The Mongoose VT604 GPS tracker uses GPRS (General Packet Radio System) data transmission to report its locations to our M-TRAK web-server loacted here in Auckland.

This is far more cost effective than SMS text messages and is designed with fleet management in mind.

How it works

GPRS uses data, not SMS text messages, to send location information from the tracker to the M-TRAK web-server. It also uses GPRS to send commands from the web-server to the tracker.

A SIM card with data allowance is required. Most contract cards have a certain amount of data usage  Always use a SIM with adequate data for up to 10mb per month per vehicle. 'Data/text' contracts are only available from the card providers directly. 

M-TRAK records the vehicle movement from its last reported 'live' location as well as maintaining a full record of current and previous travel history.

This travel history can be searched by date and time, viewed on-screen or printed as a report. There is also the option of saving the location data on your own computer.

The VT604 is controlled by GPRS commands from the M-TRAK website.

SMS text messaging is used for;

a)        initial setup to instruct the tracker where to send the tracking data.

b)        to ask its actual current location.

An M-TRAK account will be created for you with your own unique username and password. These give you 24/7 access to the M-TRAK web-server where you can have full control of your vehicle(s) frequency of reporting. You can also view, save and print reports.

The M-TRAK programme is self explanatory as it is very similar to other Windows based programmes.

The VT604 can report locations by either time or distance travelled - or both. To keep costs really low, the VT604 was designed to be installed to only report when the engine is running and the vehicle driven. This can be changed if constant 24/7 reporting is required.

When the engine is started,  a GPRS session is opened with the mobile provider and when the engine is stopped, the session ends. Most mobile data SIM providers usually only charge per session.

The tracker doesn't transmit its location when the engine is off, so just use the SMS text command if you need to know where it is at any time.