5 Reasons Why Your Bike Needs a Satellite GPS Tracker Instead of a Bluetooth Tracker

GPS trackers for bikes are technology’s answer to bike theft. However, not all bike trackers are created equal. So how are you supposed to choose between a satellite GPS tracker and a Bluetooth tracker? Well, read on as we break down exactly why this decision is a no-brainer.

1. Global Coverage vs. Limited Range

The most obvious win for satellite GPS over Bluetooth trackers is their range. A satellite GPS tracker gives you the ability to track your bike anywhere in the world (as long as there is satellite or cellular coverage). This makes it ideal for tracking bikes moved far from their original location.

On the other hand, Bluetooth trackers are severely limited by their short-range connectivity, which is typically between 10-30 metres. This is great if you’ve somehow misplaced your bike inside your own home, but not much use if you’re out and about. 

Once your bike moves out of range, the Bluetooth tracker becomes essentially useless until it connects to another Bluetooth device. For this reason, Bluetooth trackers are generally used for finding things around your house like your keys rather than bikes out in the big bad world.

💡 Pro Tip: If you frequently park your bike in high-risk areas or take it on long rides, a satellite GPS tracker is your best bet for reliable, long-distance coverage.

2. Integration with Advanced Features

When we talk about the best GPS tracker for a bike, we often speak only of its tracking capabilities. But when it comes to bike security, there are a lot more features available with a satellite GPS tracker that help to keep your bike safe. Satellite GPS trackers like the AirBolt offer a suite of advanced features such as:

• Geo-Fencing: This nifty feature lets you set up virtual boundaries around your bike along with notifications to your phone, allowing you to be notified if it moves outside the geo-fenced zone.
• Accelerometer: The AirBolt comes with a built-in accelerometer which can pick up on movements and alert you if your bike is moving when it shouldn’t be.
• Loud Buzzer: The AirBolt also has a loud buzzer which can alert people if your bike is being stolen.

These features are very rarely found on Bluetooth trackers. While they can help locate your bike if it is close by, they lack a number of the advanced security features found in quality bicycle GPS trackers.

3. Independence from Nearby Devices

Let’s talk about how these two types of devices actually work. Bluetooth tracking devices tend to rely on crowd-sourced networking, using nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices to relay their location when out of range. 

This can work in populated areas, but it can fail in remote or low-traffic zones with few compatible devices nearby. 

The same issue doesn’t exist for satellite GPS trackers. They connect directly to satellite or cellular networks and have no reliance on the proximity of other devices.

4. Different Tools for Different Purposes

These two types of tracker devices are intended to help find things, but that’s where the similarities end. 

Bluetooth GPS trackers have gained popularity over the years because of how easy they make it to track small, ‘loseable’ items around the home. This is what they’re best at, although we can’t help but mention that our GPS tracker switches to using similar technology around the house as well.

On the other hand, GPS trackers are made for tracking things outside the home. For higher-value items that you would truly hate to lose (such as bicycles, or pets, or cars), that’s what GPS trackers are made for. 

5. Better Security for Theft Recovery

When your bike gets stolen, time is everything. The faster you can locate it, the better your chances of recovery. Satellite GPS trackers are built with this fact in mind—they’re designed to provide precise, real-time location data from the very moment that your bike is stolen.

GPS trackers offer near exact coordinates for your bike while it’s on the move and once it comes to a stop. The AirBolt itself can be set up so that if your tracker leaves its geo-fenced area, this will trigger continuous tracking. This gives you real-time updates on exactly where your GPS is headed. This can provide valuable information not only to you, but it can also galvanise the police into tracking your bike down since they will have an actual lead to go off.

Unfortunately for Bluetooth tracking devices, there isn’t much that they can do once your bike has moved out of range. 

Final Thoughts

We know that bike theft is a worry on the minds of all cyclists. So having a reliable tracking device gives you peace of mind that is hard to value. When it comes to protecting your bike from thieves, there really is only one winner here. Don’t leave your bike’s safety to chance, grab yourself a satellite GPS tracker and know that you’ve got the best protection available.

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P.S. AirBolt is one of the best bike GPS trackers out there - get yours today here.