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| lawman |
Posted - 17 déc. 2005 : 07:59:40
Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 - SiRF Star III GPS Receiver Review
===========================================================
By lawman
16th. December, 2005
Developer/Vendor: (www.seidioonline.com)
Price: (check their web site for their latest price) - coming soon!
Rating (out of 5): 5
/////////////////////////////////////////
Overview
========
Seidio now has an extremely formidable competitor to the GlobalSat BT-338 GPS receiver. If you're looking for a new or another option for a BT receiver that utilizes the SiRF Star III GPS chipset, then I seriously say you should put this GPS receiver at the top of your must-have list. Here's why. When Royaltek came out with the RBT-2001 BT GPS receiver, it was actually rated better than the GlobalSat BT-338 in terms of sensitivity, but what it lacked was lasting battery power compared to the GlobalSat BT-338 battery duration. The RBT-2001 had only a 680 mAh.
Well, now Seidio has come out with a new BT GPS receiver (a rebranded RBT-2010 which is actually a RBT-2001 + 1700mAh LiOn battery!). This BT GPS receiver is called the Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010. And I have only one thing to say ... WOW !!! Not only do you get the very best sensitivity of the SiRF Star III receivers out there but now you have the extended battery power as well for a 15-17 hour duration.
Received this new Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 receiver in a simple white box package. See contents of box below.
1. Seidio BlueGPS SiRF Star III receiver (RBT-2010).
2. DC power wall travel charger (AC 90-240V).
3. 1700 mAh LiOn battery.
4. No documentation comes included.
Following are the travel charger and LiOn battery components of the Seidio BlueGPS package.
 
Comparison between Seidio BlueGPS (RBT-2010) and GlobalSat BT-338
   
When I compare it side by side, the Seidio BlueGPS model is roughly the same size as the BT-338 but slightly deeper. The picture above is worth a thousand words. The Seidio BlueGPS design is well constructed and the color is a sleek black with the Seidio logo on the front.
 ... very cool LED colours.. :-)
If you look closely at the front of the Seidio BlueGPS, you can see a full panel of transparent LED display (right below the Seidio logo). The LED display is very cool. When you charge the unit the first time, it glows AMBER. When it is charged at full power, it changes to GREEN. To enable the BlueGPS, there is an ON/OFF switch (this is nice to have when compared to a button you have to hold down to switch a GPS unit on). When you switch the BlueGPS ON, the LED display shows a blinking GREEN. When it pairs with your BT PDA or BT-enabled laptop, the LED display on the BlueGPS shows a BLUE LED and this alternates BLUE/GREEN on a continuous cycle. The LED lighting is very clear and you can easily check the current condition of the BlueGPS. I actually liked this LED display!
Now, when you open the side rubber panel, you can see two ports. One is the plug for the DC power wall travel charger, and the other copper port is for an external antenna which uses the MC card connector (optional). The DC power wall charger cable is more solid and built much better and more durable than the thin 2-wire cable charger of the BT-338.
  
I opened the battery compartment and this is what it shows. Nice ...
The integrated GPS device has the following specifications
Specifications:
==============
* Supports NMEA transmission protocol (so should be usable with any NMEA compatible GPS programs).
* GPS Receiver Sensitivity (-159 dBm)
* External antenna MC Card format
* Firmware is the latest v3.1.1 (see attached diagram below) and SN is 00 (disabled)
Integrated GPS Settings (need to be set for your GPS mapping program):
======================================================================
* Chipset SiRF Star III
* NMEA 0183
* Bluetooth Class 2 (10m)
* Bluetooth Serial Port profile
* Baud Rate - 4800
* 20 Channels
* COM port of your software (in this case OCN5 for me) needs to be set to COM7 (or let your software auto-detect it)
GPS mapping programs I tested with (PPC and laptop):
====================================================
* OnCourse Navigator 5 (set your mapping s/w to auto-detect serial GPS)
* Microsoft Street and Trips 2005 for PPC
* BT-enabled PC laptop running Microsoft S&T 2005 and Microsoft Autoroute2005
* Vito Smartmap
* GPS Monitor (CE Monitor) - works for NMEA only
* GPS Tuner
* GPS Dash
///////////////////////
At home and on the road
///////////////////////
At the beginning, I tried it out in my basement, and the Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 is amazing. I picked up more satellites with the Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 (8 satellites) compared with the GlobalSat BT-338 (6 satellites). And the lower DOP values tells me the sensitivity of this Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 unit is much more higher than that of the BT-338. You can see that the BT-338 is missing the satellites: 3 and 29.
 
The Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 shows the following characterization (the GlobalSat BT-338 is already well-documented so I won't cover it here);
* Time To Fix (TTF) from cold start ~ 45 seconds
o These are the acquisition times I recorded;
+ Re-acquisition: < 1 sec
+ Warm: < 30 sec
+ Cold: < 45 sec
+ AutoLocate: < 45 sec
This week, we have the "perfect weather" in Ottawa, Canada to test this. We were hit with one of the worst and heaviest snowfalls (30cm snowfall) and so I used this opportunity to test both BT GPS units (Seidio BlueGPS RBT-2010 and GlobalSat BT-338) and compare the performance of both in this bad weather while driving downtown where the skyscrapers help block out the satellites.
I drove the same route winding thru downtown under bridges and among the heaviest areas where the skyscrapers are closely packed together and blocks out the sky, and all this while heavy snow is still falling. On every occasion, the Seidio BlueGPS did not lose the GPS signal once and managed to keep locked, but the BT-338 loss the signal a couple of times when I moved under some bridges. I think this is was primarily due to the heavy cloud cover and snowfall with low visibility.
Pros:
=====
* Much more sensitive.
* Has a notch to place a lanyard so you place this around your neck.
* The Seidio BlueGPS quality is amazing and I highly recommend this as "the benchmark" for all SiRF Star III receivers (my opinion only as a user) - Try it out yourself to prove it.
* Removable rechargeble 1700mAh LiOn battery.
* Longer battery duration ~ 20+ hours.
* DC power wall charger cable is more thicker and robust compared to the BT-338 receiver.
Cons:
=====
* No documentation.
* I cannot see how to auto-shutoff this GPS receiver. I left it running all night, and it did not shut-off which I guess is due to it having an ON/OFF switch instead of a push button. This however is a minor issue as I like the ON/OFF switch over the push button.
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| mellow |
Posted - 21 déc. 2009 : 22:09:30
I know, where it is possible to buy inexpensive in comparison with others [url=http://www.ldm-group.ru] light-emitting diode screens [/url]. |
| lawman |
Posted - 30 mars 2006 : 00:14:23
quote:
Originally posted by martrader17
I want to know if Seidio Bluethoot GPS Receiver RBT-2010 as same that RoyalTek RBT-2010 SiRF Star III ?
Not sure if its the same, but the models look so identical that I'm assuming it must be the same. The model number is also identical. |
| Roger Gelder |
Posted - 14 mars 2006 : 14:51:19
David, thanks for response, it's just that with the difficulties in accessing the Royaltek site I was feeling distinctly nervous, particularly with all the changes flying around eg SiRFInstantFix and so on. Drivers requiring updates seemed to be a problem, hence my worry.
I do feel rather more re-assured now that Seidio are taking an active interest.
Regards,
RoJ.
quote:
Originally posted by seidioseidio
quote:
Originally posted by Roger Gelder
The one thing that no-one is talking about, having thrilled us all with the wonders of the RBT 2010, is the total lack of apparent support on the RoyalTek site, which seems to be a disaster in being!
Yep, I have a 2010.
Oh dear!
roj
Very sorry for my late arrival, but... Since we do business with RoyalTek, we can tell you definitively that there have been no new firmware or driver updates for the 2010. If you still need or want a manual (which should have been included with your order), I would be happy to email or snailmail you a copy. If I can help you with anything else - beside forcing RoyalTek to respond - please let me know.
David
davidsilver@seidio.com
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| seidioseidio |
Posted - 13 mars 2006 : 23:05:25
quote:
Originally posted by Roger Gelder
The one thing that no-one is talking about, having thrilled us all with the wonders of the RBT 2010, is the total lack of apparent support on the RoyalTek site, which seems to be a disaster in being!
You want to register - Err, sorry about the link.
You want to tell the WEBmaster - Errr - did I say?
You want to check the manual for the 2010 - Oh, yes.....well...
There 'may' be a new USB driver, can't be sure, not linked to 2010.
And so on.
You could follow it's namesake, the Seidio BlueGPS - Oh, did I say about the non-appearance of support earlier?
Oh, YES, I followed the start of this thread, Yep, I have a 2010.
Oh dear!
roj
Very sorry for my late arrival, but... Since we do business with RoyalTek, we can tell you definitively that there have been no new firmware or driver updates for the 2010. If you still need or want a manual (which should have been included with your order), I would be happy to email or snailmail you a copy. If I can help you with anything else - beside forcing RoyalTek to respond - please let me know.
David
davidsilver@seidio.com |
| gpspassion |
Posted - 13 mars 2006 : 01:32:53
hum...have you read the article or my reply above for that matter ? This is a discussion forum, not a plae where you "request" answers.
_________________________________________________________________________
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
| martrader17 |
Posted - 13 mars 2006 : 01:23:51
I want to know if Seidio Bluethoot GPS Receiver RBT-2010 as same that RoyalTek RBT-2010 SiRF Star III ? |
| gpspassion |
Posted - 12 mars 2006 : 00:05:01
No need to SHOUT (all caps) ;-)
Yes all SiRFstarIII receivers since firmware 3.1 are WAAS capable.
_________________________________________________________________________
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
| martrader17 |
Posted - 11 mars 2006 : 23:41:08
Hello LAWMAN, I want to know if BLUETOOTH GPS RECEIVER RBT-2010 (SiRF III CHIPSET have avalable WAAS |
| lawman |
Posted - 18 févr. 2006 : 23:39:09
Heheheh! I'm just guessing that it is 1/3 the price. It would not hurt to check from Seidio. I'm only guessing at the price from the current LiOn battery prices. Its a 1700 mAh battery so it packs a lot of juice, and I doubt it would be cheap. |
| Roger Gelder |
Posted - 18 févr. 2006 : 22:10:15
Thanks Lawman, but ... unfortunately I will need to use this 'in the field' and would much prefer a back-up spare battery, but NOT at 1/3 price of 2010!! I do have the car-charger and just (this morning) received a mains charger running 5v 500mA which 'topped-up' the 2010 after a couple of hours. In addition I have a powered Arkon car mount which will power both PDA,gps and still a spare USB slot, together with audio out - nice. HOWEVER, have yet to persuade TomTom V to talk nicely to the 2010, although the latter chatters merrily to 2 other programs??? Ah well, just a matter of Blood, Sweat, etc, etc.
Cheers, roj |
| lawman |
Posted - 18 févr. 2006 : 21:37:45
I've compared the batteries between the RBT-2010 and the BT-338. On the surface, it looks similar in size and form factor, but what is different is the contact surface for the power. Its bigger and different from the one used on the BT-338. As you know, the BT-338 uses the Nokia battery. You should be able to buy a replacement battery from Seidio directly, by sending them an email. Its not listed online but I can't see them not helping you purchase a battery. But it can end up being 1/3 the price of the GPS unit.
Personally, if you use a car mount, its better to get the GPS charging cable for your RBT-2010 instead, that's what I did. That way, I can charge it from my Seidio car mount. Its a standard cable with a DC connector on one end and the other end that connects to Royaltek BT GPS units. So, the same one that is used with RBT-2001 can be used with the RBT-2010.
|
| Roger Gelder |
Posted - 15 févr. 2006 : 13:18:51
Thanks Lawman, glad someone hears the moans of doubt :)
By-the-by, the battery for the RBT 2010 is an odd one -
Helix Co.; Model No:RO2(L);S/N 0004149; rated 3.7v 1700mAh
input @=5vDC,500mA. Size 34mm wide, 53mm high, 10mm thick
and has a 3-pin connection.
Is this a standard unit, replaceable elsewhere, or has a
replacement to be bought from the in-communicado RoyalTek
site? I do like to have a standby ready-charged for the
'off' days.
Cheers, roj |
| lawman |
Posted - 14 févr. 2006 : 21:11:07
I agree with you Rog. The support seems to mostly come from forum groups. I think it depends on the manufacturer. Like for Garmin, they have tremendous customer support as they sell both Garmin hardware and software. Or like Nvidia, or ATI videocards, they have tremendous customer support as well.
Since these GPS devices are mostly designed to work and firmware upgrades are normally not required, it might be a reason that the support is lacking. Just my opinion. I see more support from companies that make the software than from companies that make/brand the hardware. Which is usually what I've come to expect.
|
| Roger Gelder |
Posted - 13 févr. 2006 : 21:31:23
The one thing that no-one is talking about, having thrilled us all with the wonders of the RBT 2010, is the total lack of apparent support on the RoyalTek site, which seems to be a disaster in being!
You want to register - Err, sorry about the link.
You want to tell the WEBmaster - Errr - did I say?
You want to check the manual for the 2010 - Oh, yes.....well...
There 'may' be a new USB driver, can't be sure, not linked to 2010.
And so on.
You could follow it's namesake, the Seidio BlueGPS - Oh, did I say about the non-appearance of support earlier?
Oh, YES, I followed the start of this thread, Yep, I have a 2010.
Oh dear!
roj |
| gpspassion |
Posted - 27 janv. 2006 : 19:16:40
Sure, standard "iPaq 4mm jack", so any car adapter will do.
_________________________________________________________________________
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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