How to Set Up GPS Location Tracking

SPYERA lets you track the GPS location of a target device straight from your web account. You can follow its movements continuously or request its current position on demand, then view the history on a map or export it to tools like Google Earth.

Two GPS tracking modes

• Continuous — the device location uploads to your web account automatically on a timer.
• On-demand — you request the current location only when you need it, which helps conserve the device’s battery.

How to view location data

In your web account, go to Data > Locations. From here you can:

• View historical GPS data on a map
• Export GPS data
• Turn GPS tracking on or off, or change the location timer
• Get the device’s current location

1. View historical GPS data on a map

1. From the Locations menu, click the History tab.
2. Choose the start and end date for the data you want.
3. The results appear on the map along with their coordinates.
4. Click Animate to replay the path the device travelled between locations.

2. Export GPS data

You can export location data to use in your preferred mapping application, such as Google Earth, for a deeper understanding of where the device has travelled.

1. Click the Export button.
2. Click Download in the dialog box.
3. Open the saved KML file in your mapping application.

3. Turn GPS tracking on or off, or change the timer

SPYERA captures GPS data based on two things: whether GPS tracking is enabled in SPYERA, and the GPS timer. Both SPYERA’s tracking feature and the device’s own GPS must be switched on for location data to be captured and uploaded.

1. Click GPS Tools.
2. In the dialog box, click Start Location Tracking.
3. Turn GPS tracking on or off and set the GPS timer.

By default, tracking is enabled and the interval is set to 20 minutes, so location data uploads every 20 minutes as long as the device’s own location service is switched on. Setting the interval below 20 minutes will drain the battery quickly.

4. Get the current location on demand

You can request the device’s current location at any time, without waiting for the next timed upload.

1. From the GPS Tools menu, click Get Current Location.
2. Click Get Current Location Now.

SPYERA retrieves the device’s current location and uploads it to your web account.

About GPS accuracy

GPS accuracy depends on the method used to obtain the location. Factors include GPS signal strength, whether the device is indoors or outdoors, the positioning method used by the phone and carrier (assisted GPS vs. cell ID), and the GPS hardware inside the target phone. For the best results, the target phone should be outdoors.

SPYERA reports the location data the target phone generates. If the phone’s own GPS accuracy is off, that’s a limitation of the device rather than SPYERA, and the positioning method our software uses cannot be changed manually.