🛰️ How GPS Trackers Work

Let’s Clear Up a Common Myth

Despite what movies may suggest, real-time GPS microchip implants do not exist.

A working GPS tracker requires multiple components—antennas, a SIM connection, processing hardware, and a power source. With current technology, these cannot be miniaturised into a tiny implant.

The 3 Main Tracking Technologies

There are three common technologies used today to locate or identify pets, vehicles, and assets:

1. Microchip Implants (RFID)
2. Radio Frequency (RF – 2.4GHz / Zigbee)
3. GPS Tracking (GPS + Mobile Network)

Each serves a different purpose.

🐾 1. Microchip Implants (RFID)

Microchips are the most common method of pet identification, not tracking.

If your pet is found and taken to a vet, SPCA, or shelter, they can scan the chip and retrieve your contact details from the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR).

✔ Pros:

• Permanent and almost impossible to remove
• Widely used and recognised
• Essential for pet identification

✖ Limitations:

• Does not provide location tracking
• Requires someone to find your pet and scan it

👉 Think of it as a digital ID tag, not a tracking device.

📡 2. Radio Frequency (RF / Zigbee)

RF trackers work like a proximity locator using a handheld remote and tag.

They are best suited for pets that stay close to home, helping you locate them within a limited range.

✔ Pros:

• Lightweight (ideal for small pets)
• No SIM or subscription required
• Quick location within short distances

✖ Limitations:

• Limited range (typically up to ~500m line of sight)
• Reduced performance with obstacles (walls, terrain)
• Cannot track remotely

👉 Best for short-range tracking, not full location monitoring.

🛰️ 3. GPS Tracking (GPS + Mobile Network)

This is the technology used in LiveTrek and Petrek devices.

A GPS tracker works similarly to a smartphone:

• It uses GPS satellites to determine location
• It uses the mobile network (SIM card) to send that data to your phone

How a GPS Tracker Works

A real-time GPS tracker requires several key components:

• GPS Antenna – Receives location data from satellites
• Mobile Network (GSM/LTE) – Sends location data to your app
• SIM Card – Enables communication over the network
• Processor – Handles data and device functions
• Battery / Power Source – Keeps the device running

👉 Without all of these, real-time tracking is not possible.

✔ Advantages of GPS Tracking:

• Real-time location anywhere with coverage
• Track vehicles, pets, and assets remotely
• View routes, history, and alerts via app
• Set geofences and receive notifications

✖ Limitations:

• Requires GPS signal (outdoors)
• Requires mobile network coverage
• Performance may be reduced indoors or under cover

⚠️ Understanding Limitations

All GPS trackers (like smartphones) depend on:

• Satellite visibility
• Mobile reception

This means:

• No updates in underground areas or enclosed metal environments
• Reduced accuracy under cover (signals may “bounce” and cause drift)

🧭 Choosing the Right Solution

Each technology serves a different purpose:

• Microchip → Identification if found
• RF Tracker → Short-range locating nearby
• GPS Tracker → Real-time tracking and prevention

👉 For the best protection, many users combine microchip + GPS tracking.

🚀 The LiveTrek & Petrek Journey

Since 2010, Lintek has been developing tracking solutions for both commercial and consumer use.

From national taxi fleets to everyday pet owners, our goal has always been the same:
to provide simple, reliable tools that help reduce the risk of loss.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

While our trackers are designed to improve visibility and recovery chances, they do not guarantee prevention of loss or theft.

Users are responsible for:

• Ensuring the device is powered and active
• Using the tracker within areas of GPS and mobile coverage

Lintek is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from misuse, lack of coverage, or circumstances beyond our control.

Summary

✔ GPS trackers = real-time tracking using satellites + mobile networks
✔ Microchips = identification only
✔ RF trackers = short-range locating

✔ Best protection = the right technology for your situation