Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Gps Vehicle Tracking Systems Do I Need One

Writen by Ken Sink

GPS vehicle tracking systems are more affordable and more popular than ever before, but do you need one? Take this short quiz and keep track of your 'yes' answers. I'll help you total your score and decide after you finish.

Step One: Take Quiz

  1. Do I use vehicles in my business? Yes/No

    (The definition of 'vehicles' includes heavy, medium and light-duty vehicles, construction equipment (dozers, graders, backhoes, etc), cars, motorcycles, RV's, pick-up trucks, vans, tractor trailers, buses, trailers, dump trucks, snow plows, limousines, taxis, etc.)

  2. Have any of my vehicles been stolen in the past? Yes/No
  3. I'd like to know what is going on and where my employees/vehicles are during the day: Yes/No
  4. I'd like to reduce my fuel expenses and know if any of my vehicles are wasting gas: Yes/No
  5. Being able to give my customers accurate and precise arrival/delivery estimates is important to me: Yes/No
  6. It is important to know if any of my vehicles are used after hours or on weekends for non-business purposes: Yes/No
  7. I'd like save up to 30% on my vehicle insurance: Yes/No
  8. It is important to know if my employees are speeding or otherwise abusing my vehicles: Yes/No
  9. If any of my employees are using my vehicles to 'moonlight' or do work without my knowledge, I'd want to know: Yes/No
  10. Knowing about mechanical problems before they become expensive to fix is important: Yes/No
  11. If any of my vehicles are ever stolen, I'd like to locate them within minutes: Yes/No
  12. I'd like to have vehicle use data to compare with overtime requests as a way to guard against errors and fraud: Yes/No
  13. I'd like a reminder when it is time to do routine maintenance on my vehicles: Yes/No
  14. Occasionally, customers question when we were at their location, having the exact date and time recorded in our tracking system would really help in those cases: Yes/No
  15. I'd like to help my employees be more productive by seeing where they go each day: Yes/No

Step Two: Total Your 'Yes' Answers

Add up your 'yes' answers.

  • Fewer than 7 'yes' answers:Thanks for taking the quiz, you don't appear to want/need a vehicle tracking system.
  • 7 to 11 'yes' answers: Thanks for taking the quiz. You could greatly benefit from a vehicle tracking system.
  • More than 11 'yes' answers: Thanks for taking the quiz. You need a vehicle tracking system.

By the way, every question above (except question 1 & 2) is answered by using GPS vehicle tracking systems.

Step Three: Cost vs. Gain

The average business owner recoups their investment in GPS vehicle tracking systems within 6 – 12 months after purchase. Of course, your ROI may vary. Recovering one stolen vehicle may pay for your entire tracking system.

Vehicle tracking helps you reduce operating costs and boosts productivity.

Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by putting a spotlight on speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and drive up insurance rates. Vehicle tracking systems will also remind you when it's time for preventive maintenance, like oil changes, helping you keep your vehicles on the road and making you money.

GPS vehicle tracking systems improve productivity by:

  • documenting long lunch hours,

  • exposing unauthorized breaks,

  • comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver activity,

  • highlighting unauthorized vehicle use after hours and on weekends,

  • eliminating driver logs.

Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking systems.

Step Four: Due Diligence

GPS vehicle tracking systems are outstanding tools for vehicle and fleet management, but you need to find the right system for you. Take a look at the different types of GPS vehicle tracking systems.

Check a company's hardware and software, as well as their monthly data access plan. You'll also need to decide whether to buy or lease your GPS tracking system.

Good luck.

Ken Sink, owner of My Vehicle WatchDog, is a veteran with 20+ years of transportation experience, including fleet management of over 800 vehicles. Visit http://www.MyVehicleWatchDog.Info for more information about GPS vehicle tracking systems from Fleet Management Solutions, Networkfleet and Sprint/Nextel. Submit your info for a quick, no-obligation system quote. Quantity discounts for volume purchases.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

What Is A Satellite Radio

Writen by Paul Cris

Satellite radio is also called as digital radio. Since normal radio frequency is very low, the signals can be limited and you can listen to your favorite radio channels up to a certain limit (40, 50, 100 miles). When you go beyond a certain mile your radio won't get the proper signals. While going for a long journey, you won't be able to listen to your favorite radio stations. You need to keep tuning to get the nearest radio station so that clarity is good.

A satellite radio is a kind of static radio, wherein you can listen to certain radio stations anywhere in the world. It's a fixed and permanent radio station. No matter where you are, in Florida or Texas, while traveling or at home, you can receive up to 100 radio stations with very good frequency and of CD quality. There are two-satellite radio services in the US - Sirius and XM. Subscribers have to pay a monthly fee of $9.95. Many car manufacturers have started installing satellite radio receivers. If you want to listen to satellite radio at your home or office you can buy a portable satellite radio and listen to your favorite radio stations. There are many companies manufacturing satellite radios and you can buy them online or at retail stores.

The radio stations of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio have their own program schedule. The programs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sports, entertainment, talk shows and many other programs are aired.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Satellite Radios Impact On College Sports

Writen by Scott Fish

Sports is filled with Rights and fees. Who has the right to broadcast and reproduce sports, and how gets paid? College Universities always hold local radio rights for their sports programs. Satellite radio has caused a conflict with these schools due to the amount of the local broadcasts going national over satellite systems.

Many universities believe that the local radio stations should receive some proceeds from these broadcasts. However in many cases, they are not currently getting any money from satellite radio Services.

Negotiations have occurred at some level but not for every one, it has been a league-by-league issue. XM, for example, deals with several major conferences, including the Pac-10. However, Sirius negotiated individual deals with Southern California and UCLA, and these are all creating a conflict between the companies and their respective teams and leagues. And although these fees are not very large, with a growing subscriber base and increased satellite radio popularity, the fees and the battle to control rights are definitely going to increase and heat up!

It's going to be very interesting as the fight to control content gets more heated, we have seen it happen with TV and traditional radio, and now it's satellite radio's turn.

Scott Fish is the owner of Satellite Radio Sirius and XM satellite Radio Reviews - Search Engine Optimization Firm

Friday, January 2, 2009

Why You Should Consider Xm Radio

Writen by Christopher Luck

What is the best entertainment at a cheap price for your car, home, or office? I know you might initially be thinking the internet or cable television is the answer, but the newest trend is a twist on an old form of entertainment. Satellite radio frees you from commercials and is a great experience for most. You don't have to listen to jingles and bad commercials. There is also no need to seek out obscure radio stations when you are in a rural area. One of the best ways to get satellite radio is through XM Radio.

XM Radio was the first of the satellite radio companies to take to the sky. They were a pioneer that has spawned at least one other big time competitor. It was the first to make the service popular and is still more popular than other satellite radio services, though others are gaining ground fast.

As was mentioned before, XM Radio was the first to establish itself as an alternative to regular radio. Because of this, they have a market share of around 2 million listeners. That is still no where near the popularity of cable and satellite television, but it is a big stare for something that has not been around very long. Because XM Radio has had time to establish themselves they have put together a great system of 68 music channels that are completely commercial-free and offer a great variety of types of music. You can find everything from classical, to rapp, to jazz on these stations. In addition to the many music stations, XM Radio also has 33 additional channels consisting of news, sports, talk, and even entertainment. Then, to make sure local customers don't miss out, XM Radio offers about 21 channels of weather and traffic for many of the major metropolitan areas in the United States.

There are many reasons to choose satellite radio. It is, after all, the hottest and newest trend in radio entertainment and can be valuable to you in your home, office, or even your vehicle. In fact, many new cars and trucks are coming equipped for satellite radio and include programming packages prepaid for a year or so. The idea is that once you have it you won't want to be without it. So if you enjoy radio entertainment and like the idea of having many varieties in programming at your fingertips, then consider XM Radio or one of the other satellite radio programming providers out there. You will find a more consistent, convenient, and on demand radio programming selection right at your fingertips.

If would like to find more of my personal articles on Satellite Radio, please feel free to visit my website on Satellite Tips!