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 To find more detailed information on the Orchid Vehicle Tracking System either scroll down or choose one of the following:  As it owns its extensive communication network, it can offer a far higher level of service than other GPS/GSM based tracking systems. Competing tracking systems use GSM networks as ‘just another phone subscriber’, and any SMS positional information must wait in the queue, along with all other messages waiting to be sent (Honey, I will be late home from work tonight). On network congestion, their tracking data may be delayed several hours, which effectively renders these systems useless for real-time monitoring. Vodafone tracking communicates positional information DIRECTLY through its network in real time as ‘priority’ traffic, effectively bypassing the traditional waiting queue. Coverage - Vodafone tracking uses the widely used GSM phone network to relay information, hence the system works in virtually all metropolitan areas and connecting roads throughout Australia. The system has also been designed to connect to the Vodafone GlobalStar network, and will soon offer 100% national coverage, including remote locations with no GSM coverage. Some non-GPS based systems offer very limited coverage areas such as Sydney and Brisbane only. Accuracy - Using differential GPS, positions are error corrected in real time resulting in positional accuracy of around 5 meters. Other GPS tracking systems simply use raw GPS data and are far less accurate (25m). Non-GPS (radio) systems usually offer accuracy of only 100m in the suburbs, and much less accuracy in built up areas such as the CBD. Access - Traditional GPS/GSM tracking systems, are known as peer to peer, where a transponder must communicate with a client-supplied dedicated receiver unit. Should this receiver fail, or there be network congestion, the transponder is useless and no information can be gained. Vodafone is unique in its use of a central hub. The hub receives the tracking data centrally, and it is distributed in a variety of ways, including:
 Quality - Orchid tracking relies on the proven technologies of mobile phones and the GPS system. The transponder units are manufactured in high volume by the same factories that produce mobile phone handsets, and hence are subject to rigorous quality assurance systems. Some other tracking systems supply units assembled by hand, which result in lower quality equipment, as well as delays in their supply. Installations - Vodafone tracking is a premium product, and the company is committed to quality installations. A strictly controlled accreditation program is in place to ensure the high quality of such installations, and the honesty of installers. Some competing tracking systems have no such accreditation programs, resulting in poor installations and other problems such as vehicles being mysteriously stolen or broken into, shortly after being fitted by ‘questionable’ installers. Vodafone ensures its installations are fitted by licensed, competent professionals, whose integrity is without question. Size - Vodafone tracking units are tiny compared with any other competing units available. Significant research and development by the same teams designing mobile phone handset technology have resulted in miniature transponder units. The transponder unit is only slightly larger than a wallet, with an antenna unit half the size of a CD case. Competing transponder units from other companies are much larger. The miniature units from Vodafone are lighter, and more importantly can be concealed far more effectively for high security, and covert installations. Power - Vodafone units require a fraction of the power that is used by competitors. This reduces strain on vehicle batteries, and enables portable tracking systems, which are not wired in to the vehicle’s power (Trailer tracking option). Advanced ‘standby’ modes further reduce power consumption. Radio based tracking systems require relatively significant power from the transponders to communicate. The massive coverage of the GSM base stations means the Vodafone transponders need only transmit short distances. Unlike other GPS/GSM based tracking systems, Vodafone uses advanced compression techniques to fit 10 spots (position, speed, heading) on one SMS if required, which dramatically reduces costs over units which can only send one spot per SMS. Battery - Despite their small size, Vodafone transponders have onboard power backup for approximately 24Hrs. This enables them to report back information even if the vehicle’s battery is cut off. Other tracking systems are useless as soon as their power supply is cut, while Vodafone transponders continue tracking the most important period of time, being shortly after the vehicle is stolen. Memory - With on board flash memory storage, the unit stores 5000 spots, with each spot recording location, speed, heading and odometer. The unit overwrites old data with new, ensuring the last 5000 spots are always available for analysis. If you designate a polling frequency of every 10 minutes say, the unit will record over a month of data, showing exactly where it was, how fast it was travelling, and in what direction, anytime of the day or night for the last four weeks. Few competing systems have on board memory, which can be a valuable tool to look back and analyse what has happened or where a vehicle was going. Integration - Vodafone tracking is fully integrated with user inputs and outputs, and these are also software configurable by users. Set up the transponder to notify you if the vehicle alarm is activated, or send the transponder a signal to perform some action remotely, such as unlock the vehicle central locking, or disable the engine if stolen. Accessories - Vodafone tracking currently offers a range of accessories to complement the system, including:
 The Vodafone operating software is advanced and very user friendly. It is both powerful and functional, enabling a high degree of reporting and configuration – giving you the power of information about your vehicles as well as the ability to respond to incidents. Maps can be zoomed continuously on-screen from the entire country down to a single street, and multiple vehicles can be seen on screen at once. Detailed reports can be easily produced showing for example monthly kilometres driven, average speeds / top speeds, suburbs visited, driving times, waiting times and more. Ignition on / off times and dates are logged automatically. Demo - A comprehensive demo of the Orchid Software is provided on this web-site. Click here to visit the demo page. Mapping - At significant cost, Vodafone tracking has purchased the full rights to the data set of the three main suppliers of digital mapping in Australia, and has combined them into one unified map. This includes street level mapping of over 40 000 Australian towns. Vodafone offers this map set to users, enabling you to identify (by street name) exactly where a transponder unit is, regardless if it is in the Sydney CBD, or on a country road 50km south of Darwin. The Vodafone map set includes street number ranges, enabling you to identify a vehicle is ‘Parked on Parramatta Rd, Auburn, between property numbers 221 and 255’ Reporting - Besides monitoring vehicles on maps in real-time, Vodafone tracking offers powerful reporting features. This summarises important information, giving you just the information you need in a concise, text report. Reports are user configurable, and cover any specified time frame.
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