Holux GM-210 vs GlobalSat BU-355: Head to Head Review

rsd212 · 05-03-2006, 11:35 AM

Motivation: I bought a GM210 off eBay as a low-cost solution for my GPS receiver. I needed USB at the time to work with my laptop. After months of frustration with reliability across two systems, I finally broke down and bought the BU-355 with Serial adapter.

Initial Impressions: The Holux was only $35. Its a bit ugly, but claims to use Sirf Star 3, so it seemed to be a bargain. The BU355 runs around $75 with the serial adapter. Its much slimmer, despite claiming the same capabilities.

Test Setup: Epia MII-12000. No extra peripherals, with Lilliput touchscreen being only present USB device. No other comm devices were used. Test was done on the dashboard of my Mazda3, with GPS units equidistant from the midline of the dash, approximately 3 inches apart, giving them the same view of the sky.

Cold Test: Both GPS units have remained unpowered overnight and have no idea where they are. I plugged in the receiver, started timing, and started iGuidance. After autodetect, I started recording the number of satellites reported to be locked.
Holux: After 1 minute, I had no locks. Two minutes, 1 lock. Finally after 8 minutes I had 3 locked satellites and enough for IGuidance to tell me my position.
GlobalSat: After 1 minute, I already had 4 locks. After 8 minutes I was locked to 5 satellites.

Driving Test: Driving around town, I simply switched back and forth between which antenna iGuidance was reading. Both remained powered throughout the test. Even though both antennas were located in the same place and were seeing the same sky, the GlobalSat BU355 held on to 5-7 satellites, while the Holux hit a maximum of 5, sometimes dropping back to 0 locks, but generally hovering around 3-4.

Final Impressions: The BU-355 ends up being almost twice the cost of the GM-210, but has proved to be far more reliable with much better reception. I highly recommend this unit.

Queenambeach · 05-03-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rsd212

Motivation: I bought a GM210 off eBay as a low-cost solution for my GPS receiver. I needed USB at the time to work with my laptop. After months of frustration with reliability across two systems, I finally broke down and bought the BU-355 with Serial adapter.

Initial Impressions: The Holux was only $35. Its a bit ugly, but claims to use Sirf Star 3, so it seemed to be a bargain. The BU355 runs around $75 with the serial adapter. Its much slimmer, despite claiming the same capabilities.

Test Setup: Epia MII-12000. No extra peripherals, with Lilliput touchscreen being only present USB device. No other comm devices were used. Test was done on the dashboard of my Mazda3, with GPS units equidistant from the midline of the dash, approximately 3 inches apart, giving them the same view of the sky.

Cold Test: Both GPS units have remained unpowered overnight and have no idea where they are. I plugged in the receiver, started timing, and started iGuidance. After autodetect, I started recording the number of satellites reported to be locked.
Holux: After 1 minute, I had no locks. Two minutes, 1 lock. Finally after 8 minutes I had 3 locked satellites and enough for IGuidance to tell me my position.
GlobalSat: After 1 minute, I already had 4 locks. After 8 minutes I was locked to 5 satellites.

Driving Test: Driving around town, I simply switched back and forth between which antenna iGuidance was reading. Both remained powered throughout the test. Even though both antennas were located in the same place and were seeing the same sky, the GlobalSat BU355 held on to 5-7 satellites, while the Holux hit a maximum of 5, sometimes dropping back to 0 locks, but generally hovering around 3-4.

Final Impressions: The BU-355 ends up being almost twice the cost of the GM-210, but has proved to be far more reliable with much better reception. I highly recommend this unit.

I have the GM-210 and I get a lock in under 10 seconds no matter where I'm at! haven't had any problems as yet.

rsd212 · 05-03-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Queenambeach

I have the GM-210 and I get a lock in under 10 seconds no matter where I'm at! haven't had any problems as yet.

I dont disagree that there are GM210's out there working for people, but in my experience it has been a sub-par unit, always letting me down. Others also seem to complain about the GM-210. At this point, it seems like a crapshoot. Poor quality control, maybe?

michael_16j · 05-03-2006, 03:01 PM

I just bought a Holux 213 and have no problem with it, its small and fast, I plug it in start up i guidance and already have a lock and position and time, not bad for $57

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1
I suggest get the better one the 213 is ten times better

Marvin Hlavac · 05-03-2006, 03:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rsd212

The Holux was only $35. Its a bit ugly, but claims to use Sirf Star 3

No, that's incorrect. GM-210 is a fairly old receiver based on SiRFstar2 chipset. Nevertheless, it is a good performer, but I suspect neither of your two units were placed where they had good satellite signal (based on the low number of satellites you have reported). Try doing the same test again while both receivers are placed (at least temporarily) on the roof of the car. You will likely get at least 8 or 9 satellites on both receivers when in an open space (not among tall buildings, etc).

rsd212 · 05-03-2006, 08:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

No, that's incorrect. GM-210 is a fairly old receiver based on SiRFstar2 chipset. Nevertheless, it is a good performer, but I suspect neither of your two units were placed where they had good satellite signal (based on the low number of satellites you have reported). Try doing the same test again while both receivers are placed (at least temporarily) on the roof of the car. You will likely get at least 8 or 9 satellites on both receivers when in an open space (not among tall buildings, etc).

Well, guess eBay can lie to you

I tried again today in a parking lot with both units on the roof (close to the passenger door, as thats all the cabling would allow). The GlobalSat picked up 8, while the Holux never picked up anything. At one point it had 2 locks, but those dropped out again. The Holux has done me well at certain times, but it just seems to fail when I need it most. You can argue the case that its just a bad unit, but for me, iGuidance doesnt lie

DarquePervert · 05-04-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rsd212

Well, guess eBay can lie to you

EBay doesn't lie. The sellers on EBay lie.