How to Unlock GPS Location Tracking on ALTA and ALTA XL IoT Gateways
A gateway can tell you more than whether sensors are online. With the GPS location feature unlocked, an ALTA® or ALTA XL® IoT Gateway can also report where it is, on a schedule you choose.
That is useful when gateways move between sites, travel with equipment, or serve remote monitoring installations where location history matters. Once unlocked, the gateway can send GPS/GNSS location data at configured intervals. In iMonnit, you can review that history on a map and confirm where the gateway has been over time.
This guide walks through the full unlock process in iMonnit, from buying the credit to applying it to the correct gateway.
What the GPS unlock does
The GPS location feature is not enabled by default on every ALTA or ALTA XL gateway. It has to be unlocked in iMonnit by purchasing and applying a Gateway GPS/GNSS unlock credit.
After the feature is unlocked, the gateway can provide location data at intervals you configure. That data can then appear in iMonnit as location history applied to a map.
This can help with situations such as:
Tracking gateways assigned to mobile assets
Confirming a gateway is still located at the intended monitoring site
Reviewing past gateway locations after a move
Supporting field teams that manage equipment across multiple sites
Auditing where gateway-connected sensor networks have been active
The unlock applies to the gateway, not to an individual sensor. That distinction matters. If your aim is to track the physical location of the gateway itself, this is the feature you need.
Before you start
You will need access to iMonnit with the right permission level. The unlock process requires an administrator account because it involves credits, account settings, and changes to gateway features.
Before you begin, make sure you have:
An active iMonnit account
Administrator access
The gateway already added to the account
Access to the email address where unlock codes are sent
A payment method if you need to purchase credits
The correct gateway selected before you apply the credit
It is also helpful to know which gateway you plan to unlock before buying or applying the credit. If you manage several gateways, check the gateway name, ID, or assigned location in iMonnit first. This reduces the chance of applying the credit to the wrong device.
The key rule is simple: buy the unlock credit, redeem the code, apply the available credit to the correct gateway, then save the change.
Step 1 Log into iMonnit as an administrator
Start by signing into iMonnit with an administrator account.
A standard user account may let you view devices and sensor data, but the GPS unlock process is tied to account credits. For that reason, the proper admin role is required.
Once you are signed in, take a moment to confirm you are in the right account if you manage more than one organization or customer account. Credits and gateways are account-specific, so being in the wrong account can slow down the process.
After login, use the main navigation menu on the left side of the page. This is where you will find the credit area needed for the unlock.
Step 2 Purchase a gateway unlock credit
The GPS feature is unlocked by purchasing a credit inside iMonnit. This credit is then redeemed and applied to the gateway you want to enable.
In the left-hand navigation menu, select Credits.
From there, choose GPS Unlock. This opens the unlock section where GPS-related unlock options are managed.
Near the bottom of the page, choose Gateway GPS/GNSS. This is the option for unlocking location tracking on an ALTA or ALTA XL gateway.
Next, use the drop-down menu to select the price. The exact options shown may depend on your account, region, or current iMonnit setup, so choose the available option that matches the gateway GPS/GNSS unlock.
Then enter the quantity you want to purchase.
If you only need to unlock one gateway, enter a quantity of one. If you are preparing to unlock several gateways, choose the number of unlock credits you need. Each gateway you unlock will need an available credit.
When the quantity is correct, select Checkout.
After checkout is complete, a code is sent to your email. You will use this code to redeem the GPS Gateway Unlock Credit in iMonnit.
Step 3 Redeem the GPS unlock credit
After you receive the unlock code by email, go back to iMonnit.
Make sure you are still on the GPS Unlock page. If you navigated away, return to Credits, then select GPS Unlock again.
Look for the Activate Code field. Paste the unlock code from your email into that field.
After you submit or activate the code, iMonnit will show a confirmation page. Click OK to confirm.
At this point, the purchased code has been redeemed into your account. The credit should now be available to apply to a gateway.
This step matters because receiving the code by email is not the same as applying it. The code must be activated in iMonnit before it can appear as an available credit.
Step 4 Apply the GPS unlock credit to your gateway
Now you can assign the redeemed credit to the gateway that needs GPS location tracking.
On the GPS Unlock page, check the Remaining column. Confirm that you see an available credit. If the remaining count does not show an available credit, the code may not have been redeemed yet, or the purchase may not be tied to the account you are viewing.
Once you confirm a credit is available, find the gateway you want to unlock.
Select the Lock icon next to that gateway. When selected, the icon will turn green. This indicates that the gateway is marked to receive the unlock.
After selecting the correct gateway, click Save.
Saving is required. If you select the lock icon but leave the page without saving, the unlock may not apply.
Once saved, the gateway’s GPS feature is unlocked.
How to confirm the unlock worked
After you apply the credit and save the change, check that the gateway now appears as unlocked on the GPS Unlock page. The lock icon should reflect the updated state.
You can also review the gateway settings and location-related options in iMonnit. The available configuration may vary, but the goal is to confirm that location tracking can now be configured for that gateway.
Once enabled, you can configure the frequency of the location data. This controls how often the gateway reports its GPS/GNSS position.
Choose an interval that matches how the gateway is used.
For a gateway installed at a fixed site, you may not need frequent updates. If the gateway rarely moves, a longer interval may be enough for location history and confirmation.
For a gateway used with mobile equipment, a shorter interval may make more sense. More frequent location updates can provide a clearer history of movement.
Keep in mind that location behavior can be affected by placement, signal availability, device configuration, and the environment around the gateway. GPS signals generally work best when the device has a suitable view of the sky or is installed in a location where the antenna can receive a clear signal.
How location history appears in iMonnit
Once the GPS feature is unlocked and configured, iMonnit can display the gateway’s location history on a map. This gives you a visual record of where the gateway has reported its position over time.
This is especially helpful when reviewing movement after the fact. For example, if a gateway was moved from one job site to another, location history can help confirm when that change occurred. If a mobile monitoring system was deployed in several places, the map view can help reconstruct that route or sequence of locations.
The value of the map is not just the current position. It is the combination of time, location, and history.
When reviewing location history, look for:
The most recent reported location
The time of the last location update
Any gaps in expected reporting
Unexpected movement
Whether the gateway remained within the expected site area
If data does not appear right away, check the reporting interval and give the gateway time to send its next location update. Also confirm that the gateway is online and communicating normally.
Common mistakes to avoid
The unlock process is short, but a few details can cause confusion.
Buying the credit but not redeeming the code
After checkout, the code is sent by email. That code still needs to be pasted into the Activate Code field on the GPS Unlock page. Until you redeem it, the credit may not appear as available.
Redeeming the credit in the wrong account
If you manage more than one iMonnit account, confirm that you are logged into the correct one before redeeming the code. Credits are tied to the account where they are activated.
Selecting the wrong gateway
If your account includes multiple gateways, check the gateway name or other identifying details before applying the unlock. Once you click the lock icon and save, you are applying the credit to that selected gateway.
Forgetting to click Save
Changing the lock icon is not the final step. You must click Save for the unlock to take effect.
Expecting location history before configuration
Unlocking the feature allows the gateway to provide GPS location data, but you still need to configure the location reporting interval. The map history depends on the gateway reporting location data over time.
A quick checklist for the full process
Use this checklist when you want to move through the unlock without missing a step.
Log into iMonnit as an administrator.
Select Credits from the left-hand navigation menu.
Select GPS Unlock.
Choose Gateway GPS/GNSS near the bottom of the page.
Select the price from the drop-down menu.
Enter the desired quantity.
Select Checkout.
Retrieve the unlock code from your email.
Return to the GPS Unlock page.
10. Paste the code into the Activate Code field.
11. Confirm the activation by clicking OK.
12. Check that a credit appears under Remaining.
13. Select the lock icon next to the gateway you want to unlock.
14. Confirm the lock icon turns green.
15. Click Save.
That completes the unlock process.
What success looks like
When the process is complete, the selected gateway has its GPS feature unlocked in iMonnit. You should see the updated unlock status for that gateway, and you can configure how often it reports location data.
From there, iMonnit can build a location history and show it on a map as the gateway reports new positions.
The whole process comes down to four main actions: sign in as an administrator, purchase the Gateway GPS/GNSS unlock credit, redeem the emailed code, and apply the available credit to the correct gateway. Once you save the change, your ALTA or ALTA XL gateway is ready to support GPS location tracking.
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