ShadowGuard GPS Tracker: Frequently Asked Questions

A: Every ShadowGuard GPS includes 12 months of free connectivity. After that, you can renew your connectivity for approximately R 20 per month. To keep things simple, we’ve designed the renewal to match your device’s performance:

• Unlimited Peace of Mind: R 20 covers over 20,000 location updates per month.
• Active Tracking: This is enough to support continuous, 2-minute interval tracking for the entire month.

Easy Renewal: You can renew directly through the Horizen website in seconds—no airtime vouchers, and no complicated setup.

A: Yes. The basic tracking platform supports unlimited devices on one account, allowing you to manage all your assets from a single dashboard.

A: Shipping is very fast: typically 1 business day for areas around Johannesburg (JHB) and Mpumalanga, and 2–3 business days nationwide.

A: Your credentials are created and emailed instantly the moment you submit the device registration form. If you don’t see the email in your inbox within 2 minutes, please check your Junk/Spam folder, as automated setup emails can sometimes be filtered there.

Still can’t find them? Reach out to our team at support@horizen.co.za and we’ll get you sorted right away.

A: You can change your password by selecting “Reset Password” on the Tracking Platform login screen.

A: The tracking is highly efficient, but not instant. When moving, the device updates every 2 minutes. This is a deliberate design choice optimised for asset recovery and battery life, not constant “real-time” viewing:

• Priority 1: Battery Life: The battery life (2–5 weeks mostly parked) ensures the tracker is still live for recovery, even if the asset is parked and forgotten. Tracking every few seconds would deplete the battery in a matter of days, making recovery impossible.
• Priority 2: Recovery Path: For theft, security personnel require a clear path or a trace of the stolen asset. The 2-minute update interval provides sufficient location data to build a continuous route and determine the final resting place when the asset stops moving, making the delay ideal for successful recovery.

A: The device operates in two modes: Standby/Still Mode (when stationary) where it conserves power by sending a location update every 8 hours. When motion is detected, it switches to Active/Moving Mode, providing location updates every 2 minutes during continuous movement. The device uses the NB-IoT network because it requires significantly less power to transmit data than standard 4G networks, allowing the tracker to run 2–5 weeks on a charge while mostly parked without needing a recharge.

A: The tracker is operating normally. In Standby Mode, it only wakes up every 8 hours to conserve battery. To force a new location, simply move the device for approximately 1 minute, which will trigger the device to switch to Active Mode and send a fresh update.

A: The delay is a feature of the ShadowGuard’s Intelligent Filtering System, designed to ensure that the alerts you receive are actionable and trustworthy, not frustrating false alarms.

When the device senses vibration, it immediately wakes up and begins its active 2-minute update cycle. The alert timing depends on which security trigger is activated:

1. Geofence Alert (The Instantaneous Breach Notification)

This feature is designed for the fastest alert when an asset leaves a defined safe zone. It prioritises immediate location confirmation:

• Logic: Upon waking, the device uses the data from the first 2-minute update cycle to check if the new location has crossed the defined geofence boundary.

• Benefit: The alert is sent immediately upon the boundary breach (typically within 0–2 minutes). This gives you the fastest possible notification when your asset leaves its established safe zone.

2. Standard Motion Alert (The Confirmed Theft Filter)

This feature detects theft when the asset is stationary outside a geofence and is designed to prioritise alert quality and user trust:

• Logic: To confirm the movement is continuous and sustained (and not just a bump or vibration), the system requires a confirmed speed reading across multiple consecutive updates. This rigorous check means the motion alert will typically arrive approximately 2-4 minutes after the initial movement begins.

• Benefit: This delay acts as a trusted filter, preventing false alerts from minor events (like passing traffic). When the Motion Alert does arrive, you know it’s a confirmed, sustained theft event requiring your immediate attention.

Conclusion: For critical, instantaneous breach detection on stationary assets, always rely on the Geofence feature. The standard motion alert acts as the trusted filter, ensuring high-quality, actionable alerts everywhere else.

A: Hidden is how it survives – a tracker that is found is a tracker that is removed, so pick a spot a thief will not look. The device must be mounted where the GPS signal is not fully obstructed by metal. It functions best when oriented towards non-metallic materials like plastic, wood, glass, or fabric, as signals can easily pass through these materials. The device should not be fully enclosed or surrounded by metal (like placing it inside a closed metal box), as this will block the signal.

Examples of covert, non-metallic spots include: 

Cars/Caravans: Inside the plastic lining of the glove compartment or centre console storage, or strapped beneath the seat foam.

Trailers: Inside non-metallic storage boxes (e.g., plastic or fibreglass toolboxes), or adhered to the interior of a fibreglass roof/lining.

Bikes/Motorcycles: Tucked inside the plastic fairing access points, under the foam padding of the seat, attached to the handlebars or secured within a non-metallic handlebar bag or saddlebag compartment.

Critical Note: Placing the device on the bottom level of a multi-story building (more than one floor below the roof) with dense concrete severely degrades the GPS signal.

A: ShadowGuard sends real-time alerts for motion, tamper, geofence exit, low battery and SOS — each including a live location link. They arrive as push notifications on your phone; add a WhatsApp number in Preferences if you would rather have them on WhatsApp. WhatsApp is free for the first 12 months, then on Connected (R99/month).

If a push can’t reach your phone, we email you instead.

A: Tamper detection alerts you the instant someone physically interferes with your ShadowGuard — picking it up, moving it, or attempting removal. It’s included on every plan and is not triggered by normal movement. No contract, cancel any time.

A: ShadowGuard utilises the dedicated Vodacom NB-IoT network for superior signal penetration (ideal for remote areas) and a wider geographical reach than standard 4G.

We encourage checking coverage in your deployment zone via the Vodacom Coverage Map (Select “IOT” for NB-IoT coverage).

A: No. The device is locked to the domestic Vodacom NB-IoT network and is not enabled for international roaming.

A: Yes – and for a car or bakkie it is the easiest way to run it. A 12V-to-5V USB adapter and an add-a-circuit fuse tap (parts sold separately, about R270) connect it at the fuse box: nothing cut, nothing spliced. It is a DIY job if you have ever fitted a dashcam, or ten minutes at a fitment centre. The internal battery then becomes backup, so it keeps tracking even if the power is cut. You can also plug it into a USB socket in the car – simpler, but only powered when the ignition is on – or top it up now and then with the included magnetic charger.

A: ShadowGuard is designed for asset protection and recovery. Cars, bakkies and motorbikes first – second vehicles, the weekend bike, the work bakkie, the caravan and the trailer behind it. It is just as at home on a boat, a dirt bike, camera gear, or anything portable and valuable that spends time out of your sight.

A: The battery life is highly dependent on use:

• Mostly parked: 2–5 weeks on a charge – the device only updates every 8 hours while stationary.
• An hour or two on the road most days: about a week.
• On the road most of the day: every 3–4 days.

A: The device sends an alert when the internal battery level reaches approximately 30%, indicating it needs immediate recharging.