Comparision of bluetooth GPS units

andrewilley · 23rd March 2006, 10:01 PM

Comparision of bluetooth GPS units

I don't really need a GPS

but I thought it might be kinda interesting to get a cheap'n'cheerful unit and then probably the basic Microsoft streetmaps package for a bit of fun. I don't want to spend a lot, but obviously I would still like it to work! I've narrowed it down to one of two GPS units, and I wonder if anyone here has any comments on them?

BT-77 (£39.99 plus VAT from http://www.inter-activeinformation.c...products_id=31)
8590 (£39.95 inc VAT from http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/8590.htm)

* They both have USB and in-car cigarette-lighter style chargers, which will allow me charge my MDA Vario in the car too, so that's useful.

* The 8590 uses the same Li-ion battery as my old Nokia phone, so that could give me an extra charged battery to keep in the car.

* The 8590 also has a USB port, as well as the Bluetooth connection, so I could connect it directly into my laptop if I wanted to - although I do have a bluetooth dongle for the laptop anyway, so that's not really a major factor.

* The BT-77 has 16 channels while the 8590 only has 12 - how much of a factor to consider is that?

* The BT-77 appears to have slightly better battery life, according to the comments I've seen.

* The BT-77 is a bit more expensive and has a two-week delivery wait at the moment (not critical, no real urgency).

So - does anyone have any experience with either of these units and might care to comment on which would be best, or anything else for me to bear in mind?

Regards,

Andre (very new to this whole GPS lark!)

twojags · 25th March 2006, 05:03 PM

I use a Fuzion Solar GPS which has a solar panel to keep it charged up. It was £59 from next Generation Sales on Ebay. After a little bit of a sweat trying to set it up with TomTom 5 I've been pretty impressed with it.

It apparently works for 30hours but I haven't had cause to check it as it's not used that long and I leave it by the window when not in use. It uses a Nok3650 replaceable battery so you could keep a spare in the unlikely event of it running flat.

For those with similar problems you need to search for the device in Bluetooth and accept the serial port option. In Windows Make sure blutooth is switched on then go to the CABLE settings in TomTom and set the Baud Rate to 38400. Then click done and go to other bluetooth gps device and in my case it was now available on com 6.

lyallb · 25th March 2006, 05:31 PM

i bought the 8590 from mobilefun last week, it was a good little device but i found it a bit too slow to get a lock, especially in london, sometimes it never got a lock

I returned it and have now got a Holux GPSlim236, which was 70 notes, but you certainly get what you pay for. This device gets a lock a lot quicker and is more appears more precise than the 8590. It also has a usb charger, pairs with Tomtom no problems and is slighty smaller than the 8590.

Perhaps i could have lived with the cheaper device, but now i have the holux i dont think i would go back...

cshields1 · 26th March 2006, 06:05 AM

Re: Comparision of bluetooth GPS units

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewilley

I don't really need a GPS

but I thought it might be kinda interesting to get a cheap'n'cheerful unit and then probably the basic Microsoft streetmaps package for a bit of fun. I don't want to spend a lot, but obviously I would still like it to work! I've narrowed it down to one of two GPS units, and I wonder if anyone here has any comments on them?

BT-77 (£39.99 plus VAT from http://www.inter-activeinformation.c...products_id=31)
8590 (£39.95 inc VAT from http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/8590.htm)

* They both have USB and in-car cigarette-lighter style chargers, which will allow me charge my MDA Vario in the car too, so that's useful.

* The 8590 uses the same Li-ion battery as my old Nokia phone, so that could give me an extra charged battery to keep in the car.

* The 8590 also has a USB port, as well as the Bluetooth connection, so I could connect it directly into my laptop if I wanted to - although I do have a bluetooth dongle for the laptop anyway, so that's not really a major factor.

* The BT-77 has 16 channels while the 8590 only has 12 - how much of a factor to consider is that?

* The BT-77 appears to have slightly better battery life, according to the comments I've seen.

* The BT-77 is a bit more expensive and has a two-week delivery wait at the moment (not critical, no real urgency).

So - does anyone have any experience with either of these units and might care to comment on which would be best, or anything else for me to bear in mind?

Regards,

Andre (very new to this whole GPS lark!)

I use the GlobalSat BT-338 receiver which has 3rd generation SiFr processor, can lock 20 satelites. I use Destinator mapping software on my Wizard. Go to buyGPSnow.com for good prices and support. Good luck.

andrewilley · 28th March 2006, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the advice everyone, I've just bought a Holux 236 on eBay for £57 (plus import duties when it arrives from far off lands).

So if it doesn't work, I'll be coming after you Lyallb... :)

Andre

jwzg · 28th March 2006, 01:16 PM

I second the Holux 236. I'm in Shanghai and consistently get a 10-bird lock within two minutes of turning it on. However, the first unit I bought had a bad bluetooth radio and had to be returned.

lyallb · 28th March 2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewilley

Thanks for the advice everyone, I've just bought a Holux 236 on eBay for £57 (plus import duties when it arrives from far off lands).

So if it doesn't work, I'll be coming after you Lyallb... :)

Andre

Ive heard the ones you get from overseas are a bit dodgy... :wink:
im confident i wont have to look over my shoulder....

p800 · 28th March 2006, 11:57 PM

BT-77

I have a BT GPS that is the same make as the BT-77 but branded under another name (Wonde-X BT GPS).

It sometimes takes ages to lock on, and this is with the plug in antenna.
Then on some days it takes 30 seconds, so I really don't know. There are better BT GPS out there, so I would give this one a miss if you have another option.

andrewilley · 29th March 2006, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyallb

Ive heard the ones you get from overseas are a bit dodgy... :wink:
im confident i wont have to look over my shoulder....

I guess I'm in a bit of a Catch 22 situation then. If the GPS works fine, I won't need to find you... but if I can't get the GPS to work, I won't be able to find you!

Andre

trixter · 29th March 2006, 08:51 AM

gps

I have a polestar BT gps which I aquired from http://www.deluoelectronics.com. I like it a lot, it works well, about the size of a zippo cigarette lighter, and the 3 ni-mh AAA batteries last a long time (although after having it about 18 months I finally had to replace the ones that came with the unit, something about being left in my jeep and freezing in the winter and melting in the summer :P )

This unit is small enough to toss in your pocket, the batteries are placed on the bottom so if it sits on your dash its not top heavy. Even has some rubber feet so it doesnt slide all over. In my jeep (which I take off roads quite often) it has never fallen over which suprises me becuase a few times my jeep almost fell over