32 channel MTK usb

aversio · 04-29-2007, 10:30 PM

Anyone try/own one of these yet?
http://www.gtop-tech.com/index.asp?p...02&linkID=spec

They can be found on ebay for under $60 shipped. The only info I've come across is that the performance is comperable to sirf 3 or perhaps a bit better. Of note is the baud rate seems locked at 9600.

morris_the_cat · 04-29-2007, 10:34 PM

I have one & it is fantastic. I was having troubles with my bluetooth sirf III, so I decided to get one of these to always get a lock. Compared to my sirf III, which only locked to say 3 to 7 birds if it got a lock at all, this thing locks in 9-12 birds easy & before the computer even boots up. If the weather it really bad, the lowest lock I have had is 7 birds, and never not gotten a lock.

aversio · 04-29-2007, 10:46 PM

Hmm sure sounds good! Do you mind my asking if you found it somewhere other than ebay? How about resuming from hibernation?

maniaxzero · 04-30-2007, 12:41 AM

I got the qstarz 818 bluetooth GPS and it has the MTK chipset.

Now I've never used sirf III gps before but The MTK compared with my garmin c320.....the difference is night and day. Definitely very sensitive and locks on very easily and effortlessly. Highly recommended.

morris_the_cat · 04-30-2007, 01:13 AM

I just got it on ebay, shipped from Hong Kong. By the way, the driver was a little wonky, and not MS certified, but once I got it going, no problems.

Krystm · 04-30-2007, 11:23 AM

I just also ordered this probablly from the same guy on ebay in Hong Kong, Will this work with iGuidance? or is there a better GPS software for this?

morris_the_cat · 04-30-2007, 12:38 PM

I use generally it with iguidance 3, roadrunner & google earth under xport3 com splitter.

morris_the_cat · 05-03-2007, 10:16 PM

I took my MTK GPS through a tunnel under the Fraser River today. Amazingly enough, I still had 5 satellites locked in about 1/3 of the way in before I lost the lock. Even then, it was still detecting as many as 5 satellites (without a location lock) in the middle (under the deep water!) at the worst. Simply amazing!

DJiK · 05-04-2007, 01:26 AM

Can anyone confirm that it's actually functional?

And what the hell does this mean:

Quote: Originally Posted by http://www.gtop-tech.com/index.asp?pid=402

6) How to use the 5Hz update rate function in the FGPMMOSL1?
We suggest customers if you need to test 5Hz update rate function, it is much better to be done by GTop Co., not by the end user, in case avoiding some potential risk and problems.

ERIKbx · 05-17-2007, 10:31 PM

I been using this GPS unit for a week now. I must say it works great. I make this unit number one out of the past units I have owned(BU-303 & BU-353). Quick satellite lock, and all. I notice better accuracy when using IG3 as well.

The units height of the unit is a little bulky, and it doesn't seem as weather proof as competing units, like the BU-303 and BU-353. Still worth the forty eight bucks I paid on ebay tho.

DJiK · 06-04-2007, 05:43 PM

Back to my question:
Was anyone able to get the 5Hz feature to work?

morris_the_cat · 06-04-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DJiK

Back to my question:
Was anyone able to get the 5Hz feature to work?

Sorry, I wouldn't even know where to start to test that, nor do I know what that means.

DJiK · 06-05-2007, 04:00 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by morris_the_cat

...nor do I know what that means.

Short answer: that GPS receiver is supposed to refresh its data 5 times per second whereas most commercial GPS receivers out there only refresh at 1 cycle per second.

5 > 1

Practical application: suppose you're looking to write a 0-100Kph application to track your progress with car tuning. In a perfect world, given a 1Hz receiver, you'd only get an answer in whole seconds, i.e. 4s or 5s -- and there's a huge difference in between!
In the same perfect world, given a 5Hz receiver, you'd get a result in .2 of a second, i.e. 4.4, 4.6.
Now, sure a fifth of a second is a long time in that particular application, but it's hell of a lot better than a whole second.

Obviously, there are other uses to this technology such as better/smoother tracking for navigation, etc.

morris_the_cat · 06-05-2007, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the info djik. That does sound usefull.

But above you quote the manufacturer as saying "We suggest customers if you need to test 5Hz update rate function, it is much better to be done by GTop Co., not by the end user, in case avoiding some potential risk and problems." So I don't think I want to test 5hz given that they say I could screw it up, unless there is some newer info...

spaceskater · 06-06-2007, 05:34 PM

Just found this thread.

Well the 5Hz make it interesting. I will look around see if its possible to switch it.

To the people who have this, does any one have the serial version? If yes does it still need drivers? I want to connect it on my KR1 EVDO router serially (not possible to install drivers).