Bluetooth GPS Receiver

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.socketcom.com/product/GP0804-405.asp">http://www.socketcom.com/product/GP0804-405.asp</a><br /><br />Here is a bluetooth GPS receiver that doesn't require you to take up your expansion slot. "Now you can easily get around town while on a business trip or never get lost on that “family road-trip” using Socket's Bluetooth GPS Receiver. From your Bluetooth enabled mobile device, like a Pocket PC, laptop computer, or new Tablet PC, you can connect easily to the Socket GPS Receiver and know where you are using a variety of NMEA compliant software. Since this GPS product does not use your device’s CompactFlash or PC card slot, you still have expandability."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20021121-bluetoothgps.gif" /><br /><br />It is not yet available and there is no estimated price.

[entropy1980]

Seen a price of $449 thrown around a little expensive if you ask me.

[Jimmy Dodd]

All right! Finally I can get a GPS to use with my WiFi e740 without taking up my expansion slots. All I have to do is remove my SD card, insert a BlueTooth SDIO card and...

oh.

Never mind.
:roll:

[nobody]

crazy price!

[JvanEkris]

Looks a lot like the EMTAC (http://www.emtac.com/products/bluetooth/index.html#usage)

Jaap

[24va]

You can get the exact same unit at the palm store for $329.00USD, just toss the palm mapopolis software.

[msprague]

This is the same as the EMTAC unit. We have one at work and it works great. I am using my Maestro with a Socket BT CF card and my boss is using his Maestro with the Tosh BT SD card. Very nice to be able to walk around with the GPS in your back pocket. BIG improvement in convenience over the Pretec CF GPS that we were previously using. You can keep it on the dashboard and no cords to fuss with. This is a perfect application for BT and it works great.

[portus]

This is the same as the EMTAC unit. We have one at work and it works great. I am using my Maestro with a Socket BT CF card and my boss is using his Maestro with the Tosh BT SD card. Very nice to be able to walk around with the GPS in your back pocket. BIG improvement in convenience over the Pretec CF GPS that we were previously using. You can keep it on the dashboard and no cords to fuss with. This is a perfect application for BT and it works great.
Except that you need to charge the BT GPS battery once in a while to keep in going. That's another thing to worry about aside from the battery life of your PDA.

[Paul P]

Is there a fee involved in using the GPS service? I know how GPS works, but not sure if the cost of the hardware is the only cost.

Thanks

[Ed Hansberry]

Is there a fee involved in using the GPS service? I know how GPS works, but not sure if the cost of the hardware is the only cost.

Thanks
Nope - free of charge thanks to the government. :) It is their satellite system.

[vincentsiaw]

can we use pocket street for this gps?

[Paul]

Brilliant! Now if only the cost was lower...

[Programmer]

Nope - free of charge thanks to the government. :) It is their satellite system.

You mean our satellite system dont you? :roll:

Robert

[Ed Hansberry]

Nope - free of charge thanks to the government. :) It is their satellite system.

You mean our satellite system dont you? :roll:
Well, yes, but it is our government. Still, as a private citizen I can't make changes to the system because I don't have the title or right to do so.

[msprague]

can we use pocket street for this gps?
Yes.

[nirav28]

Ok..I got a ipaq 3835. I don't see why would anyone want this , except for the fact that its cordless. For $400+!!! thats a bit high...

I mean, how hard is it to buy a cheap serial port enabled GPS receiver , use a null model adaptor and hook it up to your sync port? I use the rand mcnally serial port gps that came with their mapping software. I got the whole package for like $60 at bestbuy couple of years ago. I plug the power cable into the cig light jack and one to the serial/null model adaptor hooked into my ipaq's sync port. I place the gps receiver on the dashboard and place the ipaq into a mobile cradle. Simple and it cost me less than $100 for the whole setup. Thats including the software. And it leaves my SD and CF sleeve slots open for extra memory cards and wifi. (Netstumbler :wink: ). Not to mention that I can use it on my laptop also!

Ok, I can understand this might be good for people out camping or hiking. But you still have to place this GPS receiver somewhere. Where are you going to put it? On your head? And it needs to have its batteries recharged and if your PDA doesn't have bluetooth, you're still using up a SD or CF slot for that. For $400+ , I don't think this brings any real value. IMO

[cscullion]

For vertical-market applications, this thing would be great. You could clip or pin the GPS receiver to your hat or jacket and have unfettered use of the handheld device for mapping or data collection or whatever. There are PPCs with built in Bluetooth, as well as Palm devices (Tungsten|T), so this configuration still allows use of the SD slot for data.

[st63z]

You should be able to find many detailed threads at Dale's GPS forum: http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=39

The BT GPS is smaller than the stand-alone picture would indicate:
http://www.gpspassion.com/Hardware/Reviews/pics/PICT0021.jpg
http://www.gpspassion.com/Hardware/Reviews/pics/PICT0022.jpg (courtesy of GPSPassion)

(But if you think that's small, check out: http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21159 )

Like others have mentioned, I don't know why Socket's so $$$? The Transplant EMTAC hardware-only preorder was something like $300-350 IIRC, and of course the Palm Mapopolis-bundle is only $329 (which PPC people are buying just to get the hardware). Also, the press release seems to imply the Socket kit is hardware only, but for that price I would've expected really good full-blown versions of PPC *and* PC mapping software?

Anyways, I'm now thinking I'll go cheap with Radio Shack's new $99 kit (16-channel GPS receiver + Street Atlas or XMap Handheld): http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19989

[Will T Smith]

This is the same as the EMTAC unit. We have one at work and it works great. I am using my Maestro with a Socket BT CF card and my boss is using his Maestro with the Tosh BT SD card. Very nice to be able to walk around with the GPS in your back pocket. BIG improvement in convenience over the Pretec CF GPS that we were previously using. You can keep it on the dashboard and no cords to fuss with. This is a perfect application for BT and it works great.
Except that you need to charge the BT GPS battery once in a while to keep in going. That's another thing to worry about aside from the battery life of your PDA.

Actually, this is a HUGE +. GPS units tend to be real power hogs. It's best to have a second battery in this type of configuration.

[Will T Smith]

Nope - free of charge thanks to the government. :) It is their satellite system.

You mean our satellite system dont you? :roll:
Well, yes, but it is our government. Still, as a private citizen I can't make changes to the system because I don't have the title or right to do so.



Haha, you just gave me an idea. The Department of Defense should have patented the receiver technology and used the royalties to offset it's burden on the general fund.

[Will T Smith]

Ok..I got a ipaq 3835. I don't see why would anyone want this , except for the fact that its cordless. For $400+!!! thats a bit high...

I mean, how hard is it to buy a cheap serial port enabled GPS receiver , use a null model adaptor and hook it up to your sync port? I use the rand mcnally serial port gps that came with their mapping software. I got the whole package for like $60 at bestbuy couple of years ago. I plug the power cable into the cig light jack and one to the serial/null model adaptor hooked into my ipaq's sync port. I place the gps receiver on the dashboard and place the ipaq into a mobile cradle. Simple and it cost me less than $100 for the whole setup. Thats including the software. And it leaves my SD and CF sleeve slots open for extra memory cards and wifi. (Netstumbler :wink: ). Not to mention that I can use it on my laptop also!

Ok, I can understand this might be good for people out camping or hiking. But you still have to place this GPS receiver somewhere. Where are you going to put it? On your head? And it needs to have its batteries recharged and if your PDA doesn't have bluetooth, you're still using up a SD or CF slot for that. For $400+ , I don't think this brings any real value. IMO

The pricepoint is definitely too high. My guess is the cost is based on how many they expect to sell since Bluetooth is still a niche product.

Regarding WHO would want to use it. Well ... everyone. The beauty of this receiver is that it isn't just "point-to-point" as many GPS receivers are. Any device in your PAN can use the Bluetooth enabled GPS unit simultaneously. Laptop, PDA, Cell-Phone, Nav-System, Watch, Workout monitor (track your running/biking based on GPS), etc...

Plus, consider the cost of a specific cable for ALL those uses as well as the pain in the ass of transport and connecting them all.

My only real comment on the unit is that it should have a basic LCD display. The display would simply tell you "where you are now" when you press a button. Simple and easy. This way, the unit is usable without a bluetooth device.

[st63z]

You can keep it on the dashboard and no cords to fuss with. This is a perfect application for BT and it works great.
Except that you need to charge the BT GPS battery once in a while to keep in going. That's another thing to worry about aside from the battery life of your PDA.

Actually, this is a HUGE +. GPS units tend to be real power hogs. It's best to have a second battery in this type of configuration.

And when in the car I suppose you can always leave it plugged in to the cigarette lighter adapter (same DC in as iPAQ/Toshiba/Casio, etc)...

[st63z]

The pricepoint is definitely too high. My guess is the cost is based on how many they expect to sell since Bluetooth is still a niche product.

Again I'd like confirmation that the Socket kit offers A LOT of extras. Otherwise I don't know how they thought they could just repackage EMTAC's receiver in a retail box and net a 50% markup (over what Palm is already selling now bundled w/ mapping software, and what Transplant itself is/was selling earlier).

I mean, the Socket description says how you can use it with all the different mapping apps, I don't think they would prominently advertise that if it already comes bundled with such an app...?

[Pony99CA]

The pricepoint is definitely too high. My guess is the cost is based on how many they expect to sell since Bluetooth is still a niche product.

Regarding WHO would want to use it. Well ... everyone. The beauty of this receiver is that it isn't just "point-to-point" as many GPS receivers are. Any device in your PAN can use the Bluetooth enabled GPS unit simultaneously. Laptop, PDA, Cell-Phone, Nav-System, Watch, Workout monitor (track your running/biking based on GPS), etc...

If everyone would want to use it, it's not really a niche product. GPS is a niche product precisely because so many people don't seem to want it (at least not at its current price/performance).

By the way, how many people have GPS-capable phones or workout monitors? How many people in the general population have Bluetooth devices? How much will these change in the next few years?


Plus, consider the cost of a specific cable for ALL those uses as well as the pain in the ass of transport and connecting them all.

Consider the cost of putting software on all of these devices. I think having GPS on my iPAQ will work well enough pretty much anywhere I need it.


My only real comment on the unit is that it should have a basic LCD display. The display would simply tell you "where you are now" when you press a button. Simple and easy. This way, the unit is usable without a bluetooth device.
Agreed. I said the same thing about the Emtac Bluetooth device when I first heard about it. Of course, it would be even more expensive.... :-(

Steve

[Pony99CA]

I mean, the Socket description says how you can use it with all the different mapping apps, I don't think they would prominently advertise that if it already comes bundled with such an app...?
I was wondering the same thing. Given it could support Pocket PCs or laptops, I can't see them including two different GPS programs with this device. And if they don't include GPS software, that just makes the solution that much more expensive.

Steve

[st63z]

^ My point was that I would hope Socket includes BOTH PC and PPC apps, for that price. To reiterate, Palm sells the EMTAC w/ Palm mapping app (though there's also a PPC Mapopolis version) for $329.

Perhaps all this is stemmed from Socket's policy to charge a lot extra for each piece of software bundled? Like how they charge you $$$ just to have the PC driver for their Symbol-repackaged BT CF card (in addition to PPC driver)...

But again from Socket's description it looks like their GPS kit is hardware only?

[st63z]

By the way, how many people have GPS-capable phones or workout monitors?

Just for laughs (link from my earlier post) :) : http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=362764

Also this $650 golf watch: http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=363762

Anyways, my ATTWS e911 feature's certainly not real-GPS accurate, but it does work somewhat... BTW I remember reading about one of the other GSM providers switching e911 technology 'cuz the previously trialed one's not accurate enough or something. In regards to the CDMA carriers, I suspect they'll just go w/ Qualcomm's gpsOne/SnapTrack hybrid wireless GPS (correct me if I'm wrong)...