Geotab GO9+: What It Does, Specs and Uses

What Is the GO9+?

The GO9+, often written GO9 Plus, is a GO9-family tracker with two additions. Every version carries an LTE CAT-4 modem, a faster cellular category than the CAT-1 or CAT-M1 radios in other GO9 models. Most versions also include a Wi-Fi hotspot that lets phones, tablets and laptops in the vehicle get online through the tracker's cellular connection.

Apart from those two changes, Geotab describes the GO9+ feature set as similar to the GO9, so it reads the same broad range of vehicle protocols and logs the same kind of data. One model, the GP9-LTETENG, has the CAT-4 modem but no Wi-Fi.

GO9+ side view: GPS antenna on the bottom face, red, green and blue LEDs, built-in Wi-Fi and the IOX connector.

What Does the GO9+ Do?

Puts Wi-Fi in the cab. The hotspot runs 802.11 b/g/n on 2.4 GHz with WPA2 and AES security and supports up to 10 connected devices at once.
Moves data faster. The CAT-4 modem is rated for up to 25 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up on the Wi-Fi side, enough for app updates, forms and photos.
Tracks and logs like a GO9. GPS location, engine data, harsh driving and collision data are recorded, with a collision buffer of over 100 minutes of second-by-second data.
Gets a quick fix. Geotab lists under one second to first fix on hot and aided starts, helped by satellite almanac data updated over the air.
Reads a wide protocol range. Legacy J1850, J1708 and K-line protocols sit alongside standard, single-wire and medium-speed CAN.
Accepts IOX add-ons. An IOX expansion connector supports added modules with up to 2.75 A of pass-through power.

What Do Fleets Use the GO9+ For?

Field service crews on tablets. Technicians who fill out work orders, pull manuals and capture signatures on a tablet can connect to the van's hotspot instead of paying for a data plan on every tablet.

Trucks running ELD or routing tablets. A single connection in the cab can serve the driver's tablet, a phone and a handheld scanner, up to the 10-device limit.

Crew trucks and shuttle vehicles. Construction crew trucks and employee shuttles can give the people riding in them a shared connection for timesheets or safety forms.

Fleets consolidating hardware. Fleets that would otherwise mount a separate cellular router can cut one device, one antenna and one monthly line out of each vehicle.

A GO9+ on an extension harness: antenna side up, cable tied, 20 cm or more from the driver, tablets on its Wi-Fi.

What Are the GO9+'s Key Specifications?

Spec	Detail
Models	GO9+ (with Wi-Fi); GP9-LTETENG (no Wi-Fi)
Dimensions	77.3 x 53 x 27.5 mm
Weight	97 g
Supply voltage	12 V and 24 V systems
Average current, Wi-Fi off	96.2 mA at 12 V, 55.1 mA at 24 V
Average current, Wi-Fi on	330 mA at 12 V, 189.7 mA at 24 V
Cellular	LTE CAT-4; carriers listed as AT&T, TELUS and Rogers
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz, WPA2/AES, up to 10 connections
GNSS	72-channel engine, about 2.0 m CEP
Operating temperature	-40 to +85 °C
Memory	64 Mb flash, up to 80,000 logs offline
Housing	Flame-retardant PC+ABS

What Should Installers Know About the GO9+?

The GO9+ plugs into the diagnostic port or into an extension harness like the rest of the GO9 family, and heavy trucks may need a different diagnostic connector. Geotab places the GPS antenna on the bottom of the unit, so when it is mounted under the dash on an extension harness, the antenna side should face up toward the sky. Keep at least 20 cm between the device and the driver, and secure it with a cable tie. On power-up it beeps six times, then twice every 60 seconds during setup and ten times when ready. The red LED means it is configuring, and the install is complete once the green cellular and blue GPS lights are both solid. Power draw deserves a look: with Wi-Fi on, average current at 12 V is more than three times the Wi-Fi-off figure, which matters on vehicles that sit for long stretches or already have a heavy electrical load.

Who Is the GO9+ Right For, and Who Should Choose Something Else?

The GO9+ fits fleets that want a hotspot in the vehicle and would rather have it built into the tracker than mounted as a separate box. It suits crews working from tablets and fleets that already know the GO9 platform.

Fleets that do not need in-cab Wi-Fi gain little from it and take on the higher power draw, so a GO9B or GO10 is the more sensible pick. Geotab's GO9+ document lists AT&T, TELUS and Rogers, so for fleets on Verizon or T-Mobile we confirm carrier availability before ordering. Fleets looking further ahead may also want to compare the GO10 Plus, which Geotab announced with a hotspot and Wi-Fi client mode. We can supply and install the GO9+ and help weigh it against those options.

What Are Common Questions About the GO9+?

How many devices can connect to the GO9+ hotspot?

Geotab rates it for up to 10 simultaneous connections on 2.4 GHz.

Does running the hotspot drain the vehicle battery?

It raises draw while the ignition is on. Average current at 12 V goes from about 96 mA with Wi-Fi off to about 330 mA with it on, so it is worth factoring in on vehicles with marginal batteries.

Can we get a GO9+ without Wi-Fi?

Yes. The GP9-LTETENG model keeps the CAT-4 modem but has no Wi-Fi hotspot.

API Signal supplies the GO9+ and installs it on site at your yard, setting up the hotspot and confirming the green and blue lights go solid before we hand each vehicle back. Call 803-513-1009 or open Get a Quote to book the work.

Sources: Geotab GO9+ product document, Geotab vehicle tracking device page. GEOTAB is a registered trademark of Geotab Inc. API Signal is an independent installer and is not Geotab.

Every Geotab Product →Trackers, cameras, asset trackers and IOX add-ons. Get a Quote →The GO9+ supplied and installed on one written quote.

Geotab GO9+