Globalsat BC-337 20 channel GPS receiver module

****** Introduction ******

Welcome to my second review based around GPS receivers even though this is my second review this product was actually the first GPS receiver I purchased. I won't go into too much detail into the workings of GPS as I covered this in detail in my earlier review of the internet Bluetooth GPS receiver( Why not take a look at this review go on you know you want to).GPS basically uses a series of satellites that orbit the planet to triangulate your position on the planet. A gps receiver reads the signal and with the use of navigation software (for example TomTom) and allows you to plan routes based on your current position and your destination.

******* Product Overview ********

This unit is a GPS receiver that works by slotting into a compact flash port in my case the one that I have on my IPAQ pda (will also work on the improved compact flash II connection).The design is a bit like a compact flash card with a plastic housing sitting on top and is about twice the size of a standard compact flash card. The plastic housing contains the main workings of the unit like motherboard and inbuilt aerial thus eliminating the need for a separate aerial. The product also has a LED which illuminates when you have plugged the unit into the slot and are receiving power. Combined with suitable software you will be able to map your 3D position and other information like travelling speed and co-ordinates for geocaching (a type of treasure hunting challenge based around GPS technology and the internet).

****** Pro's and Con's ******

So why would you want to choose this unit, well my main reason was that I wanted a device that was very light and one that I could use not only with my PDA but also with my Laptop. I had considered a Bluetooth receiver but at the time they were very expensive and my laptop didn't have Bluetooth which would require me to purchase a Bluetooth dongle (a means to add Bluetooth connectivity via usb style adapter, similar in size to a flash key) meaning more expense. I was also keen on this product because its power usage was very low, meaning I would use less power than having to have my Bluetooth switched on for long periods. Another good reason was that this unit is powered by the the device it is plugged into and does not need to be charged separately so you are less likely to get caught short. The main disadvantage is that it is only usable with devices that have a compact flash connection and this type of connection is dying out as technology advances with faster connections becoming available. Another main worry is the robustness and overall build quality, which I have found to be poor a few too many heavy knocks can result in the unit not connecting correctly into the compact flash slot(I have found that I now have to jiggle the unit around to get a working connection when slotting into my PDA)

PRO's CON's

Low power usage will only connect via Compact Flash

No need to charge (or forget to) Build quality

Ultra Light Limited Lifetime (not very robust)

Low cost to purchase lacks that wow factor in design

***** Performance and use *****

Performance is the key benefit and selling point for this item and I have never had any problems in receiving a GPS signal both on foot, in the car and at home. ON activating the GPS signal is attained within 30-40 secs and if you ever lose the signal is regained very quickly giving very little interruption to its operation. I have had no problem in setting up both TOMTOM and Navman software with both of them easily recognising the receiver.
The power usage is very low for this product and I have seen less than a 10 % reduction in the running time for my IPAQ PDA when using the receiver which is very impressive. So no problems with performance and use and well worth the low price tag.

***** Summary *****

A fantastic product that performs well and is very user friendly and reliable. These types of units are becoming a bit obsolete now with better performing Bluetooth units but you can get a bargain on these because of that. Take a look on eBay and you will find some amazingly low starting prices at around £15-£20.The main concern is built quality which is a bit poor so don't expect this product to have a very long lifespan, It is prone to dmge if you are not careful when using it as it doesn't suffer knocks to well. In summary a great product for the price and as the saying goes you get what you pay for.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Paul