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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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver
Customer Review: Excellent value
Summary: 5 Stars
Tried this unit after I found out the "new" Garmin eTrex Legend H only outputs proprietary Garmin data (original eTrex Legend will output NMEA data). This makes it useless for software other than Garmin's own overpriced versions. After speaking with the rather rude rep at Garmin, I decided to look elsewhere. I already had and was happy with Streets & Trips and share trip files with friends and family members. I tried another data-conversion software to allow use of the Legend H, but it was simply a hassle. This one hooks up seamlessly and acquires satellites much more quickly than the Legend did. Since I only needed a unit to feed the notebook with S&Ts, this was ideal. It's quite small and has a small suction cup with a cable slot to hold it steady on the dash, if you don't care to use the magnetic back. It uses only a tiny amount of power through the USB port... in fact, I've run it on an old notebook with a PCMCIA USB adapter and Windows 2000 and it works perfectly. The USB cable is longer than the Garmin unit, also.
I ordered a replacement for the original eTrex Legend to use on hikes and to save tracks when not in the truck (still have all the add-ons and adapters for it). The original unit lasted 5 years and the replacement is still that same unit, so it'll work through a serial adapter to USB in a pinch. Too bad Garmin seems to have become so greedy as to force use of its software.
The vendor shipped it quickly and it arrived in perfect condition.
Customer Review: Perfect: Fast, functional, cheap
Summary: 5 Stars
This one is a five-star keeper.
The setup was dirt simple - just follow the simple instructions about how to get it to talk on a COM port and you are ready to use it. Then tell your software what COM port to read from. That's it.
It locks on as soon as it sees the sky (faster than you can bring up Map Point). Fast as in sets new standards for how fast it locks on. I just tossed it to the front of the dashboard of the rental car and it was happy. The magnet works (doesn't blow off at Freeway speeds) and the suction cup works (holds to the inside of the windshield just fine), but I really did not need them.
I used it to calibrate the speedometer in my cars (with the help of a co-driver to call out speeds). One car was accurate and the other was way off.
I used it (with the latest version of Map Point) on a trip into the hills and redwoods of California on a dark, foggy, rainy night and it got me there just fine. A laptop screen makes for one huge GPS display. The trip would have been hopeless without the unit.
You will need your own software package (such as Map Point) to use it. You need a laptop or device that has a USB port.
I keep it in my laptop bag so that I always have it when I'm on the go.
Customer Review: Excellent unit
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great piece of equipment!
I used to use my Garmin Etrex to provide GPS info to my laptop but it required a tangle of cable for power from the cigarette lighter and data to the computer, plus a serial to USB adapter (since the Garmin only outputs to a serial port and my new laptop doesn't have one - only USB). The setup was a mess in the car and it crashed Streets and Trips regularly.
The BU-353 doesn't have a display like the Garmin so it can't work on its own - but it is fabulous at what it does do: provide GPS position information to the laptop. It takes its power from the USB port and so only has one cable - for both power and data. It outputs in USB format so there is no serial to USB converter. It's clean, it's compact, it's easy to use and it works very, very well.
And it's incredibly sensitive. I put it as far forward on my dash as I could so it could get maximum exposure to the sky through it windshield and it worked great. Then once I forgot to put it up and left it on the passenger seat - upside down and under the laptop. And once again it worked beautifully.
And it's waterproof so I can use it on the boat.
As I said, a great piece of equipment.
Customer Review: Reliable, solid, and efficient. Perfect GPS receiver.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used this receiver for a few days now, and I am quite impressed by how well it works. To make it easy to understand, let me mention that the receiver will get a lock within a few seconds even inside my house, and it will also get a very fast lock inside my garage, which is located at the ground level of a 3 floor apartment building. Also, once it gets a lock, it never drops it.
The construction feels extremely solid. It has a magnetized base so that it can be put on the roof of a car (supposedly to improve the signal, although I don't see how that would be necessary.)
Some people have complained about the cable being too short. I do not think that's a problem, due to the fact that you basically do not need to put this receiver anywhere specifically. Also, I'd rather use a USB extension cable if necessary rather than be stuck with several feet of extra cable which I do not need at all times.
Finally, one word of caution: Like I said, the device has a rather strong magnet. I would advice you to keep it away from your laptop (specially the hard disk), CRT monitors, and anything else that might be adversely affected by strong magnetic fields.
Customer Review: Excellent GPS unit
Summary: 5 Stars
purchased this GPS unit because of the fast satellite acquire times and great GPS lock. I was not disappointed. This unit replaces my DeLorme Earthmate which was good, but this unit is unreal. I set up a route from inside my house and got the GPS lock in a couple seconds! This is so much faster than the DeLorme and I could never have done it in the house. Usually it always takes 1 to 2 minutes to get the GPS lock with the DeLorme and that's outside in the driveway. Talk about keeping a lock, this unit never dropped the 3D signal once on a very hilly, high foliage and rural area on the 125 mile trip. The DeLorme unit always dropped the 3D signal at least 5 times over the same route. The DeLorme unit is very good, but this one is fantastic! This GPS unit is always locked onto at least 8 to 10 satellites. This unit is also much more accurate, especially estimating the time to the next turn. It seems to have very accurate vechile speed determination. The DeLorme was always way off by 30 or more seconds. This unit computes the time to within a second. I do like the DeLorme software and if you purchase this GPS unit you will be very happy. Now I'll have to try it in the downtown area.