How Do Satellite Tracking Devices for Vehicles Work?
Satellite tracking devices for vehicles work by receiving signals from GPS satellites to calculate the vehicle’s position, then sending that location to a tracking platform. Every GPS tracker uses satellites to find its location. What makes a device a “satellite tracker” is that it also sends its data through a satellite network instead of a cellular network, so it keeps reporting in remote areas with no cell coverage.
Most fleet trackers combine GPS positioning with cellular reporting, which covers the majority of roads and job sites at a lower cost. This guide explains what satellite tracking is, how the technology works, how satellite and cellular trackers compare, and when a fleet actually needs satellite communication.
What is satellite tracking?
Satellite tracking is the use of satellites to determine and report the location of a vehicle, asset, or person. In vehicle tracking, the term covers two related jobs: satellite positioning, where a GPS receiver calculates location from satellite signals, and satellite communication, where the device transmits that location through a satellite network.
All GPS trackers handle the first job. Only satellite communication trackers handle both. That distinction explains why two devices can both be called “satellite trackers” while working very differently in remote areas.
How do satellite tracking devices work?
A satellite tracking device works in four steps: it receives satellite signals, calculates its position, sends that position over a network, and the tracking software displays it.
- Receive signals. The device’s GPS receiver picks up signals from satellites overhead. According to GPS.gov, GPS satellites transmit one-way signals that give each satellite’s current position and time.
- Calculate position. By measuring how long signals take to arrive from several satellites, the receiver works out its distance from each one and calculates its latitude, longitude, and speed.
- Transmit the data. The device sends its location and status, such as ignition or movement, over a cellular network or, for satellite communication trackers, through a satellite network.
- Display and alert. The tracking platform shows the vehicle on a street or satellite map view, stores route history, and sends alerts based on rules you set.
How many GPS satellites are there?
The United States commits to keeping at least 24 operational GPS satellites available 95% of the time, and in practice flies more. GPS.gov reports that the Space Force has flown 31 operational GPS satellites for well over a decade, and there were 31 operational satellites in the constellation as of July 3, 2023.
Why does a GPS tracker need at least four satellites?
A receiver needs signals from at least four satellites to calculate a reliable position. Three satellites can narrow down location, and the fourth lets the receiver correct for timing error in its own clock. The GPS constellation is arranged so that at least four satellites are in view from any point on Earth’s surface at any time.
Satellite vs. cellular GPS trackers: what’s the difference?
Both types use GPS satellites to find location. The difference is how they send that location back to you, and that affects coverage, cost, and how often you get updates.
| Factor | Cellular GPS tracker | Satellite communication tracker |
|---|---|---|
| How it finds location | GPS satellites | GPS satellites |
| How it sends data | Cellular network | Satellite communication network |
| Coverage | Anywhere with cell service | Remote areas without cell service, with a clear view of the sky |
| Update frequency | Frequent, often near real time | Often less frequent to control data costs |
| Cost | Lower hardware and service cost | Typically higher hardware and service cost |
| Best for | Most fleets, service vehicles, equipment, and teen drivers | Remote operations, offshore, and routes through long dead zones |
Some devices combine both, using cellular when it’s available and switching to satellite when it isn’t.
Do satellite trackers work without cell service?
Satellite communication trackers do, because they send data through satellites instead of cell towers. Standard cellular GPS trackers can still calculate their position without cell service, since GPS signals come from satellites, but they can’t send that location until they reconnect. Many store location history while out of coverage and upload it once a signal returns.
Neither type works well without a view of the sky. Inside buildings, parking garages, tunnels, and metal containers, GPS signals weaken or drop out entirely.
Do GPS trackers need a SIM card?
Cellular GPS trackers need a cellular connection, which usually means a built-in SIM or embedded cellular module tied to a data plan. Satellite communication trackers use a satellite modem instead of a SIM. Either way, live tracking requires a service plan to cover data transmission and the tracking platform.
When does a fleet need satellite tracking?
Most fleets don’t. If your vehicles and equipment work in areas with reliable cellular coverage, a cellular GPS tracker gives you frequent updates at a lower cost. Satellite communication makes sense when coverage gaps would leave you blind:
- Oil and gas, mining, and forestry operations in remote areas
- Agricultural equipment working fields far from cell towers
- Long-haul routes that cross extended dead zones
- Boats and equipment operating offshore or on remote waterways
- Emergency and utility crews working in disaster areas where cell networks are down
Before paying for satellite service, check coverage maps against where your vehicles actually operate. Many fleets find that cellular trackers cover nearly all of their routes, with satellite units only needed on a few assets.
Is GPS tracking the same as GPS navigation?
No. GPS navigation uses satellite positioning to give the driver directions on a screen in the vehicle. GPS tracking uses the same positioning but sends the vehicle’s location to someone else, such as a fleet manager or parent, who can view it remotely, review history, and receive alerts.
Find the right GPS tracker for where your vehicles go
GPS Technologies is a family-owned company that has helped businesses and families track vehicles and equipment since 1998. We’ll look at where your vehicles and equipment operate and recommend tracking that covers it, whether that means GPS fleet tracking for service vehicles, GPS asset tracking devices for equipment, or portable GPS trackers for trailers.
See how live tracking looks with our live GPS tracking demo, contact our team, or call (847) 382-5107, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Central.
Frequently asked questions
Is satellite tracking the same as GPS tracking?
They overlap. All GPS tracking uses satellites to determine location. “Satellite tracking” often refers specifically to devices that also send data through a satellite network instead of a cellular network. Standard GPS trackers use satellites for positioning and cellular networks for reporting, which works well wherever there is cell service.
Do satellite trackers need a subscription?
Yes, for live tracking. Satellite communication trackers need a service plan that covers data sent through the satellite network and access to the tracking platform. Satellite data usually costs more than cellular data, which is why many satellite trackers report less often than cellular devices.
How accurate is satellite tracking?
Accuracy depends on the receiver and conditions, not on how the data is sent. GPS.gov notes that GPS-enabled smartphones are typically accurate to within a 4.9 meter (16 foot) radius under open sky, with accuracy worsening near buildings, bridges, and trees. Dedicated tracking hardware performs similarly in open conditions.
Can a GPS tracker be moved to another vehicle?
Often, yes. Battery-powered and plug-in trackers can usually be moved between vehicles or assets with an update to the tracking account. Hardwired trackers can be moved too, but they need to be uninstalled and reinstalled. Ask your provider how to reassign a device so history and alerts stay accurate.
Do satellite trackers work indoors?
Not reliably. Both GPS positioning and satellite communication need a clear view of the sky. Inside buildings, parking garages, tunnels, and shipping containers, signals weaken or drop out. Trackers typically report their last known position and update once the vehicle or asset is back outside.
Categorised in: GPS Monitoring Devices
This post was written by GPS Technologies Team
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