Choosing the right tariff for a GPS tracker is not just buying a SIM card, but a fundamental part of setting up the entire vehicle monitoring system. An incorrectly selected SIM card can lead to the loss of critical data about the vehicle’s location or, conversely, to unreasonably high costs for a subscription fee, which may exceed the cost of the device itself per year. Modern GPS trackers consume different amounts of traffic depending on the operating mode, frequency of sending coordinates and type of data transmitted.
Fleet owners and individuals need to understand the difference between regular voice plans and specialized solutions for IoT (Internet of Things). Standard offers from mobile operators often contain hidden conditions, such as a mandatory change to a public tariff or blocking when used in M2M equipment. In this article, we will analyze in detail which tariff to choose for a tracker in order to ensure stable communication and minimize the cost of maintaining the tracking system.
It is worth immediately noting that the telecommunications services market is dynamic, and conditions may change, but the basic principles of traffic calculation remain unchanged. GPRS/3G/4G modules in trackers operate on the principle of packet data transfer, and every byte matters. Understanding these processes will help you avoid unpleasant surprises such as a blocked device in the middle of your route or an astronomical bill.
Types of SIM cards for GPS monitoring systems
The first step in organizing communication is choosing the type of SIM card. There are three main formats on the market, each of which has its own operating characteristics. Regular consumer SIM cards that we use in smartphones are often not suitable for trackers due to operating conditions and operator requirements for the M2M segment.
Specialized M2M (Machine-to-Machine) cards are developed specifically for devices that transmit telemetry. They have increased resistance to temperature changes, vibration and humidity, which is critical for transport. In addition, such cards often have a single traffic pool, which is convenient for managing a large fleet of cars through one personal account.
⚠️ Attention: Using a regular retail SIM card in the tracker may result in it being blocked by your operator. Telecom operators easily identify M2M traffic by the nature of the connections (lack of voice calls, permanent IP address, specific ports) and require a transfer to a corporate tariff or block the service.
The third option is virtual operators (MVNOs), offering flexible terms for IoT projects. They often provide the ability to remotely manage your profile and switch between different carrier networks to ensure better coverage. The choice of a specific type depends on the scale of your project and the requirements for communication reliability in remote regions.
- 📱 Retail SIM: Available in any salon, but have a high risk of blocking when used in trackers and unstable operation in extreme conditions.
- 🏭 M2M SIM: Designed for machine data exchange, resistant to vibration and temperature, often comes with a pool of traffic to many devices.
- 🌐 IoT/MVNO solutions: Global coverage, the ability to remotely repurpose the network, flexible tariffs based on actual consumption.
When ordering M2M cards, provide the IMEI codes of your trackers to your service provider - this will speed up activation and configuration of the correct network profile.
Traffic calculation: how many megabytes does a tracker need?
One of the most common questions when choosing a tariff is how much Internet the device needs. The answer depends on many factors, including the communication protocol and reporting settings. Protocol Wialon IPS or EGTS (for GLONASS) have different "gluttony". On average, one message with coordinates weighs from 100 to 300 bytes.
To understand the real needs, you need to consider the frequency of data sending. If the tracker is configured to send a point every second while moving, the flow rate will be maximum. If you use the “sleep” mode or send a change in course with a large step, the consumption is reduced significantly. Traffic is also spent on “heartbeats” (keep-alive packets), which the device sends to the server to keep the connection active.
For clarity, we provide approximate calculations for different use scenarios. This data will help you navigate when choosing a service package from a telecom operator.
| Usage scenario | Sending interval | Consumption per month (MB) | Recommended tariff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi monitoring (active) | 5 seconds | 15 - 25 MB | 50-100 MB |
| Personal car (control) | 30-60 seconds | 2 - 5 MB | 10-20 MB |
| Special equipment (motor hours) | By event/1 min | 5 - 10 MB | 20-30 MB |
| Freight transport (EGTS) | 10-15 seconds | 30 - 50 MB | 100 MB+ |
Separately, it is worth mentioning the influence of voice listening of the interior. If your tracker supports the “spy call” or interior listening function, traffic consumption increases sharply. One minute of such a conversation can “eat up” from 500 KB to 1 MB, depending on the codec. If you plan to use this feature, a plan with a 10 MB limit is absolutely not suitable for you.
Comparison of carriers for trackers
Choosing a telecom operator is a strategic decision. In Russia and the CIS countries, network coverage is uneven, and what works great in the center of Moscow may be silent in a remote village. The largest operators (the "Big Four") offer different conditions for the M2M segment.
One of the market leaders often boasts of its 4G/LTE coverage, which is important for the new generation of trackers. However, in remote regions, 2G (GPRS) from another operator may provide better reception. Therefore, for critical objects, such as fuel tankers or cash collection, trackers with two SIM cards are often installed to reserve the communication channel.
Roaming secrets for trackers
If your car crosses state borders (for example, Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus), make sure that package roaming is enabled on your SIM card. Otherwise, when you leave your home zone, the Internet will turn off and the tracker will go offline, saving the track archive in the internal memory.
When comparing offers, pay attention not only to price, but also to the quality of technical support for corporate clients. For a business, it is more important to quickly solve a problem with a frozen connection than to save pennies on the subscription fee. Also check to see if a static IP address is provided if your server infrastructure requires one.
- 📡 Coverage: Check the 2G/3G/4G coverage map in your transport areas. For truckers, the priority is highways; for city couriers, the priority is building density.
- 💰 Cost: Compare the price for 1 MB of traffic. In M2M tariffs, the price can be 5-10 times lower than in retail tariffs for smartphones.
- 🛠 Management: Enjoy the convenience of your personal account. The ability to remotely check your balance, change the tariff or block a card without calling the call center is a huge plus.
Setting up APN: technical side of connection
After purchasing a SIM card and installing it in the device, it is often necessary to correctly configure the access point (APN). Without this, the tracker will not be able to access the Internet, even if there is money in the account. APN parameters are individual for each operator and must be entered accurately, respecting the case of characters.
Typically, settings are entered via SMS commands or configuration utilities on a PC. For example, to set the APN you can use a command like AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet.mts.ru". A single letter error will cause the device to endlessly try to connect, draining battery power but not transferring data.
Example of an APN configuration command (for some tracker models):AT+CSTT="internet","gdata","gdata"
AT+CIICR
AT+IFCONTC
It is important to check if there is a PIN code on the SIM card. Trackers, as a rule, do not have an interface for entering it, so before installation, you need to insert the SIM card into the phone and disable the PIN code request in the security settings. This is a common mistake made by beginners and results in the device lighting up but not working.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use automatic operator settings sent via SMS. Trackers cannot process them. All APN, login and password parameters (if required) must be entered manually through the configurator.
Traffic savings and cost optimization
Even if you have an unlimited or large traffic package, its reasonable use extends the life of the device and reduces the load on the network. The main way to save money is to properly configure data sending algorithms. There is no point in sending the coordinates of a car parked in a parking lot every second.
Use Sleep or Eco modes. In this mode, the tracker falls asleep when the engine is turned off and the motion sensor does not detect activity, waking up only according to a schedule or when there is an alarm. This allows you to reduce traffic consumption during idle mode by 80-90%.
☑️ Optimizing tracker settings
It is also worth paying attention to the data format. Some protocols allow you to compress the track archive when uploading it. If a device accumulates a track in its internal memory when there is no connection, it can upload a large amount of data at once when the network becomes available. Setting up smart offloading will help avoid peak loads.
Another life hack is the use of “gray” areas. If the tracker is in an area where there is no GPRS, but there is voice coverage, it may constantly try to register with the network, which drains the battery. Correctly setting timeouts will help the device go into sleep mode faster when there is no signal.
Legal aspects and data security
The use of GPS trackers is subject to legislation on personal data and privacy. If you install a tracker on a car that is in the personal use of an employee, or on a taxi, you are required to notify the driver about this. Hidden installation of listening devices may result in criminal liability.
From a security point of view, data transmission over open GPRS channels carries risks of interception. Modern trackers support data encryption (SSL/TLS). Make sure your server and device are configured to operate over a secure port, especially if sensitive cargo data is being transmitted.
Storage of the track archive must also comply with legal requirements. Telecom operators are required to store connection information (billing), but not the content of transmissions. Responsibility for the safety of movement history lies with the owner of the monitoring system.
Data security begins with choosing a reliable SIM card provider and setting up encryption of the connection between the tracker and the monitoring server.
In conclusion, choosing the right plan for a GPS tracker is a balance between cost, coverage, and functionality. Do not chase the lowest price if it jeopardizes the reliability of the connection. For a business, lost cargo or equipment downtime due to lack of communication will cost more than the difference in tariffs.
What to do if the traffic runs out?
Most M2M operators allow you to connect an additional package on the fly via SMS or personal account. Find out the command codes in advance or set up auto-replenishment so as not to lose control of the object at a critical moment.
Is it possible to use a SIM card from a smartphone in the tracker?
Technically, yes, physically it will fit into the slot. However, the operator can block the card if it detects that it is being used in an M2M device (the IMEI of the tracker is different from the IMEI of the phone). In addition, regular cards are less resistant to vibration and temperature changes, which will lead to their rapid failure.
Why does the tracker show “offline” even though there is money in the account?
There may be several reasons: the traffic package has run out (even if you have money on your balance, the Internet turns off), the APN settings have gone wrong, the device is in an area of poor reception or is frozen and requires a power reboot. Check the balance and settings of the access point first.
Do I need a static IP address for the tracker?
For 95% of users - no. A dynamic IP, which is issued by the operator, is quite enough to work with monitoring servers (Wialon, GLONASSSoft, etc.). A static IP is needed only in specific cases when the server itself initiates the connection with the tracker, and not vice versa.
How often do you need to top up your tracker SIM card?
Depends on the tariff. On M2M tariffs with a subscription fee, it is enough to maintain a positive balance once a month/quarter. On prepaid plans, keep an eye on the validity period of your traffic package so that it doesn’t expire. It is recommended to set up automatic payment.