Mastering Zonar
★ Zonar Products · Plug-In GPS Tracker
The Geo 88 is Zonar's plug-in GPS tracker for the OBD-II port, with a cable option for heavy trucks. Here is what it does, what it needs and where it fits.
Drawing for reference, not a product photo.
The Geo 88 is the plug-in GPS tracker in Zonar's small fleet lineup. It is a Geometris GEO OBD 88 Series unit that plugs straight into a vehicle's diagnostic port, reads engine data and reports location over the LTE Cat-M network, with its GPS antenna, cellular antenna and backup battery all inside the housing.
Zonar's quote tool lists it as the OBD-II plug-and-play option, and it is the device behind most quick installs on cars, pickups and vans. Zonar's install guide says it works in most light and medium-duty vehicles made after 1995.
On a heavy truck without a 16-pin port, the Geo 88 plugs into the 9-pin J1939 port through a J-Bus adapter cable. Zonar sells two versions, one for the square 9-pin port and one for the hex style, so it pays to check which one the truck has before ordering.
On any vehicle where the tracker would hang in the driver's knee space or block the port, an OBD-II Y cable moves the tracker up under the dash and leaves the port open for a scan tool. Zonar says the Y cable also helps keep the device connected, which keeps reports and alerts accurate.
Small service fleets. A plumber or landscaper with a handful of pickups can be tracking the same day, with no wiring and no drilling.
Leased and rental vehicles. A plug-in unit comes out cleanly when the vehicle goes back, with nothing spliced into the harness.
Mixed fleets. The same device covers cars and light trucks through OBD-II and heavy trucks through the J-Bus cable, so one device type can run across the fleet.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size and weight | 2.55 x 1.92 x 1.02 in, 45 g, ABS housing |
| Vehicle interface | OBD-II, CAN and J1939 |
| Cellular | LTE Cat-M, bands 2, 4 and 12, with quad-band GSM |
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS |
| Time to fix, open sky | Cold 31 s (11.5 s assisted), warm 21 s, hot 2.7 s |
| Power | 8 to 24 V |
| Current | 200 uA sleep, 2 mA snooze, 30 mA active |
| Backup battery | 300 mAh lithium-ion polymer |
| Operating temperature | -10 to +60 °C |
| Lights | Two LEDs, green and orange, on the side |
| Sound | None. The Geo 88 has no buzzer |
Install it outside with a clear view of the sky, not under a metal roof or overhang, because the antennas are inside the unit. Zonar says it should report within a few minutes, and running the engine helps it report sooner. If it has not reported after an hour, check that it is still fully seated, then look at the two LEDs on the side, which are faint and easy to miss. No lights at all usually points to a blown fuse on the port circuit, and an orange light that keeps blinking after a few minutes means it is not finding the network. On trucks, confirm square or hex 9-pin before you order the J-Bus cable.
The Geo 88 fits fleets that want fast, clean installs on vehicles with a diagnostic port. Fleets that need hidden installs, inputs for PTO or doors, or a starter disable should look at the hardwired LMU-2630 instead. We can supply and install either one.
When you are ready to put Geo 88 units in your vehicles, API Signal supplies the hardware, sets up the monthly service and has our technicians install it on site at your yard, so the vehicles never leave your lot. Call 803-513-1009 or use Get a Quote to set a date.
Sources: Zonar GEO OBD LTE CAT-M 88 Series spec sheet, Zonar Geometris plug and play installation guide, Zonar wireless driver ID spec sheet, Zonar affiliate accessory list. ZONAR is a trademark of Zonar Systems, Inc. Other product names belong to their owners. API Signal is an independent installer and is not Zonar.
Yes, through a J-Bus adapter cable into the 9-pin J1939 port. Zonar sells square and hex versions of that cable, so check the port first.
Zonar says it should report within a few minutes of being plugged in outdoors with a clear sky view. If it has not reported after an hour, check the connection and the LEDs.
Any plug-in device can be pulled. A Y cable lets the unit sit up under the dash, out of the way, while the port stays open for service.
Tell us how many vehicles and what they are. We'll quote the hardware and the install together.