Review: Spectec 2-in-1 with Micro SD Memory Slot (SDG-812)

The Spectec 2-in-i Bluetooth GPS Receiver with Micro SD Memory Slot is a very small, lightweight and fast GPS device that has worked superbly with my 700wx over the last 2 weeks and I have no qualms virtually recommending information technology for others, especially novices.

Offset off, a confession: I'm new to the world of GPS. And then for the experienced GPS users out in that location, I won't be able to compare to every other GPS device on the market. The good news is that I have a feeling there are a lot of people out there who don't utilize GPS and like myself are curious and bewildered about what is out on the market.

Luckily, for my first GPS device I found what I think is a winner, especially if you are a WM Treo user!

Specifications

First let's throw some specs out at that place:

• SiRF Three chipset, 12 channels (up to 20)
• Communicates via BT
• SDIO interface
• Micro-SD card slot (upwards to 2gb; non included)
• Weight: 15g
• Common cold offset up time: forty s (average)
• Power consumption: 70 to 90mA
• No drivers needed
• Blue LED for signal condition

Regarding the chipset, SiRF Iii, for the uninitiated, is one of the latest GPS technologies on the market. It reportedly has slightly higher power consumption than SiRF II but has a much quicker indicate conquering and tin maintain that point at college speeds and my tests show this to be authentic.

Also worth noting is the obvious: the built in micro-SD card slot. Granted, you are now forced to buy a micro-SD card if you want to shop your iGuidance or TomTom maps, just they are quite cheap now and they are the future of removal storage. The device uses BT to communicate the GPS data and the micro-SD slot is dedicated to storage, as opposed to the older, BT-less SDG-810. The benefit hither is no commuter, slightly less power consumption, and since it is powered by the phone, no separate charging cables either. Plus your maps and GPS unit are ever together, which is a prissy benefit.

What'due south in the Box

There is really non much to be shown here: you go the box, the device and a 1 page paper which are the directions. Since the SDG-812 is Os-independent, there are no drivers or software to install anywhere. In fact, assuming you accept a SD slot and BT on your laptop, you could just pop this in and use it there as well.

Setting Upwards

Okay, i thing I learned while researching GPS and Windows Mobile: setting information technology up is not always piece of cake or direct forward, due to some awkward choices past Microsoft e.thou. on some devices, under Settings the OEM has hidden the GPS icon, requiring a registry edit to unhide. Luckily on the Palm Treo 700wx this was not an issue as it was already unhidden and overall, setup on this device was adequately effortless.

First, you just insert the SDG-812 into your SD bill of fare slot and you'll notice that the blue LED begins to blink. This tells you two things (1) the GPS unit is now powered and (2) you have no signal. The side by side step is to pair the SDG-812 with your device. Only launch your BT connections (Settings --> Connections --> Bluetooth), enable and set to discovery. Within moments SPECTEC SD-GPS should appear on your screen. Next, check the Serial Port box under Partnership Settings and hit Salve. Finally, you have to specify which COM port to apply by first choosing New Outgoing Port, Next and 1 of the bachelor ports (I've used 4 and 8 with no problems) and so Save.

Finally, nether Settings --> Organisation --> GPS set the hardware GPS settings to that same COM port you choose to a higher place (COM4 in this case) and under Software GPS, cull any other port too what yous chose for hardware. I propose to write those two COM settings down, just so when you setup your GPS software, you can have a quick reference.

Interestingly, nether Baud Rate, at that place is no pick for 38400, the recommended charge per unit for the SDG-812, simply 33600. From what I understand, this really non an issue as like a modem you tin set up it for the lesser value with no problems, merely at the end of the review I'll mail a simple registry edit to become the 38400 value to show up in WM if you really want it!

[Editor'southward note: there's also a How-To Video: Setting upwards Bluetooth GPS on WM5 that yous can use]

Lets examination it out!

Honestly, in that location is not too much to say here as information technology just worked with little bother. You pop it in the phone, launch your GPS software and within a minute you know where you are in the earth.

I used the costless Turbo GPS to enable the GPS unit and verify satellite connections. Point conquering was very quick. The specs say about xl seconds on average and that is quite authentic and many times, it was slightly faster. Once continued, the blue LED on the SDG-812 stays solid, which is a nifty manner to know that everything is OK. After 8 minutes of non-connectivity, the GPS unit will auto-power off which is a brilliant feature in case you lot want to keep the unit of measurement in your SD carte du jour slot but not drain your precious battery Within moments. The SDG-812 connects upwards to 4-five satellites and within in a few minutes, depending on location it will increase oftentimes connecting upwards to x GPS satellites.

I found no instances of loosing a signal, belongings up even inside nigh windows once the signal was acquired and constitute it held strong even at loftier speeds. Example in point, I used it on the Long Island Railroad (speeds upwardly to eighty mph) and was able to literally follow the railroad train route the entire trip, using Windows Mobile Live Search, which pulled the satellite data downwards fast plenty over 3g.

For software, I used a bunch of different types: Google Maps, GPS Info, WM Live Search, Turbo GPS, Tracky Pro and Visual Information technology's Tube two NYC Geo. Merely brand sure to choose your COM settings in each program. All of them ran without outcome, except 1: Tube 2 NYC Geo, which had COM port settings that did not match those for the SDG-812, which I doubtable is an event with Visual It'southward programming.

Battery life was peachy either -- on par with a regular BT active connection. I would assume that powering the SD receiver does cause some actress strain on the battery and a more rigorous examination would prove that, only in my testing it was, as I said, near the aforementioned drain every bit is caused past a Bluetooth connection to an external receiver.

Accurateness was likewise fairly high, depending on mapping service used, but generally it came downwards to within 5-10 anxiety of target area. Indicate re-acquisition was also extremely fast if y'all pulled out the unit and/or toggled Bluetooth ("hot start"), which is handy if y'all go inside for awhile or need to plough information technology off for an extended elapsing ("warm offset"). In midtown NYC, I found point acquisition took about a minute or two longer on a "cold commencement" than in the suburbs, which I attribute to structural interference.

Conclusions

I really liked using the SDG-812, especially as a GPS novice, it merely apartment-out worked. I did find the included directions a trivial vague as they used WM 2003 for the screen shots and found myself double checking online for more than information. Although information technology may seem naive, I had no thought yous had to be literally outside or most a window to larn a signal! They as well prove something called "GPS Viewer" within the directions and I had no idea what that was (turns out it is older software to initiate the GPS unit of measurement).

Another bug to consider are the fact that this uses every bit SD carte interface and newer WM devices are ditching that format altogether opting for mini-SD or, more likely micro-SD, making this unit essentially obsolete for futurity devices (for example I couldn't test this on my Moto Q or ppc-6700 for that very reason). Equally the SDG-812 sticks out from your WM phone, it is prone to easily break if you were to drop your device. Furthermore, y'all won't exist able to use your tertiary party horizontal holsters at all while installed, making vertical ones necessary. The SDG-812 does have power from your WM device, as opposed to GPS "pucks" with their own bombardment. The merchandise off here is y'all don't have to charge yet-some other-device or worry if you packed the charging cablevision; the downside is you lot will inevitably bleed your battery slightly faster. Since a lot of people employ GPS units for their cars and accept car charges, this does non seem much of an outcome but it is something to consider if you will exist away from a power source for long periods. Finally, you as well take to buy a micro-SD card only equally mentioned earlier, these are so inexpensive now every bit to almost a non-consequence.

Having said that, the price is very reasonable ($89.95), the SiRF III chipset is cutting edge and is quite fast. The SDG-812 is very small-scale and when not in utilise, easily fits into your pocket (different the GPS "pucks"), making it a fantastic option for hiking, walking around the urban center or even in the car. I like the idea of having all my GPS software and maps installed on the micro-SD carte, making the Spectec 2-in-1 Bluetooth GPS Receiver with Micro SD Retention Slot a tiny all-in-1 GPS center.

If yous programme on keeping your WM device for awhile and then this is a smart buy!

Links of Interest:

• SDG-812 Transmission
• Tracky Pro (costly just very fun GPS app!)

Registry Edit to become 38400 Baud Rate to appear in WM5:

HKEYLOCALAuto\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Commuter\Drivers\Control Panel Configured Device

Nether the DWORD Value "Baud", change DWORD Information to 38400.

Power off device for 1 minute and soft-reset.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-spectec-2-1-micro-sd-memory-slot-sdg-812

Posted by: thomasthadvating.blogspot.com

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