 The Holux GR-271 portable GPS receiver, in the form of a Compact Flash (“CF”) card, is suitable for use with a PDA or laptop. It works well with Google Earth and other available GPS navigation software. The small size makes it easy to use in a PDA while traveling or to carry in a pocket when not in use. The CD-ROM has the PDA and Windows drivers and GPS  software, but not the navigation applications. While it would be nice to have navigation included, there is plenty of cheap or free navigation software on the Web that will suffice. This test used GPS 2 Google Earth for the navigation software because of its seven-day free trial and compatibility and a Dell Axim x51 PDA using the Windows Mobile operating system. Though the GPS is laptop ready, a built-in or external compact flash reader or adapter for the laptop is required.
General Features:
- Third-generation SiRF III chipset for best performance and accuracy
- 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and re-acquisition
- High speed signal acquisition using 1920 time/frequency search channels
- WAAS enabled
- Supports NMEA0183 v2.2 data protocol
- Enhanced algorithms -SnapLock and SnapStart provide superior navigation performance in urban, canyon and foliage environments
- Supports CF card Type I connector suitable PDA, Hand Held PC or PC device
Setup of the Holux GR-271 GPS Receiver
Setup of this receiver is a breeze due to well-written printed instructions and an easy-install driver from the included CD-ROM. The included GPS software quickly finds the GPS's Compact Flash card, and once activated, is able to display a location in less than fifteen seconds. Even though the card was inside a building, it was still able to pick up three satellites and gave accurate coordinates!
Holux GR-271 GPS Receiver Usage
 This GPS receiver performed well with the included GPS software and GPS 2 Google Earth. While indoors or in a car, the unit was able to keep up with updating the position. In order to keep the PDA on while driving, be sure to disable the PDA’s battery saving feature. While this did reduce the amount of runtime from the PDA, the card was not a heavy strain on battery life and depending on the PDA, it could last several hours.
Using a PDA in a heavily-wooded area or in a downtown environment was nice; it is light-weight and easy to store in a pocket. Also, having the PDA and GPS as one unit means less equipment to haul around. For a dedicated PDA user, the UT-41 is a handy tool since the user only has to handle one device while checking a schedule, listening to music, or looking for a hotel.
When held in the hand the extra two inches that the card extends from the top of the PDA was not a problem but added some awkwardness when trying to store the PDA in its original pouch. However, the advantage of having it all as one unit was a benefit and the extra height was not a problem when carrying the PDA around. Depending on how the PDA is stored, it might be best to shut down and remove the card.
One problem encountered with the card was that it would occasionally freeze the application until the entire PDA was hard reset. Another issue was the GPS’s ability monitor the unit’s speed while traveling. The accuracy of this feature worked intermittently if at all. The last problem is the lack of explanation of the software controls for a novice user. Unless you know what all of the buttons and numbers mean, you are left searching the Web for an explanation.
In Conclusion
Overall the Holux GR-271 is a solid, well built unit. For a dedicated PDA user who is also a traveler or directionally challenged, this is a nice addition to a hand-held unit. For a limited time, this unit can be found at Geeks.com.
Geeks Humor
There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire to become a great writer. When asked to define "great" he said, "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!"
He now works for Microsoft, writing error messages...
On a more serious note:
If you go to the website LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card that Xerox will print and send to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't choose who gets it, but it will go to a member of the U.S. armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!
Computer Geeks - Your #1 Source for Computer Parts! |
Disclaimer: Occasionally we miss something, make a mistake, or don't cover everything on the topic but we are trying hard to give you the most unbiased and well-written information that we can. |
|
Our records indicate we have your permission to send email to {EmailAddress}.
Computer Geeks will never sell, rent, or share your email address!
Computer Geeks
1890 Ord Way Oceanside, CA 92056 |
www.GEEKS.com |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License. |
© Copyright 1996-2009 Geeks.com™ All Rights Reserved |
|
|
