Do you want to track your vehicle? Do you want a better way of tracking and managing your business fleet? Do you want your GPS tracker to provide more value than location updates?
If yes, then the MasTrack hardwired GPS tracker could solve your needs.
The tracker can conveniently fit under your vehicle’s dashboard. It does not make any noise while in operation. You can cover its LED lights in black electrical tape so the device can be discreetly used for your vehicle’s protection.
The tracker offers unlimited history, text messages, and email alerts. You can set custom alerts like speed threshold, rapid acceleration, idle time, tampering, and towing, among others.
The device is a mid-priced GPS tracker. It needs a service plan to function. And you will have to subscribe to the mid and premium service plans to get the most benefit.
So is the MasTrack GPS tracker worth the investment? Let us find out.
| Product Overview | |
|---|---|
| Brand | MasTrack |
| Model | MasTrack Hardwired GPS Tracker - MT-121 |
| Dimensions | 3.6 x 2.18 x 0.5 inches |
| Weight | Around 2 ounces |
| Battery | Powered by vehicleBackup battery available |
| Coverage | US (including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska)For other countries, contact the sales department |
| History | Unlimited |
| Price | Starts from $68.00 |
| Subscription Plan | Basic - $10.99 Essentials - $17.99 Premium - $22.99 Lower prices available on 3, 6 and 12-month long-term plans |
| Customer Support | Live Support: Monday to Friday - 9 AM to 6 PM EST. You can drop messages or voicemails for after-hours and weekend support |
| Amazon Rating | 3.9 out of 5 (36 ratings) |
Our Rating
About MasTrack
MasTrack was founded in 1999. It is a US-based company that is owned and operated by US workers.
They offer GPS solutions that can help track your family, vehicles, business fleet, and other valuable assets. Their product line includes plug-and-play, hardwired, portable GPS tracker and a live view camera.
They provide an online portal and mobile apps to view tracker locations.
They offer live support during the weekdays, from 9:00 AM to 6 PM EST. For after-hours and weekend support, you can contact the support team through the tracking portal, and they will get back to you.
Who is the MasTrack Hardwired GPS Tracker For?
Hardwired GPS trackers are specially designed to track vehicles. The tracker works with most make and models of vehicles. It is best suited for sedans, vans, and trucks.
As an individual, you can use the tracker to keep an eye on their vehicle. You can know when your car ignition is on or when the car is moving with the ignition off.
As a family, you can use the tracker to keep an eye on your loved ones. It could be your teens, spouse, or elderly parents. You can know when they start their cars and reach their destination.
As a business owner, you can use the tracker to better track and manage your fleet. You can track your employees’ trips, idle time, and if the device is being tampered with.
You can also get insights into the driver’s driving behavior. For example, you can get alerts for harsh braking, speeding, and rapid acceleration. You can help your teens learn better driving habits and ensure your employees follow road safety rules.
5 Important Factors We Tested the Product On
So now we know the hardwired GPS tracker can track your vehicle and provide alerts about driving behavior, towing, and possible theft. But how well does the tracker deliver in terms of performance? Let us find out.
1. Design
Hardwired trackers tend to be bigger than portable trackers. But they can still be compact enough to fit under your car’s dashboard.
The MasTrack device has dimensions of 3.6 x 2.18 x 0.5 inches. It weighs around 2 ounces.
The device comes with three required and a couple of optional ones. The red, black, and white wires are required.
Connect the red wire to a 12 V constant power source. Connect the black wire to a solid chassis ground. Connect the white wire to a switched 12 V source; this monitors the vehicle’s engine on and off state.
You can optionally connect the yellow wire to a positive input source. It will alert you about a voltage change in the connection.
There are two LED lights on the device. The green is for the GPS signal, and the blue is for the cell signal.
It’s a decently-designed tracker that can be used with different vehicles.
2. Battery
Once you activate the device and connect the wires, as mentioned above, it will start working. It will draw power from the vehicle’s battery.
The best part about hardwired trackers is that they are a one-time installation product. You do not have to track the battery percentage and set reminders to charge the device.
MasTrack offers an optional backup battery for the tracker. You can connect the backup battery to the adapter on the wiring harness. The backup will keep the tracker running for up to an hour once disconnected from a power source. You will also receive a tampering alert at the same time.
The backup battery is a good addition to the hardwired GPS tracker.
3. Usability
The best place to install the tracker is under the front dashboard behind the instrument cluster or radio. Ensure the label side of the device is facing downwards, as the GPS antenna is on the opposite side.
You can activate the tracker on MasTrack’s website. As a new user, you first have to sign up. Existing users can log in to their accounts and add the new device to the same account.
You will need the IMEI code of the device during the activation step. Also, decide on the service plan you would prefer. Activation can take about an hour.
The device comes with a 3-wire installation. Any professional who can install a car stereo or alarm should be able to help.
You can use the live tracking portal or download the MasTrack Live GPS app to track, customize alerts, and manage your device.
Using the portal and the app is pretty straightforward. But both mediums could do with some performance improvements.
4. Features
Geofence is a common feature that you can find in most trackers. You can customize an area that you deem safe. You will get an alert when the tracker leaves or enters these predefined areas. So you can know when your teen leaves school and reaches home.
You can set a speed threshold. When the vehicle crosses the speed limit, you will receive an alert. You can also get another type of speeding alert. It happens when the vehicle crosses a speed limit posted on a specific route.
You can get other aggressive driving alerts like harsh braking and rapid acceleration. The device includes a 3-D accelerometer that can detect a potential collision and alert you about the same.
You can know when the vehicle ignition was turned on and off. If the device loses power, you will be alerted. It could be a wiring issue or an indication that the device is tampered.
Overall, the tracker offers several value-adding features. But note most of these features are available in the mid and high-range service plans.
5. Performance
Depending on the service plan, the tracker can provide location information every 1 to 5 minutes.
You can track your vehicle on Google Maps. The tracking accuracy was decent at best.
The tracker needs a cellular network to transmit data back to MasTrack servers. So in the case of poor cell signal, you could notice a dip in tracker performance.
Also, the Google Maps version isn’t the latest, so accuracy takes a hit again.
The alerts showed expected performance. The best part being you can get unlimited email and text alerts. You can also access historical data right from when the device is active to the present.
Overall, the GPS tracker offers decent performance and could do with maps and accuracy improvements.
What Sets the MasTrack Hardwired GPS Tracker Apart from its Competitors?
You get the roadside assistance program if you opt for a 12-month premium service plan. The program has a value of around $400.
It offers towing, battery boost, fuel delivery, tire changes, lockout services, and winch/pull-out. You can use the program a total of four times a year.
A design feature that is worth mentioning is the optional green output wire. You can connect this wire to any desired system inside the vehicle. You can now control the system from a web interface.
Once the output feature is activated, the green wire acts as the ground and, in turn, activates the connected system. For example, you could cut off fuel or ignition.
Should You Purchase the MasTrack Hardwired GPS Tracker?
The hardwired GPS tracker is a decent buy if you want to track your vehicle or business fleet. It offers location updates, geofences, and aggressive driving alerts.
It can alert you about events like ignition on/off, towing, potential collision, and power disconnection.
The installation process can take up to an hour. And you must invest in premium service plans to get the most out of the tracker.
Read through the pros and cons before making your purchase decision.
Pros
- It offers location updates every 1 to 5 minutes.
- It offers unlimited history data.
- It offers unlimited email and text alerts.
- It offers custom alerts about driving behavior.
- It offers an optional battery backup.
- You can get alerts when the vehicle is being towed with the ignition off.
- You get roadside assistance with a 12-month premium plan.
Cons
- The custom alerts included in the Basic service plan are limited.
- The Premium plans can be expensive.
- Installation needs to be done by professionals.
Price
The price for the MasTrack hardwired GPS tracker starts from around $68.00.
You will need a service plan for the tracker to work. MasTrack’s three service plans with their monthly pricing are as below:
- Basic – $10.99
- Essentials – $17.99
- Premium – $22.99
The Basic plan is available on a monthly or 12 months basis. The 12-month plan costs $109.00, and the monthly average is $9.08.
The Essentials plan is available monthly, 3, 6, and 12-month basis. The pricing is as below:
| Period | Cost | Monthly Average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $52.00 | $17.33 |
| 6 months | $100.00 | $16.66 |
| 12 months | $190.00 | $15.83 |
The Premium plan is also available monthly, 3, 6, and 12-month basis. The pricing is as below:
| Period | Cost | Monthly Average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $60.00 | $20.00 |
| 6 months | $115.00 | $19.16 |
| 12 months | $215.00 | $17.91 |
Along with the pricing, consider the features offered by the service plans. For example, harsh driving alerts are included from the Essentials plan onwards.
MasTrack also offers leet discounts starting from five units. Contact their sales team to know more.
FAQ’s
MasTrack offers support for network operators like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Let the company know if you prefer any of the three networks. You won’t be charged anything extra for a network preference.
Yes. You can log in to the live tracking portal through your phone; the website is mobile-friendly. Or you can choose to download the MasTrack Live GPS app.
The MasTrack hardwired tracker can be used on any vehicle with a constant 12 V source. The tracker can only then draw power from the vehicle to function.
Summary
The MasTrack hardwired GPS tracker can help you track your cars, vans, and trucks, among others. It can be used to keep track of your loved ones, business fleet and add a layer of protection to your asset.
It involves a 3-wire installation. You may require professional help with this step. You can activate the device online.
It offers several noteworthy features like geofence, idle time, aggressive driving alerts, towing, and potential collision alerts.
The device has a decent performance. I recommend going for the Essentials or the Premium plan to make the most of your purchase.
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.