bluetooth gps reciever

[fire931]

ok so i'm looking for some sort of gps reciever or anteana that can send the satellite info via bluetooth.. whatever i get i plan to mount in my truck so the ability to just hardware would be awesome. i'm having trouble finding pretty much anything that would suit my needs...

any input is welcomed here.... i'm lost.

 

[AxeAngel]

I was interested in bluetooth as well, but several people from here informed me that they had some connectivity issues with the bluetooth piece. Factor in batteries, and losing a signal when you need it most and I stuck with what the common recommendation was - GlobalSat BU-353.

-Sam

 

[fire931]

well i don't plan on hooking it to a computer so a usb won't work for me. i want to use the data/track logger on my phone to record everything but was hoping to use a separate antenna so i don't have to leave the phone laying in the dashboard.

 

[evldave]

I've been using the BU-359 bluetooth for awhile. Lasts for a long time on a charge (pretty much most of the day), gets fantastic reception, and has a USB power port so you can power it via USB power adapter. It has auto-shutoff if you aren't using to save battery power. SirfIII chipset too. I think I paid like $50 total from amazon or something like that.

Not sure about other people's issues, but I've never lost a signal once it's locked in, and have not had any connectivity issues using with my windows laptop, my wife's iphone, my iPaq4700, or my blackberry (I use it mostly w/the laptop and the iPaq). Range isn't great, but I can put it in the back of the truck where the rear area power port is and using the laptop up front, although most of the time I just toss it up on the dash if it's fully charged...it's tiny, maybe 1"x2-1/2"x.33"? you can't even really tell it's there, and no cables!

 

[fire931]

so you could actually plug it in using a usb cable to a power port and never have to worry about charging it correct?

 

[evldave]

so you could actually plug it in using a usb cable to a power port and never have to worry about charging it correct?

Correct

 

[fire931]

sweet.. looks like that may be the route i go. if its really that small i should have enough room to tuck it away under the dash with the xm antenna...

 

[dzzz]

You have your XM antenna under the dash?
Dash top works fine for GPS except the wipers can mess up the signal. The roof is best if it can be plugged into the gps conveniently.
You almost certainly want a receiver, which includes an integrated antenna. GPS antenna are sold, but those are for specific devices that already contain the receiver portion.
I had a bluetooth receiver with no ports. The convenience of losing the wire was offset by the need to manage the battery. A unit that can be powered from car electrical sounds perfect for a semi-permanent install.
I have a plastic truck so maybe I should think about putting antennas behind solid objects.........

 

[fire931]

yea currently my xm antenna sits under the main dash cover.. its all plastic and dosn't effect the signal. still picks up great. its pushed as far forward under the dash as i could get it so it could see out the windshield decent.

if this unit has a hook up for an external antenna i may would use that instead and put it on the roof to optimize reception but i didn't notice if it was capable of that... have to go back and look. and yes whatever i do i plan for it to be a semi permanent install so my phone can connect to it whenever i'm in the truck with no maintenance as far as battery and whatnot on the gps.

 

[fire931]

dang.. seems like a good price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GLOBALSAT-BT-35...60466278749?pt=PDA_Accessories#ht_4780wt_1137

 

[evldave]

yea currently my xm antenna sits under the main dash cover.. its all plastic and dosn't effect the signal. still picks up great. its pushed as far forward under the dash as i could get it so it could see out the windshield decent.

if this unit has a hook up for an external antenna i may would use that instead and put it on the roof to optimize reception but i didn't notice if it was capable of that... have to go back and look. and yes whatever i do i plan for it to be a semi permanent install so my phone can connect to it whenever i'm in the truck with no maintenance as far as battery and whatnot on the gps.

No external antenna connection. If you are looking for a 'plug in it, turn it on and don't touch it again' let me check...I think it might have an auto-shutdown even when plugged in...

And I've never seen any issues on my dash, but never tried it under the dash...but I've had it get 8 satellites in my living room w/the shutters closed, so I would think a plastic dash would have no issues.

 

[fire931]

yea that was basically the idea. to be able to plug it in and not have to fool with it again.