When placing the GL300 on a vehicle, it can be confusing as to where to put the tracker and why. To do its job properly, the tracker needs to be able to connect to the satellite network and transmit data back to our servers, so we need to make sure the tracker is positioned in a way that gives it the best chance to do that.
Inside the vehicle:
The ideal placements for the interior of the vehicle is under the passenger or driver seat, with the lights facing up towards the sky.
Please note, the tracker can also be hardwired to the vehicle’s electrical system for extended battery life. (Hardwire Kit on Spytec.com)
Outside the vehicle with a magnetic case:
The most common, effective placement of the GL300 is pairing the tracker with an M2 case (M2 Case on Spytec.com). The M2 case allows you to place the tracker on the outside of the car, typically underneath on the undercarriage.
When placing the tracker underneath the car, it is important to make sure the case is attached to the metal frame rather than the suspension. The suspension will move independently of the frame, making the attachment less secure.
Note: Please refer to your vehicle's information for specifics. The most common placement is towards the rear of the car on the frame that runs along the outer edge of the chassis, but this will depend on your specific needs.
Where NOT to place the tracker:
There are also spots where the tracker should not be placed. For example:
- Enclosed spaces such as inside the trunk of a vehicle
- The glove compartment
- Under the front or rear bumper. This is because the trunk tends to negatively affect the ability of the tracker to connect to the needed networks and can lead to poor performance.
Another thing to factor in is heat. Battery-powered devices do not like hot environments, which is why we typically do not recommend installing the GL300 in a vehicle engine bay. If an engine bay deployment is needed, the Hardwired GPS Tracker is much more suited to that environment.