There may be times when a device is unable to acquire a GPS fix (for example it is indoors) but it can connect to the cellular network and upload its data. When a valid fix cannot be acquired, Digital Matter devices will report the last known valid fix (and the timestamp of this fix will be reported with the GPS Data - Field 0). On top of this, a 3D Fix OK, and Valid Fix flag are contained with the GPS data (see integration documents for more details if using a 3rd party platform).

A challenge for an end software platform is identifying when a GPS fix is out of date - so end users do not automatically assume a recent device update/upload means the location is current.

Given what is sent in the device data software platforms can work out which fixes are 'current'.

GPS data is sent in Field ID 0, and the lat/long (position) has an associated time - GPS Time - this was when the fix was obtained.
Additionally, there is a Record Time, the time the record was taken.

If a fix fails when taking a record - the last known good fix (and the time of that fix) is sent to the server. So the Record Time will be more recent than the GPS Time. and the difference gives us the GPS Age.

Telemetry

The GPS Age and GPS/3D Fix OK columns are available in the Telemetry view (Assets >> Telemetry)

GPS Age is in general a more useful indicator. 

The GPS age is displayed on the Live View pop-up for an asset.

How to use GPS Age, and comments

GPS Age on Externally Powered Devices

Externally powered devices such as the Bolt, G70 and Dart3 do not send a new GPS fix to the server on heartbeats (i.e. when sitting stationary) The device turns on its GPS every 2 hours to download new aiding data and ephemerides to speed up subsequent fixes, but the position from the end of the last trip is reported. Because of this behaviour, while parked the GPS age of a powered device will increase. On the latest version of FW - you may see up to 2hrs age, on older versions, the age will increase by an hour every heartbeat, indefinitely. 

As soon as a trip starts it should drop back to 0/unknown if the fix at the start of the trip was successful.

How to use the GPS Age indicator

The GPS Age indicator is most useful for battery-powered devices reporting infrequently, where a missed GPS fix results in there being a long period of time passing without a position update. For example consider a device getting a position and updating this position every 4 hours, beginning 8 am.

• 8 am, successful fix and update - GPS Age is 0
• 1200, failed fix, update - GPS age is 4 hrs.

If a user was going to visit an asset (e.g. to service it), they can check the live view and GPS age before going out. 

GPS Age in Telematics Guru

The GPS Age value is also available as a field in reports. By customising reports, you can get GPS Age to show alongside other values for the logs. 

Partners are also able to run a report at a 'Partner Level' to help support all organizations. Like the Device Data Export and Device Telemetry Export, you will need to customize the Partner Asset List Report to include the GPS Age column. 

You can also set up alerts to tell you when a device hasn't got a new fix in a set amount of time in minutes. Be careful when using this alert value condition due to how a device might not update its GPS fix when it calculates that it has not moved from a previous location (particularly powered devices as discussed above).

This is best used for early detection of issues with battery-powered devices. E.g. send an Alert if my Oyster2s have a very old GPS Age.