| Article Index |
|---|
| Page 1 |
| Page 2 |
GlobalSat BT-359W Bluetooth Wireless GPS Receiver
With the BT-359W, GlobalSat has not only created a feature rich GPS receiver, but also designed quite a nice looking package for the more discerning customer. The BT-359W Bluetooth GPS Receiver is one of the more feature packed GPS receivers I have seen on the market. I will go over these features further into this review, and how they will benefit you in your use of the BT-359W. One notable feature in particular that has been integrated into the BT-359W is GlobalSat's use of the new SiRF Star III chipset. The SiRF Star III is WAAS enabled, increasing the accuracy significantly from previous generations. I will explain WAAS a little more in depth a little later on.
Out of the Box
Once the BT-359W's box was opened, you are looking at one of the sleekest looking Bluetooth GPS receivers I have ever seen. The BT-359W is incredibly thin and overall pretty small. It's about the length of a credit card, but not as high. It measures about 3 ¼" across and slightly over 1 ½" high while still only about ½" thick. The BT-359W is kind of cool looking with a black and silver futuristic looking design that would be as at home in your Jeep as in your BMW.
Another surprise waiting in the box was the charger. The BT-359W has a mini data plug connector for charging purposes. The provided charger is a cable that plugs into the BT-359W, and the other end can either be plugged into an AC adapter or it can also be plugged into a car charger. Both adapters are included. This charging versatility enables you to recharge the BT-359W pretty much anywhere. Also included is a CD ROM providing all the documentation you could ever want for the BT-359W as well as an installer to place the documentation on your computer
Setup
Setting up the BT-359W was a breeze. It isn't necessary to put the unit into pairing mode, as you simply launch whatever Bluetooth software and refresh the device list. The BT-359W appears, you press connect, and you are connected. It was also very easy to set the DeLorme software to look for the GPS on COM4 which is the default for the BT-359W. You can always use the Bluetooth software to change the COM port to another port if necessary.
Using the Dell laptop and DeLorme Street Atlas 2005, I was effortlessly able to connect to the BT-359W and begin my road trip. This trip was only 4.5 hours and couldn't have gone smoother. The BT-359W Bluetooth GPS Receiver was flawless the entire time. The previous charge lasted the whole trip and the BT-359W didn't lose the satellite signal once. I am astounded at how well the GlobalSat Bluetooth wireless GPS receivers operate. Anyone in the market for a Bluetooth wireless GPS should not only consider GlobalSat, but should seriously consider the GlobalSat Bluetooth BT-359W Wireless GPS Receiver.
BT-359W: What's Different?
As I mentioned earlier, GlobalSat's decision to use the SiRF Star III chipset enables the BT-359W to utilize the WAAS system for increased accuracy. WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. The WAAS is a system combining the abilities of both satellites and ground stations to provide GPS signal corrections, so the WAAS enabled BT-359W offers accuracy within 3 meters 95% of the time. Previous generations of GPS chips that are not WAAS compatible are typically accurate within 15-100 meters, depending on whether the chip is in a geographic location that has Selective Availability turned on or not. (Selective Availability is a military protocol that allows the government to regulate how accurate GPS chips are with the touch of a button).
WAAS was created to provide a GPS device with enough accuracy to be used in even the most sensitive applications, such as aircraft navigation. What this means for the average user who wouldn't be flying, is the BT-359W is so accurate that you can use it for turn by turn directions. Using the Hot Spots feature in Street Atlas was very easy to navigate, even in the busiest of cities with turns sometimes right on top of each other. The BT-359W is an incredibly accurate GPS Receiver.
Conclusion
The BT-359W is a great buy for the money. Hopefully by now you may have learned something you didn't already know about GPS technology, and in the process, gained some insight into the value of a product like the BT-359W. Any product that works as effortlessly or as seamlessly as the BT-359W should be an easy choice to buy. This unit's overall performance, accuracy and stability make it a product to consider once you're in the market for a GPS receiver.
Pros
- Effortless setup
- Low satellite acquisition time
- Battery life of more than 11 hrs.
- Auto power off to preserve the battery
- WAAS enabled for enhanced accuracy
- Small footprint allows unit to be placed anywhere
- Fast charging time via Mini-USB port
- Includes both AC (home) and DC (car) adapters
- Mac OS X Support
Cons
- Battery life is shorter compared to BT-328
| FEATURE | BT-328 | BT-359W |
| Wireless Interface | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| GPS Chipset | SiRF GSC2 High Performance & Low Power Consumption Chipset | NMEA 0183 (Secondary: SiRF binary) GPS Output format GGA (1sec), GSA(1sec), GSV(5sec), RMC(1sec), GLL, VTG is optional |
| GPS Protocol | SiRF GSC2 High Performance & Low Power Consumption Chipset | 20 channel all-in-view tracking |
| Channels | 12 | Yes |
| WAAS Enabled | No | 10 meters 2D RMS, 1-5 meters 2D RMS, WAAS corrected |
| Accuracy | 10 meters 2D RMS, 5 meters 2D RMS | 11 hours |
| Battery Life | 16 Hours Continuous Mode | 11 hours |
| Operating Temp. | -20°C - 60°C | -10°C ~ 60°C |
| Price | $159.99 |
Posted August 18, 2006 by BlueTomorrow.com Editorial Staff
| Comments |
|
