Reactivate a Deactivated Hardware Tracker

Important Information Before You Start

Before beginning the reactivation process, there are some critical things you need to know.

This Guide is for Previously Deactivated Trackers Only

This article covers reactivating hardware trackers that were previously active on your account and have been deactivated. If you're setting up a brand new Track My Ride hardware tracker for the first time, you need to follow the process for adding a new vehicle to your account instead.

3G Trackers Cannot Be Reactivated

From 28 October 2024, 3G trackers (models TMR-S1, TMR-S5, and TMR-S7) can no longer be reactivated because the 3G network in Australia has been shut down. If you have a legacy 3G tracker that was previously on your account, you'll need to upgrade to a new 4G tracker model instead. Visit https://app.trackmyride.com.au/v2/upgrade/ to upgrade your legacy 3G tracker to a modern 4G model.

Prorated Billing Applies

When you reactivate a hardware tracker, you'll be charged a prorated licence fee for the remainder of your current billing period. This means you only pay for the time remaining in the period, not the full period's fee. From your next billing cycle onwards, you'll pay the standard monthly licence fee for that tracker.

Activation Time

After submitting your reactivation request, allow between 5 and 60 minutes for the tracker to become active on the mobile phone network. Most trackers come back online within about 5 minutes, but the full hour buffer accounts for potential network delays.

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Reactivating Your Hardware Tracker

The reactivation process takes place in your account's settings area and involves just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Access Your Account

Log in to your Track My Ride account at https://app.trackmyride.com.au or open the Track My Ride mobile app on your phone.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings

Look for the settings option in your account menu. You'll recognise it by the gear/cog icon. Click on this to access your account settings.

Step 3: Billing and Subscriptions page

Within the settings page, look for the section labelled "Billing and Subscriptions". In this area, you'll find a link called "Reactivate or Deactivate a tracker". Click this link to open the hardware tracker management window.

Step 4: Select Trackers to Reactivate

A popup window appears showing your tracker management options. The window is divided into two main sections: one for reactivation and one for deactivation.

In the reactivation section, you'll see a dropdown field where you can select which deactivated trackers you want to bring back online. The dropdown displays your deactivated trackers with their original vehicle names and associated Communication IDs (the tracker serial numbers that start with "Bxxxxx").

Click on the reactivation field and a list of your deactivated trackers appears. You can select one tracker, or if you're reactivating multiple vehicles at once, you can select as many trackers as you need from this list.

Step 5: Submit Your Reactivation Request

Once you've selected all the trackers you want to reactivate, click the green "Submit" button at the bottom of the window.

The system will process your reactivation request and calculate the prorated licence fees based on how much time remains in your current billing period. You'll need to pay these fees to complete the reactivation. For more information about how prorated billing works, see the billing management guide.

Step 6: Wait for Activation

After submitting and paying the prorated fees, your tracker begins the activation process. The system communicates with the mobile phone network to bring your tracker back online.

Please allow between 5 and 60 minutes for this process to complete. In most cases, trackers become active within about 5 minutes, but network conditions can sometimes extend this timeframe up to an hour.

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What Happens After Reactivation

Once the reactivation process completes, several things change in your Track My Ride account.

Vehicle Reappears on Your Map

The reactivated vehicle appears on your main tracking map again. You'll see its most recent location marked with its assigned icon and path colour.

Location Updates Resume

Your tracker starts sending location updates according to your configured tracking settings. If the vehicle is currently parked, the tracker operates in its low power sleep mode and wakes up once per hour to report its current location. Once the vehicle starts moving, the tracker provides more frequent updates.

Alerts Become Active Again

Any alerts you had configured for this vehicle before deactivation become active again. The tracker will start monitoring for alert conditions like geofence violations, speeding, harsh driving, or any other alerts you've set up.

Billing Resumes

The tracker is added back to your active hardware tracking licences. You'll see the prorated charge for the remainder of the current billing period immediately, and from your next billing cycle onwards, you'll pay the standard monthly licence fee for this tracker.

Historical Data Remains

All historical journey data, reports, and alert history from before deactivation remains preserved. You now have continuity across the entire tracking history of this vehicle, with only the deactivation period showing no activity.

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Understanding Reactivation Timing

The timing of when your tracker comes back online depends on several factors.

Network Connection Time

When you reactivate a tracker, the Track My Ride system sends activation commands to the mobile phone network. The tracker needs to establish a connection with the network and register itself as active. This process typically takes 5 to 10 minutes but can extend to 60 minutes in areas with weaker mobile coverage.

Tracker Sleep Mode

If your vehicle is parked when you reactivate the tracker, the device operates in low power sleep mode. In this mode, the tracker only wakes up once per hour to check for commands and report location. If you reactivate during a sleep period, you might not see location updates until the next hourly wake cycle.

To see your tracker come online faster after reactivation, start the vehicle's engine. This wakes the tracker immediately and prompts it to connect to the network and start reporting location.

First Location Update

The first location update after reactivation might take slightly longer than subsequent updates as the tracker re-establishes its connection to both the mobile network and GPS satellites. Once this first connection is made, normal tracking operation resumes.

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Reactivating Multiple Trackers at Once

Track My Ride allows you to reactivate several trackers simultaneously, which is useful if you're bringing multiple vehicles back into service at the same time.

Selecting Multiple Trackers

In the tracker management window, the reactivation field accepts multiple selections. After selecting your first tracker, click the field again to select additional trackers. The system displays all your selected trackers in the reactivation field.

Bulk Prorated Billing

When reactivating multiple trackers, the system calculates the prorated licence fee for each tracker individually and then combines them into a single charge. This means you pay once to reactivate all selected trackers rather than processing separate payments for each one.

Staggered Activation Times

While you can submit multiple reactivations at once, each tracker activates independently on the mobile network. Some might come online quickly while others take the full 60 minutes. This variation is normal and depends on each tracker's individual network connection process.

Managing Fleet Returns

Bulk reactivation is particularly useful for seasonal businesses bringing their entire fleet back into service. You can reactivate all trackers in a single session rather than processing them one at a time throughout the day.

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Managing Reactivated Trackers

Once your tracker is back online, there are some management tasks you might need to complete.

Verify Vehicle Settings

After reactivation, it's good practice to review your vehicle settings to ensure everything is configured correctly. Check that the vehicle name, registration number, timezone, and other details are still accurate.

Review Alert Configurations

Your alerts automatically reactivate along with the tracker, but you should verify that the alert settings still match your current needs. You might want to adjust thresholds, add new alerts, or disable ones you no longer need.

Update Driver Assignments

If drivers have changed since you deactivated the tracker, update your driver assignments to reflect who currently operates this vehicle. This ensures accurate driver behaviour reporting and proper alert routing.

Check Geofence Assignments

If your business uses geofences (zones), verify that this vehicle is assigned to the correct zones. Zone assignments remain from before deactivation, but your operational needs might have changed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does reactivation cost?

Reactivation costs are prorated based on your standard monthly licence fee and the number of days remaining in your current billing period. You'll see the exact amount before confirming the reactivation.

Can I reactivate a tracker that's been deactivated for a long time?

Yes, you can reactivate any 4G hardware tracker regardless of how long it's been deactivated. However, 3G trackers (TMR-S1, TMR-S5, TMR-S7) can no longer be reactivated due to the 3G network shutdown.

Will I lose historical data when I reactivate?

No, all historical journey data, alerts, and reports from before deactivation are preserved. Reactivation simply resumes tracking from the current date forward.

Can I reactivate a tracker for just one month?

Yes, you can reactivate a tracker for any length of time. If you only need it for a month, reactivate it now and deactivate it again after the month ends. You'll pay the standard monthly fee for that month.

What if I reactivate the wrong tracker by mistake?

If you accidentally reactivate the wrong tracker, you can immediately deactivate it again through the same tracker management window. However, our automated reactivation system won't provide a refund. If you do this, please contact our Support Team for help.

Do I need to physically do anything to the tracker?

No, reactivation is entirely software-based. You don't need to touch the tracker device. However, if the vehicle hasn't been started in a while, you might want to check that the tracker still has power and is properly connected.

Can I reactivate trackers from the mobile app?

Yes, you can access the tracker management functions from both the web application and the mobile app. The process is the same regardless of which interface you use.

Will reactivation work if the vehicle is turned off?

Yes, reactivation works whether the vehicle is on or off. However, if the tracker is in sleep mode (which happens when the vehicle is off), it might take up to an hour for the reactivation to complete as the tracker only wakes periodically to check for commands.

What happens to my billing cycle when I reactivate?

Your overall billing cycle doesn't change. The tracker is added back to your active licences for the remainder of the current period, and from the next billing cycle onwards, it's included in your regular monthly charges.

Can different users on my account reactivate trackers?

Tracker reactivation permissions depend on your user role. Typically, account administrators can reactivate trackers, while standard users might not have this permission. Check with your account administrator if you can't access the reactivation function.

Will my zones (geofences) still work after reactivation?

Yes, any zones you had configured for this vehicle before deactivation remain configured and will work immediately upon reactivation.