The Meta Shield is a self-monitored vehicle and asset tracking system. "Self-monitored" means that this product is not professionally monitored by Meta Trak's secure operating centre and, therefore, does not include theft support. It is designed for users to track, monitor, and manage their vehicles or assets themselves in a cost-effective manner. The Meta Trak Shield tracking system includes mobile and web applications to view real-time data of your vehicles or assets anytime and anywhere.

For further information about this product's tracking capabilities and features, please refer to the general features section.

The Meta Trak Shield is equipped with Meta Trak’s Wireless Link Architecture technology, allowing seamless pairing with other Meta Trak hardware for easy, quick, and reliable integration.

Upgrades and additions for the Meta Trak Shield tracking system include:

1. Automatic and Remote Immobilisation:

You can pair Meta Trak’s wireless immobiliser with the Shield tracking device to enable automatic or remote immobilisation capabilities. If you initially have only the Shield tracking device installed, the engine immobiliser can be easily added later. Once installed, it will be paired with your system, providing additional security and functionality.

To enable automatic immobilisation, a Meta Trak driver recognition ID tag needs to be paired with the Shield tracking system. The ID tag is responsible for blocking and unblocking the immobiliser and, consequently, the vehicle's engine. When the vehicle ignition is off and the ID tag is out of range (5-10m), the immobiliser will block. When the ID tag comes back into close proximity to the vehicle, the engine immobiliser unblocks automatically, requiring no input from the vehicle owner/driver.

Adding Meta Trak’s engine immobilisation also adds remote immobilisation functionality to the system. With remote immobilisation, you can send commands over the air to the vehicle to activate the immobiliser. When a remote immobilisation command is enabled, the vehicle cannot be started even when the driver recognition ID tag is in proximity, as the command overrides the ID tag's normal function of unblocking the engine immobiliser.

The ‘remote immobilisation only’ configuration requires you to operate the immobiliser manually but remotely to block or unblock it via Meta Trak’s customer app or a web-based portal. This configuration does not require the use of a driver recognition ID tag, offering cost savings as automatic immobilisation is not enabled.

2. Conversion to Thatcham Category S7 or S5:

If your vehicle insurer requires you to have a Thatcham insurance-approved tracking system fitted to your vehicle, your Shield tracking system can be upgraded to achieve this.

Upgrading to a Thatcham Category S7 tracking system involves purchasing a Thatcham S7 subscription directly from Meta Trak. This addition provides 24/7 monitoring and professional theft support, converting your Shield tracking system to a Thatcham Category S7 system, known as Meta Trak S7 ALS.

To upgrade to a Thatcham Category S5 tracking system, you need to purchase a Thatcham S5 subscription from Meta Trak and at least one driver recognition ID tag. The ID tag is required as part of the Thatcham Category S5 criteria, as all S5 systems feature automatic driver recognition. This feature proactively alerts Meta Trak’s secure operating centre when the vehicle is driven without the ID tag present. After conversion, your Meta Trak Shield becomes a Meta Trak S5 VTS.

With Meta Trak's modern smartphone app, tracking your vehicle's location in real-time has never been easier. You can view your vehicle's most recent position as soon as you open the Meta Trak app or send a position request command to receive live updates. Keep the Meta Trak app open to monitor your vehicle's movements in real-time with Google Maps integration. Real-time tracking is also available via desktop with Meta Trak's web-based portal.

The Meta Trak app will record all of your journeys for a year. A journey begins when your vehicle's ignition switches on and the vehicle starts moving, and it ends when the vehicle's ignition switches off. You can access this journey log through any Meta Trak application, and it includes Google Maps integration. In addition to logging your journeys, the system can also monitor and score your driving behaviour. Using the system's built-in gyro and accelerometer, it can measure acceleration, braking, and cornering forces to provide you with a score from 0-100 in the journey log, reflecting these measurements.

The Meta Trak Sheild tracking system uses a multi-frequency GNSS receiver, which provides ultra-accurate and reliable positioning data from the GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite constellations.

 Assisted GPS helps the tracking device acquire satellites faster via an internet link rather than being processed onboard, improving accuracy, speed, and reliability. This feature allows for more flexibility in installation, as it enables the devices to be installed in areas of the vehicle that would otherwise have navigational performance constraints, again aiding the covertness of any installation.

GSM can also be used to triangulate the vehicle's whereabouts using cell-based positioning.

Meta Trak's telematics devices utilise the latest generation Quad Band modem and a globally roaming SIM to ensure an optimal network connection for communications. This type of connectivity allows the device to connect to multiple mobile networks at the same time, switching seamlessly between the strongest signal available in the device's location. Automatic switching from network to network enables reliable data transmission and reception, even in areas with poor signal from a specific mobile network provider.

If your vehicle's position changes while the ignition is off, such as if your vehicle is being towed, the Meta Trak Shield will generate an alert and notify you through a push notification in the Meta Trak app.

If your vehicle's battery is disconnected or if power is lost to the tracking unit, the Meta Trak Shield will generate an alert and notify you of this event via push notification through the Meta Trak app. In the event of power loss to the tracking unit, it will switch to its internal battery backup to ensure continued operation.

If your vehicle's battery falls below a pre-set threshold (11.6V), the system will send a push notification to the Meta Trak app. In the Meta Trak app, you can also view and monitor your vehicle's live battery voltage.

The tracking device load on the battery is virtually undetectable, but the device is still always reachable, i.e., not in a deep sleep state.

Depending on your specific Meta Trak security system, the quiescent drain is miniscule, at between 1 and 4mA (0.004A). To put that into context, a 100Ah battery (at 80% usable capacity) would take 28 months to drain with a 4mA load.

Firmware over the air (FOTA) allows your security systems operating system to be updated over the air, allowing enhancements to be deployed to existing customers.

Enhance Your Peace of Mind and Vehicle Security with the Meta Trak Shield Self-Monitored Vehicle Tracking System.

The Meta Trak Shield can benefit you and your vehicle’s security in many ways. Do you need a vehicle tracking system but don’t want the expense of a professionally monitored system that carries Thatcham and insurance approval? Then the Meta Trak Shield is for you. This self-monitored vehicle tracking system is a cost-effective solution in terms of upfront cost and ongoing subscription pricing. Find out more about how the Meta Trak shield can benefit you below.

The Meta Trak Shield offers real-time tracking, journey history logging, and driver behaviour analysis and scoring at an affordable price. While it is not Thatcham or insurance-approved and, therefore, does not include 24/7 professional theft monitoring or support, it still provides many of the same features found in Meta Trak’s professional stolen vehicle tracking systems. Built with the same base hardware, the Meta Trak Shield is a reliable and capable vehicle tracking system. It is a cost-effective option with low ongoing costs. Suitable for individual use or for businesses with fleets, the Meta Trak Shield provides long-term benefits and reliability. It also comes with a lifetime parts and labour warranty, offering customers peace of mind.

Key Stand-Out Features and Benefits

·        Self-Monitored Tracking: The Meta Trak Shield offers real-time vehicle tracking accessible through Meta Trak's mobile application or web-based portal. Although marketed as a cost-effective self-monitored tracker, it is equipped with the latest GNSS receiver and Quad-band GSM modem for reliable communication and highly accurate positioning data accurate to within 3 meters.

·        Multi-Alerting: You’ll receive push notifications through the Meta Trak platform for events such as a battery disconnection, an unauthorised movement, or low vehicle battery voltage. These alerts can help ensure you, your vehicle, or your fleet stay healthy and help keep you in control of important aspects of your vehicle's daily running. They can also help avoid unwanted issues by notifying you before they become problematic.

·        Wireless Link Architecture: Upgradability - Meta Trak hardware components can wirelessly link using Meta Trak’s unique Wireless Link Architecture technology. After installing your Meta Trak Shield tracker, at a later date, you could easily add Meta Trak’s ID tags to upgrade your Shield tracking system to a Thatcham category S5 device (subscription upgrade required). You could also add Meta Trak’s engine immobiliser to further enhance functionality by adding remote immobilisation or automatic engine immobilisation for theft prevention capabilities. Your system is flexible in many ways.

Make a wise investment in the Meta Trak Shield tracker to ensure ultimate peace of mind. This cost-effective but advanced tracker system offers comprehensive features, easy user control, and an affordable price point.

If you're in the market for a vehicle tracking system but would like professional 24/7 vehicle alert monitoring and theft support, why not opt for the Meta Trak S7? While similar in many ways to the Meta Trak Shield, the Meta Trak S7 is a Thatcham and insurance-approved vehicle tracking system that offers more functionality and includes a professional theft recovery service.

Want to discover more about Meta Trak’s cutting-edge vehicle security hardware? Visit our dedicated Meta Trak page.

The Meta Trak Shield is a cost-effective self-monitored vehicle and asset-tracking solution from Meta Trak. It’s designed to be a low-cost tracking solution for individuals, fleet, or plant applications where vehicle security is not a priority, but vehicle and asset management is.

Due to its competitively low subscription rates, Meta Trak Shield lends itself well to fleet applications. In the same light, Meta Trak Shield would also be suitable for individuals who want a tracking solution for their vehicles or assets but do not want the additional expense of professional monitoring, theft support, and proactive alerting to potential theft events commonly associated with Thatcham and insurance-approved products.

The Meta Trak Shield features live tracking, journey history, and driver behaviour scoring. These can be viewed through Meta Trak’s web-based portal or its mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android. The Meta Trak Shield will also alert and notify you via push notification in the Meta App if your vehicle’s battery voltage is low or if its disconnected. Alerts are also generated for unauthorised movement events. If your vehicle's position changes while the ignition is off, you will be notified of this.

The Meta Trak Shield is a flexible and modern product. It allows seamless pairing of other Meta Trak hardware, such as its wireless immobiliser and driver recognition ID tags, to further expand the functionality of the Shield tracking system. Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) - Provides the ability to update the operating system over the air, allowing enhancements to be deployed to existing customers.

The Meta Trak Shield is a high-quality product manufactured in a world-class facility. It undergoes end-of-line quality testing via computer and features an industry-leading lifetime parts and labour warranty (provided that a subscription is active for the product).

No, the Meta Trak Shield is not Thatcham or insurance approved. It is designed as a low-cost, self-monitored tracking system suitable for both fleet and private vehicle tracking, offering affordable ongoing subscription costs.

If you require a low-cost, Thatcham and insurance-approved alternative, please consider the Meta Trak S7.

The Meta Trak Shield includes an industry leading lifetime parts and labour warranty.

• For the original owner only.

• A subscription must be active to make a claim.

The Meta Trak Shield and the Meta Trak S7 are essentially the same in terms of their hardware. The main difference lies in their monitoring and support services. The Meta Trak S7 is connected to Meta Trak's Secure Control Centre (SOC), providing 24/7 alert monitoring and professional theft support. It is a Thatcham category S7 tracking system accepted by all UK insurers that require professional monitoring and theft support services for insurance compliance.

On the other hand, the Meta Trak Shield is a self-monitored tracking system and is not linked to Meta Trak’s SOC. It does not include professional theft support or 24/7 monitoring, and therefore, it is not Thatcham-accredited or approved by insurance companies. This system is designed for individual use, fleet managers, or for providing real-time vehicle and asset management at a low cost. It is suitable for situations where a tracking system is needed, but vehicle security is not the primary concern.

Your Meta Trak Shield tracking system subscription is necessary for the operation of the system/hardware. All telematics products (tracking systems) incur costs as they transmit data and communicate over the mobile network.

Airtime:

Think of a tracking system as like a mobile phone and its airtime plan; you pay for the handset/tracking device, as well as for the data that the handset/tracking device transmits over the mobile network to the network providers.

In our case, your subscription pays the network providers to carry your tracking system's data across their network. Your subscription is slightly more expensive than a normal airtime plan. However, a modern tracking system usually utilizes multi-roaming, so it transmits data over the network provider with the best connection in a given area. Your tracking device is not tied to a single network provider.

Theft Monitoring:

When you subscribe to a tracking system, you are paying for the 'airtime' for your hardware to use the mobile network to transmit data, as well as for 24/7/365 theft monitoring.

If your tracking system is Thatcham-approved (Insurance-approved), it will include 24/7/365 theft monitoring as standard. The subscription costs for these types of products are higher than for a device that is simply used to transmit location data, such as a fleet or self-monitored type of product.

Your subscription cost covers both the cost of 'airtime' and a professional theft support service. This theft support service is available 24 hours a day to notify you of the potential theft of your vehicle.

In the event of an alert being generated by your vehicle tracking system, it is sent to the monitoring centre. Personnel at the monitoring centre are then notified on screen of the alert, and all alerts are responded to by a telephone call to the vehicle owner/driver. If a theft is confirmed, monitoring centre personnel will use direct lines into police control rooms to coordinate the recovery of your vehicle.

Summary:

As you can see, the professional theft monitoring service included with Thatcham/Insurance-approved tracking systems commands a higher subscription price compared to ordinary tracking devices used solely for locational purposes.

A professional theft support service is mandatory for a tracking system to be accredited as a Thatcham category S7 or S5 product. Both categories are used by vehicle insurers to lower their risk concerning vehicle crime and are also known as insurance-approved vehicle tracking systems.

We aim to have your Meta Trak Shield tracker installed within 2-5 days after purchase.

It can take longer during busier periods of the year and of course all depends on our engineers availability.

Generally it takes around 45 - 90 minutes to install a Meta Trak Shield tracking system depending on the vehicle.

Your 'Proof of installation' certificate will be sent immediately after installation of the system. Its sent via email from Meta Trak and will be contained within your 'welcome to Meta Trak' email.