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How Care Trak Works

Locate a lost person up to a mile away, day or night, inside or outside, 24/7.

Telemetry Tracking

Care Trak created telemetry-based people-tracking in 1986. When it comes to tracking people at risk, telemetry is the preferred technology because not only is it the least expensive solution, it’s also highly accurate, with the ability to track within inches of the lost person, day or night, inside or outside. Our expertise comes from our parent company, Wildlife Materials, Inc., which has been making tracking equipment for locating, protecting, and monitoring endangered species around the world for over 50 years.

Telemetry tracking is not an overly-complicated technology, using radio waves much like your local broadcast radio station sends a signal to your car or clock radio. When the handheld directional antenna plugged into the receiver is in line with the transmitter worn by the person at risk, the radio-tracking signal comes in stronger and louder. By simply following the strong radio signal, you will be led to the person’s location. Although only minor improvements have been made with the technology over the last 60 years, the Care Trak telemetry system has proven itself to work over and over, much better than other available tracking options.

Since the radio signal goes through most walls and objects, you have the ability to locate the person at risk even inside a building. In addition, the sensitivity of Care Trak telemetry creates pinpoint accuracy with the capability of locating a lost person up to a mile away, day or night, inside or outside, 24/7.

telemetry tracking

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Why Care Trak Telemetry is Best

Care Trak Home Systems are professional-grade and come with an industry-first, 7-year parts and labor warranty. Thousands of our transmitters have been used for special needs children, dementia patients, and other at risk individuals since 1986. Unlike other systems, ours are only available to those with a medical need and not available to the general public or for typical kids.

Our Home Systems are 100% portable, user-friendly, and 100% compatible with Care Trak Law Enforcement Agency Systems for twice the protection. Individuals at risk can be tracked 24/7, day or night, inside or outside.

When you buy a Care Trak system, you own it, and when you need service, supplies, and support, you receive factory-direct service. There are no satellites, no subscriptions, no computers, no software, no memberships, no rental plans, and no annual dues. After initial equipment purchase, Care Trak costs only up to $4.10 per month or $49.20 per year for a simple battery and attaching band change six times per year.

What About GPS/Cell Tracking?

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and cellphone-type systems depend on satellites that orbit the earth and, in most cases, require a direct line of sight to the GPS bracelet the person at risk wears. As a general rule, anything that blocks sunlight would block a GPS tracking signal, making it useless if the person entered a home, mall, or school, or even heavy foliage, cloudy skies, or was lying on top of the tracking unit. The inherent infrastructure problems are what also lead to cellphone calls being dropped, no service available, or a computer’s inability to connect with a server.

Some GPS companies have added cellphone technology in an effort to provide better tracking, which utilizes a multitude of towers to triangulate the person’s location. However, even when this technology works perfectly, it will never locate the person as accurately as telemetry.

The GPS/Cellular bracelets are also not as practical. Like cellphones, they must be recharged every few days, meaning the person at risk is unprotected while the unit is charging unless the customer purchases two units to alternate. They are also quite big, bulky, and uncomfortable to wear on a wrist or ankle, and if placed elsewhere, it could be removed easily or left behind, leaving the person at risk unprotected.

GPS/Cellular tracking is also not an affordable option for many as it is subject to monthly monitoring fees starting at $30.00. This fee makes it unattainable for low-income families, cash-strapped parents, and senior citizens on fixed incomes.

GPS may be great for tracking cars, cargo, over-the-road trucks, hiking, sailing, or getting directions to a new restaurant, but when it comes to locating at-risk individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, and other special needs, it is a potentially dangerous option.