While GPS trackers for pets are more associated with urban dogs and cats, they are becoming more popular among active pet owners who love city escapes. Such modern devices, especially those from reputable brands like https://petloc8.com/, rarely malfunction or lose connection. However, there is a belief that location monitoring gadgets do not work well in areas with potentially poor cellular coverage, like mountains, forests, or rural locations. Is it so?
Why GPS Trackers Matter for Pets
GPS trackers for pets have currently become a must-have accessory that offers convenience and peace of mind to the owners. If you are one of those who love mountain adventures and give your furry friend an off-leash moment of freedom, these modern gadgets are a non-negotiable purchase. Why?
There are plenty of wildlife distractions when you are in the mountains or forests. Also, unfamiliar terrain can make your furry friend stressed or scared. As a result, the risk of escaping and getting lost miles from home. In such areas, it is much more challenging to find your pet, so location monitoring devices turn out to be lifesavers.
Environmental Factors and Coverage Limitations
Yet going on active vacations with your pet is not without challenges. Even if you have bought a GPS tracker and you seem to be fully prepared for the adventure, you should keep in mind that not all location-monitoring devices are equally good for such areas far from excellent cellular coverage.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a perfect GPS tracker for your four-legged friend:
- because of the elevation in the mountains, the signal can drop or get lost completely;
- a dense forest might impact satellite reception;
- cellular coverage differs in rural areas, so some regions might have good coverage, while others — poor.
Therefore, depending on your vacation preferences, you might like to go for devices with built-in SIM cards like Petloc8 or opt for those that combine GPS and mobile networks.
Types of Trackers and Their Performance Outdoors
To have it all clear, let’s take a look at what the types of trackers are and how they perform outdoors. Knowing their pros and cons might help you make the right choice.
Satellite-Only
As their name implies, they work without a mobile signal. While they can provide location tracking practically anywhere, they have slower updates. Thus, whenever finding your buddy is a matter of minutes, they might let you down.
Cellular + GPS
Those combine both satellite and cellular coverage. Thus, you can expect more features and app integration. Such gadgets often come with monthly fees.
Bluetooth/Radio
There are no monthly fees or additional features, so they are simple to use and inexpensive. However, they are only great for tracking your pet’s location in neighboring areas.
Given the specific characteristics, the latter one is not suitable for adventures in the mountains or forests, so you can take a closer look at gadgets that are either satellite-only or combine both. Regardless of your choice, make sure the GPS tracker of your choice is waterproof and shockproof. Those are must-have features to ensure a long lifespan for devices while using them while having an active rest in the mountains or forests.
Best Practices for Outdoor Tracking
While the choice of the correct device is key, it is also essential to ensure correct maintenance to ensure it will not stop functioning in the most critical moment. Here are some expert tips on outdoor tracking:
- have your device fully charged before departure;
- always test signal strength early, especially if you know that going further in the woods or higher in the mountains means poorer coverage;
- set safe zones or geofencing boundaries;
- keep tracker firmware/apps updated to ensure syncs without halts and continuous work;
- use Wi-Fi assist mode if available at cabins/hotels.
Following those easy tips can ensure there will be no unexpected malfunctioning that will prevent you from finding out the real-time location of your four-legged friend while you are in the wilderness.
Continuous GPS Tracking Makes All the Difference Outdoors
While you are always hoping for a positive experience, nature is unpredictable. Weather shifts, wildlife distractions, and unfamiliar paths can turn quickly, and you might need to react quickly to find your pet within minutes. Thus, GPS trackers are must-haves in such situations, but they should be selected and maintained properly.
Here is a quick tip to ensure your active rest in the wilderness goes as smoothly as possible. Ensure that the selected devices provide continuous location tracking, or interruptions are rare and short, and that your gadget is working correctly. If you can confirm both, your adventure with a pet should be nothing but positive.
