When you think about GPS pet tracking systems you almost immediately think of dogs. Man's best frie...

1. GPS Pet Tracking Is For The Dogs
When you think about GPS pet tracking systems you almost immediately think of dogs. Man's best
friend are generally the type of pet that will benefit most from the different manifestations of pet
tracking technology. While other pets, such as cats, could also benefit from some type of pet
tracking system, there just doesn't seem to the be a push among consumers or in the GPS
manufacturing community to cater to the felines among us.
When you look at the different GPS pet tracking devices out on the market you begin to notice two
different types of trackers. Both types still use GPS signals from the roughly two dozen satellites that
currently orbit our earth. Both types are going to then take these signals and via a process known as
trilateration determine the exact location of the dog. It is in the next step of pet tracking, sending
the data in real time to be processed, that we see a difference in how some GPS pet trackers choose
to work.
The first type of tracker uses cell phone technology to communicate the location of your pet. These
devices, of which the Zoombak Pet Location System is one, send out the animals position information
over the wireless networks that dot the landscape. Because it uses the cell phone networks there is
usually a monthly service fee associated with these types of trackers. Plans can range anywhere
from $10-$50 a month depending on how many location requests you want to be able to make on
your pet a month. The more money you spend, the more likely you are going to be able to have real
time GPS pet tracking.
Another thing that you need to realize about this style of pet tracking device is that you need to have
a cell phone signal near your pet if you are going to be able to track them at all. If you have your pet
in a remote place where no cell signal is present than your device is not going to work. This type of
tracker generally works best for finding a pet who is lost in an urban setting.
The other type of GPS pet tracking device makes use of radio signals to send the information
gathered from the GPS on the dog to send it back to a monitoring device. One type of device that
works like this is the Garmin Astro. It uses a radio signal that can travel up to 5 miles back to a hand
held receiver. This type of pet tracker is excellent for hunters and outdoors men who are often off
the beaten path and a ways away from technology. Because it utilizes radio signals to communicate
from pet to hand held receiver you can take it anywhere and have it work as long as you have a
signal.
How you want to use your GPS pet tracking device will inform your decision as to which type of
tracker you will buy. If you are more concerned with lost pet recovery than you probably want the
first type of tracker. But if you want something that you can go out on adventure with your pet with,
then the second type of GPS pet tracking system is probably right for you.