Hardwired GPS trackers offer secure installation. You do not have to worry about the tracker being displaced or the magnetic mount failing.
It eliminates battery maintenance, as the tracker draws power from the vehicle’s battery. You also get other beneficial information like speed, braking, and ignition.
One such device we will review today is the Americaloc Ready ST4340 GPS tracker. It includes a 2 or 3 wires installation, depending on your requirement. It offers coverage in the US, Mexico, Canada, and 180 countries.
It offers location updates every 60, 30, and 10 seconds while in motion at no extra charge. It includes a backup battery. It can offer features like geofences, driving habits, and history.
The tracker needs a monthly subscription to work. So is the ST4340 worth your money? Let us find out.
| Product Overview | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Americaloc |
| Model | Americaloc ST4340 GPS Tracker |
| Dimensions | 2.91 x 1.77 x 0.77 inches |
| Weight | 2.82 ounces |
| Battery | Lithium-ion, 450 mAh |
| Power Supply | DC 8 V ~ 32 V, Main power +/- inversion protection |
| Operating Temperature | -40˚C ~ +80˚C |
| Network Frequency | LTE Cat M1/NB-IoT/2G |
| Coverage | Worldwide ( USA, Canada, Mexico, and 180+ countries) |
| Price | Starts from $49.08 |
| Subscription Plans | From $30/month to $228/year |
| Warranty | Two years |
| Customer Support | Phone (Monday to Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM CT) Email (Weekend and after-hours) |
| Amazon Rating | 3.7 out of 5 (20 ratings) |
Our Rating
About Americaloc
Americaloc has over 15 years of experience in the GPS tracking space. With a major presence in the US and Latin America, they offer their services in 30+ countries.
Their solutions include asset, vehicle, and fleet tracking and personal monitoring. They offer hardwired, OBD, and portable GPS trackers.
All their trackers include a pre-installed SIM card. You do not have to pay activation or cancellation charges.
Americaloc has a dedicated customer support team that can be reached via phone and email.
Who is the Americaloc ST4340 GPS Tracker for?
The ST4340 is a hardwired GPS tracker, so you can specifically use it for vehicle tracking. This could be your car, motorcycle, van, bus, or truck, among others.
Individual users can track their cars and know where their teens or elderly parents are driving around. It can serve as a safety device by providing alerts like ignition on/off or movement.
Business users can track their fleet using these trackers. You can know your drivers’ routes, distance, idle time, and driving habits. Coupled with detailed history reports, you can measure how your fleet is being utilized.
5 Important Factors we Tested the Product On
The ST4340 GPS tracker can be used by individuals and business users alike to track their vehicles. Next, let us understand the tracker’s make, quality, features, and performance.
1. Design
The hardwired tracker has dimensions 2.91 x 1.77 x 0.77 inches. It weighs about 2.82 ounces and about 3.24 ounces along with the event cables.
The size and weight of the device make it easy to hide under the dashboard. The body of the device is water and dust-resistant. It has an IP67 rating.
The device comes with three wires, and they are as follows:
- Black: Negative (GND)
- Red: Positive (8-32 V)
- Blue: Ignition (optional)
You will receive the GPS tracker and a start guide inside the box. The device comes with a Sim card installed. The data plan is included in the subscription costs.
Overall, the tracker has a decent make and quality.
2. Battery
Hardwired GPS trackers draw power from the vehicle’s battery. So as long as the vehicle’s battery has power, the tracker will continue to work. You do not have to worry about charging the tracker every other day.
On average, if the tracker reports once every 3 minutes, its power consumption can be 30 to 50 mA at 12 V.
The ST4340 tracker also includes a backup battery. The backup is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a 450 mAh capacity. The tracker can send an alert if the device gets disconnected from the vehicle’s battery.
Electrical disconnection could indicate that the tracker is being tampered with or your vehicle is being stolen. So the backup battery is a good safety feature to have.
3. Usability
The device includes a pre-installed SIM card and data plan. So, the tracker comes almost ready to use from the package. It would be best to get the tracker hardwired by a professional.
You can activate the tracker on Americaloc’s website. You will need details like customer type, name, email address, and IMEI code of the device.
Alternatively, you can send the required information to the customer support team, and they will get the device activated for you.
You can track the device from any computer, tablet, or phone. You can use the website or download the Americaloc Viewer app.
The website and the app have similar UI. They are feature-rich and easy to navigate, but the design is a bit archaic. A design change can significantly improve user experience.
Features and usability-wise, the activation, alert setting, and tracking process are pretty straightforward.
4. Features
You can predefine zones that you consider as safe. This could be your home, office, or school. You will get an alert when the tracker leaves or enters these safe zones. For example, you can know when your teen leaves home and reaches school.
The device can offer vehicle-specific alerts as the tracker is hardwired to the vehicle. For example, you will be alerted if your teen or employee speeds over the set limit.
You can also keep track of harsh driving patterns. For example, you can know when the driver speeds up abruptly, hits the brakes, or makes harsh turns. This information can be used to educate your kids or other personnel about safe driving habits.
When the ignition wire is connected, you can know when your car’s ignition is on or off. With the backup battery, you can also know when the tracker is electrically disconnected.
5. Performance
The tracker offers real-time updates while in motion. You can choose to get updates every 10, 30, or 60 seconds. While in motion, you can get updates per the set time interval, every third of a mile or every corner turn, whichever event happens first.
The location updates are pretty accurate. As mentioned, the tracking medium designs are old-school, but they get the job done in terms of functionality.
You can choose to get text or email notifications.
Business users can benefit from the detailed history reports offered. These reports can include distance traveled, time intervals, and corner turns.
You may have to get support for the installation process, but the activation and customization steps are fairly easy. Overall, it is a well-performing hardwired GPS tracker.
What Sets the Americaloc ST4340 GPS Tracker Apart from its Competitors?
One of the distinguishing features of the tracker is that you can get frequent location updates at no extra cost.
For example, a typical tracker may provide updates every 3 to 1 minute. And if you want updates every few seconds, you will have to purchase a subscription plan accordingly.
But with Americaloc, you can get 60 to 10-second updates at the same cost.
The company also offers a free business trial. You can send a request and obtain devices for a 15-day free trial. The devices have to be returned after the trial period. This allows business users to understand device functionality and make an informed purchase decision.
Should You Purchase the Americaloc ST4340 GPS Tracker?
The ST4340 is a good buy under the hardwired GPS tracker category. It includes a backup battery and a pre-installed SIM card.
It offers real-time tracking at frequent intervals with no extra cost. It offers several features like geofences, speeding and harsh driving alerts, motion detection, and tampering.
You may need help with device installation. The tracking platforms’ designs are old-school, but they get the job done.
Here are some pros and cons you should consider before buying the hardwired tracker.
Pros
- It offers 60, 30, and 10-second updates at no extra cost.
- It includes a 450 mAh backup battery.
- It includes a pre-installed SIM with a data plan.
- It is a compact device that can be easily hidden.
- It offers speeding, harsh driving, motion, and tampering alerts.
Cons
- You may need professional help with installation.
- The monthly subscription plans can be expensive.
Price
The Americaloc Ready ST4340 GPS tracker is originally priced at $65. With discounts and offers, the tracker price starts from $49.08.
You will need a subscription plan for the tracker to work. You can choose tracking plans ranging from a month to 12 months.
Here is a snapshot of the tracking plans offered by Americaloc.
| Duration | Location Updates - 60/30/10 seconds |
|---|---|
| 1 month | $30 |
| 2 months (save $10.00) | $50 |
| 3 months (save $25.00) | $65 |
| 4 months (save $35.00) | $85 |
| 6 months (save $56.00) | $124 |
| 12 months (save $132.00) | $228 |
The best part of the pricing structure is that you pay for only the months you need. There are no contracts, no hidden fees, or automatic renewals.
FAQ’s
No. You must attach the black and red wires for the tracker to work. The blue ignition wire is optional. The ignition wire lets you know if your vehicle is in a running state or not.
No. The tracker updates once every 2 hours when the vehicle engine is off. The 10 to 30 seconds updates are only when the vehicle is in motion.
The power consumption in active mode is 70-80 mA, and in sleep mode, it is about 4 mA at 12 V. The tracker will automatically shut down if it detects low voltage to avoid draining the vehicle battery.
Summary
The Americaloc Ready ST4340 GPS tracker can be used to track cars, motorcycles, buses, vans, and trucks.
The device has a waterproof body with an IP67 rating. It includes a SIM card. It comes with a 2 or 3 wires installation. The device is compact-sized and can be easily concealed under the dashboard.
You can complete the activation process online. You can track and manage the device using the web tracking platform or the mobile app. Both mediums perform well, but they could do with UI improvements.
You can get frequent location updates at no extra cost. Overall, the ST4340 is a well-performing GPS tracker and is worth the investment.
Carson Harris is a highly qualified author and expert in GPS tracking technology. With a background in electrical engineering and machine learning, he has established himself as a trusted source of information. Carson’s work experience at Garmin and Panasonic has further enhanced his expertise. He possesses creative skills in website design and AI applications. Known for his clear and concise communication, Carson’s articles on Trax Family’s website provide valuable insights on GPS trackers.