---
title: How do I tell if a GPS unit is offline?
description: How to tell whether a GPS unit is offline, asleep, or just showing weak signal in Argus, and what each one means.
---
[Skip to content](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/how-do-i-tell-if-a-gps-unit-is-offline#main-content)
English - Australia
Show submenu for translations
Open main navigation
Close main navigation
- English - Australia
Show submenu for translations
- Contact us
Contact us
How can we help you?
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
1. [Argus Tracking Customer Knowledge Base](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base?hsLang=en-au)
2. [Troubleshooting](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au)
3. [My asset isn't tracking](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#my-asset-isnt-tracking)
# How do I tell if a GPS unit is offline?
## Check My Assets for red highlighting, then work out whether it's genuinely offline, in sleep mode, or just showing poor GPS signal strength.
Check the asset's card in **My Assets** — if it's been offline or in sleep mode for a while, its last position shows highlighted in red under its speed and address. Sleep mode looks the same as offline at a glance, but the fix is different: it clears itself as soon as the ignition is turned on.
**Also known as / customers also ask:** GPS unit offline, sleep mode, GPS signal off, GPS signal meaning, unit not reporting, asset offline indicator, what does offline mean
## Why is my GPS unit showing as offline?
An asset shows as offline in Argus when its GPS unit has either stopped communicating with our servers, or gone into sleep mode. Both look the same on the My Assets page — red highlighting under the asset's speed and address — so the first step is telling them apart.
## Is the asset actually in sleep mode?
GPS units go into sleep mode when a vehicle isn't in use, to stop the unit from running the vehicle's battery flat — the same reason you wouldn't leave headlights on in a car park. The unit resumes reporting the next time there's an "event" to report, which means turning the ignition on wakes it up. If you check whether the vehicle has been used since it last reported, or turn the ignition on and reporting resumes, it was in sleep mode, not offline.
## What does the GPS signal strength shown in Spectate mean?
Spectate and View History show a GPS signal strength based on how many satellites the unit is fixed to:
- **Excellent** — 8 or more satellites.
- **Good** — between 4 and 7 satellites.
- **Poor** — fewer than 4 satellites.
- **Off** — 0 satellites.
Seeing GPS: Off while a vehicle is stationary is normal — this is usually the same sleep-mode behaviour described above, and isn't something to be concerned about on its own.
## Could this be about poor coverage rather than a fault?
If the vehicle has moved but hasn't reported, it may have gone out of GPS coverage — underground car parks, mountains, gorges and heavily built-up areas can all weaken signal enough that the unit can't get a position. If you see the signal flicking between excellent and off while the vehicle is moving, this can point to a loose GPS aerial connection rather than a coverage gap — [contact Argus support](https://support.argustracking.com/new-request) to arrange a technician check.
## Is this related to the 2G/3G network shutdown?
Between August 2025 and early 2026, the mobile network operator's 2G/3G shutdown caused a share of offline reports that weren't device faults. That programme is now closed, so it's background for interpreting older data gaps rather than a live cause of a current offline report.
## What should I do if none of these explain it?
If you can't see a reason for the gap — for example the ignition has been turned on since it last reported — go to **My Assets** and select the red text under the asset to report it. See [what to check when an asset stops tracking](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/my-asset-has-stopped-tracking-what-should-i-check?hsLang=en-au) for the fuller list of checks support recommends working through first.
This article doesn't cover setting up automatic alerts or a weekly report for offline assets — see the [Asset Offline Report](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/what-is-the-asset-offline-report-and-how-do-i-use-it?hsLang=en-au).
- [Getting started](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [First steps](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#first-steps)
- [Your dashboard](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#your-dashboard)
- [Billing and payments](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/getting-started?hsLang=en-au#billing-and-payments)
- [Troubleshooting](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [GPS signal and accuracy](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#gps-signal-and-accuracy)
- [My asset isn't tracking](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#my-asset-isnt-tracking)
- [Website, browser and app problems](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#website-browser-and-app-problems)
- [Reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Scheduled and emailed reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#scheduled-and-emailed-reports)
- [Asset reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#asset-reports)
- [Choosing a report](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#choosing-a-report)
- [Fuel reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#fuel-reports)
- [Fleet, usage and utilisation reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#fleet-usage-and-utilisation-reports)
- [Location, site and geofence reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#location-site-and-geofence-reports)
- [Driver reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#driver-reports)
- [FBT and cost reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#fbt-and-cost-reports)
- [Health and safety reports](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/reports?hsLang=en-au#health-and-safety-reports)
- [Apps and integrations](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/apps-and-integrations?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [API and iFrame](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/apps-and-integrations?hsLang=en-au#api-and-iframe)
- [FleetHub and pool booking](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/apps-and-integrations?hsLang=en-au#fleethub-and-pool-booking)
- [Mobile apps](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/apps-and-integrations?hsLang=en-au#mobile-apps)
- [Partner integrations](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/apps-and-integrations?hsLang=en-au#partner-integrations)
- [Fuel and check sheets](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/fuel-and-check-sheets?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Fuel Watch and fuel cards](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/fuel-and-check-sheets?hsLang=en-au#fuel-watch-and-fuel-cards)
- [Using the Check Sheet app](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/fuel-and-check-sheets?hsLang=en-au#using-the-check-sheet-app)
- [Check sheet templates and setup](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/fuel-and-check-sheets?hsLang=en-au#check-sheet-templates-and-setup)
- [Compliance and RUC](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Vehicle compliance and servicing](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#vehicle-compliance-and-servicing)
- [Smart Renew](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#smart-renew)
- [RUC licences, invoices and credits](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#ruc-licences-invoices-and-credits)
- [Smart eRUC and Smart Hubo](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#smart-eruc-and-smart-hubo)
- [RUC Collect](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#ruc-collect)
- [Setting up Smart Hubo](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/compliance-and-ruc?hsLang=en-au#setting-up-smart-hubo)
- [Users, access and settings](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/users-access-and-settings?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Login, password, MFA and SSO](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/users-access-and-settings?hsLang=en-au#login-password-mfa-and-sso)
- [Users and user levels](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/users-access-and-settings?hsLang=en-au#users-and-user-levels)
- [Policies and legal documents](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/users-access-and-settings?hsLang=en-au#policies-and-legal-documents)
- [Account settings and preferences](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/users-access-and-settings?hsLang=en-au#account-settings-and-preferences)
- [Assets and devices](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Adding and importing assets](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#adding-and-importing-assets)
- [How GPS tracking works](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#how-gps-tracking-works)
- [Asset profiles and details](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#asset-profiles-and-details)
- [Hardware, installs and decommissioning](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#hardware-installs-and-decommissioning)
- [Groups and cost centres](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#groups-and-cost-centres)
- [Safety hardware and ASSIST](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#safety-hardware-and-assist)
- [LOCI asset trackers](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/assets-and-devices?hsLang=en-au#loci-asset-trackers)
- [Tracking and maps](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/tracking-and-maps?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Geofences](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/tracking-and-maps?hsLang=en-au#geofences)
- [Alerts and notifications](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/tracking-and-maps?hsLang=en-au#alerts-and-notifications)
- [Live tracking and Spectate](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/tracking-and-maps?hsLang=en-au#live-tracking-and-spectate)
- [Route optimisation and jobs](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/tracking-and-maps?hsLang=en-au#route-optimisation-and-jobs)
- [Driver safety and behaviour](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/driver-safety-and-behaviour?hsLang=en-au#main-content)
- [Driver ID and FaceID](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/driver-safety-and-behaviour?hsLang=en-au#driver-id-and-faceid)
- [Speed zones and overspeed](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/driver-safety-and-behaviour?hsLang=en-au#speed-zones-and-overspeed)
- [Vision AI](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/driver-safety-and-behaviour?hsLang=en-au#vision-ai)
- [Risk points and scoring](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/driver-safety-and-behaviour?hsLang=en-au#risk-points-and-scoring)
- [Vision AI](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/knowledge-base/vision-ai?hsLang=en-au)
[](https://help.argustracking.co.nz/?hsLang=en-au)
[mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)
Copyright © 2026, Argus Tracking