pettracking
Latest
The best GPS trackers for cats and dogs
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. A GPS pet tracker can save your cat's or dog's life if it ever escapes home. After spending more than 25 hours researching and testing four trackers, including having Wirecutter staffers take them all on a trip around Manhattan and a 35-mile bike ride, we've found the Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor to be the best tracker for most pet owners. Not only is the Whistle 3 as quick and accurate at tracking as any other model we tested, but it also has the longest-lasting battery by far.
Whistle's latest pet tracker is more accurate with better battery life
If you own a pet, you've likely thought about your friend running away at least once. Technologies like microchipping can help get lost pets back, but in the last few years some companies have been using the same tech in our smartphones as a way to keep close tabs on pets. Whistle is probably the most prominent of those: The company first released a health and fitness tracking collar in 2013 and then added GPS capabilities so you can locate a pet from your phone. Today, the company is announcing its latest pet tracker, the Whistle 3. It has the same basic features as the previous model, but some hardware improvements make the battery last longer and help to make location tracking more precise. The Whistle 3 has onboard WiFi in addition to Bluetooth, GPS and 3G cellular data; you can use that to set up "home zones" for your pet. If your dog wanders outside that WiFi home zone, you'll get an alert on your phone and the Whistle's cellular connection will kick on to pinpoint your pet's exact location.
Tractive uses GPS to track your pets
Most dogs and outdoor cats like to wander when they are left outside. Cats, especially, will disappear for the day on some adventure in your neighborhood. If you are concerned or curious about their travels, an upcoming product called Tractive will let you see where they go when they meander The device is a small GPS module that attaches to your pet's collar. It has a cellular radio that sends location data from the module to Tractive's servers. Owners can then track their pets in real time using a web app or an iOS app. As shown on their website, the iOS app will include a trace feature that allows users to plot their pets entire route. Tractive is an Austrian-based company and its pet-tracking product uses a GSM radio to transmit location data. It'll debut in a handful of European countries when it starts shipping in March 2013. In those areas where it is available, customers will pay for the service and Tractive will pay for all cellular data fees. The Tractive module will cost €249 (US$330) and service plans will start at €4.99 ($6.60) per month Customers in the US who are in the market for a similar product should look at Tagg, a GPS-based pet tracking service that runs on Verizon Wireless' CDMA network.
