Bluetooth problems with Holux GPSlim 236

Guyincognito · 08-23-06, 08:01 PM

Has anyone experienced bluetooth problems with their Holux 236? I have had mine for less than two months and the bluetooth stopped working. I noticed on the buygpsnow site that others have had this problem but I was wondering what the percentage was. How long have they been lasting for people?

ryuu55 · 08-23-06, 10:01 PM

I had the same problem, it appears that some Holux GPSlim236s are defective. I purchased that unit back in may. The day i got it the BT went out, no BT(blinking or solid), i returned the unit RMA to buygpsnow. They were very helpful and rushed me a replacement unit. It worked fine for about 2 weeks before the it started to lose BT connection, I would have to keep restarting the unit. I returned the GPSlim and exchanged it for a Globalsat 338:approve: . It works great, very fast sat connect, 17 hrs battery. IMHO it "feels" like a much more stable and solid unit.

Good luck, it seems this is a known problem with the GPSlim236, i just didn't hear anything about it until i bought one myself.

myrcgarage · 08-23-06, 11:40 PM

Wow...I was I was the "Lucky" one to get one that have problem from day 1! I had to squeeze top and bottom hard in order to BT to work. It seems like something is losen inside. I just returned it to get a replacement. I am hoping the new one will not have this problem. What do you all think? I want to know how wide spread this problem is.

detmers · 08-27-06, 01:38 PM

I have the same problem with the bluetooth not even coming on. After reading one of the threads, opened it up, took out the battery, replaced it, queezed it shut as tight as I could, tapped it a few times, then tuned it back on. BT came on, but when I turned off the unit and turned it back on again, no BT. I am going to play with it about 15 minutes more before returning it to gps4evryone (sp)

myrcgarage · 08-27-06, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by detmers

I have the same problem with the bluetooth not even coming on. After reading one of the threads, opened it up, took out the battery, replaced it, queezed it shut as tight as I could, tapped it a few times, then tuned it back on. BT came on, but when I turned off the unit and turned it back on again, no BT. I am going to play with it about 15 minutes more before returning it to gps4evryone (sp)

I got it from gps4evyone too. They are sending me a new one. I hope the new one will be fine. Let's cross our fingers. My symptoms is the exact thing. I squeezed it real tight or tap a few times, then BT came on. I am glad my trip to TN(10 hrs from Chicago), it worked fine. I never shut it off and it stayed on the whole time. Once I shut it off and let it cool off when I got to the hotel, BT didn't come on. I had to squeezed and tapped a few times before it came back on again.

TRUBigUns · 08-27-06, 08:03 PM

Hmm I've been lucky so far!!

Knock on wood!!
(Taps on head)

Knumb · 08-28-06, 12:37 AM

I've never had a problem with mine..... (also knocks on wood)

detmers · 08-31-06, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by myrcgarage

I got it from gps4evyone too. They are sending me a new one. I hope the new one will be fine. Let's cross our fingers. My symptoms is the exact thing. I squeezed it real tight or tap a few times, then BT came on. I am glad my trip to TN(10 hrs from Chicago), it worked fine. I never shut it off and it stayed on the whole time. Once I shut it off and let it cool off when I got to the hotel, BT didn't come on. I had to squeezed and tapped a few times before it came back on again.

Well - got a replacement GPSlim BT. Works better than the first, but the bluetooth occasionally just 'checks out.' Goes from blinking to solid blue...or just off Sometimes turning the unit off/on repeatedly works, sometimes it just wants to be left alone for a while. We are going to Chicago this weekend, so that will be the test. Is anyone using the data cable instead of the bluetooth?

detmers · 09-07-06, 08:58 PM

Got the replacement and it works just fine. Went to Chicago with it last weekend. (using CoPilot 6). Worked fairly well. Had a little trouble getting locked in while downtown in the buildings. Haven't had luck in the walking mode, but I suspect that's CoPilot, not the Holux.

myrcgarage · 09-07-06, 11:58 PM

my replacement came as well. So far so good, knock on wood. :)

detmers · 10-09-06, 09:34 PM

Just for the record and those trying to decide b/t BT GPS's - I have 2 Holux GPSlim236's from two separate vendors - both of them have the same BT issue - the BT only comes on about 25% of the time, and then after squeezing it and begging. The GPS part works great - fast, and the batterly life is great too. I ended up getting a data cable...works fine in that mode, but it sort of defeats the purpose.

Sent one back & the replacement wasn't any better. Decided not to send it back a second b/c the [GPS eBay store 4 All] I bought it from makes you pay for the return shipping. Anyway - I read that others have no problems at all, so it seems like the Holux GPSlim is a roll of the dice.

ChillyCat · 10-09-06, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by detmers

Decided not to send it back a second b/c the [GPS eBay store 4 All] I bought it from makes you pay for the return shipping. Anyway - I read that others have no problems at all, so it seems like the Holux GPSlim is a roll of the dice.

http://www.gps4evyone.com/pages/1/index.htm

Got mine at a similar place on Ebay auction. Great deal for about $60.00 delivered.

I've run mine for aprox 200 hours with no problems whatsoever.

Starboss · 10-14-06, 09:10 PM

My first unit died a slow death, requiring multiple restarts to get BT, but the replacement unit has worked fine. I notice that the seller is now selling only the new unit.

Doug

detmers · 10-16-06, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Starboss

My first unit died a slow death, requiring multiple restarts to get BT, but the replacement unit has worked fine. I notice that the seller is now selling only the new unit.

Doug

Chris - what do you mean by 'the new unit?' Is there a new GPSlim236 model that fixes the circuitry, or do you mean they don't sell the Slim anymore.

/sed/

Starboss · 10-16-06, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by detmers

Chris - what do you mean by 'the new unit?' Is there a new GPSlim236 model that fixes the circuitry, or do you mean they don't sell the Slim anymore.

/sed/

Sorry I wasn't clear. The seller I have dealt with is now selling only the 240.

Doug