Globalsat SD-502 SDIO GPS receiver review

s_yeow · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 30, 2006 Posts: 3

I agree with xda that SD-502 has serious write problems. I'm running SD-502 with Ipaq rz1710. I had problems installing GPSinfo program onto the SD memory. It works to rz1710 with the new 1.33 driver, however, intermittently, it will "Unrecognized card" message will pop up and I will had to reinsert card back. The SDIO connection is too unreliable and the write to memory problems is just too much to bear. I'm returning the unit. Anyone having the same problem here?

Stephen1300 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 1

I have just bought this receiver to use on my HP4700 with Copilot 6. I have had numerous problems trying to get Copilot to regognise any memory on the 502's card, it always came up with less than 5mb. Eventually after talking to Alk, who were very helpful, they suggested downloading to the computers harddrive and then syncing.. success but it took forever ( 40+mins) to transfer the files. The next problem was that Copilot hung forever when starting up and was extremely slow, slower than my old ipaq 3870with a jacket and copilot 4. I then tried deleting the map files from the sd card and loading the map files from the computer to a 1gb compact flash(sandisk extreme111) in the HP4700 without the Sd502 installed.
What a difference! the speed was amazing, the copilot opened immediately and the download from computer to handheld only took about 20mins. (350 mbs part UK + France)
It does seem a long winded way round and rather makes the storage on the 502 redundant but it certainly works alot quicker. it works if you have both sd and compact flash on your PDA.
Hope this helps some of you get round some of the problems.

Fieldwork · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 25, 2006 Posts: 1

I am contemplating buying the Globalsat SD-502 SDIO receiver for my XDA2i - ROM 1.10.00 WWE; EXT ROM 1.10.124 WWE with Activesync 4.1.

Did the review refer to the XDA2i? Will the SD GPS card work with the spec above? Any feedback would be appreciated as I have read mixed reports in the forum and wonder if it's to do with the ROM version on the XDA2i.

Question

krsoulsby · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 2

I see in the review this works with Memory map but when I try and get it to work it just freezes for a while and then I get a time-out.

Apart from that everything else is OK with it. I can access the memory no problem. GPSInfo can get a fix with it no problem either.

Am I meant to run GPSInfo any time I want to use the GPS feature

I have Memory Map 4.4.3
Set up is:

Model: SiRF
Model: Binary Mode
Port: GPS1
Baud: 4800

What settings were used during the review?

Has anyone else had this problem and can help

Thanks

Kevin

krsoulsby · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 2

Sorry for double posting but I have the solution, if any one is interested its:

Manufacturer: NMEA
Port: COM4 (Same as GPSInfo)
Baud: 4800

I think the first time I tried this I still had GPSInfo running which prevented Memory-Map from finding the Comm port.

BTW does any one know what GPS1 is, it only appears when the card is fitted so it must be something to do with it.

Kevin

Praessi · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 12, 2006 Posts: 2

It is now possible with the new Driver to get the SD-502 with the T-Mobile MDA comact running?

KOTULCN · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 20, 2006 Posts: 9

KOTULCN · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 20, 2006 Posts: 9

Praessi · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 12, 2006 Posts: 2

jrisch · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 27, 2005 Posts: 38

I've had the 502 since Dec 2005. It works fine with the Viewsonic V37. However my big issue with the productis that it constantly takes power. Are there PPC settings to stop power to the SDIO slot if you hibernate the PPC? At the moment I have to take the 502 out of the SDIO slot everytime I leave the car for more than a couple of hours, as it drains the V37 battery to the point I have to reload the PPC from the backup.

Any thoughts anyone?

Regards, John

tourist · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 25, 2006 Posts: 1

Hey John -- I'm trying to get the SD-502 to work on a ViewSonic V37 and having no luck. The PDA cannot see the GPS at all. GPSInfo and Pocket Topo get no GPS. What port works for you? 4800 baud? My V37 is running Pocket PC 2002 / Win CE 3.00. Thanks in advance!
- PK in Seattle

tomthompson · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:13 pm Post subject:

Hi after damaging my 3970 I have now got it working again and have reinstalled all my software but am having a senior moment with the globalsat sd502. I have reinstalled the software fron the cd but its not the latest driver so I downloaded the latest software from easy devices and then ............ blank .I am looking at a file that I have downloaded to my pc GPSdisk.v133 arm4.cab . What the hell do I do with it . I am sure I have done this before but ........blank.

I think its a zip file but where do I put it or the parts of it ?

I know I am being thick and hang my head in shame but ...... blank

Rolling Eyes

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xda · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject:

rzapanta · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 30, 2006 Posts: 1

I am able to get GPS data with GPSInfo, but no data from any satellites at all - LED is solid green (always, I have never seen it blink). Installed on a brand new Dell Axim X51v, using COM4 and 4800 baud, installed all the latest drivers. Able to access the 512MB SD card memory with no problems.

Any hints or next steps I should take or is the unit defective?

Tsellers · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 12, 2007 Posts: 1

Just got the SD-502 on Friday and it will go back on Monday, I just wish I had looked at the Globalsat and this forum first and saved the loss on shipping. My suspicions were first aroused when I opened my package and found that the disk that contains the outdated drivers and the very poor user manual had a stick on paper label rather than being screened or at least a Lightscribe disk! Here is what I have found:

1) In the Globalsat forum support it usually defaults to "Get a support ticket" or, "Refer to your dealer" if the problem is at all challenging. Globalsat does not seem capable of meaningful support.

2) I cannot access the SSD card through any other method other than ActiveSync.

3) After moving all my map files and program files to the SD card and changing the program in Ozi Explorer to use the SD-502 memory instead of the CF card, the program appears to hang, but eventually responds, in other words it seems to slow down performance incredibly to the point where you ask why even bother using the memory in the Sd-502.

4) I also noted the problem as already reported above, leave the SD-502 in the slot and even if your PDA is powered off, it will drain the battery.

5) I have to wonder how long it will take me to snap the module off accidentally from the top of the PDA when skiing, biking, or if it falls out of the cradle or my hand some day.

I originally bought this unit because I did not want to sacrifice the power used by a BT GPS receiver as I often take multi day backcountry trips. However I now plan to go back to a BT receiver and carry it with a spare battery. I wish there was a BT receiver that took AAA cells, failing that, the new Garmin Mobile 10 that lasts up to 22 hours may be more suitable.

So users can rest assured that the problems reported above on this site are still not resolved. Anyone thinking about purchasing a GLobalsat product of any type should at least visit their forum before they make a purchase decision.

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