Device location tracking

[SimonA1]

Hi All,

We would like to be able to track where our iPads are within Meraki to ensure that none leave the premesis. As we use Apple School Manager to student logins, should the location tracking still work if no user is logged in?

I have turned location services on for all iPad accounts, but not sure if Meraki can grab the location if all users are logged out.

If all Apple School Manager users are logged out, is the only way to get the location to use the lost mode?

Does the Meraki Systems manager app need to be running to get the location?

[BlakeRichardson]

Yes this should work, you can setup "geofencing" that will help you monitor this and create settings that work off the geofencing.

[PhilipDAth]

https://documentation.meraki.com/SM/Tags_and_Policies/Geofencing_with_Managed_Devices 

[SimonA1]

@PhilipDAth @BlakeRichardson 

Thanks. It appears to be a good idea. However the iPad's location is not updating properly. Last week I turned on location services for all iPads. (3 apple school manager accounts on each device) The location in meraki updated to our school, but this morning, it appears to have reverted back to the estimated location where our ISP is located.

This should also be triggering all devices as outside their geofence area, but the details on the devices are still showing up as a tick next to geofencing.

[PeterJames]

Hi @SimonA1 ,

Have you looked at improving the accuracy settings on the iPad itself?

See https://support.google.com/maps/answer/2839911

We had the same idea, but unfortunately due to the lag in response, by the time we have been made aware that the device has left the premise it is too late. It is also worth noting, that having location on constantly can drain the battery quite quickly.

An idea we moved on to was using Bluetooth beacons from the Meraki Access Points, but we never progressed this. The idea was to have a constant ping running to and from the device via an app, but again by the time you realise the device is off premise it is too late. The reason for Bluetooth over WiFi, is that Bluetooth uses less power.

The non-technical approach, if you can do this, is to simply to give end-users their own device, making them responsible for it. Or install some physical anti-theft tagging system, like clothing stores have, which comes at a cost but is a low tech way to protect valuable goods.

Eventually we just purchased low-end / cheap Android devices that did the job and just expected some would go for a walk and never return. £399+ iPad vs £70 Android Device; which would you prefer to lose...

Thank you,

Peter James

[SimonA1]

@PeterJames @PhilipDAth @BlakeRichardson 

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies.

The issue is not so much with GPS accuracy, but more to do with the method Meraki uses to fetch the location.

It seems that when an iPad has apple school manager accounts, the GPS location doesn't send through to Meraki if no users are logged in or if the device is locked by closing the case.

However, some of our iPads don't have apple school manager logins. It seems with these ones, that once their screen has been locked for a while, Meraki stops using GPS location to track the device, but switches over to the IP method, which gives a completely different location. 

[PhilipDAth · Accepted solution]

Not much Meraki can do about this.  It's related to the way the device sleeps and conserves battery.  iOS simply stops executing other background programs.