GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver
by GlobalSat
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List Price: Our Price: $31.95 You Save: $18.04 (36%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $27.85 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver
Customer Review: Good but not for Delorme products
Summary: 3 Stars
I am angry and frustrated. I have both Delorme's Street Atlas 2008 and Topo USA 7.0. Since Delorme's Earthmate LT 40 gps which came bundled with Street Atlas is such a poor product, (We took at four thousand mile trip this summer with the LT 40. Over and over it lost the fix and we had to stop and put the gps on the roof until if got a fix.)I have searched for another laptop gps. Globalsat BU 353 seemed to be the answer. Good reviews, right price!
I have only had it a week. It gets a fix very quickly and it works inside the car! However, my Delorme products don't like it. I had a lot of trouble installing it and getting them to see it in the first place. Now that the programs recognize it I can drive around and it tracks very well on my screen.
THE CATCH! I use the programs to plot routes and find addresses. The programs both freeze up when I plot a route and try to use the gps! It my be a wonderful gps, I am not sure, but don't expect it to work with Delorme products.
Customer Review: Good GPS, Easy to Install.
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this for longer trips where turn-by-turn guidance would be nice. Came with drivers, and works great on Windows Vista. I already owned MS MapPoint, and it has worked well with it. It gets a lock quickly, holds a strong signal even inside the vehicle, and all in all I've had no issues with it so far. I used a port splitting application to use the unit with multiple programs, and that has worked well for the most part, except there was some time delay issues unrelated to the unit itself, that I think can probably be corrected.
Overall I'm pleased with the product. It beats the heck out of buying a $300 car navigation unit when you already have a Laptop and mapping software.
EDIT: After having the unit a while, I had it break on me. It still operates fine but the top plate has broken off. Attempted to contact the manufacturer and was blatantly ignored. Be advised according to the manufacturers website units bought at Amazon are not covered by warranty.
Customer Review: Works great with MS Streets & Trips
Summary: 5 Stars
Couple this device with a netbook, some good mapping software, and you've got a sweet navigation tool. Took it for a test run in my car, with a Lenovo S10 netbook, MS Streets & Trips; and it worked perfectly. After about a minute of sat acquisition time (I didn't time it, but it took a noticeable chunk of time, and it could have been the software's fault...) I was up and running. Everything looked spot on with the maps and I was surprised at how accurate the Speedometer reading was. This is a serious device, and great if you'd like to do some DIY projects, or set up a custom in car nav solution on the cheap. Installation was pretty painless, just like any other peripheral (driver disc included). The bottom of the device is magnetic, however, I dunno if I'd trust it to stay on top of the outside of the car. Came with a little suction cup for windshield mounting, though. There's lots of free software out there to try out with this unit. Check this site out:[...]
Enjoy!
Customer Review: VERY IMPRESSED
Summary: 5 Stars
I am very impressed with this receiver. It plugs right in to the USB port, picks up signals almost instantly, and works great with every program into which I've plugged it. Those programs include Maptech's Terrain Navigator, MS Streets & Trips (2008 - I returned my 2009 version), and National Geographic's Topo. Setup in all of these programs was quick and easy.
The device itself has a little rubber pad on the bottom so it does not slide around on my dusty dashboard. It is also magnetized so I can stick it on my roof. It also comes with a little window suction cup, though I can't imagine ever needing it. All in all, very ingenious.
The length of the cord has been more than adequate for any location (toward the front of the car) into which I have need to place it.
This receiver works exactly as advertised. If you need a great laptop GPS receiver, this is the way to go.
Highest marks!!!
Customer Review: Works like a charm
Summary: 4 Stars
I am using this in an HP notebook with Microsoft Streets and Trips software. A really nice combination.
When I installed the software (which I got from their website, since I am using Windows 7, I wanted the latest drivers), and plugged in the device, it was recognized right away and assigned a comport, 4 being the favored one apparently. I then tried the little location program they give you to test it to make sure it works before trying it with any other mapping software. Funny thing is, it couldn't find the device. I loaded up Streets & Trips and it detected it with no problem. Get 7 satellites here in the house and 9 to 10 out on the road.
The wire is plenty long enough for most uses, and it is as magnetic as they say. I usually just put it on the dash and it stay there just fine.
Can't go wrong with this one, inexpensive and does what it should.