iMatrix TelematicsFleetConnectFC-101S Solar

FC-101S Solar Tracker Quick Start Guide

The FC-101S is a solar-powered GPS tracker for high-value outdoor assets — trailers, containers, and heavy machinery. An integrated solar panel keeps a high-capacity internal battery topped up for indefinite, maintenance-free operation.

FC-101S
Before you start: Your solar tracker ships in a low-power state and wakes on sunlight or sustained movement. Mount it where the panel gets an unobstructed view of the sky, then give it a few minutes to join the network.

FC-101S hardware overview.

Device typeSolar-powered GPS asset tracker
Dimensions262 × 88 × 30 mm (10.31 × 3.46 × 1.18 in)
Housing ratingIP67 — dust-tight and protected against immersion in water
PowerIntegrated solar panel charging a 9 Ah internal battery
Motion sensor6-axis IMU (movement, impact, and orientation)
PositioningMulti-constellation GNSS · 2.0–2.5 m typical accuracy
CellularLTE Cat M / NB-IoT with 2G fallback · EdgeUplink global eSIM (Zones 1 & 2 included)

Mount it and bring it online.

Place it where it can see the sky

Mount the unit with an unobstructed view of the sky and the solar panel facing upward. Keep the panel clear of dirt, snow, and debris so it charges reliably in its final position.

Mount it to the asset

Secure the unit through the integrated mounting slots with four rivets, screws, or bolts.

Let it wake and connect

Units ship in a low-power state. Exposure to sunlight or sustained movement wakes the device; it then joins the cellular network (up to ~5 minutes) and acquires a multi-constellation GPS fix (up to ~4 minutes).

Confirm it’s online

Check the device status on imatrixsys.com — see “Managing your device” below.

Verify status on imatrixsys.com.

All device management and data visualisation happen on the imatrixsys.com portal. Log in with your credentials and find your device by its IMEI — a traffic-light status shows its connection state:

Green — online and synchronised with the latest settings.
Yellow — online, but a configuration change is pending the next check-in.
Black — has not yet established a connection with the server.

Settings such as reporting frequency and the horizontal-accuracy threshold are pushed over-the-air — you never have to retrieve the device. Confirm a successful change via the check-in / updates icons in the dashboard.

Choose how the device reports.

Locate · Daily inventory

Daily visibility, maximum power conservation

  • One location report every 24 hours
  • Each report includes GPS position and solar-charge health metrics
  • Lowest cellular air-time — longest field life
  • Best for stationary assets, containers, and inventory
Command · Active tracking & security

Real-time awareness and programmable behaviour

  • Motion-triggered: reports immediately when the asset starts moving, then sends periodic updates while in transit
  • Recovery Mode ramps reporting up (e.g. every 60 seconds) to actively track a lost or stolen asset
  • Reporting interval and device behaviour are adjustable over-the-air from the portal
  • Impact reports flag collisions and rough handling

Devices arrive pre-provisioned for your chosen plan. To move a tracker from Locate to Command, contact your iMatrix representative. See FC-101 family plans & pricing →

Keep it reporting reliably.

  • Check solar health in the portal. The dashboard shows the unit’s charging current and voltage — use them to confirm the mounting position gets enough sun. Keep the panel clear of dirt, snow, and debris.
  • First connection takes a few minutes — up to ~5 minutes to join the cellular network and ~4 minutes for the first GPS fix.
  • GPS “drift” while stationary? The unit holds 2.0–2.5 m typical accuracy; the horizontal-accuracy threshold can be tightened over-the-air to filter out jumping coordinates.
  • Updates apply automatically. Firmware and configuration changes are pushed over-the-air; verify a successful check-in via the portal logs.
  • If the asset spends most of its life under cover or indoors, the battery FC-101 is the better fit.
View the FC-101S product page →

Quick Start Guides for every iMatrix device

Browse setup guides for the FleetConnect trackers and the iMatrix environmental sensor family.

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