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Understanding GPS Accuracy: What to Expect and How to Optimize Performance

Alfredo Montalvo
  • Updated

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GPS Accuracy Expectations

Under normal conditions, Hapn GPS trackers provide location accuracy within 10-16 feet (3-5 meters) of the actual position. This means there may be a small difference between where your tracker actually is and where it appears on the map.

This level of accuracy is standard across the GPS tracking industry and is sufficient for most tracking applications, including:

  • Vehicle fleet management
  • Asset location monitoring
  • General security and recovery purposes

Important: Minor location variations are normal and expected, not a sign of device malfunction.

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How GPS Technology Works

GPS trackers determine location by communicating with satellites in orbit around Earth. Here's a simplified explanation:

  1. Signal Reception: Your tracker receives signals from multiple GPS satellites (typically 4 or more)
  2. Distance Calculation: The tracker measures how long signals take to travel from each satellite
  3. Position Triangulation: Using these distance measurements, the tracker calculates its precise location
  4. Location Reporting: The calculated position is sent to Hapn servers via cellular connection

Key Requirement: GPS requires a clear "line of sight" to satellites. When this connection is blocked or weakened, accuracy can be affected.


Common Factors Affecting Accuracy

Several environmental and technical factors can impact your tracker's GPS accuracy:

Signal Obstructions

  • Buildings and structures: Indoor locations, underground areas, dense urban environments
  • Natural barriers: Heavy tree cover, deep valleys, mountainous terrain
  • Materials: Metal roofs, concrete structures, steel containers

Environmental Conditions

  • Weather: Heavy cloud cover, storms, atmospheric interference
  • Urban canyon effect: Tall buildings reflecting GPS signals, causing multipath errors
  • Satellite position: Fewer visible satellites can reduce accuracy

Tracker-Specific Factors

  • Placement: Poor positioning can block GPS antenna reception
  • Battery level: Low battery may affect GPS performance
  • Device age: Older trackers may have reduced sensitivity

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Understanding Normal GPS Behavior

Expected Scenarios

Underground Parking

  • What happens: Tracker shows last known position (often the garage entrance)
  • Why: GPS signal cannot penetrate underground
  • Normal behavior: Position updates resume when vehicle exits

Indoor Locations

  • What happens: Tracker may show location near the building but not exact indoor position
  • Why: GPS signals are weakened by building materials
  • Normal behavior: Accuracy improves when moved outdoors

Dense Urban Areas

  • What happens: Occasional position "jumping" or temporary inaccuracy
  • Why: Signal reflection off buildings causes interference
  • Normal behavior: Accuracy stabilizes in open areas

When GPS Drift Occurs

GPS drift refers to gradual position changes when a tracker is stationary. This is normal and typically appears as:

  • Small movements within a 30-50 foot radius
  • Position "wandering" around the actual location
  • Temporary incorrect addresses or nearby streets

Important: If you see GPS drift, your tracker is functioning normally. This is not a device problem.


Optimizing Your Tracker's GPS Performance

Proper Placement Guidelines

For Vehicle Tracking:

  • Place under seats with GPS antenna facing up (toward the sky)
  • Avoid metal compartments (glove box, trunk, center console)
  • Keep away from electronic devices that may cause interference

For Asset Tracking:

  • Position with clear view of the sky when possible
  • Avoid placing inside metal containers or buildings
  • For outdoor placement, ensure the GPS antenna is not obstructed

For OBD Trackers:

  • Standard OBD port placement is usually sufficient
  • If experiencing issues, ensure the port area isn't heavily shielded by metal

Environmental Considerations

  • Allow connection time: New installations may take 5-10 minutes to achieve optimal accuracy
  • Move to open areas: For initial setup, test in locations with clear sky visibility
  • Monitor performance: Check accuracy in your typical operating environment

Reporting Mode Optimization

Different reporting modes can affect GPS performance:

  • Performance Mode: More frequent GPS fixes, potentially better accuracy
  • Normal Mode: Balanced accuracy and battery life
  • Power Saving Mode: Less frequent updates, may show larger gaps in tracking

For detailed placement instructions specific to your tracker model, see our Tracker Placement Guides.


When to Contact Support

Contact Hapn support if you experience:

Consistent Inaccuracy

  • Location errors consistently greater than 50 feet (15 meters)
  • Occurs in multiple open-area locations with clear sky visibility
  • Continues after proper tracker placement and environmental optimization

Complete GPS Loss

  • Tracker shows "No GPS" status for extended periods in open areas
  • Position hasn't updated for several hours in good signal conditions
  • Device shows as online but location never updates

Unusual Behavior

  • Tracker appears to "teleport" to distant incorrect locations
  • Shows movement when stationary for extended periods
  • Consistently reports locations in wrong cities or states

Before contacting support:

  1. Verify your tracker placement follows our guidelines
  2. Test in an open outdoor area for 10-15 minutes
  3. Check that your subscription is active and up to date


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does my tracker show my car in the driveway when it's in the garage? A: This is normal GPS behavior. Garage structures often block GPS signals, so the tracker displays the last accurate position it received before entering the garage.

Q: My tracker seems to move slightly even when parked. Is this a problem? A: No, this is called GPS drift and is completely normal. Small position variations (10-50 feet) occur due to satellite positioning changes and atmospheric conditions.

Q: Can I improve my tracker's accuracy? A: Yes, proper placement is the most important factor. Ensure your tracker has the best possible view of the sky and avoid placing it in metal enclosures.

Q: How long does it take for GPS to become accurate after installation? A: Initial GPS acquisition typically takes 2-5 minutes in open areas. For new installations or after extended periods offline, allow up to 10 minutes for optimal accuracy.

Q: Does weather affect GPS accuracy? A: Heavy storms or thick cloud cover can occasionally affect GPS signals, but normal weather conditions (light rain, snow, etc.) typically don't impact performance significantly.

Understanding these GPS fundamentals helps you set appropriate expectations and recognize when your tracker is performing normally versus when there might be a genuine issue requiring attention.

Need additional help? Contact our support team at support@gethapn.com or submit a ticket.

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