use a GPS tracking device to connect your license plate.
The GPS data on an internet server won’t be able to tell which signal is originating from your automobile without this connectivity.
So here’s what you’ll need:
- An account on your area’s primary GPS server
- A automobile with a tracking gadget (smartphone, GPS, radio transmitter, etc.)
- A database of license plates that is connected to the server
Another idea is to use CCTV cameras to recognize license plates.
However, instead of watching through the film pixel by frame, you may make your life a lot simpler by using word recognition software.
You may also utilize the data acquired from the frames to pinpoint potential places.
It’s no surprise that this sort of technology is seen as the future of vehicle monitoring!
On-the-Road and On-Board Equipment
When everything else fails, good old-fashioned detective work and espionage may help.
If you’re a savvy person who enjoys planning ahead, you could have put an onboard camera in your car that the thief hasn’t spotted yet.
In such situation, you may simply deduce the position of the automobile by analyzing the elements of the tape shot after it was stolen.
If you’re unfamiliar with the locations, Google Street View may assist you.
If you’re not so fortunate, be aware that police cameras are still present.
Roadside cameras are used by the police to identify automobiles down to the slightest details, such as license plates.
They can also follow the car’s movements by using many consecutive cameras on the same route.
If you have access to CCTV cameras, you may assist with the investigation on your own.
There’s also Insecam, which gives you free access to a variety of live IP cameras from across the globe.
If you combine this practice with the video recognition software I described before, I’m certain you’ll never have problems locating your vehicle again.
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Last Thoughts
It’s reasonable to assume that recovering a stolen vehicle, let alone finding it in a crowded parking lot, is no longer a difficult task.
You can even be more efficient than the cops if you’re good with technology.
Many videos and tutorials are available online to assist you in learning these technologies, some of which I’ve already linked to in this post.
But keep in mind that none of the above tracking methods will function unless you have preventative equipment.
So far, you’ve learnt that you’ll need a transmitting device to track a signal; otherwise, there won’t be one.
The most efficient and accurate transmissions are GPS signals.
There are also a number of free applications that may help you track your phone, which you can use instead of more expensive GPS devices.
When your car’s safety is on the line, though, don’t skimp.
Making your vehicle theft-proof should be your first priority, and because auto thieves are only growing more cunning, you should get started right immediately!
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