GPS tracking via Termux doesn't use Google Maps — it pulls coordinates directly from the Android location APIs and ships them to your Telegram bot. This covers the actual implementation: polling intervals, what happens when GPS is off, battery impact, and how to distinguish network location from true GPS fixes.
How XeraX Tracks Location on Enrolled Devices
XeraX installs as a background Termux process. Location requests go through Android's fused location provider and are sent directly to your Telegram bot in real time.
GPS vs Network Location
XeraX uses both GPS and network (cell tower + WiFi) location:
- GPS: Highest accuracy (3-15m), requires outdoor line of sight. Takes 5-30s to fix.
- Network: Works indoors, faster (1-3s), less accurate (50-200m). Uses nearest cell towers and WiFi beacons.
- Fused: Android combines both for best result. XeraX reports accuracy in meters with each location update.
Geofencing Alerts
XeraX supports custom geofence zones. Set a radius around any GPS coordinate (school, home, work) and receive an instant Telegram alert when the device enters or exits the zone. No polling needed — alerts fire automatically.
Follow Mode
Follow mode sends a location update only when the device is moving (above a configurable speed threshold). This reduces noise and battery usage — you get updates when the person is actually traveling, not pings every 60 seconds while they're sitting still.
Battery Impact
With XeraX's default 5-minute heartbeat, GPS usage is minimal. Continuous tracking mode updates every 30 seconds and uses approximately 3-5% extra battery per hour.