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What is Bluetooth GPS (BT GPS)? Bluetooth wireless technology enabled products have brought the Personal Area Network to life. Today we synchronize, connect, share and listen using Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth is a means for a device to communicate with another device wirelessly. Bluetooth enabled (capable) devices include GPS, Pocket PCs and PDAs, Mobile Phones, printers, keyboards and mice, headsets personal computers medical equipment and many more products to come. Why two systems? (Bluetooth & WLAN) WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is used for networking systems that require data security whilst bluetooth (PAN) is targeted at products that are for personal use, such as headsets, that do not require security of data. Although Pocket PCs and Computers have bluetooth, it is for the purposes of communicating with "dumb" peripherals such as headphones, printers and GPS. |
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Bluetooth Headsets This product may appear some what obscure for what we sell, a number of GPS vendors manufacture them as well. Mainly suited for use with Bluetooth enabled devices such as PDAs/Pocket PCs, Mobile Phones and Audio Players
Bluetooth Modems We use modems to connect to the web or mobile phone service (GSM/CDMA) but in this instance we have modems that are bluetooth enabled to allow a bluetooth enabled PDA or notebook to access the internet or transfer data via the mobile phone service. Such a device is used, for example, by transport companies, utility or emergency services to observe the position of a vehicle on the road. The GPS in the vehicle transmits it's position through the modem to a phone number that displays the position on a PC. The PC has a map and the position of the vehicle is seen as a moving icon along a road or track. The interface between the GPS and the BT modem is often a PC based device that rceives the position data from the GPS and sends it through the BT Modem. Variants of these modems include a USB, Serial and CF Card modem. SD card modems are most likely available now or soon. There are modems that are a GPS as well, such as the Holux GR500. |
Bluetooth GPS Because a number of Pocket PCs / PDAs and Laptops/Notebooks have Bluetooth capability the GPS vendors (manufacturers) have built up a collection of BT GPS to choose from, thus making it somewhat difficult to choose between them. The main areas of a BT GPS to consider are as follows:
Type 2 BT GPS is fine for when using a BT GPS in a small or confined space like a vehicle or in your pocket. Type 1 BT GPS is slightly dearer but ensures the most difficult PDA / Pocket PC connectivity problems are overcome. An example of this is reported issues with using a Type 2 BT GPS with an HP iPAQ 2200 series Pocket PC. Another application a Type 1 has been used is on the bridge of an oil tanker. Built-in or replaceable battery is based on whether you wish to use the GPS in an open environment including in your pocket or will be used in an area that no rain or water will damage the GPS. Built-in battery GPS units are not fully waterproof but are water resistant whilst the replaceable battery types may easily get water on the battery contacts and cause them to short. In 90% of usage, which is inside a vehicle, the replaceable battery type is perfect. Consider a GPS with a mobile phone based battery for easy replacement. External antenna is useful when sometimes the BT GPS has to be placed in a location that is not suited for best satellite reception. Thus the convenience of using a mouse antenna is still of benefit when considering wireless connectivity with best reception. Indicators (LEDs) on a BT GPS can provide information such as power and status of the GPS. Status such as searching for satellites or locked onto satellites and has a position. Connectivity such as for data may seem contradictory, however, what happens if you want to connect from a BT enabled PDA to a non BT laptop? Or what would you do if the BT on your PDA fails? Other Options such as solar powered or built-in compass should be considered as well, but not a necessary function of the GPS. Click here to go to BT products page |
Bluetooth Dongles A number of vendors produce unusual BT devices of the dongle variety, including serial to BT and USB to BT. The purpose of a dongle is to convert a device that has no bluetooth capability into one that is capable to minimise the amount of wires needed or make use of a bluetooth device. Some laptops have a 9 pin serial connector on the back, often used a few years ago with a serial mouse. A dongle will allow anyone to use a BT mouse or BT GPS etc with the laptop. New laptops have USB ports that are often used for a mouse or other peripheral device. A USB to BT dongle allows conversion for the use of a BT GPS if a USB GPS is limiting or inconvenient. When looking to purchase a Notebook, consider the Bluetooth option. PDAs / Pocket PCs often have bluetooth capability but in some rare instances when they don't have bluetooth and they have a USB port then this will allow you to use a Bluetooth GPS. |
