The BT-Q1000P: A High-Tech GPS Data Logger For Under $100
20 Apr 2008Just when you think you have all the little gadgets that you could ever need something new comes out on the market that is a must have. The BT-Q1000P is such a device. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on one of these little devices to test it out and it is one amazing little device.
So what exactly is the BT-Q1000P? Well, it is a high performance GPS data logger that is also a travel recorder that is integrated with Bluetooth technology. This means that it has the ability to work with other Bluetooth devices. The logger will coordinate with your other Bluetooth devices (phones, portable computers) and act as a GPS receiver. I actually got to see this in action with my smart phone – the BT-Q1000P acted just like a GPS receiver through my phone. I received all the information about my GPS position via my phone. It is a very sensitive GPS receiver that allows you to also store up to 200,000 way points during your journey. The other nice thing is that the GPS signal is easily picked up inside and out.
Before talking about its unique features, let’s take a look at the unit itself. It is an extremely small, fit in the palm of your hand, device that is very lightweight and easy to use. It comes with a rechargeable battery that will last up to 32 hours on a single charge. It has a USB port which allows you to connect it to your computer to download your data as well as connect to the charger (regular AC charger, a car charger and even a USB charger).
It is a very basic and plain looking device. There are several things that you have to understand in order to operate the unit. On the side there is an off button. This will allow you to turn off the unit if you are not using it. If you forget to turn it off, it will continue to log your track until you turn it off or the battery runs out.
There is also a setting called Navigate. This turns the Bluetooth on and allows it to pair with your device to be used as a GPS system. It does still keep a log for you while in this mode.
The last setting is called Log. In this mode the unit will stay on all the time. In this mode, it will record your GPS position. Using the software, you determine exactly how the unit will log…for example you can tell the machine that you are on foot or in a moving vehicle. It will allow you to set how often the device is going to take a log position by setting the time or distance that you want it to log the position.
On the front of the unit is a red button. This is what is used to help you mark way points as you travel. In other words, if you are on a walking tour you can press the button and it will mark the particular point. Once you get home to your computer and download the data into the system, you are able to designate exactly what the way point should be. You can decide if it is going to be a point of interest, a landmark or even a gas station or grocery store. The software will allow you to determine this and set it very easily.
So now that you know what it is, you are probably wondering exactly what can it do for you? Basically it will allow you to do the following things:
- Acts as a GPS tracking device. Once the BT-Q1000P is synced to your current cell phone or a computer, the GPS receiver will transmit your position to the device. This means that device will act as a fully functioning GPS site map.
- It also acts as a Geotrack device. This means that you will be able to take your photographs taken on your journey and integrate them into your data file of the route that you took. This is done by way of a photo service site (such as Flicker). The software allows you to acces the photo storage site and integrates the photos onto your map.
The other nice thing is that you can integrate your data into Google Earth. This makes the logging information extremely accurate. It is very easy to follow the path that you took as well as see the photos that you took at each specific way point you recorded along your journey. Probably the thing that I liked the most was that I could very easily share this information via an e-mail, or even post it up on a website for other to see.
The BT-Q1000P is one of the most remarkable GPS data logging devices out on the market today. The device itself is easy to use. The software is straightforward and uncomplicated. These combined the fact that it is a logger as well as a GPS tracking device and it is relatively inexpensive to own. The BT-Q1000P is available for immediate delivery from LiveViewGPS Inc.
