GPS Locator for Dogs
A dog may be man's best friend, but even the best one can get separated from its owner. New devices based on GPS (global positioning system) technology can help dog owners pinpoint the locations of their pets by using their computers or smart phones.
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How It Works
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A GPS locator for dogs is a lightweight, weather-resistant device that can be attached to a dog's collar. Internally, they consist of two key components: a GPS receiver and a radio transmitter.
The GPS receiver can calculate its position by reading signals from GPS satellites orbiting the Earth. This location data is then transmitted using cell phone technology to a remote computer, which can then pinpoint the unit---and the dog it's attached to---on a map that can be accessed over the Internet by a computer or smartphone.
Setup
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To use a dog GPS locator, you need to set up virtual boundaries. This usually means sitting in front of an Internet-connected computer, surfing to a Web site listed in the GPS locator's instruction manual and setting up a new account.
Using a map on the Web site, you would set up boundaries beyond which the dog would be considered beyond its permitted range. For example, the user might zoom to a satellite image of his home and set up a boundary of one block in all directions -
Activation
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Once the boundaries are set up online, the device can be attached to the dog and turned on. The device will then read its position using its GPS receiver and---at regular intervals---transmit location data back to a locator service operated by the device's manufacturer.
Finding a lost dog
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If the dog ventures beyond the permitted zones, the service sends an e-mail or text alert message to the dog's owner. Once the user gets the alert, he can use a computer or a smart phone to retrieve dog's most recent position. Another option is to call the locater service once the alert is received.
The use of the locater service usually requires a paid subscription charge.
Tracking data
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Since the device is transmitting its position at regular intervals, the user can trace the dog's movements over time on a map. This information can be valuable with pets that are frequent runaways.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Zoombak A-GPS dog locator from Zoombak LLC
