How Does GPS Tracking Work?

GPS and GPS tracking are technologies that everyone’s heard of, but few people know how they actually work. That’s not an insult–lots of people in modern society don’t question the underlying technology that powers their lives, like cellphones or even car engines. It simply works, and that’s enough.

In this article, we’ll look beyond the surface and pick apart just how GPS tracking works, so that you can understand both what makes it tick and how to use it most effectively.

How Does GPS Tracking Work?

As of May 2025, there are over 12,149 satellites in orbit around the planet, including 83 GPS satellites. That means there will be at least several GPS satellites overhead almost anywhere you go on Earth. 

These satellites are constantly broadcasting time and location information via microwave signals, which a receiver on the ground–your GPS tracking device–picks up and uses to calculate a latitude, longitude, and altitude at any given moment in time. It always knows where it is as long as it can receive the signal from one or more GPS satellites. 

Is an AirTag a GPS Tracker?

No. AirTags are Bluetooth-based. They rely on their proximity to other Bluetooth-enabled Apple devices in order to detect and relay their location to your phone. If there aren’t enough Apple devices nearby to generate a good fix or send a signal to iCloud, then it won’t work. 

Also note that Apple AirTags will notify nearby Apple users that an AirTag is nearby. This could potentially alert thieves that a tracker is on your vehicle (if they have an iPhone).

What is “Update Speed” on a GPS Tracker?

When a GPS tracker advertises “update speed,” it’s not talking about receiving a signal from the satellite. That always happens in the background. Instead, update speed refers to how often the GPS tracker is updating the user. This could be via data sent to a companion app, text notifications, or something else depending on the application. 

For example, if you were looking at your car on a digital map, and it had a GPS tracker with a 5-second update speed installed, your car’s position would update once every 5 seconds. This is what many GPS tracking brands mean when they say “real-time.” The tracker always knows its exact position, and sends precisely where it is at the time of the update. 

Most GPS tracking devices on the market update once every 5 to 30 seconds, though this can vary depending on the device’s purpose and capabilities. 

For instance, Spytec sells the Max GPS Tracker, which is meant for tracking assets over a long period of time like storage containers, RVs, and the like. These assets don’t move very often, which is why the Max can be set to update once every 10 minutes or even every 12 hours.

Contrast that with our OBD GPS tracker, which is a GPS tracker for vehicles on the move. Here, we offer 1-second updates–the fastest in the industry–so that drivers and their owners are constantly updated with the most accurate and timely information. 

How does a GPS tracker send updates?

Most GPS trackers are equipped with SIM Cards that send data over cellular networks. Although 5G is the latest technology, very fast, and high capacity, it doesn’t have the coverage necessary for a proper GPS device. After all, what’s the use of having a GPS device that knows exactly where it is, if it can’t find the signal to tell you?

That’s why most modern GPS trackers use 4G or 4G LTE. These networks are widely used all over the world (with a few notable exceptions), and devices can usually switch over to a different country’s 4G network without too much trouble. 

Is that why I need to pay a subscription fee?

Yes! Cellular data is an unavoidable expense when it comes to GPS trackers, and factors heavily into a service’s monthly cost (including app maintenance, services, support, and other costs too). 

Fortunately, companies like Spytec offer competitive rates where you can save money by buying 3 months, a year, or even 3 years in advance. These are not contracts and can be cancelled at any time!

What do I use GPS Tracking for?

GPS tracking isn’t just for spy movies and detective novels. It has a number of practical real-world applications for both individuals and businesses. 

GPS Trackers for kids

Let’s face it–going anywhere can be dangerous right now, especially for children. Unfortunately, parents can’t tail their kids 24/7 or demand they text every minute. But giving a kid a GPS tracker is a practical compromise. 

Trackers like our Spytec Micro GPS or Mini GPS are small enough for them to put in their backpack, yet accurate enough you’ll still be able to tell whether they’re still in school or have boarded the bus and are on their way home. These GPS trackers can be used outside of school too, like in summer camps, field trips, or even going to a friend’s house. 

If you go into the Spytec app, you’ll be able to set geofences around important places like school or the soccer field, and trigger alerts that let you know when your kid has arrived or left the area.

GPS Trackers for seniors

Our elderly relatives are often in similar situations as our children. They want to be active and independent, they want freedom of movement, but also may require close monitoring or supervision in case of emergencies. 

Whether these seniors are in a nursing home or in their own residences, alone or with caregivers, their loved ones can’t afford to be there all the time. GPS trackers for seniors give loved ones much-needed reassurance and peace of mind. Their seniors’ whereabouts are known at any given point so that if they leave an area or need to be found in the event of an emergency, their support person or emergency services knows exactly where to find them.

GPS Tracking for vehicles

As an individual owner of a vehicle, GPS trackers can do quite a lot. For one, it can be very useful as an anti-theft device. 

Trackers like the GPS Mini can be bought with a handy magnetic case that attaches to the underside of a vehicle for discreet tracking. Or, if you want something that lasts longer, you can get the Spytec Swift or Spytec Motorcycle trackers, both of which attach directly to the vehicle’s battery and don’t need to be recharged. These trackers are mounted in the engine compartment and hidden from casual view.

Of course, theft protection isn’t the only reason you would equip GPS trackers on cars and trucks. You can also use it to monitor driver performance. Some insurance companies offer discounted rates if you plug an OBD tracker into your vehicle and send them the data. If you have a teen driver, you could use the OBD GPS tracker to ensure they practice good driving habits and stay within the speed limit. Some models of trackers also alert you in cases of hard braking, erratic driving, and the like. 

GPS trackers for businesses are often used to track fleet vehicles and driver performance. Bad drivers can be a liability for both the business and the public at large, so it’s important to ensure everyone is complying with traffic regulations while on the job. 

GPS Tracking for assets

Large pieces of equipment like storage containers, RVs, ATVs, and boats aren’t used very often, but need to be monitored because of their value (in both usage and dollars). In these cases, a long-term GPS tracking solution like the Max GPS Tracker is often a useful method of keeping tabs. Just set a boundary around the asset’s location in the app, and it will notify you if someone should move it without permission.

Construction companies often use GPS trackers on construction equipment to keep track of what job site they’re on, how often they’ve been moved, and how far away they are from the next job site. It’s an effective way to ensure all their resources are being used properly.

Should I get a GPS Tracker?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: if you have family members you want to protect, or expensive equipment like cars or trucks you want to monitor, then a GPS tracker would be a good solution for you. You get peace of mind knowing that you’ll be able to find what’s most valuable to you quickly and easily, which can be very important in emergency situations when time is of the essence.

Interested in GPS solutions? Check out the Spytec store to see what we have to offer.