Where does the location come from?
A nearby Hubble receiver detects the label and reports its own position. The label is broadcasting over Bluetooth, rather than calculating a GPS position. See how the network works.
Why can updates have gaps?
A receiver needs to be nearby and scanning. Metal, dense packaging, and the surrounding environment can affect reception. A gap alone does not prove that a label is broken or that the item has stopped moving.
Shipzik shows the last detection time so you can judge how recent a location is. A “not detected” alert reports a gap; it does not locate the item.
How should I read the accuracy radius?
Reported accuracy describes the receiver’s location fix. It is useful context, not a promise that the item is at the center of the marker or within an exact boundary.
Source: Hubble’s transmission and location guidance.
Start with a representative trip.
Try a label with the packaging, placement and route you expect to use. Compare detections with known stops and note the gaps. A successful desk test is not proof of performance inside a loaded trailer.
If a job requires guaranteed updates or proof of delivery, choose a service that explicitly supports those requirements. See our Bluetooth and GPS comparison.
The included 30 days describes tracking service from activation, not a battery-life guarantee. Explore a Shipzik label.
Set your gap threshold before the test
Before you activate a label, decide the maximum detection gap you would find acceptable for that route. Write it down alongside your route, carrier and packaging choice. A same-day local delivery and a multi-day cross-country shipment have different expectations.
Route conditions such as rural stretches, air cargo legs or dense metal containers are worth testing because they can affect whether a Hubble receiver is nearby to log a detection. Committing to a threshold in advance lets you judge the actual result honestly rather than deciding after you notice a quiet period.
Pilot log: what to record on each test shipment
For each test shipment, record the following before the package leaves and again after it arrives.
After delivery, open Shipzik and note each detection: timestamp, reported receiver location and accuracy radius. Then compare carrier scan events separately. A carrier scan records a handler event at a facility when the carrier logs it; a Shipzik detection records proximity to a Hubble gateway on the terrestrial network. They cover different moments and locations, so a gap in one does not necessarily mean a gap in the other.
Count how many gaps exceeded your pre-set threshold and whether they correlated with specific segments, packaging or placement. One successful test route is evidence for that route; it is not a coverage guarantee across all routes or configurations.
- Carrier tracking number paired with the Shipzik label serial number
- Label position on the outer shipping box and its orientation
- Outer packaging type, cushioning material and any dense or metal contents
- Known scheduled stops with expected dates or time windows
- Your pre-committed maximum acceptable gap length
Common questions
Can Shipzik work alongside my carrier tracking number?
Yes. Keep your carrier tracking number; it records scan events at carrier facilities. Shipzik adds independent Hubble receiver detections on the same shipment. They cover different events and locations, and neither is a complete record on its own.
What does a several-hour gap in Shipzik mean?
No new detection is displayed for that period. Check the last detection timestamp and compare your carrier scan record. A gap in the display does not confirm the item stopped moving, that no receiver heard a signal, or that the label failed.
Sources: hubble.com shipzik.com shipzik.com