To provide you with quick assistance to some frequently asked questions, we have developed this useful FAQ section. Please select your question below:
- Is StreetTrek a WEB-based Vehicles and Assets Tracking Solution?
- What is WEB-based Vehicles or Assets Tracking?
- What are the benefits of using a WEB-based Vehicles/Assets Tracking?
- What are the disadvantages of using a WEB-based Vehicle or Assets Tracking?
- Is there a way to benefit from the global coverage and wide acceptance of on-line maps while avoiding distraction and clutter of a General Purpose Internet Browser?
- Is StreetTrek GPS data secure?
- Where does GPS data come from?
- What is the difference between tracking vehicles and tracking assets?
- What is the difference between Vector Maps and Raster Maps?
Is StreetTrek a WEB-based Vehicles and Assets Tracking Solution?
StreetTrek™ offers both desktop and web-based solutions. StreetTrek™ Client and StreetTrek™ Explorer are PC Applications running under Windows XP or higher. StreetTrek™ Web Solution runs in an Internet Browser. StreetTrek™ Client uses digital maps installed on the user’s PC, or locally stored raster maps. StreetTrek™ Explorer and StreetTrek™ Web are powered by Google Maps.
What is WEB-based Vehicles or Assets Tracking?
Web-based Tracking Solutions are web pages viewed in a general purpose web browser like Internet Explorer.
What are the benefits of using a WEB-based Vehicles/Assets Tracking?
Web-based Tracking does not require maps installed on the user’s PC. Solutions running in a general purpose Web Browser do not require any software installation and you can monitor your vehicles or assets from any PC connected to the Internet.
What are the disadvantages of using a WEB-based Vehicle or Assets Tracking?
Tracking solutions running in a general purpose web browser can be launched from any PC with Internet access. Any person with logon information can ‘take a look’ from any PC connected to the Internet. StreetTrek™ offers Windows applications installed on the user’s PC or PDA (SmartPhone). Unauthorized installation of StreetTrek™ is blocked by the copy protection mechanism. With StreetTrek™ you don’t have to worry about who else might be looking at your assets.
In business environment a Vehicles or Assets Tracking solution running in a general purpose browser can be a distraction. General Purpose Internet Browsers are great for activities like shopping, games, news, entertainment. Do you want your operators working in such tempting environment? StreetTrek™ runs on its own and can be used only for vehicles or assets tracking and nothing else.
For security reasons a web page running in a General Purpose Internet Browser has limited capabilities of saving data on the user’s PC. Data like reports, or user-selected settings, assets aliases, user-created landmarks have to be saved on the Internet Server over which the end-user has no control. A dedicated application running on the end-user’s PC or PDA (SmartPhone) has no such limitations and users have full control over their data.
Web-based Tracking requires decent, preferably broadband, Internet connection. If Internet connection is not available, a solution based on local maps is the only option.
Is there a way to benefit from the global coverage and wide acceptance of on-line maps while avoiding distraction and clutter of a General Purpose Internet Browser?
StreetTrek™ Explorer is a custom browser for assets tracking in Google Maps. StreetTrek™ Explorer combines the security and control of a desktop application with the power of Google Maps API (Premier).
Is StreetTrek GPS data secure?
StreetTrek™ Servers use strong (128 bit) encryption for all data transmissions. The rules on the client side are the same as for online banking – as long as you keep your logon to yourself, you are safe.
Where does GPS data come from?
Vehicles or Assets Tracking data is generated by GPS-enabled communication hardware. GSM/GPRS modems are the most common and practical devices for this purpose. A two-radio with GPS option makes sense for radio-dispatched fleets. A GPS modem or a two-way radio transmits GPS data at preset intervals. This data is either re-routed over the Internet, or received by the base radio, and passed to the Tracking Application that will plot vehicles or assets positions onto the map. Depending on the communication system and hardware, data could be passed in both directions – modem (radio) to client and client to modem (radio). For example, in case of bi-directional communications the client could query the position of the vehicle, instead of waiting for the next scheduled transmission.
What is the difference between tracking vehicles and tracking assets?
Quite subtle. When tracking vehicles the user expects getting some additional information like ignition state (on/off), head lights or emergency lights on/off, odometer reading, etc. This information is sent along with GPS data.
What is the difference between Vector Maps and Raster Maps?
Vector Maps are drawn from data stored in databases. Raster Maps are pre-built graphics. Since Vector Maps are constructed at program run time, they can cover a very large area. StreetTrek Vector Maps cover all US and Canada. Vector Maps are best suited for tracking over large areas. Raster Maps are limited to the boundaries of the existing graphic. If your vehicle or asset moved beyond the Raster Map area, you may need to load another map. On the other hand, high resolution Raster Maps are relatively easy to obtain, or even to make using tools like Google™ Earth. StreetTrek comes with Vector Maps of US, or Canada, or both. StreetTrek Main Map is a Vector Map. You can load Raster Maps into a separate window and track your assets using both kind of maps.
