Are you worried about your teen or elder parent driving around? Are you a business owner wanting to manage your fleet better?
The answer to these questions lies with car GPS trackers. You can track your vehicle in real-time or monitor the driver’s driving habits. You can also manage multiple cars with a single account.
You can find several car GPS trackers online. For example, a simple search on Amazon returns 300+ results. However, some of these trackers can be expensive or include high-end features you may never want to use.
If you are looking for a basic and budget-friendly car GPS tracker, consider the OBD model by SinoTrack. You can manage the device through SMS and its mobile app. There are no monthly fees involved.
Let us look into the SinoTrack car GPS tracker 4G in detail to understand if it is the right product for you.
| Product Overview | |
|---|---|
| Brand | SinoTrack |
| Model | SinoTrack 4G GPS Tracker - ST-902L |
| Dimension (W x H x D) | 1.77 x 0.87 x 2.36 inches |
| Weight | 3 ounces |
| Battery | OBD - connects to the vehicleBuilt-in - 120 mAh/ 3.7 V |
| Car Charger Input | 9 V |
| Network | LTE/ GSM/ GPRS |
| GPS Chip | UBLOX |
| Package Weight | 3.5 ounces |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to 55°C |
| Subscription Plan | No monthly feePay for local data and/or SMS plan |
| Price | $47.99 |
| Amazon Rating | 4.0 out of 5 ( 23 ratings) |
Our Rating
About SinoTrack 4G GPS Tracker
SinoTrack has an experience of over 13 years in the telematics industry. Auto Leaders Co. Ltd. is the company behind the brand. It is headquartered in China. The company has installed over 6 million devices and is used by over 130 countries worldwide.
GPS trackers are one of the prominent product ranges by SinoTrack. They offer several OBD, hardwired, and portable GPS trackers for car, bike, and boat tracking.
Who is The SinoTrack Car GPS Tracker 4G For?
OBD trackers are for users wanting to track their vehicles. As the name suggests, the tracker fits into the OBD port of your car.
As a parent, it is understandable that you would be worried about your teen driving around, especially if they have recently received their driving license.
Or you may want to keep an eye on your senior parents. You may want to know where they are and if they are driving safely.
With the SinoTracker OBD tracker, you can get real-time tracking details. In addition, you can get an SMS with location updates. The message will contain a link to Google Maps, so you can expect better accuracy.
Business owners can also use the tracker to manage their fleets. You can check where your delivery cars are at any time. You can use historical playback to monitor and analyze your drivers’ routes. The data can help you plan and optimize your delivery routes.
So, overall the SinoTrack OBD tracker can be used by individuals, families, or businesses to keep track of their vehicles.
5 Important Factors We Tested The Product On
So now we know who the OBD tracker is for and what applications it is useful for. Next, let us delve deeper into the tracker design, features, and performance to understand if it is worth the money.
1. Design
The OBD tracker is a small and lightweight device. Its dimensions are 1.77 x 0.87 x 2.36 inches. It weighs about 3 ounces.
The tracker supports LTE/GSM/GPRS networks. If your country supports 2G, you can use a compatible SIM.
The SIM card slot is located on the opposite end of the OBD port connection. The USB port will also be located on the same end.
You will receive the 4G tracker and a user manual in the box. You will need to buy a USB cable and car charger separately.
Overall, the tracker has a decent design quality and size. It can sit out of sight under the dashboard.
2. Battery
OBD trackers typically use the vehicle battery to function. So you do not have to worry about charging the device continuously. The same goes for the SinoTrack OBD tracker as well. Once you plug the device in, the tracker will function as long as the ignition is on.
One distinguishing feature of the OBD tracker is its built-in battery. It has a capacity of 120 mAh. So this lets the tracker work for a couple of hours even after the vehicle has stopped moving. In addition, the built-in battery capacity is on the lower end, so the device will charge quickly.
The built-in battery is a good feature, especially if you are worried about your vehicle getting stolen. In an emergency, the tracker can still send you location information.
3. Usability
You must first buy a compatible SIM card to start using the tracker. The card should be able to make a call, send an SMS, and have internet access. If it has a PIN, ensure you remove the code. Once the SIM is ready and active, insert it into the tracker.
Then you must charge the device and move to an open area to receive the GPS signal.
The tracker can also be configured through SMS. For this, you will need the APN details of the SIM card. You will need another number to send text commands to the tracker’s SIM card.
Once the APN is set, you can send text commands to set the tracker in GPRS mode. The tracker should activate in a couple of minutes. You can refer to the user manual for the specific text commands.
You can download the SinoTrack Pro app for real-time tracking and other alerts. You can also use the company’s online platform, which supports Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.
I found the UI and responsiveness of the app to be chunky. There is not much documentation, so you have to figure out what feature or icon does what. This may take only a couple of hours initially, but it is a factor to consider.
Some users may find the SMS configuration part to be confusing. The app will take some time to get used to. I would rate the usability as decent for the price point.
4. Features
The OBD tracker can be considered an entry-level model. It offers basic features that get the job done. For example, you can track your vehicle in real-time using the app or their online tracking platform. You can send a text command to receive location updates as well.
You can set geofences. These fences could be around your home, office, or your kid’s school. So, you can get an SMS alarm anytime the vehicle leaves or enters a geofence.
You can view historical playbacks of the routes taken by your tracker. You can see details like location, addresses, date, network mode, and speed. This can be useful to monitor your employees. You can see where and how they are driving and identify improvement areas.
You can set speeding alarms as well. This can help you track your teen’s driving habits.
If location updates are your priority, this basic and budget-friendly OBD tracker can be a good choice.
5. Performance
The 4G tracker does what it advertises. I like the fact that it uses Google Maps. For example, you get a text message notification when the tracker leaves a geofence. The message contains the date, time, and alert type. It also includes a Google Maps link so you can see the location.
SinoTrack claims the accuracy to be around 5 to 10 meters. I would say this is true, but the accuracy was a bit off in some areas.
I would rate it decent at best in terms of assembly, app, and online tracking performance. However, SinoTrack needs to make significant improvements for a positive customer experience.
What Sets The SinoTrack Car GPS Tracker 4G Apart From Its Competitors?
As mentioned above, the OBS tracker has a built-in battery. So this keeps the tracker working for a couple of hours even after the engine is turned off.
In terms of fleet management, you can view all your trackers in one go. You must email the SinoTrack support team to create a group account. This will include all the tracker IDs you own under one username.
The selling point of the OBD tracker is the no monthly fee. The device price is on the lower end. And also, with the phone plan charges, it is still a cheaper option than the subscription plans offered by other GPS car trackers.
Should You Purchase The SinoTrack Car GPS Tracker 4G?
If you are looking for a basic car location-tracking device, then the SinoTrack OBD tracker can be a decent choice. It will also work for users on a small budget.
You get basic alerts like geofences, speeding, and shaking. You can get real-time location details. The best part is no monthly fees.
The UI will take some time to get used to. Also, the lack of documentation is a drawback.
If you are looking for advanced features like accident detection, roadside assistance, and location sharing, explore other trackers.
Read through the pros and cons to understand if the OBD tracker is worth your investment.
Pros
- You can get location updates with a Google Maps link.
- You can manage multiple trackers with one account.
- You can set geofences and receive entry/exit alerts.
- The tracker offers detailed historical playback.
- The tracker has a built-in battery that can work for 1-2 hours after the engine is turned off.
- There are no monthly fees.
Cons
- The SMS configuration part can be challenging for some users.
- There is not much documentation available online.
- The app does not support push notifications.
- You need to buy the SIM card separately.
Price
The SinoTrack Car GPS Tracker 4G device is priced at $47.99.
You do not have to pay any monthly subscription fees. You do have to pay for a SIM card plan, though.
As mentioned above, the SIM should be able to call, send text messages and have internet access. It does not use much data monthly, so a basic plan should work fine.
FAQ’s
By connecting the OBD tracker, you can know the location of your vehicle in real-time, driving habits, and history. The tracker uses about 30MB of data every month for all its applications.
No. The SinoTrack car GPS tracker 4G does not come with a SIM card in the box. You will have to buy a local SIM card separately.
No. The SinoTrack Pro app does not support push notifications. However, you can set and receive alerts through SMS for events like geofence entry/exit, shock, or speeding.
Summary
The SinoTrack car GPS tracker 4G can help you with location updates when your loved ones are driving. As a fleet manager, you can always track where your vehicles are.
You can insert the tracker into the OBD port on your vehicle. The port is typically under the driver-side dashboard, below the steering wheel column.
The tracker has a built-in battery, so it will continue to function a couple of hours after you turn off the engine as well.
It offers basic features like geofences, historical playback, speeding, and shocking alarms. It has no monthly fee, but you need to pay for a SIM card plan.
If budget and location updates are your priority, this OBD tracker would be a decent buy.
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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.