Cost of Marine GPS Tracking Hardware for Boats
Before we look at the actual cost of hardware a quick explanation on how our systems actually work. In orbit around the Earth are a number of satellites that make up the 'Global Positioning System' or GPS. If you have a receiver in a vessel and it can locate at least 3 of them, it can work out where it is. This is done by a process called trilateration, put simply your receiver calculates how far it is from a satellite and draws a circle where it thinks it is. It now repeats that at least twice and where those circles overlap is its location.
So now it knows where it is it needs to tell tell our server so we can place it on the map. It does this using GPRS (Radio Data) and the internet. A data transmission unit is housed in the same box as the receiver and at set times it takes the location from the GPS receiver and transmits it to any nearby Cellular Network’s mast. This then relays it via the internet to a computer server which can be anywhere in the world. To achieve this in such a small package our trackers have extremely sensitive aerials so they can be included inside the unit avoiding tell tale external aerials
Our 4G maritime vessel GPS tracker range
AVT10 4g Budget Internal Tracker
The 4g AVT10 it is true to say is built to a price, it does not have lots of inputs like its bigger brothers, but importantly being 2g, 3g and 4g operational, this unit will work all over the Mediterranean down the coast of France and Spain as well as here in the UK.
If you are a weekend sailor using it largely to just check your vessel’s location and store its history, or you are worried about unauthorised use of your vessel in your absence, then this could be the unit for you.
It can be mounted almost anywhere inside a wooden, or GRP vessel's hull, inside a GRP fly bridge, or just placed inside a RIB's GRP control/steering console, of course it is not weatherproof, so common sense is needed when mounting it. Cost £55
AVT11 4g Professional Tracker
Our best-selling tracker - this professional 4g unit ticks most boxes and because the aerials are inside it clearly it is very easy to install, just requiring to be mounted where it can electrically see the sky i.e. Label side up (for example under the deck, inside a locker, or under a fibreglass / wooden roof). It is splash proof and also has an internal backup battery (lasts around 3 hours). Being a 4g unit it will work both inside and outside UK waters
If you operate commercially and your insurance requires you to install a tracker as long as you don't need waterproofing this is the one for you. It just needs a 10-30 volts supply and if you are on our Standard monthly rate it can send a message when equipment (Power Anchor, Engines, trim etc.) are used, along with Geo-fence updates. Cost £65
AVT12 4g Weatherproof
For the more exposed mounting this Professional tracker with its weatherproof housing (to IP67) is your best choice. This rugged unit gives you the added protection, especially needed for sports boats, from occasional water ingression. Note: Please bear in mind it will not however stand up to a direct hit from a high pressure water jet when cleaning the vessel, so please don’t try!
Being 4g it is future proof and is easily transferable to your next vessel whatever that may be. It can just be mounted on, or under in your fly-bridge / cabin roof / control console, under a RIB seat etc. If you are on our Standard monthly rate it can send a message when equipment (Power Anchor, Engines, trim etc.) are used along with Geo-fence updates. It can even have its software updated over the air Cost £75
Battery operated GPS Trackers
If your vessel has no main battery, if it is on a trailer most of the time, or just does not have the option of shore power, one of these units could be the answer! Our normal trackers when in sleep mode can last many, many weeks, but even they will eventually flatten your vessel’s battery. These battery powered units look to solve that problem in a different way. One has their own long life replaceable internal AA batteries. The other has a built in solar charger, to top its internal battery up.
It is important to understand they work differently to the vessel powered trackers above, because unlike those vessel powered units, they do not react to what the host is doing in the same way! They will still give you more frequent updates when moving and less frequent when static, because clearly every update use up battery power. The timing will depend on location and local cell site signal strength, for example a Vessel in the Mediterranean using the sun-powered unit will be able to have much more frequent updates then a vessel cruising Scottish waters. In most cases an update every one or two hour when not moving, increasing to every 10 to 15 minutes when underway is achievable, without putting too big a load on the batteries. Because we are able to updates our units over the air if we get the setting too low, or too high, we can adjust it without the need to send the unit back.
You can see more about sleep mode and a little more about the battery tracker in a short video here
AVT21 4g Internal Battery Powered GPS Tracker
This 4g GPS tracker runs on its own internal Lithium version of the standard AA battery. When the batteries do get too low to work, you can just replace them yourself with readily available replacements from places like Amazon for just a few pounds each. Working on LTE-M, or NB-IoT where available depending on location), it draws much less current in use than a traditional Cellular Tracker, unfortunately that makes them more expensive to manufacture
It cost £139 which is more than our other trackers but for owners of trailer mounted vessels or Jet Skis they are still a very attractive and unique option.
AVT22 4g Solar Powered GPS Tracker
This new, (2025) Solar Powered GPS tracker uses the sun to keep it alive. The update rate can be programmed over the air and so those in Sunnier locations like the Med, can have slightly more frequent updates than those in the UK. Not for anyone wanting a detailed history, but perfect for those on a swinging mooring just wanting to know it is still there, or if you are concerned someone is moving your vessel when you are away this could be a solution.
It cost £95 and being weatherproof and self-contained it can easily be fitted on top of locations like fly bridges, or under a cabin skylight etc. as long as it can see the sun.
While talking Solar Power, if you are happy to fit a basic 30-50 Watt Solar Panel (around £35 on Amazon) some customers have found that the AVT12 with all the advantages it has, will work if set to sleep mode when not moving, then can give the same more frequent updates it does in a vessel with a battery when underway. This because the AVT12's own internal battery only needs a trickle charge to keep it awake, although of course that assumes you are a weekend sailor and are not using the vessel 7 days a week.
Some Questions you may have
Why do I need 4G: There can be no doubt that the days of the existing 2G and 3G data network In the UK are numbered! Already around the world some 3G sites were closed early in 2022/3 and all probably by the end of 2026 they will all be gone from most of Europe. Of course in the UK we also know that because of the huge amount of infrastructure using 2G (Power Company Smart Meters, M2M Applications like Vending Machine etc.) that will have to be replaced, it is likely to be a few more years yet before the 2G networks that our first generation trackers use are closed down (probably after 2026 with O2 and Vodafone recently suggesting it will be gone soon after 2030).
Where it is of immediate concern is in some parts of the world not as advanced 2g data wise, or those whose population is thinly spread across the nation! Here scrapping the older networks has started these places includes Australia, New Zealand, parts of the USA and some countries bordering the Mediterranean. Therefore for our customers operating there and in other 'at risk' places, since 2023 we have been offering a future proof version of our AVT10, AVT11 and AVT12. These 4g units will work as usual using the 2G and 3G based packet data networks, but it also uses the latest LTE, or 4g networks that is replacing them. In the event the unit cannot find the older networks it will automatically switch to the 4g and continue sending.
Theft Deterrent: Let us be clear there is not a device made be it ours, or any other companies, that can stop someone stealing your boat and any salesman who tries to tell you different is a liar! That said a well hidden installation and some common sense can help a lot. Your first line of defence is if it is stolen and you are checking regularly, that you will know about it well before you turn up at the Marina with the family for a day out.
If you are on our standard rate and have an anti-theft device already installed, you can run a feed from the siren to our unit and it will send you a message when it goes off. A micro, or magnetic switch on a cabin door, even a simple inexpensive under-carpet pressure pad can do the same thing. A relay in your shore power feed will activate it when power is disconnected. The simple act of Geo-fencing your mooring will allow you to be emailed if it leaves the area and there are many more options, just talk to us to find out what others have done.
About our hardware: As you can see our units are not expensive, but you will sometimes find other devices (usually on line shopping sites) that are cheaper. They just like us use the American GPS system set up during the eighties, as a result these largely Asian imports will work OK here. However, our systems also uses the European GALILEO and Russian GLONASS GPS systems making our systems considerable more accurate as well as giving better coverage in difficult locations. Some of those system do not have 'memory backup' to store fixes that have not been sent, ours can store days of information to send later. Many tracking systems don’t react to your change of direction, ours will send a fix if you 'tack' more than a few degrees. Just a few of the many things we do to make tracking systems with all types of mariners in mind.
When we first started supplying trackers in the nineties all trackers were made up of Modules and had outside aerial! Below is a picture of the first Vehicle Tracker we designed and had assembled in nearby Fareham, along with the trackers we supply today for comparison.
Our first tracker circa 1998 using Mobitex
Today’s compact Tracker using cellular networks
At that time most customers were Companies who hosted the server themselves, but these days you don’t have to have the hassle. Modern computer devices let you go and ‘peep’ at your data on a professional hosted server, just using any internet browser. This means wherever you are in the world as long as you can borrow an internet device and know your password, you can check on your vessel anytime!
About Ordering: All of our tracking devices and accessories can simply and quickly be ordered by email, or by phone 03333 44 76 44 or if you are outside the UK +44 3333 44 76 44 All goods are normally dispatched within 24 hrs, but if you need it the same day call us and we will see what we can do. If you find the above selection bewildering and are not sure which one would be best for your needs, please phone us and let our experts guide you. You will not be greeted by a high pressure Sales-person, just a fellow Sails-person!