| Covert Vehicle Trackers - A Brief History | | | | 1994 and even then full accuracy access was |
| Being able to follow a vehicle without getting too | | | | only granted to civilians in May 2000. Satellite |
| close has always been a dark art. We have all | | | | navigation devices were quickly released and over |
| seen on TV and in the movies how Police and | | | | the years the technology has become far more |
| private investigators go about following a car. It's | | | | advanced. Remote tracking of vehicles was initially |
| always made to look easy with there being only | | | | the preserve of logistics companies wishing to |
| one or two vehicles involved in the follow. In real | | | | track their vehicles and then many companies |
| life things are somewhat different. Dependent | | | | took the plunge to enable the monitoring of their |
| upon the seriousness of the situation, Police used | | | | traveling workforce. These vehicle trackers were |
| to have up to 13 vehicles, cars and motorcycles | | | | powered from the vehicle electrics, which meant |
| involved in discreetly following one vehicle. back in | | | | that they were always switched on and |
| the late 70's and early 80's Police experimented | | | | accessible. Not until 2006 was the first vehicle |
| with RF (Radio Frequency) vehicle trackers. The | | | | tracker made available that it was possible to |
| RF tracking beacon would be tied to the underside | | | | deploy underneath a vehicle. These devices had |
| of a vehicle using wire to prevent it from | | | | an external GPS antenna, were attached with |
| dropping off and then some following vehicles | | | | strong magnets and had a battery life of around |
| would have a receiver that would indicate the | | | | two days. |
| general bearing the needed to be taken to get | | | | Modern covert vehicle trackers are very small, |
| close to the tracked vehicle. The receiving | | | | compact and discreet. They work with incredible |
| vehicles would still have to be within a mile to | | | | accuracy and with sophisticated power saving |
| maintain a signal in the city. | | | | circuitry they can work away in total discretion |
| GPS Technology was first developed by the US | | | | for weeks and sometimes even months. One |
| military, but the current GPS format of 24 | | | | thing is certain. Covert vehicle tracker sales are |
| satellites orbiting the Earth was not finalised until | | | | on the increase now that they have come of age. |