Tracking explained

GPS Jammers and Your Car Tracker

Jammers are a favourite tool of vehicle theft syndicates. Here is how they work and how to protect yourself.

Updated 26 September 2026 · Tracker Prices South Africa

Quick answer: A GPS jammer is a small device that blocks satellite and cellphone signals near it, so a GPS/GSM tracker cannot report its position. Using a jammer is illegal in South Africa, but criminals still use them, which is why jamming detection and radio-frequency backup matter.

How jammers are used in car theft

Thieves switch on a jammer during a hijacking or theft so the tracker cannot report the vehicle’s location, then move the car to a hiding place. Remote-jamming is also used in parking lots to stop central locking from working, leaving the car unlocked.

How trackers fight jamming

Jamming detection: the unit notices it is being jammed and alerts the control room.
VHF radio backup: radio-frequency recovery, such as Tracker’s network, keeps working when GPS and GSM are blocked.
Early-warning alerts for unexpected movement or power disconnection.

Protect yourself

After locking your car, check the doors are actually locked.
Choose a tracker with jamming detection or radio backup if your car is high risk.
Read how GPS anti-jamming works.

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