X5 and types of GPS

[Waywardson76]

I just got a Basic X5 and am looking into getting a GPS for it. However my spending money is minimal right now. Is the better performance of the Bluetooth units worth the extra cost of the BT CF adapters? Or are the CF units functional enough? I've also been debating getting an old earthmate serial unit and wiring it up. However I think WAAS enabled would be better as I will be flying with it. Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

And to liven up the thread, what kinds of GPS's do you use and are you happy with them?

----Thanks in advance for any responses :approve: :approve: ------

[1998nissan200]

Hi
i have x5 basic and i search the web abut geting gps reciver for it. and i got the conclusion that CF card gps is the best option for it. i got GlobalSat BC-337 (with SIRF III and WAAS Enable) and i got one of those with external antenna and also with pcmcia card to go with laptop so u can use ur CFCard gps reciver with ur laptop. it works GREAT i can find 4-5 satallite in my bedroom. and cold startup is withing 30-40secs and warm startup is 10sec at the most. it is great reciver i used . My brother-in-law have x50v and hey has bluetooth gps reciever but the crack part of that blueethooth is that it doen't finds any satallite in the house it needs to see the sky. and take long time to cold start. and another best part of CF Card gps is that u dont have to carry extra wire for charging GPS reciever. ur CF Card gps can charge from ur pocketpc and with SIRFIII techonlogy it comsume less power. so good to go man just buy one and enjoy
nismo

[sd2597]

I have an X5 perf. and i have been using a hiacom cf gps, but it didn't last long and broke. I have a globalsat sirfstar 3 bt gps, and a bt cf card (bluemonkey) i run tomtom 5. But i cannot get tomtom to connect to the card. the gps software works, but not tomtom!

Any idea's anyone?

[Waywardson76]

What are your settings in Tom Tom. From my reading on the net, you would need to select other cabled nmea GPS and then the bluetooth card(or the equivalent com port). But as I don't have any GPS myself that is only hearsay. And I hear TomTom is very picky about the GPS input.


The biggest problem I have with a CF GPS is that it takes out one expansion slot. And the other one (SD) has a lot of controversy over whether it can take over 1 gig. I went safe and only bought 1 gb SD cards, but that might hurt me when I'm using moving maps software, and my CF is taken. The Hiacom GPS with the SD expansion slot looks tempting (305III) but I'm wondering whether it would have the same issues as the Sandisk one. Also I haven't heard much positive on the durability of them, as per post #3. I think I'll end up with either the Holux or GlobalSat CF as both of them get glowing reviews everywhere I've seen.

BTW, does the external antenna for the GlobalSat have a magnetic base? And if so could the magnet be removed?? As I'll be using it in a helicopter there is no steel in the cockpit, and the magnet could mess with my compass. Just going to velcro it down. Thanks for all the help.