Side by Side Comparison of: GlobalSat vs Generic

great service and product

Works perfectly. Links automatically with laptop as well it should.

Had a bit of the struggle to set it up the first time to work on my android phone. After I found the software on the google store it's works like a charm. It is fast to connect and has been very good battery life.

Set up on my tablet using Bluetooth GPS app and rout66 mapping app (seems to work better for me than Google maps or I don't understand Google well enough)No ac charger but DC is fine since I use it in the car anyway and battery last longer than any trip I take

Good GPS at a great price. Use it with Jeppesen Flight Deck Pro. Easy set up. The only problem is it only comes with a car charger, no wall charger.

use this with my android phone and tablet , follow the direction to setup and it gave me a better accuracy than the phones gps , and now my phone or tablet doesn't have to be in the sun

Just works.

Works fine with Rose Point Navigation software

I'm a software developer and have had very good luck with this GPS receiver. It shows up simply as a COM port at 9600 baud and sends good quality GPS data in standard format. Usually sees 12-14 satellites for very accurate positioning. Love USB vs fighting bluetooth issues.

I bought this for my Raspberry Pi 3 to use with Stratux (for a cheap ADS-B IN receiver) and it works GREAT! I highly recommend this GPS for Raspberry Pi devices. It has a nice long cord and the GPS box includes a sticker bottom, it's quite compact and I was able to get 7 satellites indoors downstairs when I pointed the unit towards my window (I live in a 2 story unit and it was unable to acquire signal through the downstairs just pointing up - which is understandable, I can't even do that with my Garmin eTrex). It was plug-and-play with no need for me to install anything on the Raspberry Pi or set in the Stratux software. Overall this is the best quality for the price, if you're looking for a USB GPS receiver then this should be your best option. With so many Raspberry Pi projects that can use GPS input you can't go wrong with this purchase. I was skeptical of the oddly phrased product name and decided to take a chance on it after they said it was using the u-blox 7 chipset. So get your ADS-B project going and start up your flightaware (PiAware).TL;DRGreat product, buy one!

Works with OPENCPN:Settings are 9600, 0 parity, others as DEFAULT, select the USB port with the drop down in CONNECTIONS.Be sure it has a clear 'view' of the sky (no obstructions)Plug-in the GPS AFTER openCPN starts, then connections need to be set each reboot(on my Surface 3, Win10, powered USB 3.0 expansion port)

Worked immediately out of the box on my Raspberry Pi-2 with Noobs. 9600 baud, /dev/ttyUSB0. Even got a GPS lock indoors.

Nice design, foot print not much bigger than a match box. Quickly gets a fix on satellites even indoors as long as there is a window. Bluetooth pairing with all of my devices was no problem.The 4mm (OD) charge port is a relict from the old days that prevents the use of a standard USB cell phone charger. It only comes with a charge cable for the cigarette lighter . The 3 LED lights (2 of them flashing all the time) are absolutely essential for operation and diagnosis but also a huge annoyance in a dark room or in the car at night.The removable Li-Ion battery is 3.7v / 1100mAh.The package comes with diagnostic software on a CD which was of no use to me. I used the device to replace the not functioning onboard GPS on my Galaxy Note 4. The Android app that GlobalSat recommends as GPS mock did not work for me. I had a hard time with many Bluetooth <> GPS apps to get the Note 4 to receive GlobalSat GPS properly. Ended up with "Bluetooth GPS".

Works great with my Android tablet. Bluetooth connectivity works fine. Had to install an app on the tablet (Bluetooth GPS) that understands the SPP protocol that the device uses. And had to enable "Mock Locations" in the Android settings. After doing that, can use with Google Maps etc. Only 4 stars because, as a previous reviewer noted, the device 5V charger comes with car cigar lighter adaptor only, rather than USB. I spliced it to a USB charging cable as that reviewer suggested. I could not find a compatible USB cable since the barrel adaptor that plugs into the device is not one of the standard types that I could find on a USB charging cable.

The bluetooth on my Samsung player failed to find me after an hour drive. I was delighted with the difference after purchasing this unit. It finds the receiver in about 10 seconds. It's been such a delight to have my Co-Pilot back! I also miss the USB connector, so did as Westcoaster and fixed their omission. Works great now.

Great device. So far, no issues. Quick lock on satelites.It would be preferrable if device could be charged from USB instead of dedicated 12v automotive accessory connector.

Battery life is good, but longer would have been better for some applications. The receiver is sensitive enough that this unit works fine while inside my sailboat, so no need to take it outside at all. It works perfectly with my Windows 8.1 tablet and (download for free) OpenCPN marine navigation software. Its Bluetooth signal strength is sufficient to allow leaving the GPS receiver down below while using the tablet as a hand-held chartplotter in the cockpit. The DC cigarette lighter adapter allows the unit to be plugged in for charging while the unit is on, so the unit can be in use for days or weeks with no concern for battery life.

I'm a 757/767 pilot for one of the US majors, using this GPS receiver with a MS Surface 2 tablet running Jeppesen Flight Deck Pro. The unit acquires a fix rapidly and displays the aircraft position on the Jepp enroute view as well as on the airport diagram. However, anytime you open another app on the Surface without keeping the Jepp FDP in view (split window) it stops 'talking' to the GPS receiver. It does not drop the bluetooth connection, but when you go back to the FDP view you will not see your position for a minute or two while the FDP initiates receiving fix info from the Global Sat unit again. Not a deal breaker, but slightly annoying.Unfortunately this unit only ships with a car charger. Since the input voltage is the same as an iphone charger (5v, 1 amp) I cut the tip off of the supplied charger and spliced it into a USB cable. That way I can plug it into my iphone charger block, works perfectly. Or you can order a USB cable with a 4.00 x 1.7mm barrel plug to do the same thing.

It keeps turning off on me after about 30 minutes even when it is fully charged.

You would think that Bluetooth and Windows would just work by now. But I cannot get this to work reliably on either Windows 10 or Windows 8 on two different laptops. The problems are probably with Windows, but I can't figure them out.On my Lenovo ultrabook with Windows 10, whenever I turn on bluetooth I loose my wifi connection. Turn off bluetooth, and wifi works again. Anoying. But even with Wifi off, the bluetooth connection to the GPS receiver drops out sometimes and I have to turn bluetooth on and off to get it to reconnect.On my Acer Aspire with Windows 8, sometimes it will drop out and then it will just not connect. The only way I can get it to connect again is to reboot the PC.

It only comes with a car charger. Though I am getting 2.5 meter accuracy.

I will say it as accurate and quick as one would come to expect. However it lacks a lot of key features that have me debating a return.1. No mini usb port/charging. It uses an old round DC Jack and you have to purchase a wall charger separately. I cannot believe in this day in age they elected to limit such an important and common connection.2. Auto power off after BT disconnected. It powers off to save battery if no device is connected while it's not being charged. There is no option to change this. There are actually no options at all. It cannot be programmed via software or updated due to its lack of usb connection. You cannot change refresh rates or anything. Not what I expected from the maker of the BU353. Going to get a qstarz, that has these options.

I purchased this Bluetooth GPS for use aboard my motor yacht. I am traveling hundreds of miles South this autumn to find the Sun. In terms of concept, I love the unit. I plug it into the cigar lighter on the flying bridge, and it aquires a signal quickly. The GPS pairs with my HP Pavilion dv5 quickly as well. I interface the GPS to the OPEN CPN program (which provides a template that will allow the user to download and overlay NOAA Raster Nautical Charts onto the computer display.I have two helm stations. With a wireless GPS, I can simply close the laptop, grab the laptop and its power supply, and move from one helm location to the next with no trouble at all. It is nice to not have to drag a GPS down to a lower helm station (where signal may be compromised).When the boat is at dock, and the GPS is plugged in, and my OPEN CPN chart program is activated, the GPS keeps ticking away the position on the screen.Here's the rub: When I start to cruise, and after a short while, the GPS consistently stops talking to the laptop, and the boat's position remains frozen on the last acquired location. Obviously, that is NO GOOD.I suspect that some type of interference from the operating engines is shutting down the Bluetooth connection. To reacquire the position, I am forced to reboot and restart the program. When navigating a vessel on open waters, this is time consuming and distracting . I wish I could fix this fatal flaw, but I don't know what to do.As a result of this flaw, the GPS is basically useless for my intended use.

Apparently not compatible with IOS devices. It would have been nice to know this before ordering it and sending it back.

I haven't been able to use it yet because the driver mini-disc that came with it was worthless and couldn't be read (I tried it on 3 different computers). Now I'm going to try and contact them to get a replacement disc. I'll review it again if I ever get it working

Won't connect to any of my phones or either of my Bluetooth laptops. Won't let me return this product.

Pairs but does not connect. I quit.

The ad says this device works with 'Bluetooth enabled smart phones'. That's flat out wrong because it doesn't work with Apple devices. Also, the device only comes with a car charger. Since the device requires a special connector instead of the more universal Micro-USB cable, there is literally nowhere else it can be charged. This makes the BT-821 highly unusable compared to other devices.

I don't know how effective the GPS functions are because the Bluetooth function does not work at all. I tried multiple devices with no luck in pairing. I turned on a wireless keyboard and my iPad found it immediately. I was also disappointed that the only option for charging is an older style 12v plug-in. The instruction CD had minimal instructions and no trouble shooting help. I will be returning the unit.

Device didn't pair - not recognised by Iphone bluetooth. Android displays pairing, but it the device signal lights show it's not paired.

Maybe it is just may particular device/software I pair this guy with, but it has a fatal flaw. It will often give me a postion that is about 200 feet off. When I notice that and disconnect/reconnect I get the proper position, but it is not always possible to know when it is off. I will be returning it if I can and replacing it.

does not work, had to return it. GPS only works if you use the maps within its application.

Works great - for about 15 minutes - then it drops all the satellites and the power has to be cycled to recover. When it does work, I can see lots of satellites, so that part is fine. However, a GPS that only works for 15 minute is not of any real use to me.

Would not work.