Bluetooth GPS receivers

[scooters]

I know that this has probably been covered before but…

I need to buy a Bluetooth GPS receiver for my SPV M600 phone.
Looking through the various websites, most of them state that the latest ones are the only ones to buy, marketing spiel I know.

Now, I will be using this for car and mountain biking by means of memory-map.

The Question is,
Will Sirff II work sufficiently or is it best to get III
How many channels are required for decent navigation? 12, 16, 20+
What have you bought,if any, any why.

Any help would be appreciated.

[nubbin]

For off -roading Garmin is the mapping of choice - check their products for something suitable.

[scooters]

ok, with a little looking on the web I hvae narrowed it down to 2 - I think!!

Holux GPSlim (GR-236) SiRFStarIII Bluetooth Receiver
and the TomTom MkII receiver.

anyone got these or know what is best?

[Paul Drawmer]

I'm very pleased with the Holox (not a spelling mistake) BT (bluetooth) 321

It does everyhting the blurb says it will, finds satellites quickly, good bt connection and switches off if you forget to.

Bought mine off ebay - several sellers there.

holox website is:
www.holox.co.uk/2.html
They seem to sell different toys - which put me off, but yes, I'm pleased with the little box. It's the size of a matchbox, and for many apps would probably work fine in your pocket, once you are out of the car. (Mine works fine on the floor of the footwell, where it fell once!)

[steve z]

Another vote for the Holux GPSlim 236. Sensational box of tricks, mine picks up on average 8 satellites even when stuffed in the glove box.

[droopsnoot]

You might have a problem getting the TomTom Mk2 GPS without buying TomTom Navigator - I'm not sure they sell it separately. It's a nice device though - another one that switches off if nothing is connected to it for a certain amount of time.

One key feature with Sirfstar 3 chipsets is the TTFF - time to first fix. Basically you have to hang about waiting for a position fix for a much shorter time with the newer chipset. That said, my old Globalsat receiver usually takes less than a minute if it hasn't moved far since it was last on.

[kevin63]

steve z said:

Another vote for the Holux GPSlim 236. Sensational box of tricks, mine picks up on average 8 satellites even when stuffed in the glove box.

I'll second that, don't seem to mater where you put the magic box it seems to pick the sat's up easy.

[mcflurry]

AFAIK they both use the same chipset (Sirf III)

[Robin Hood]

Holux GPSlim is the way to go, i get mine to acquire on the dash and then shove it in the glove box or door panel.

[Podie]

Cheap and cheerful, but it works - www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/8590.htm