Postby Premera » January 21st, 2014, 2:39 pm
Found this on Car Search website........advertising gimmick or facts ?
RF VS GPS
The purpose of this document is to answer frequently asked questions. The questions below outlines when to use the strength of Radio frequency (RF) technology in the Stolen Vehicle Recovery application, as well as the role GPS and assisted GPS in other applications such as fleet management /asset management and consumer concierge/emergency services.
It will also serve to clarify how the LoJack technology and ISSL services works and eliminate much of the confusion that often exists between RF and GPS.
1. The benefits of Radio Frequency Technology?
The covert Stolen vehicle recovery system uses time tested Radio Frequency (RF) technology, which is the best and most effective technology available for recovering stolen cars, trucks, motorcycles and construction equipment.
RF delivers unprecedented precision in last mile tracking of stolen vehicles, enabling the precise location of the item to be pin pointed, which expedites recovery.
With the LoJack technology, ISSL/ CarSearch the stolen vehicles actually communicates its whereabouts 24/7 to our command center and field units (13 units) through a silent signal emitted from the transponder hidden in the vehicle, motorcycle or construction equipment.
The ISSL/ Car Search RF-Based system has delivered a success rate in recovering stolen vehicles, which is the best in the business.
2. What differentiates RF from GPS?
Unlike GPS- based systems, RF technology operates even if the stolen vehicles is hidden under dense foliage, is in a steel container or in a garage.
The LoJack (ISSL/CarSearch) is covert with no external antennas so thieves are not aware that the vehicle has a recovery system, nor would they be able to easily find and disengage the device since it is hidden in the vehicle. This is a major advantage over “overt “ GPS systems that have external antennas, which both tip off the thief that the vehicle has this device and make it very easy to disengage the system.
Additionally, RF-based systems deliver unprecedented precision in real time last mile tracking vs GPS systems, which only give general location information on the whereabouts of the vehicle.
3. The appropriate uses for GPS
While RF is the best technology for stolen vehicle recovery, GPS is optimized for other applications such as asset management and fleet management, as well as consumer applications such as concierge services and emergency applications.
GPS technology can provide customers with real time access to online data that can improve operational efficiencies, provide more control over managing fleets and construction equipment as well as provide convenience and emergency services to consumers.
GPS technology is an effective platform for key functions such as
• Location on demand (real time location checks)
• Checking engine hours (for maintenance , planning and customer billing . creating geo-fence (setting pre defined radial boundaries of vehicle or equipment)
• Reporting (tracking utilization and maintenance scheduling)
• Concierge services such as directions, information on local businesses such as ATMs, gas stations, and information on weather reports.
• Emergency services such as urgent help from police, hospitals, automatic crash response, air bag.
• Maintenance service such as vehicle diagnostics
• Controlling vehicle applications remotely such as horn, lights, door unlock, etc
4. The vulnerabilities of GPS for Stolen Vehicle Recovery
The overt nature of GPS (external antennae) makes it particularly vulnerable to thieves, who can often find and disengage the system and subsequently steal the vehicle.
There are reports of a growing trend of thieves using devices to jam the GPS system and render inoperable. Internationally, police have reported finding these jamming devices in stolen vehicles. These GPS jamming devices are readily available on the Internet, so the general public has easy access to them.
The fact that thieves have found a way to jam a GPS signal , but cannot do so with an RF signal is further proof that RF is a far more reliable and effective technology for the stolen vehicle recovery application.
5. LoJack’s global network of licenses
LoJack Corporation invented the Stolen Vehicle Recovery category more than 20 years ago and today its network of licenses which span more than 30 countries in North America, South America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia-is the global leader in stolen vehicle recovery.
The network of licensees leverages highly effective stolen vehicle recovery technology and processes that have delivered a better than 90% global recovery success rate –the best in the business. In total, the network has recovered more than 250,000 stolen vehicles worldwide, amounting to more than $ 5 billion USD
Lo Jack’s global network of licensees uses proprietary software, hardware, databases and a powerful infrastructure to facilitate and expedite the recovery process for stolen vehicles.
6. Societal Benefits of LoJack System Network
The proprietary system provides benefits to many diverse audiences –most importantly, to society in general. The technology used by LoJack network ultimately helps the law enforcement and the insurance industry fight the problem of vehicle theft, which aids police in combating organized crime rings, dismantling chop shops and theft rings, and getting wanted criminals off the streets.
In addition to benefiting society at large, the system also delivers business advantages to insurance companies, as it reduces the costs associated with vehicle theft.
It also benefits consumers who may take advantage of reduced insurance premiums offered to those who protect their vehicle with a recovery system provided by the LoJack network.
The LoJack global network of licensees shares the common goal of fighting vehicle theft worldwide and helping police apprehend the criminals behind this and other more serious crimes.
7. Law Enforcement Connection
The LoJack network of licensees has developed longstanding relationship with law enforcement. In many countries, law enforcement finds and recovers stolen vehicles. Other counties utilize their own in-house recovery professionals who are trained to facilitate the process of tracking stolen vehicles and then turn the actual recovery over to law enforcement.
In the United States and throughout Europe LoJack’s Police Tracking Computers are directly installed in police vehicles and aircraft and are used by law enforcement to find and recover stolen vehicles