Sageplan SageTracker User manual

SageTracker
Sageplan, Inc
Users Guide
RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE VEHICLE TRACKING
Caution: Tracking other people or their equipment can be illegal.
Consult local regulations before using this device
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Table of Contents
Welcome ................................................................. 3
Getting Started......................................................... 3
Initial Installation...................................................... 4
Troubleshooting........................................................ 5
Do’s and Don’ts with your SageTracker........................ 6
Things to Remember ................................................. 8
FAQs ....................................................................... 9
Where to get help ................................................... 12

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Welcome
We hope that you enjoy your new SageTracker, and that you
find it both practical and easy to use. SageTracker uses GPS
(Global Positioning System) to track its location and GSM
cellular service to send telemetry to the web-based tracking
server. Your report frequency will depend upon the service
option you have chosen. Your personal web account may be
accessed at www.sagetracker.com and holds your tracking
maps, reports, and other information for 120 days.
Getting Started
Your SageTracker was shipped with three of the four batteries
installed. To install the fourth battery (included), unscrew the
cover panel using a coin and insert the battery into the tray.
We suggest that you place the device directly on the dashboard
of your vehicle for your first test drive. This insures that the
unit has excellent visibility to the GPS tracking satellites during
the initial synchronization process. Take a test drive, making
sure you are moving for enough time to gather several reports.
Once you have made your test run, you are ready to view your
reports online. Go to www.sagetracker.com using an Internet
Explorer web browser. Click on the “My Site” button, and then
check to be sure that all pop up blockers have been disabled for
the tracking site. The maps and data tables are generated
using pop-up windows and will not display if you have not
disabled all pop-up blockers.
Once you have disabled the pop-up blockers, use the username
and password included to sign onto your account. To see your
tracks, select “Vehicles & Locations”. Click on “Today’s Track”,
and then click the “Show Me” button to bring up the map and
data report for your test run.
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Initial Installation
GPS Signal Reception
GPS satellite signals are transmitted to varying degrees through
glass, fiberglass, plastics, and many other fabrics and
materials. SageTracker cannot “see” through metal.
SageTracker generally works well when placed in a glove
compartment, under the dash, or passenger seat of a vehicle
but it will not be able to obtain a new location fix if placed in
the trunk or under the hood.
SageTracker will attempt to generate a new location report at
the interval you selected anytime motion is detected.
SageTracker will spend up to five minutes generating a GPS fix.
If after five minutes SageTracker is unable to fix its location, it
will send a report to the web without an updated address.
SageTracker will not be able to generate a GPS geographic
location fix while inside enclosed structures such as a garage.
GSM Cellular Service Reporting
SageTracker uses the GSM cell phone network to send its
reports to the tracking system, so its ability to connect to the
internet is limited by the coverage of this network. Coverage in
populated areas is generally very good, but can be limited in
remote regions.
Batteries
A fresh set of 4 AA batteries will typically generate over 500
reports. The power level of the batteries is listed under the
column labeled “Battery” on your tracking website and is
displayed as a percentage. The batteries should be replaced
when the power level drops below 20. Use only alkaline
batteries as other types may damage the unit and void your
warranty.

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Troubleshooting
The device is reporting, but there is no address or the
reported address is not correct.
The most likely cause is a weak GPS satellite signal. This
problem can most often be remedied by moving the device to
an alternate location within the vehicle. As a quick check to
make sure that the device is functioning properly, place it in a
location with excellent visibility to the open sky to verify that it
does report addresses under these conditions. If the unit is not
generating consistent GPS location reports in the location you
have need to use, consider purchasing the optional external
antenna to improve the GPS signal strength.
There are three possible causes for reports with an incorrect
address:
1. No GPS Location reported during last GPS fix cycle: If
SageTracker was not able to generate a new location report
due to a weak or non-existent GPS signal, then the tracking
software will place the vehicle at the last known location on
the map and generate a report in the data table without an
updated address.
2. Weak GPS Signal: If the column labeled “GPS” in the data
table below the tracking map reports the latest address as
“Estimated”, this means that there were insufficient GPS
satellites available to the unit to generate a location report
with high accuracy. While estimate reports are often useful,
they can on occasion be completely erroneous.
3. Map Inaccuracies: We have had a few reports of the street
address not being accurate, although in this case the
physical location on the map generally agrees with the
physical location of the unit.
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Do’s and Don’ts with your SageTracker
Do
Check your battery usage on your web page and replace them
with high quality standard AA alkaline batteries when they fall
below 20%.
Place your SageTracker where it will have a clear line of sight to
the sky and receive a fix from the GPS satellites. Concealed
devices may give you fewer location fixes than devices left in
the open and will take longer to get a fix. Sometimes a slight
adjustment in location can make a big difference in the
reporting quality.
Locations that tend to provide good reporting:
•In the glove compartment
•Under the passenger seat
•Under the package shelf in the rear window
•Inside a fiberglass bumper (not metal bumper)
•On the dashboard (remove on hot, sunny days)
•In the rear window (remove on hot, sunny days)
Locations that may reduce reporting quality:
•In the trunk (Hatchbacks/SUV’s may be OK)
•Completely underneath the vehicle
•Inside the engine compartment (extreme heat)
•In the wheel well (water spray)
•Inside buildings or garages
•In direct sunlight for extended periods (extreme heat)
Don’t
Don’t use your SageTracker in prohibited areas that restrict
wireless or two-way radio usage. Using your SageTracker in
prohibited areas may be illegal and/or dangerous. These areas
can include hospitals, blasting sites, and in or near aircraft.
Don’t keep the device in direct contact with your body.
SageTracker is not designed to be worn. Maintain a space of at

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least one inch between the device and your skin. People with
pacemakers should not carry the SageTracker on or near their
body and should maintain a distance of at least 8”.
Don’t place your SageTracker over the airbag in the vehicle. If
the airbag deploys, this could cause significant injury.
Don’t use rechargeable batteries or anything other than high
quality alkaline batteries. Generic and discount batteries are
not recommended and may cause the unit to function
improperly. Non-alkaline batteries may cause the device to
malfunction and will void your warranty.
Don’t block the device with metal. SageTracker will not get a
satellite fix or be able to report the location when the GPS
signal is blocked by a metal obstruction.
Don’t install the unit next to other transmitting devices, such as
satellite radios, VHF, radar, or other SageTrackers, as they may
interfere with each other.
Yes, it is OK to…
Place the device inside a covering, to protect it. You may use
plastic or paper. A weatherproof box may be purchased from
SageTracker to fit your device.
Attach the device with magnets. A magnetic bracket is
available from SageTracker for this purpose.
Attach the device with duct tape or other industrial quality
adhesive.
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Things to Remember
SageTracker needs to “see” the GPS satellites in order to report
the location. If you have no address in the address, your
SageTracker cannot communicate with the GPS satellites.
Remember that concealed devices will provide fewer fixes and a
longer reporting interval than devices left in the open.
The device needs to have cellular coverage in order to send
reports. If the device travels to a rural area with no cell
coverage, it will not be able to report. If the unit loses its
cellular connection, it will automatically transmit its tracking
history when it is able to reconnect to cellular service.
Areas that are mountainous heavily forested or streets with
many high rise buildings may have interference.
Credits
If you have chosen a prepay plan, please note that each time
the device sends a report, it uses 1 credit. Your credit balance
is listed at the top of your tracking site, and you may purchase
more credits by clicking on the “Buy Credit” button beside it. If
you run out of credits, you will not be able to log into your
website until your purchase additional credits.
If you have chosen an unlimited monthly wireless service you
do not need to worry about credits for your tracker.

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FAQs
Where can I use SageTracker?
Vehicles: SageTracker works well in a variety of vehicles
including boats, trailers, RVs and automobiles. Materials that do
not impede SageTracker’s visibility (provided they are relatively
thin) include fiberglass, plastics, most composite materials, and
glass. Metal will reduce the device’s ability to find its location.
Good locations to try include a glove compartment, a side map
box, under the dash of a car.
Regional Considerations: Depending upon your service
option, SageTracker can be used anywhere in North America
where GSM service is available. While coverage is improving
almost daily, some of the more remote regions may not have
adequate coverage to operate the device.
How long will the batteries last?
Fresh alkaline batteries of good quality will last for about 500
reports. To convert this number to days, divide 500 into the
average number of vehicle motion per day times the number of
reports per hour of vehicle motion in your plan.
What is a Geofence?
A Geofence is an area you define on the map that you want to
know when your vehicle enters or leaves. Setting up a
Geofence takes only a minute on your personalized website,
you can tell the SageTracker website to notify you if your
vehicle enters or leaves the Geofence. For more information,
please consult the “help” section of the tracking website, click
on “map window” then click on “create a Geofence” to walk you
through the process.
How do I set up a Notification?
From your tracking home page, click on “My Settings” then
“Notifications”. Scroll down to “User Notification” and fill in the
step by step form.
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What is an access credit?
An access credit is used to keep track of how many messages
are being sent back and forth between your device and the
online tracking system. SageTracker will attempt to generate a
new location report at the interval you selected anytime motion
is detected. When the device is at rest it sends a report
approximately once every day. In either case when a message
is sent into the system by the device, one credit is debited from
your account. If you run out of credits, more can be purchased
by clicking on “Buy Credits” at the top of your tracking map.
Will SageTracker work inside of a garage?
Probably not. While SageTracker is able to “see” through many
common materials used to build vehicles (i.e. rubber, plastic,
glass, fiberglass, and most composite materials), the
combination of a garage ceiling and roof are generally enough
to keep SageTracker from establishing a location fix.
What is the Reporting Frequency of SageTracker?
SageTracker can be programmed to send out reports at
intervals ranging from 2 minutes to once per day.
Can I change the reporting frequency of my
SageTracker?
Yes. To change the reporting interval of a unit please contact
Technical Support at [email protected].
Which Browsers can I use with SageTracker?
SageTracker has been verified to work with Internet Explorer.
Using any other internet browser may lead to unexpected
results.
Why is my unit showing my location as Austin, TX?
Until the unit successfully sends in its first location report from
your area, it will show its location as being at our test facility in
Austin Texas, as this will have been the last successful location
fix it achieved before being shipped to you.
Is it legal to use SageTracker in my area?
Due to the wide variability of state and local regulations, our
company is unable to provide legal advice for a particular
application of SageTracker in any given jurisdiction. It is up to

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the user to understand and comply with the laws and
regulations of their area.
How do I check the battery level?
The battery level is listed under “Battery” on the location report
table. The number reported is from 0 to 100 remaining
percentage of battery power left in the device. We recommend
changing the batteries when the level falls below 20%.
My maps and reports won’t display, what’s wrong?
Make sure your pop up blocker is set to allow pop ups from
your tracking site. When you click the “Show Me” button, and
nothing happens, look on your screen for a message bar from
the pop up blocker. Often you can click on the message bar
and select “Allow Pop Ups from this site.”
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Where to get help
Log onto www.sagetracker.com, click on “My Site”, enter your
username and password and click on “Help”. Many topics are
covered on this site.
SageTracker Technical Support Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time
Contact Information
Email: su[email protected]m
Phone: [phone]
We are interested in your feedback on the device and how we
can improve our manual. Thank you for your patronage. Please
feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
Sageplan, Inc.
807 Brazos Street
Suite 910
Austin, TX 78701
[phone]
www.sageplan.com
www.sagetracker.com