Cool new bluetooth gps device

**stroths** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 10:10 AM

There is a large thread about this gps & the Mogul over at pdaphonehome which should answer most questions. According to that thread, Version 2 is about to come out at $89 shipped, so you might want to hold off on ordering the old version 1.

http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/ppc-6...-receiver.html

n32jk · #2 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 10:34 AM

Well the sirf III is good and probably helps the aquistion and signal strength limitations due to positioning, but gps units still work better with a clear shot at the sky. Dangling from the ignition is a crap shoot depending on the vehicle. My favorites are the slightly larger ones that have the photo cells to help keep the battery charged. I have never run out of juice using mine. It also has 8 mb data logging onboard, for about 65 bucks. I do wish it were sirfIII, but you can't have everything. I would say about this unit,,,looks cute, but there are as good or better units for far less cost.

**fat boy** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

but gps units still work better with a clear shot at the sky

This used to be my experience as well till lately. My first Bluetooth GPS (older) was "BlueGPS" made by Royaltek. It was good and connected well with my mogul but I had to have the unit on the dash, period. I even bought an external antenna and plastered it to the glass for good reception. Then I bought a "WondeX BT-760Y BT GPS" by GiSTEQ because a lot of positive things were being said about its new chip. It was quirky to connect to my Mogul and not much better in the reception area, I generally feel it was a waste of money and should've stayed with my Royaltek. Then I read an interesting post were individuals claimed spectacular reception with their GPS unit. One gal even said she kept it in her purse and got great reception. I was like BS big time but I got hooked and bought it. It's the "Holux GPSlim 240 Bluetooth Wireless GPS" and it has the SiRF StarIII High Sensitive Chipset with 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition. It has worked flawlessly for me on the key chain, usually getting 7-11 pickups. Then I did the unthinkable and put it in my computer bag with the top open, there was at most an opening of about one inch at the top. When I put it in I had already connected to 9 satellites. I was using Google Maps on my Mogul and my drive to work is 30 miles for about 45 minutes and yes it got me all the way there with a minimum of 7 connections. I just could not believe it. It connects to my Mogul the best of the three I've owned. When I am at anyones house or at my office I stay connected, in fact the only time I have not been connected is when I have gone through a tunnel. As far as I'm concerned this unit is small and amazing! I paid a total of 69.95 on ebay.

Does anyone have a tracking program they would recommend? I go ATV a lot and hiking and would like to track my routes. I need something to go on my Mogul for collecting the tracks and hopefully something that can be uploaded to a laptop and then edited like giving the tracks names and colors etc.

2kmy477 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 11:45 AM

I have the Honux M1200 keychain GPS for about two months(got it from eBAY for $60),it device was incredible sensitive,but the build quality was so so,I had to exchange twice for the past 2 months(first time was did not connect to my Mogul at all,second time was the battery issue,it would not charge at all when plugged in to the charger)but overall,it's pretty damn good.

sheureka · #5 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fat boy

Does anyone have a tracking program they would recommend? I go ATV a lot and hiking and would like to track my routes. I need something to go on my Mogul for collecting the tracks and hopefully something that can be uploaded to a laptop and then edited like giving the tracks names and colors etc.

Check out Franson's GPSGate - http://www.franson.com/gpsgate/ - it saves tracking information, allows you to share your location, allows use of more than one gps app at the same time, allows tracking on GoogleEarth (with a desktop client), and lots of other stuff. There's a 14-day free trial.

I also use BackCountry Navigator - http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/. It's cool because it allows you to just download TerraServer maps and USGS waypoints. There's a 21-day free trial for it. - sheureka

PS - I replaced my GlobalSat (wouldn't hold a charge) with the OnCourse (http://www.buygpsnow.com/OnCourse-Bl...bled)_882.aspx) because it was really cheap and I needed something quickly. I used it for a week in a rental car in San Diego and was very, very pleased with it. It's on sale right now for only $39.99. - sheureka

**fat boy** · #6 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 05:37 PM

Thank you very much for the recommendations, I will try them out asap.

**Darkness231** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 09:02 PM

There is also another program called Tracky that uses Google Maps and you can log multiple routes and share info with other people, you can check it out at Tracky's web site.

**fat boy** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 01:05 AM

RANT: Screw developers who always want more from their current clients by CONSTANTLY upgrading to a new version, upgrade costs at most should only be the difference of what you paid and what it cost a new client to get the same thing. If the new version improved the product so much more than charge everyone more. Screw a developer who socks it to the guy who supported him when his product lacked and trys to help him by make recommendations how the product should be better and then turns around and charges him 50% more each time he comes out with a "new version". i.e. tracky....pisses me off. Makes a guy want to turn into a pirate. RANT DONE