Frequently Asked Question About Home Systems
Note: Care Trak is NOT a Global Positioning System (GPS) or Cell Phone Based System.
1. How does the Mobile Locater work?
Your loved one at risk of wandering wears a waterproof transmitter with a tamper-resistant band that is normally worn on the wrist like a watch or on the ankle. This one-ounce transmitter puts out a silent constantly pulsating radio signal 24 hours a day. In the event your loved one becomes lost, the Mobile Locater receiver tunes in that person's radio signal. Using a hand-held directional antenna, you determine the direction of the strongest radio signal and walk in that direction until you come upon the person. The signal gets stronger as you get closer. We can also locate transmitters in belts, shoes or other places when a wrist application is not possible.
2. What is the tracking range?
Up to a mile on the ground. Radio signals are affected by weather, environmental conditions, terrain and other factors. For example, in a mowed farm field the radio signal may extend more than a mile. In a densely wooded area, the signal might be cut down to a half mile or less.
3. How do I find someone at night?
Two ways. The Mobile Locater has a LED meter that shows the signal strength coming from the lost persons transmitter. It also has an audible "chirp." When you point the antenna in the direction of the wandered person, the "chirp" gets louder and the LED signal meter jumps higher on the scale.
4. How do you locate a person inside the building?
The same as tracking outside. Most people automatically start looking outside for a lost person. The Mobile Locater will point inside the building if that is where your loved one is. You follow the "chirp" and meter to the person.
5. What is the on-going expense in maintaining the system?
Every other month, 6X a year the transmitter battery must be changed and that means cutting off the tamper-resistant band. Your expense is a battery and band change. Average monthly cost after the equipment purchase is $3.29. We now have reusable bands available. Care Trak can automatically ship you a new battery and band if you use a Visa or MasterCard.
6. Does the transmitter get worn on the wrist or ankle?
Either; however, we prefer to have the transmitter on the wrist for easier tracking. We also specialize in custom applications if the wanderer will not wear a wrist or ankle band. Contact us for more information.
7. Why have I never heard of this before?
Although the technology has been around for many years, Care Trak is currently the only company with a license for 174-215MHz human use. 40 years of building tracking equipment for endangered species around the world led to Care Trak development for those who wander or for kids who bolt and run.
8. Will Medicare or Medicaid pay for this?
Not yet. We have been in contact with both of these agencies. Many churches, civic clubs and organizations like the Rotary, Kiwanis, Pilot clubs and others have purchased Care Trak equipment for families of special needs kids.
9. Will private insurance pay for this?
You will have to ask your insurance company. There is definitely a reduction of risk for any insurance company. Finding a wanderer quickly reduces the chances of injury, exposure to the elements and possibly even death. Some state agencies have programs that pay for safety and assistive technology for children or adults with special needs. Contact your state department of human services. We are always available to discuss the benefits of the system with any agency.
10. What if we do not like it after we buy it?
You have a 14-day trial period. If you don¡¯t like the system, return it in like-new condition for a full refund less shipping charges. After watching the DVD, we suggest you take time and play "Hide and Seek" for a day to convince yourself of Care Trak effectiveness.
11. Why do police and search & rescue have the Mobile Locater in some areas?
In hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the U.S., police have purchased this unit to save lives and reduce their search costs in locating people. A normal search costs about $1,500.00 per hour. With the Care Trak Mobile Locater AND if a potential wanderer is wearing a Care Trak transmitter, they can be located quicker. Finding wanderers quickly reduces their chances for injury due to exposure, natural and man made hazards. The Stokes County Mountain Rescue Team in King, NC reduced their search times from over 9 hours to less than 30 minutes using the Mobile Locater.
12. Can we take the Mobile Locater with us on trips or outings?
Absolutely. The Mobile Locater is 100% portable and operates on standard AAA batteries when electric service is not available.
13. How long does it take to get the System?
Usually 4 to 6 weeks. Each unit is hand built and is subject to extensive testing before it leaves the factory.
14. What is the warranty?
Seven Years Parts and Labor. This applies to defects in workmanship. Misuse, abuse and batteries are not covered.
Questions About the Care Trak Perimeter System
The Mobile Locater is included with the Perimeter System
1. How does it work?
The Sentry Perimeter Alarm establishes an invisible circle around the location where it is set up. This circle can be adjusted from about 50 feet to 400 feet. A person wearing a Care Trak transmitter is free to roam within this invisible circle. If the person attempts to leave the established circle area, an alarm will sound, alerting the caregiver that the monitored person has left the perimeter area.
2. How often do I use the unit?
24/7. During the daytime hours the perimeter area can be adjusted larger to give your loved one more freedom to roam around outside, let us say 200. At night, you can decrease the perimeter area. This way if a confused person or child goes outside the perimeter area, the alarm will sound quicker allowing you to retrieve the person before he/she gets too far away in the dark.
3. Do I have to install the unit?
All you have to do is plug the unit in standard house current. There are no buried wires and no installation. The antenna attached to the unit establishes the perimeter area.
4. Can I take the Perimeter Alarm on a camping trip if there is no electrical current available?
Yes. The Sentry Perimeter Alarm will work on battery power for about 5 hours. The unit may be placed on a picnic table to monitor a loved one. We suggest that the unit not be operated this way very often since the unit uses a total of 16 AAA batteries.
5. Do I need to purchase a Mobile Locater separately?
No. The Perimeter System includes the CTR 16 tracking unit. The Perimeter and the CTR 16 work together to form the invisible perimeter. With the combination of the two units, you have the ability to monitor an area AND have the ability to locate the wandered person up to a MILE.
6. Where did Care Trak come from?
Our parent company is Wildlife Materials, Inc. WMI has been building professional research equipment to track and monitor endangered species around the world for over 40 years. If you watch PBS on TV very much, you have seen our equipment in use by researches, the government and zoos. Care Trak has been featured on many TV shows, radio and newspapers. Care Trak applied for and was granted a special authorization to put transmitters on people by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in 1986.
7. Is this available to any adult or child?
No. Care Trak is only available to those with diagnosed dementia and special needs children and adults. A medical condition must exist.
For more information, please contact:
800-842-4537 (M-F 8AM-4:30PM Central )
Care Trak International, Inc.
1. How does the Mobile Locater work?
Your loved one at risk of wandering wears a waterproof transmitter with a tamper-resistant band that is normally worn on the wrist like a watch or on the ankle. This one-ounce transmitter puts out a silent constantly pulsating radio signal 24 hours a day. In the event your loved one becomes lost, the Mobile Locater receiver tunes in that person's radio signal. Using a hand-held directional antenna, you determine the direction of the strongest radio signal and walk in that direction until you come upon the person. The signal gets stronger as you get closer. We can also locate transmitters in belts, shoes or other places when a wrist application is not possible.
2. What is the tracking range?
Up to a mile on the ground. Radio signals are affected by weather, environmental conditions, terrain and other factors. For example, in a mowed farm field the radio signal may extend more than a mile. In a densely wooded area, the signal might be cut down to a half mile or less.
3. How do I find someone at night?
Two ways. The Mobile Locater has a LED meter that shows the signal strength coming from the lost persons transmitter. It also has an audible "chirp." When you point the antenna in the direction of the wandered person, the "chirp" gets louder and the LED signal meter jumps higher on the scale.
4. How do you locate a person inside the building?
The same as tracking outside. Most people automatically start looking outside for a lost person. The Mobile Locater will point inside the building if that is where your loved one is. You follow the "chirp" and meter to the person.
5. What is the on-going expense in maintaining the system?
Every other month, 6X a year the transmitter battery must be changed and that means cutting off the tamper-resistant band. Your expense is a battery and band change. Average monthly cost after the equipment purchase is $3.29. We now have reusable bands available. Care Trak can automatically ship you a new battery and band if you use a Visa or MasterCard.
6. Does the transmitter get worn on the wrist or ankle?
Either; however, we prefer to have the transmitter on the wrist for easier tracking. We also specialize in custom applications if the wanderer will not wear a wrist or ankle band. Contact us for more information.
7. Why have I never heard of this before?
Although the technology has been around for many years, Care Trak is currently the only company with a license for 174-215MHz human use. 40 years of building tracking equipment for endangered species around the world led to Care Trak development for those who wander or for kids who bolt and run.
8. Will Medicare or Medicaid pay for this?
Not yet. We have been in contact with both of these agencies. Many churches, civic clubs and organizations like the Rotary, Kiwanis, Pilot clubs and others have purchased Care Trak equipment for families of special needs kids.
9. Will private insurance pay for this?
You will have to ask your insurance company. There is definitely a reduction of risk for any insurance company. Finding a wanderer quickly reduces the chances of injury, exposure to the elements and possibly even death. Some state agencies have programs that pay for safety and assistive technology for children or adults with special needs. Contact your state department of human services. We are always available to discuss the benefits of the system with any agency.
10. What if we do not like it after we buy it?
You have a 14-day trial period. If you don¡¯t like the system, return it in like-new condition for a full refund less shipping charges. After watching the DVD, we suggest you take time and play "Hide and Seek" for a day to convince yourself of Care Trak effectiveness.
11. Why do police and search & rescue have the Mobile Locater in some areas?
In hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the U.S., police have purchased this unit to save lives and reduce their search costs in locating people. A normal search costs about $1,500.00 per hour. With the Care Trak Mobile Locater AND if a potential wanderer is wearing a Care Trak transmitter, they can be located quicker. Finding wanderers quickly reduces their chances for injury due to exposure, natural and man made hazards. The Stokes County Mountain Rescue Team in King, NC reduced their search times from over 9 hours to less than 30 minutes using the Mobile Locater.
12. Can we take the Mobile Locater with us on trips or outings?
Absolutely. The Mobile Locater is 100% portable and operates on standard AAA batteries when electric service is not available.
13. How long does it take to get the System?
Usually 4 to 6 weeks. Each unit is hand built and is subject to extensive testing before it leaves the factory.
14. What is the warranty?
Seven Years Parts and Labor. This applies to defects in workmanship. Misuse, abuse and batteries are not covered.
Questions About the Care Trak Perimeter System
The Mobile Locater is included with the Perimeter System
1. How does it work?
The Sentry Perimeter Alarm establishes an invisible circle around the location where it is set up. This circle can be adjusted from about 50 feet to 400 feet. A person wearing a Care Trak transmitter is free to roam within this invisible circle. If the person attempts to leave the established circle area, an alarm will sound, alerting the caregiver that the monitored person has left the perimeter area.
2. How often do I use the unit?
24/7. During the daytime hours the perimeter area can be adjusted larger to give your loved one more freedom to roam around outside, let us say 200. At night, you can decrease the perimeter area. This way if a confused person or child goes outside the perimeter area, the alarm will sound quicker allowing you to retrieve the person before he/she gets too far away in the dark.
3. Do I have to install the unit?
All you have to do is plug the unit in standard house current. There are no buried wires and no installation. The antenna attached to the unit establishes the perimeter area.
4. Can I take the Perimeter Alarm on a camping trip if there is no electrical current available?
Yes. The Sentry Perimeter Alarm will work on battery power for about 5 hours. The unit may be placed on a picnic table to monitor a loved one. We suggest that the unit not be operated this way very often since the unit uses a total of 16 AAA batteries.
5. Do I need to purchase a Mobile Locater separately?
No. The Perimeter System includes the CTR 16 tracking unit. The Perimeter and the CTR 16 work together to form the invisible perimeter. With the combination of the two units, you have the ability to monitor an area AND have the ability to locate the wandered person up to a MILE.
6. Where did Care Trak come from?
Our parent company is Wildlife Materials, Inc. WMI has been building professional research equipment to track and monitor endangered species around the world for over 40 years. If you watch PBS on TV very much, you have seen our equipment in use by researches, the government and zoos. Care Trak has been featured on many TV shows, radio and newspapers. Care Trak applied for and was granted a special authorization to put transmitters on people by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in 1986.
7. Is this available to any adult or child?
No. Care Trak is only available to those with diagnosed dementia and special needs children and adults. A medical condition must exist.
For more information, please contact:
800-842-4537 (M-F 8AM-4:30PM Central )
Care Trak International, Inc.