SIM Cards | Gator Tracking

Gator/M2M Provided SIM's

Gator have recently started providing SIM cards with their trackers, any device that comes with a SIM requires no configuration of the device or the SIM to begin working!

Similarly, if your device was working on the old server, there is no need to change this at all (unless you are changing the SIM card)

3G shut-off

Certain mobile networks in Australia have ceased or indicated they will cease operating a 3G network. We have a solution for this with the GTKPRO2, and going forward all tracking products will work with on the: LTE CAT M1 network, designed for IoT applications like Trackers. If you need to know which provider supports your current hardware, we have a a basic guide:

Unit	3G	4G (CATM1)
GTRACK3G	Vodafone & Optus
GTRACK4G	Telstra
GTRAK4QB	Any/All providers
GTRAKAST	Any/All providers
GTRAKPRO	Any/All Providers
GTKPRO2		TDJ SIM Only

If you want to provide your own SIM card, or have a legacy device that did not come with a Gator SIM card, keep reading!

Jump to Telstra Jump to Optus Jump to Vodafone

Because our devices require a mobile internet connection to operate, and there is no screen or indicator other than a simple LED (read the manual for details on the LED), therefore, to configure/test the SIM card. The most common way of interacting with a SIM card, is via SMS! Simple Message Service, or Text Messaging.

Save the number for the SIM you've entered into the tracker in your phone, then send it a text (defined in your manual), and you will get the status, set the timezone, change the password, and other settings depending on the model.

This page is about SIM's, and in particular, the APN's required to get Australian SIM cards connected to the Internet. There are plenty of forum posts and search results, however we've actually bought and tested a SIM from every major (and a bunch of minor) providers, and tested them in our devices, these settings work. If they don't work for you, please contact us for help.

Physically insert the SIM

A full-size sim is required.

Telstra

For sim cards that use the Telstra network: common examples include: Telstra, Aldi, Woolworths, Boost and TeleChoice

The GTRACK4G can operate on all networks but is better suited to the telstra network, due to the radio frequencies used.

Send the following SMS to your devices sim number from another mobile device.

Important [space] is meant as a single press of the spare bar, and 123456 is the default password, if you have changed this (recommended!), then use your password
```
apn123456[space]telstra.internet#
```

The device will reply to the phone that sent the message in about 15 seconds or less with a like message:

APN setting OK,APN:telstra.internet,Username:, Password:,now will restart to make effect

If instead an error is returned, please check the spelling carefully and ensure that the apn name is all lowercase and that there are no unintended spaces or characters. Autocorrect can often play havok with these types of messages.

Optus

For sim cards using the Optus network: common examples include: Optus, Amaysim, Coles, Exetel, IInet, Internode, Virgin and Iprimus

Send the following SMS to your devices sim number from another mobile device.

Important [space] is meant as a single press of the spare bar, and 123456 is the default password, if you have changed this (recommended!), then use your password
```
apn123456[space]connect#
```

The device will reply to the phone that sent the message in about 15 seconds or less with a like message:

APN setting OK,APN:connect,Username:, Password:,now will restart to make effect

Vodafone

For sim cards using the Vodafone network: common examples include: Vodafone, TPG and Kogan.

Send the following SMS to your devices sim number from another mobile device.

Important [space] is meant as a single press of the spare bar, and 123456 is the default password, if you have changed this (recommended!), then use your password
```
apn123456[space]live.vodafone.com#
```

The device will reply to the phone that sent the message in about 15 seconds or less with a like message:

APN setting OK,APN:live.vodafone.com,Username:, Password:,now will restart to make effect

Check the current APN Configurred

You can check the APN setting by sending the following command

apn#

The APN settings are to allow the device to use the internet. it is not required to use the device using SMS command tracking If your device works using the SMS system but does not work using the server. It is most likely an issue relating to the APN setting. If the device does not work at all including through SMS commands then it is likely a sim card issue (account status etc etc) check that the sim card has been activated successfully by calling its number from your phone. Sim cards can sometimes take a while to come on line.

As mentioned, your device can be tracked using SMS commands, to locate your device send it the following SMS command:

where#

A full list of sim card brands and their corresponding host network references can be found here: Wiki Page

Next Steps

Now that your device has been configured, you can add it to the gator.net.au server.

Add Your Device