GPS geologging

[moa999]

After manually tagging the location of pictures from my latest trip using Picasa 3.5 I decided there must be a better solution,

and discovered the world of geotagging / geologging.

After a bit of research I bought myself a QStarz BT-Q1300S GPS Sports Recorder off ebay.

Is very small - thickness of three credit cards and about 2/3 the size and comes with a travel recorder software package and a sports recorder package.
Internal battery - chargeable by UBS (I am in the don't need AAs camp - I will find a way to charge)
Uses the well regarded MTKv2 GPS chipset.

Tested it in and around Sydney and works brilliantly where it is unobstructed - eg sitting on dashboard, tied to outside of bag - but loses accuracy when in a suit pocket for example.

Had a trip to BNE so decided to geolog the flight. The device is very small, utilises minimal power and receive only so flight usable.
Attached the device to the suithook on one of the convertible seats on a 737-400 and got great results.

A few screenshots from the flight in the attached doc.
As you can see from satellite image at Syd it is pretty accurate (plane docked at Gate 3) and I was on the left hand side of the plane.

Google Docs link

 

[MrHyde]

Very nice. I've been using a bluetooth GPS receiver that I link up with my Windows Smartphone. However, because of the bluetooth, it is not flight usable.

Can you tell us how much the device set you back.

Cheers,
MrHyde

 

[MrHyde]

Based on your post, I've been looking at getting something like this myself. I had a look at the QStarz BT-Q1300S and some ebay sellers are saying that it has Bluetooth as well. In that case, it means it is a transmitting device and can't be used during flight.

Is there a way to switch bluetooth off or are the sellers wrong?

Edit: Manufacturer website is http://www.qstarz.com/Products/GPS Products/BT-Q1300S-F.htm

Features lists: "G-Mouse + Bluetooth in one: wired and wireless GPS receiver"

 

[BlueAU]

Impressive! I like it Would be interested in price too.

I use a tracker on my phone, but that chews battery, and you can't have it on during a flight

 

[moa999]

Paid just under $100

The device does have Bluetooth but my understanding from the manual is it only searches when it is first turned on - so then should be ok as just logging.

Did send an email to company to check but not a great response.

We do have many cases that our customers use Q1300S on airplance and it works. But please notice that the Bluetooth signal of Q1300S can not be turned off.
So please turn it off during airplant taking off and landing.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you.

Thank you for contacting us.

Best regards,
xx_
=============================================
Qstarz International Co., Ltd.
6F-2, No.160, Ming Chuan E. Rd, Sec. 6, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 886-2-2792-0061
Fax: 886-2-2792-0062
Website:

Other item I had considered which doesn't have bluetooth.
I discarded as it only became available last week and uses a Skytraq rather than MTK chipst is this device which is about the size of a USB thumbdrive and also about $100 - also has slightly more storage.
Pevious Gisteq versions have used a slightly proprietary data format, meaning you have to use their included software - although it seems to be pretty decent.

GiSTEQ Corp. PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900
Buy a GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini (DPL900), #C7-02DPL900 - eXpansys Australia

 

[MrHyde]

Here is another one using MTK chipset, but no bluetooth. PhotoMate 887 Mini GPS Recorder/logger G-Mouse 66 chs - eBay (item 320451927995 end time Nov-30-09 23:15:03 PST)

However, the QStar looks much better in the keychain format.

 

[docjames]

Wow, that's pretty cool.

 

[markis10]

Some airlines prohibit uses of a GPS receiver in flight regardless of its bluetooth capability, and many 3G modems have an inbuilt GPS receiver, as do many notebooks with 3G such as the thinkpad range.

 

[moa999]

This page suggest most airlines are OK with GPS

Airlines which APPROVE/DISPROVE GPS use in Flight
http://gpsinformation.net/airgps/gpsrfi.htm

 

[BlueAU]

here it is, if anyone was looking for it. I didn't know what it looked like!