REVIEW COMMENTS: Emtac BlueTooth GPS

Dave · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject:

Nick, we would love to do nothing more than update reviews constantly, but that then takes up immense amounts of time re-reviewing every product we have ever reviewed, not once, not twice, not three times, but a lot more than that. This then detracts from us reviewing any new products, because it will eat up far too much of our time. Not forgetting that we don't get to keep every product we review, a lot of products get sent back to the manufacturer, so we have one go at reviewing products.

We will be bringing on-line a new review system (providing we can find the time to implement it) between now and Xmas. This will let you rate a product to how important you think it is, and also take into consideration how the market has moved on in the past year and re-rate the product accordingly with the features you are interested in.

The Emtac is still regarded as the best BT GPS because of the signal it brings in, it far exceeds all other BT GPS Receivers in this test alone and makes it top of it's class. Some people may be more interested in data loggers, or a car power charger, but overall performance is what counts at the end of the day, although extra bell's and whistles do count towards this. You can hard-wire any Emtac/Socket/TomTom BT GPS into the car's power supply by using a standard iPAQ charger cable for in-car use.

Please note we cannot commit to dates on the new rating system because we have a lot of products to review before Christmas.

NickG · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 7:48 pm Post subject:

A user reviewing system is definitely a good idea. But my thoughts on this would be off-topic, so I'll post my suggentions and wish-lists to the correct forum. Smile

Nick...

bseabra · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 22, 2003 Posts: 1

Hi,

I would like to know what software I should buy for my Palm Tungsten T to use it along with the EMTAC bluetooth GPS.

I have been searching on the internet but I have no idea what to get.

Thanks,

Bernardo de Seabra

MikeB · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 12:45 pm Post subject:

Bernado,

It really depends what you want to do whether it is street routing, topographical, or marine.

I have a Tungsten T2 on loan from Palm at the moment and I am currently running MapSonic street routing software on it, there is also Mapopolis and a few others from the street routing point of veiw.

If you are interested in Topo or Marine, then the Fugawi and Maptech Outdoor Navigator ( review here) may be what you are looking for.

The Emtac does work extreemly well with the Palm as you would expect.
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Mike Barrett

cultivator · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 02, 2003 Posts: 10

Great review - just wish you had time to review the latest version. The newer Emtac BTGPS includes a removable, rechargeable 10-hour Lithium-ion battery (so you can carry a spare), and a lower price ($170 US at one site), so addresses the only two listed "cons" of the earlier version.

I don't quite understand how the Emtac BTGPS didn't make it into the Best list... maybe because the new version wasn't out at judging time? Even the older model seemed a contender. Or maybe the ac adapter recall with early models was a consideration? I'm kinda curious what cut it out of the running since there are so many good comments about it and others are sometimes compared to it as a standard of good performance. Am I missing something important?

cultivator · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 02, 2003 Posts: 10

I gave the wrong price in previous post for the Emtac BTGPS Embarassed

- it's $230 US. Still a lot less than previous versions, but not quite as great as $170!

MikeB

cultivator · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 02, 2003 Posts: 10

Ojster · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 18, 2004 Posts: 1

Hello,

Bass95 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 26, 2004 Posts: 1

Hello,

I contacted Emtac by email yesterday to be informed on new products and enhancement. I am indeed interested in buying one. I was told that there is a "professional" version of BTGPS with a removable battery and a data logger. They say that this is a product for entreprises and not for consumers.

Bass95

snaz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 11

any news on an emtac/socket bluetooth gps with removable/replacable battery?

MikeB · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:41 pm Post subject:

No news at all I am afraid to say.

Emtac were not at CeBIT, neither were teir European marketing arm Itochu. I regularly ask the question when the new products are due out, but I am not given any firm answers.

The GPS with the removeable battery has been talked about for over 15 months so I would not hold off buying based on a product that may or may not be released.
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Mike Barrett

snaz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 11

so it just lasts for 500 charges, then you pitch it and get a new one?

Dave · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:48 am Post subject:

That's the idea. Bluetooth GPS's are pitched at the same type of disposable market/disposable income that Mobile Phones are pitched at. However, in the early days Emtac did suggest it would accept GPS's back with a battery that had run out and change it (at a cost) and no cost was decided.

I suspect that this won't happen and most companies will expect you after a year or two to have upgraded. I've had a Socket BT GPS for over a year now and battery wise it's still going strong. I haven't charged it every day, but have no complaints with it apart from all the white paint on the top has rubbed off and also the product spec/fcc ID's have rubbed off on the base (as most people would have seen at the Pocket GPS World meetup on Sunday).

snaz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 11

check out the Emtac and Transplant Computing websites. The new trine model is out (removable battery and can link to multiple devices i think are the main new features).

anyone got their hands on one of these?

priced at $249 or $279 for WAAS enabled (although i thought you could just enable WAAS yourself with the encluded software - i hope that's true and they didn't mean WAAS-capable - i.e. that the cheaper one doesn't have waas capability)

when can we expect the PocketGPSWorld review?

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