Saturday, September 13, 2014
Samsung© Intensity II U460 Combo Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cabl
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Garmin ecoRoute HD Vehicle Diagnostics Communicator HD
- Includes simple installation instructions; it only takes an average of 5 minutes.
- Offers accurate fuel consumption data that can actually help you improve MPG.
- Reads Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC), allowing you to view more than 4,000 trouble codes and reset the check engine light.
The little instrument dashboard screen on the GPS is kind of cool, and you can change the gauges around to display different instrumentation so you're not just looking at a replica of your instrument cluster.
People who are complaining that it updates too slowly should know that this is the fault of OBD-II and NOT the garmin hardware. The standard OBD-II protocols have data rates of 1.2kbps to 41.6kbps and most cars except for some Ford or GM cars, and some cars made after 2008, will only do 10.4kbps (that's 0.0104Mbps or 1/100th of a megabit). Ford or GM cars might do 41.6kbps, and cars no older than 2008 (when the CAN bus OBD-II standard became mandated) may do 256kbps to 500kbps. According to Garmin FAQ, the device implements all of these protocols but it's hard to say which ones actually work on which cars. On most cars I'd expect it to end up using 10.4kbps which is slower than the dialup modem I had 20 years ago. In any case, the Garmin seems to be doing pretty well given that it's limited by OBD-II which was never exactly intended for high-speed Internet connections. The other thing to keep in mind is that the more parameters the thing is "streaming", the more delay there is since more parameters = more data = more of the amazing 10.4kbps bandwidth used up.
The ecoRoute device is also not intended to allow you to reprogram the fuel map for performance tuning your car or something. It's not a general OBD-II tool or a vendor-specific register coding tool. Don't expect it to replace a "real" scanner/coder/whatever. I'm just surprised that it will actually look up engine trouble codes and let you reset them.
Installation and setup are very easy and I ran into no problems except for the fact that the little adhesive strips that it shipped with aren't sticky enough to stick to *anything*, not even smooth plastic. (I did clean off the area I was trying to adhere the thing to before hand.) I doubt they'd even stick to polished plastic. Pretty sad since they keep going on about how you're going to die if it doesn't stay attached to something away from the pedals (where it can't end up under the brake pedal etc). This is a pain for me because there's absolutely nothing under my dashboard that I can use the zip ties to tie it to. Given all their overly cautious safety warnings though, you'd think they'd ship the thing with some serious adhesive. Anyway, use the zip ties to tie it to something if you possibly can. Those are very unlikely to break. If those won't work, use Velcro Industrial Strength (though you can buy a smaller amount than that roll.)
Also make sure that it's actually possible to unplug the thing without completely removing it as a mechanic (or emissions inspector) is going to need to plug his rig into the connector at some point. They and you will be annoyed if they have to cut zip ties or rip off adhesive to completely remove the thing just to service the vehicle, and they might not reattach it fully.
My only other complaint is that the app on the GPS doesn't give you access to all of the data that the Android app does, even though it should be able to, and there's no iPhone app. (My guess is that the lack of an iPhone app is mostly Apple's fault since doing anything with Bluetooth on an iOS device is "iPhone hardware accessory development" which requires all kinds of extra contracts and stuff to get access to the needed API and documentation. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple also wants some sort of royalty for every "Made for iPhone" device sold. Very annoying.) Anyway, fixing anything missing from the GPS app is just a matter of a software update anyway, so maybe they'll eventually fix that.
Overall I'm satisfied with this for what it costs. It's not supposed to be a general diagnostic scan tool or something that can reprogram your seat adjustments using some protocol that only your car manufacturer knows and won't document for any other company. If you need to reprogram your fuel map or troubleshoot some sort of engine problem, you should get something else. But for what it's supposed to do, it seems to work just fine and though it's not super cheap, it's not ungodly expensive either.
UPDATE: I did have one problem when I unplugged the ecoRoute to reattach it more securely. After plugging it back in it wouldn't connect to the GPS, even after a reset. After I shut off bluetooth on my phone though, it started working. (The phone was paired to the handsfree junk on the GPS.) Not sure what's up with this but if you have problems then shut bluetooth off on your phone and anything else as it might cause some sort of interference during pairing.
Also, see my "customer photos" for how I attached it.
UPDATE2: On my recent 700+ mile road trip I encountered a mechanical problem and the diagnostic capabilities of this thing, meager as they are, allowed me to talk to a mechanic on the phone to determine that I could drive it in for repair instead of having to call a tow truck. I was amazed that the seemingly silly gadget I had bought was proving to be so useful for dealing with a mechanical problem. The thing probably paid for itself in that one incident by keeping me from having to pay for towing. Just being able to know what's up with your engine so easily is very likely to save you much more than this thing costs.
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This is a good product, but I hope someone from Garmin reads these reviews, because there are minor (mostly software) changes that would stifle most of the complaints. Here are what the users are saying: (1) The product is very useful for reading OBD-II codes; (2) The MPG functionality suffers from too many screens to get where you want(This could be changed with updated software); (3) It should store vehicle profiles to enable swapping between vehicles (Again, the software could be updated); (4) MPG inconsistently displayed (software fix possible); (4) Some report pairing issues with Cellphones, but pairing with Garmin GPS units does not appear to be an issue. I agree with all of these conclusions.I want to add a few comments regarding the physical size of the unit. It is a little larger than what it appears to be in the main photo. You should look at the user-submitted photos on Amazon. My car's owners' manual didn't say where the OBD-II port was (06 Chrysler minivan). It was next to the emergency brake. If you don't know where the OBD-II port is, ask on Google "Where is the OBD-II port on {your car year and make/model}", and chances are someone would have mentioned it online. In the alternative go to a car wonk forum like Edmunds Town Hall, and post your question on the message board. Do this before you buy the Ecoroute-HD to make sure you won't have a mounting issue. It is ridiculously easy to set up and get going, at least with a compatible Garmin GPS unit.
Comparative analysis: The Ecoroute HD is just a bit pricier than the Scangauge 2. The Scangauge product has a comparatively tiny display and uses (gasp) a wire to connect to the computer. In fact, all of the comparably priced OBD-II readers that I saw used a wire. There is an Android application called Torque Pro that sells for about five bucks and can be used with a variety of generic (Chinese-made) OBD-II bluetooth transmitters. As far as I can tell, these transmitters sell from $10 to $200. Do you really want to leave your Android phone stuck to your dash? There is a higher end product, Edge Products 83830 CTS Insight Monitor, Edge Products 83830 CTS Insight Monitor that costs as much as the Ecoroute HD and a Garmin GPS unit put together. Given the excellent quality of the Garmin displays, the Ecoroute HD is reasonably priced even when compared to cheaper options, and it compares even better to the high end units.
In addition to making it available separately, I think Garmin should offer this unit packaged with a GPS at a bundled price. That would take the guesswork out of figuring out whether your GPS is compatible with Ecoroute HD.
The bottom line is that if you like gadgets, if you are a hypermiler, or if you have a car that is prone to breakdowns, you'll probably like the Ecoroute HD. With some software changes, the product might find a broader audience.
Read Best Reviews of Garmin ecoRoute HD Vehicle Diagnostics Communicator HD Here
Just bought a "new" (to me) car and wanted a way to check the diagnostic error codes (if there were any) as well as the general health of the engine. So far while I wish the EcoRoute HD were cheaper, it fits the bill nicely.Installation
------------
Even thought the EcoRoute HD came with a seemingly thick manual (that I haven't read), the installation literally couldn't be easier.
1) Find your car's OBD-II port
2) Plug in the device
3) Start your car
4) Go to EcoRoute on your GPS and follow the instructions. Takes about a minute.
The Good
--------
The EcoRoute HD provides good feedback on what your engine is doing. There are many, many different (about 10) on-screen gauges to look at, some useful like the Tachometer, some not so much, like the Throttle position gauge.
The ability to read and reset the diagnostics errors could be EXTREMELY useful if you're someone who likes fixing your own car. Especially since all cars are now computerized.
Installation was a no-brainer.
The Bad
-------
1) Where to put it?
On my car (a Mercury Grand Marquis), the OBD-II port is on the right of the steering wheel, between the wheel and the center console. Unfortunately there isn't a single flat space (within the 6" reach of the cord) with which to use the provided two-sided tape to secure the EcoRoute HD itself out of the way. I had to essentially shove it behind the dash, sitting on top of the center "transmission hump". If you have a front wheel drive car, or one that doesn't have such a place to sit the device, it might get tricky keeping it out of the way.
What I don't know is whether or not shoving it behind the dash actually affects the readouts that are shown on the GPS.
2) The gauges can't be set to come up automatically.
I love my 5" display, Garmin GPS (1490LMT?) but honestly, when driving back and forth to work every day, I don't actually pay a lot of attention to the map display. I already know where I'm going and how to get there. What I would like -and again, I admittedly haven't read the 50+ page manual -is a way to set the default on my GPS to automatically display the gauges instead of having to start up the GPS, tap on "Tools", then "EcoRoute", then "gauges" every time I start the car.
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Unfortunately this product failed to meet any of my needs. The truth is that there are much better products on the market for monitoring engine information. The Garmin Ecoroute HD fell way short and here's why.Connecting to the vehicle was easy enough and getting connectivity to my Garmin 1490 was fine. Took 2 trys but it worked fine. The devices communicated with each other just fine and I noticed no interruptions. Seemed pretty good so far until I got to the gauges that I could display. Unfortunately I only got 5: Speed, RPM, Coolant Temp, Voltage, and Engine %. That's it. I promptly updated the software in hopes of at least getting a few more. Unfortunately that did absolutely nothing. I even updated the HD specific items. That was really disappointing to me because I so wanted it to work!
I decided to mess around with it for a day just to see if I wanted to really keep it even though it wasn't giving me any new real information that I wanted. I thought that the fuel mileage application could be interesting and I decided to play with it a bit. At first when I set up my vehicle profile in the system I entered approximately what my 2013 F350 6.7 gets for mileage on the highway and in the city. I drove for a bit and the data and fuel usage seemed to be fairly realistic. I then reset my vehicle profile stating that I get 100 mpg on the highway and 100 mpg in the city. Unfortunately instead of calculating my actual fuel usage via the OBDII port and the PCM information on the vehicle it used a GPS algorithm which calculates the fuel used over a distance by dividing the distance traveled by the mpg I stated that the vehicle gets. THIS IS NOT REAL TIME INFO and you don't even need the ecoroute HD for this. I think that the 1490 will do this without it. Furthermore the ecochallenge seems like a joke. If my score goes up when I'm accelerating moderately and down when I'm accelerating lightly I can't seem how this is realistic. It is simply physics at that point.
I contacted Garmin support via phone this morning to see if I was doing something wrong. They confirmed that the algorithm I described above is the methodology the unit uses to calculate your fuel usage and also confirmed that the gauges were likely all that my vehicle had available. This is not the case as the Edge Insight CTS can access much of that information direct from my vehicle. My android phone using the Garmin Mechanic app was also able to get me a few more gauges that were able to work in real time but it was not nearly enough.
The bottom line seems to be that the Ecoroute HD OBDII device is about $90 to give you a few guages that you may likely already have on your car. Not worth it if you ask me. I will be returning the ecoroute HD device. I'm disappointed that it didn't live up to my hopes. I really hoped that it would. I may keep the Nuvi 1490 for navigation purposes. I really think that Garmin should keep working on the HD as it could be a truly useful application but at this point it needs to be improved. Others have figured it out and they are much smaller companies as far as I can tell.Worked good for a month-this is my second one...both last a month each...something with the lifetime software updates screws this unit, Garmin does not have good online support to fix software problem unless you want to pay another 30-50 bucks for an expert. Still no guarentee to fix....very NOT reccomended unit...
Monday, July 7, 2014
Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Nissan Titan Models (Black)
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Packed well, arrived early and fit is good. Have a pair in my wrangler too. Husky Liners makes a good product.Monday, June 23, 2014
1998-2011 Ford F150 F250 F350 Blue Keyless Entry Remote and Ignition Key w/ Free DIY Programming In
Friday, June 13, 2014
Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner for Select Jeep Cherokee XJ Models (
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Universal 12V DC to 110V AC Power Inverter plus + 5V USB Adapter
I say just avoid this all together. I live for a day when most everything is reviewed online and makers of garbage products like this will no longer have customers.
Also, I have purchased inverters for most of my family and most all of them, no matter the brand or cost, end up breaking in about 1-2 years BECAUSE THEY LEAVE THEM PLUGGED IN ALL THE TIME! Only plug your inverter in when it is in use (unless it is one of the larger units that connects directly to your battery).I do a lot of road trips, so thought this would be perfect to help keep my laptop and cell phone charged. This thing did not even come close to powering anything, plus on top of it it got extremely hot and shut itself off after about a 2 hours of being plugged in. It also interfered with my other electronic devices (mp3 player, cd player). I would look for another product.
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Cool one. This power inverter is better then my earlier one which i purchased in walmart.Is doesnt make any noise while you plug in my outlet. The earlier one which i purchased in walmart had a lot of noise.Read Best Reviews of Universal 12V DC to 110V AC Power Inverter plus + 5V USB Adapter Here
The product is great vaue for money and the distributor sent it to me in 2 days.....The drawback : with this product is that the charging stem is fixed, so if u have a mazda like me with the charger on u wouldn't be able to put you vehicle in PARK since it is not adjustable,
the power light is also not very conspicuous
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It's cheap but within minutes started smoking and smelling in my car. I'm still waiting for a refund. Buy a little better one.Thursday, May 1, 2014
Premium Car Charger For Garmin GPS Nuvi 1390T
- Brand New IC Chip Controlled Plug in Car Charger
- State of the art Intelligent Chip circuit prevents overcharging
- Conveniently charge your Garmin GPS Nuvi 1390T battery while your drive
- Non interrupted charging, even while the Garmin GPS Nuvi 1390T is in use
- Essential accessory in case of car accident or another emergency
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip
- Brand new non-OEM
- Vehicle Lighter Adaptor. (12~24v DC). Short circuit protection. LED charging indication.
- Plug never heats or overcharges the battery.
- Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a full battery and automatically switch to a saver.
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My son lost his previous DS car charger, this one works perfectly and was quite a steal!Read Best Reviews of Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip Here
for it to be generic it works great and I recommend it to others and it is worth the priceWant Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip Discount?
....aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaa aaaaaa aaa aaa aaa aaaa aaa nnnn nnnnn nnnn nnn nn nnnnnn nnnn nnnnn nnnn nnn nnnn nnnnn nnnnnn nnnnn nnnnn nnnnn nnnn nnnn nnnn nnnNot a lot to say about this item. It looks like its made ok. Good price and it still works after several months.Monday, March 31, 2014
Stinger 4 Gauge Power / Ground Wire Coupling Connector
- Accepts 4 Gauge wire size
- Corrosion Resistant Gold Plating - High Power Delivery
- Used for joining two pieces of power wire
- Very heavy duty. Can be used for audio, marine and any underhood wiring.
- Allen Type Screw Terminal
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This is a good product for someone not wanting to buy in bulk and that wants a quality product. I was very impressed with the build quality. Would buy again!Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Subaru Forester/Impreza Models (Black)
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Sierra Tools Battery-Operated Liquid Transfer Pump, Model# JB5684
The hose included is cheap material, so be prepared to buy a higher quality and longer hose. (3/4 inside dia. with a hose clamp. 5' is what I have.) Also unless this pump is exactly upright it will leak a little through the vent hole, not a big deal, just set it well and you're good.
It is simple construction so I expect it will last quite a while. The parts are lightweight and seem a little cheap, otherwise it'd get 5 stars.
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I have a bad back, and it has been difficult to fill the gasoline tank on my lawn tractor and generator when gas can is nearly full. Even not full, it requires holding the tank at an odd angle. I did not have high expectations for this, but thought it would be worth a try.The answer after my first try: It exceeded all expectations. The flow was fast enough to fill my tank in a minute or so (maybe less), but slow enough to feel easily controllable. The plastic outlet tube has a couple of places where it can bend easily without crimping (a bellows kind of arrangement like a kids bendy-straw). The switch is conveniently located on the top of the handle. When you turn off the switch the flow stops quickly and both the outlet hose and the 'wand' in the tank drain quickly. When I took it out of the tank, there were no drips, though not surprisingly it still smelled of gas. (I left it outside in the sun for a while and then stored it in a sheltered, but outside location.)
I half expected it to say "not for flammable liquds" or something. It did warn about not using it for paint thinner, but it is pretty explicit about being ok for gasoline. Note that the pump impeller is at the bottom of the wand that sticks in the gas tank, and the motor, switch, and batteries at the top so the electrical stuff is fairly far from the gasoline.
One possible caveat: They warn not to pump to a level higher than the top of the wand. I'm not sure why that is. I don't imagine that pump has ALL that much lift It was ok for my tractor, but I'm not sure if it will be for the generator. Another thing, when I put the gas can on the ground beside the tractor (actually in a little wagon so I can wheel the gas can out), the clear hose was just long enough to reach. I expect you could extend it but then you have to worry about a leaking splice.
Caution: I would guess that if you were pumping from a higher place to a lower place, you could start a siphon that would not stop when you turned off the switch. I would also not recommend using it the way it is shown in the picture, holding the tank with one hand and the hose with the other (and not holding the wand). The wand is a bit top heavy with the batteries in the top (2 D-cells) plus I want my hand on the switch at all times. I put the tank on a little cart that lifted it high enough to use.
So if is not for everything. Like one of the reviewers says, it is NOT for pumping out of a car gas tank. You need a long straight shot into the tank you are pumping from. The bendy-plastic pipe is for the outlet side. However, with all the cautions, it is exactly what *I* wanted, hence the 5-star rating.
===========================
Update December 2009: Ok, I now know why you should not pump to a place higher than the pump...apparently something above the outlet for the plastic tubing is not sealed, so if the tubing outlet is higher, it can leak. The leak runs down the suction pipe, not all over the place, but it is still disconcerting.
I still like this unit...you just have to follow the directions.
Oh, and btw, if you look at the review it says the product is not available. It is, if you search for it by name. And this review is there too. Odd.
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Ah, what hopes we all have for a bargain. And most anything under $10 is just that. And yet... and yet... along comes the JB4840 Battery Operated Liquid Transfer Pump. Now, we live out in the hinterlands of Georgia don't get much more hinter than this and we needed something simple to, well, transfer liquids... fuel a small tractor, remove water from the catch basin around the old Christmas tree. Ol' JB arrives... works for 3 minutes... we put it away, our new and treasured bargain... we take it out for its big presentation to Georgian mechanized society... she don't work no more. We go through 3 sets of batteries, just to be sure... nothing. Alas, a fool and his $10 soon are parted. Don't try to check the seals; the thing is held together by faith alone, fashioned of plastic fittings cheaper than the promise of a local politician (school board AND county). I've given it one star because of the bright colors on the box. Perhaps the box will work as a siphon? I envy those who have been able to use theirs once, let alone twice.Want Sierra Tools Battery-Operated Liquid Transfer Pump, Model# JB5684 Discount?
This battery power pump is great for any use anywhere. From transfer of gas to pumping water out of your boat, this little pump will perform.Monday, September 9, 2013
9.5" 270¡ã Swivel Portable DVD Player VCD SD MS USB TV MP3 MP4 Game In Car
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Accutire MS-4400B Pistol Grip Digital Tire Gauge
It died after only 2 days -I tried to read a tire with about 8 psi and it showed "-0.0" on the display. After this, all it would do is show the same thing "-0.0".
So I exchanged it for another one. Sure enough, it worked for dozens of readings, until a few days later I again tried to read a tire with about 8 psi in it. Once again, it will only show "-0.0" after that.
My guess is this is a firmware problem with the new units.It worked fine until the battery died. Then I found out that's designed to be disposable. I actually disassembled the unit and got a battery from Radioshack, but oh surprise, the unit didn't work anymore.
Don't buy disposable units. Pay a little bit more and get something that will work for many years.
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Piece of junk. Won't fasten onto the tire's valve stem just releases the air from the tire and doesn't register the pressure (that used to be there). I've purchased several items via Amazon.com, and this is the only one that's been a big disappointment.Read Best Reviews of Accutire MS-4400B Pistol Grip Digital Tire Gauge Here
After buying a lot of inaccurate tire gauges (especially the digital ones), we found a review on Consumer Reports that recommended this one. Bought 3 -all 3 gave the same tire pressure when I tried them out on a tire. Accidentally dropped one on the pavement, then it flipped into the sand/gravel. Blew the sand out of the nozzle and it worked just fine. I don't recommend dropping it into the sand of course, but CR did say it held up well to being dropped and that seems to be true.Want Accutire MS-4400B Pistol Grip Digital Tire Gauge Discount?
I have had this gauge for a couple of years but had noticed significant differences between it and other gauges. Recently I did a comparison between three gauges including a certified master gauge in a tire shop. My gauge was reading 4 psi too low a significant deviation for a 32 psi nominal pressure.Sunday, July 21, 2013
3-in-1 LCD Car Hands-free FM Music Transmitter for iPhone and iPad
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great price lures you in, and the product description sounds like it does everything u want it to, but the actual product isn't that great. the remote doesn't always work for me and the charger cord is really short. So short that if I don't find a really good spot for it, the whole thing will come out of my iphone if it gets bumped or jarred. then it's a pain to reconnect it while driving. my advice is to spend more money on an fm transmitter, this one is priced low for a reason!Read Best Reviews of 3-in-1 LCD Car Hands-free FM Music Transmitter for iPhone and iPad Here
Does not work with iPhone, connection is too small and doesn't fit correctly. Don't waste your time in buying it.Want 3-in-1 LCD Car Hands-free FM Music Transmitter for iPhone and iPad Discount?
Does not work. Had to return. Was not pleased at all. I received it in the mail and I tried it out in the car and it did not work. It's not good. I purchase a transmitter in the store called "Five and Below" for $5 and it works perfectly fine. Would not recommend this product.Thursday, June 27, 2013
Dual Electronics XGPS150A Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for Portable Devices
I did not encounter any issues with the Bluetooth connection between the iPad2 WiFi and the Dual XGPS150a. The XGPS150a did not exhibit any problems with maintaining continuity of satellite reception or continuity of its knowing its precise location. It was highly accurate. I am particularly pleased with how quickly it figures out its location after having been powered off for a while. It does this within just a few seconds, which is a small fraction of the time that my high-end Garmin Nuvi needs to figure out where it is.
There is a competing device that hangs directly from the docking port, and I just think that this is a very dumb idea. Yeah, there is nothing about the docking port that prevents this sort of thing, but it is suitable only for cables and cradles. Nothing should be attached there in the way that that thing does. It is only a question of when, not whether, you snap it off, ruining the accessory at least and possibly even damaging the port on the iPad or iPhone, which I expect would be a costly repair.
For owners of WiFi-only devices, there are generally two issues that you have to sort through when it comes to applications. The first issue is the issue of off-line maps. As most people quickly figure out, Google Maps on the iPhone/Pod/Pad relies on continual Internet connectivity to download pieces of the map on the fly, as you travel or even as you scroll around the map without moving. The same behavior applies to most of the map apps that you can buy at the app store. This is obviously an issue for mobile use of WiFi-only devices, but it is even an issue for devices enabled with cellular-based data communications (3G, etc.), because in rural areas, loss of data connectivity is even more prevalent than loss of voice service. (And as has been reported elsewhere, it is all too common for 4G services to revert to 3G, in which case the data rate plummets from something remarkably fast to something more like a very slow DSL connection, which could adversely affect the ability for the map application to update the map as you are moving.) When you evaluate specific applications relative to this need, you need to pay close attention to the particulars of how you select the map segments that get stored in the device. And ignore all the misinformation that you find on web forums, telling you about some trick for forcing Google Maps and similar apps to cache maps in the device. Categorically, those tricks do not work.
The other issue is with forced incompatibility. Fundamentally, there is no apparent reason why an application that works with internal GPS receiver would not work with an external GPS receiver. In fact, it might not even be possible for the application to detect the difference. Nevertheless, the provider of the application can flag the application such that you cannot even download the application into the device if the device does not have an internal GPS receiver. In particular, I discovered that this is what MotionX, the supplier of several navigation applications, does. If your device does not have an internal GPS receiver, you cannot buy MotionX GPS applications directly from the device (via the app store application), and if you go the iTunes route, you can buy the app but then during the app synching phase, iTunes will give you a message saying that the app could not be downloaded into the device because the application is not compatible with that device. This is not some sort of oversight or snafu or whatever. It seems counterintuitive, but MotionX's concern is presumably that without this restriction, some people (cheaters) who use external GPS devices would purchase the app and then demand a refund, claiming that the app is not compatible with the device. It remains to be seen whether MotionX and Apple will figure out a better way to address this concern, but for the time being at least, you cannot download MotionX GPS applications into devices that lack internal GPS receivers.
This concern is potentially an issue for GPS applications in general, which is why I recommend that you start by selecting the application that you intend to use, and make certain that there is no compatibility issue of this sort, before you purchase any external GPS receiver. I had hoped to use MotionX GPS HD, mainly because it is so much less expensive than TomTom, which is a very expensive application at around $50. Before buying the TomTom application and then finding out that I had wasted my money, I attempted to get confirmation from TomTom that there were no issues similar to the situation with MotionX. I called their tech support number and then waited on hold for a long time and eventually spoke to someone in Mexico who absolutely assured me that TomTom would work only with either the internal GPS receiver or else their own docking cradle (for the iPod/iPhone not sure if they even have anything for the iPad). Then I sent an email asking for clarification, and I got a response that was confusing but that seemed to corroborate what I was told over the phone. I sent a reply to that email, and a day or two later I got another reply correcting the earlier reply, stating definitively that TomTom GPS app is compatible with all external GPS devices. That second reply even included a link for a page on their web site that indicated the same thing, although not as definitively as I would have liked. I have not decided whether to purchase TomTom, but I am confident at this point that should I choose to do so, I would not encounter an issue similar to the issue with MotionX, and in the unlikely event of such an issue, there should be no difficulty in getting a refund through the app store.
Garmin also makes a car navigation app, but presently it is an iPhone-only app. Presumably it would run on the iPAd, but either using only a small part of the screen or else blown up with lousy resolution.
I only really wanted a good map application anyway, as opposed to full-blown turn-by-turn navigation with route planning and so forth. I found two good applications: PocketEarth, and MapsWithMe. Of the two, I like PocketEarth better, because the graphical representation of the maps was easier to read and interpret, particularly with respect to freeway ramps, which sometimes are incredibly complex. PocketEarth even shows bypasses and roads that are presently under construction but not yet completed. They were indicated using dashed lines to distinguish them from existing roads, but even the ramps were indicated. This was impressive to say the least.
My final observation is for the benefit of anyone who has not purchased an iPad and who is debating whether to get the WiFi-only version or the version enabled with mobile data capability (3G, etc.). I recently had a discussion on this question with a friend who is considering buying an iPad. Notwithstanding the availability of external GPS receivers, and notwithstanding that you can get those little devices that translate 3G (or whatever) to WiFi, and notwithstanding that the offline maps issue is an issue even for devices that are enabled with mobile data communications, we agreed that for anyone wanting to use an iPad for navigation purposes, it is wise to spend the extra money on the iPad with the data capability (3G, etc.) and then purchase service for it on a monthly basis as needed, which is a nice thing that you can do with the iPad.Just wanted to let folks know that this product does indeed work with the newest iPad, the one that came out (in the USA) in March, 2012.
I have a wifi-only iPad version, and the Dual Electronics works great with it.
This device pairs easily and quickly with the iPad. It also has great battery life.
The Dual Electronics device works with my iPad's navigation software. In specific, a Navigon North America navigation application. (Its great having a huge screen to view your map the screen of the iPhone just can't compare and nor can dedicated GPS devices.)
I downloaded the free app "Dual GPS Status Tool" onto my iPad and it gives all sorts of detailed information about the GPS device (e.g., battery life) as well as about the satellites to which its connected.
To test the Dual Electronics device, I drove my 52 mile-roundtrip daily commute in the Washington, DC area. During these drives, the Dual Electronics device had no problems maintaining a connection to the satellites, to my iPad, and as a result the Navigon app on the iPad worked great.
Its great not to have to worry about holding the iPad a certain way in order to get GPS this external GPS always sits on your dash.
I use, in addition to this Dual Electronics device, the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 3G Mobile WiFi Hotspot Modem, Refurbished (Verizon Wireless) so that I can connect the iPad to the internet and get the latest traffic reports while using the Navigon app.
Note that in order to test whether this GPS device is truly working properly, I tested without the WiFi connected (because the iPad has a feature where it can determine approximate location if connected to WiFi, even without a GPS connection).
So, in sum, I can report that this external GPS works, as does its software and the software of 3rd parties such as Navigon, with a WiFi-only device such as the iPad.
P.S.: Not to get too technical here, but its adorable a little cute guy with its own form-fitting dashboard mount.
Buy Dual Electronics XGPS150A Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for Portable Devices Now
I had a bad elf external gps, which was being used with foreflight. An IPad app that I use daily in my flight training. To my disappointment, the bad elf had a very hard time locking on satellites and further more, while a great idea to run off iPad power it proved not a great design for being in a cockpit, ESP small light planes I fly.A fellow student raved about the xgps150, and let me borrow it. I was shocked at how quick it locked on to satellites, and that it worked in my home as well. Solid as a rock. Battery life is good. My flights never go over 2 hours. The non-slip pad, is excellent and works well on an inflight dashboard. I have the xgps150A, which allows a 12-30V input for aircraft 28vdc systems. My advice for foreflight users, buy it buy buy it! It is on foreflights approved external gps list now. Its light and compact. Free shipping on amazon as usual.Just received the XGPS150A about 21 hours after I ordered it. Can't beat Amazon Prime shipping!
I was concerned, as others were that this unit would operate with my WiFi only iPad and MotionX-GPS HD. I emailed MotionX and received a positive answer in less than an hour. Using my new iPad (3) the following apps work fine, Maps, MotionX-GPS HD, Google Earth, ArcGis, iGIS and EasyTrails GPS. I did not try the Dual GPS with MotionX GPS Drive, because I have it on my iPhone 4s and don't use it much. Also, you can preload maps with GPS Drive, but you need WiFi if you need to recalculate your course.
I downloaded satellite maps of my area into MotionX-GPS on the iPad, and took a short walk and created a track and three waypoints with the Dual/iPad and my iPhone 4s. One of the waypoints was much closer with the Dual unit and the other two were different, but equally off by about 15 feet. The track was much closer with the Dual than with the iPhone. With the Dual, both coming and going pretty much overlapped and were mostly within the path I was walking on. With the iPhone, the coming and going did not overlap at all and were on both sides of the path, sometimes by quite a lot. To be fair to the iPhone, it was in my pants pocket and the Dual GPS was on my arm with the handy but somewhat difficult to use arm strap.
One of my planned uses for the Dual GPS and iPad combo is to map the locations of trees and plants in a GIS database. The ability to download satellite maps into the WiFi only iPad (don't need a WiFi or cell phone connection) and now have GPS is theoretically an improvement over using the iPhone because the iPad screen is much larger. One thing that I did not count on is that the iPad screen is almost impossible to see in sunlight. This diminishes the advantage of using the satellite maps in the background to make sure you have the exact location.
The Dual XGPS150 Status App is pretty cool and gives more information on the satellites than you would get from the iPhone.
I think this is a fantastic product and I am very glad to have it. I have not tried it with my laptop, but assume it will work well with it also.
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If you just got your shiny new iPad or are a bit under impressed with the TomTom car adapter this is for you. This unit is deceptively small and uses your Bluetooth connection to connect to your phone. The battery lasts for 10+ hours of continuous signal acquisition. It is able to see it's position in 3D space so with the arm strap you could use it for geocaching or to capture signal for your sports apps that track your position for speed and distance. I live in the sticks and quite frankly am less than impressed with aGPS signal acquisition.It is a really nifty app that lets you see how many satellites are overhead, and which ones it was able to use to construct your position and then gives a reliability rating for its trustworthiness. Even in a building I was able to get at least 4 satellites. It has a 20 channel signal and up to a 5 Hz refresh rate. Way better than a standalone GPS unit.
I love the fact that where my GPS apps used to grey out or bounce around the map or show my position several yard off, now it is razor accurate.
Its only downside, is that it takes a bit to lock into the satellites, but it is a small price to pay for this level of accuracy.
It is not waterproof, but since it is Bluetooth, putting it in a baggy for protection is simple and effective without stopping its usefulness.
It comes with a rubber sticky square so you can throw it on the dash of your car (even a curved part) and it will mold and hold to the dash give it great line of site to improve your acquisition rate. It also comes with a Velcro strap that can be doubled to fit on your arm or leg (or really big arm) for motorcycle, bike, or running. The strap fits through two small loops on the bottom of the unit so you don't have to worry about losing it in the woods. I love it.

