What’s the farthest tracker? A comprehensive breakdown of technological and ecological networks
Introduction: How Far Can You Track? The difference from a few tens of meters to global positioning
In today’s society, with the acceleration of the pace of people’s lives and the expansion of the scope of activities, the demand for long-distance tracking is increasing. Whether tracking a suitcase on a business trip, keeping tabs on a pet while playing outdoors, or keeping an eye on the safety of the elderly or children, trackers play an important role.
However, many people have misconceptions about the distance limit. Many people think that if they buy a device that claims to be“Long-range tracking”, they will be able to locate them from a distance in any situation, but this is not the case. The actual tracking distance of the tracker will be affected by many factors, which is far from the theoretical value.
Part 1. The key factors affecting the tracking distance
Types of communication technology
Different communication technologies have a significant impact on the tracking distance. Bluetooth is typically used for short-range communications, typically within a few tens of metres; ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is accurate but short-range; GPS relies on satellite signals to achieve global positioning; and wireless internet technology is widely used Cellular networks can assist GPS data transmission, expanding the tracking range; low-power WAN technologies such as Lora can achieve long-distance communications of kilometers to tens of kilometers.
Ecological network support and user base
The degree of perfection of ecological network and the size of user base are also crucial. If a tracker is based on an ecosystem with many users, the device can be sensed in more places by other devices in the network, allowing for more extensive tracking. On the other hand, if the user base is small, the tracking range may be limited.
Battery life and environmental impact
Battery life determines how long the tracker can last, which is necessary for long-distance tracking scenarios. And environmental factors, such as building occlusion, bad weather, etc. , will interfere with the transmission of the signal, thereby affecting the tracking distance.
Part 2. Mainstream tracking devices and their maximum tracking distance
Bluetooth trackers (e.g. AirTag, SmartTag, Tile)
The physical Bluetooth communication range of a bluetooth tracker is usually within a few tens of meters. But they can rely on eco-crowdsourcing networks for long-distance and even global positioning.
The three main types of eco-networks are:
Apple Find My network (AirTag) : a large number of Apple devices, forming a wide network coverage, can provide strong location support for AirTag.
Android Google Find My Device Network: for Android devices, use the devices of many Android users to locate relevant trackers.
Third-party vendor-independent App networks (e.g. , tiles) : building an independent location-based network by connecting user devices with their own apps.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) trackers
Ultra-wideband (UWB) trackers are accurate but short-range, typically between 3 and 10 metres, and are used to pinpoint items such as keys in a room at close range.
GPS tracker
GPS trackers provide global positioning via satellite, but require a built-in GPS module and a cellular network (SIM card) . It is suitable for long-term remote tracking of vehicles, pets, the elderly and so on, and can obtain the real-time location information of the tracked object.
Low-power wan devices (Lora, NB-IoT)
Low-power wan devices (Lora, NB-IoT) have communication ranges of kilometers to tens of kilometers and are suitable for rural, agricultural, and large-area scenarios, such as tracking equipment or livestock in agricultural fields.
Part 3. How can bluetooth trackers use crowdsourced networks for global positioning?
The principle of crowdsourcing positioning is to use a large number of user equipment installed with related apps as signal nodes. When the Bluetooth tracker enters the signal coverage area of a user device, the user device receives the signal from the Tracker and uploads its location information to the cloud server. When other users query the tracker’s location, they can get the latest location information from the server.
The three ecosystems and corresponding apps are Apple’s Find My network and supporting apps, Android Google’s Find My Device Network and the corresponding networks of independent apps from third-party vendors such as apps and tiles. These ecosystems combine a large number of user devices to form a huge location network.
The crowdsourcing network breaks through the Bluetooth physical distance limit by relaying the location information of the tracker through many user devices instead of relying on the direct communication distance between a single device and the tracker, even if the tracker is far away from the initial user, it can also achieve positioning through the signal coverage of other user equipment, so as to achieve the effect of global positioning.
Part 4. The actual application of“Farthest tracking” on behalf of the product comparison
| Type | On behalf of the product | Theory tracks distance | Remarks |
| GPS + cellular | Jiobit, Tracki | Global | Data charges, real-time location |
| Bluetooth + crowdsourcing | AirTag (Apple) , Smarttag (Samsung) , Tile | Global (relying on ecological networks) | No monthly fee, location based on user base |
| Lora/NB-IoT | Abeeway et al | Miles-tens of miles | Wide coverage, suitable for specific scenarios |
| UWB | AirTag2 + iPhone | 3-10 meters | Precise short-range positioning |
Restrictions on tracking distance and suggestions for its use
There is a big difference between the theoretical distance and the actual environment. For example, in high-rise urban areas, GPS signals may be blocked, resulting in reduced positioning distance and accuracy; Bluetooth trackers in more wall indoor, the signal transmission distance will be shortened.
The applicable scenarios of various technologies are recommended: daily items such as keys, wallets, etc. , choose Bluetooth + crowdsourcing type tracker is more appropriate; For real-time long-distance tracking of vehicles and people in outdoor activities, GPS + cellular type tracker is a better choice When it comes to pinpointing items at close range, UWB-type trackers can take advantage.
When choosing the most appropriate tracking device, you should consider factors such as your own usage scenario, whether you need real-time positioning, and budget. Bluetooth + crowd-sourced devices are a good choice if you want to avoid losing everyday items and don’t want to pay a monthly fee, GPS + cellular devices are a better fit.
Conclusion: there is no absolute farthest distance, only the best tracker for you
GPS or Bluetooth crowdsourcing networks can be relied upon for global positioning. It is convenient and low-cost to choose Bluetooth crowdsourcing devices to prevent loss of daily items. GPS devices are preferred for outdoor long-distance real-time tracking. Lora/NB-IoT devices can be considered for large-scale industrial applications. In short, different trackers have their own characteristics and application scenarios, there is no absolute sense of tracking the farthest device, only the most suitable for their own needs.
