Qstarz release a 10Hz BT GPS receiver the BT-Q818XT

[MikeB]

Qstarz have released a 10Hz GPS Bluetooth GPS receiver. With a glut of GPS receivers in the marketplace and a dwindling number of devices that use them you might ask why Qstarz have released yet another BT device. Well the clue is the 10Hz update rate. What does this mean? Most normal GPS devices have a 1Hz refresh rate, that means they send out the location once a second. The Qstarz sends the location information 10 times a second.

The main benefit for the increased update rate is for users that require precise positioning, or if you are recording data at speed. This will give a much smoother curve when the data is reviewed, and will of course allow for a much finer analysis of your speed at each trackpoint. At 60MPH you travel one mile in one minute or about 88 feet per second. This means that a conventional GPS will send your position once every 88 feet (or 27 meters). The Qstarz BT-Q818XT will send your position every 9 feet (or 3 meters). You will now be able to analyse acceleration and braking much better.

The downside to the Qstarz BT-Q818XT is that it is just a Bluetooth GPS receiver and not a datalogger. This means that you will need to connect it to a device capable of processing 10 updates a second which today pretty much means a laptop. This could be a little tricky installing in a race car or sailing ship.

The UK importer and distributor for Qstarz is www.SuperETrader.co.uk. The BT-Q818XT will retail for €79 (about £65).

The official Qstarz press release:

QSTARZ, a global GPS leading brand, today is excited to announce the availability of our 10Hz Bluetooth GPS Receiver, BT-Q818XT. The BT-Q818XT supports 10Hz GPS update rate, giving very high resolution position information for high speed sports requirement. 10Hz helps to decrease the annoying display lag time and improves tracking and distance measurements especially if moving on curvy route. As well as the 3-level switch to easily switch to 10Hz high speed more or 1Hz normal speed mode
BT-Q818XT is now available at the price USD $89 / Euro €79

Features:

• 66-Channel Performance for fast acquisition and reacquisition


• Super high sensitivity -165dBm adopting latest MTK II chipset


• Lower power consumption up to 42hrs navigation time


• 10Hz update rate for higher accuracy of the demand


• Less than 15-Sec. AGPS fix support: download almanac data to realize faster TTFF and positioning under warm start


• G-Mouse + Bluetooth in one: wired and wireless GPS receiver


• 3-level switch(10Hz-1Hz-Off) for easy operation


• Fast Position Fix ,Cold start 35s, Warm start 33s,Hot start 1s


• Personal/Portable Navigation (PDA, Smartphone, PC, etc.)


• DGPS(WAAS+EGNOS+MSAS) support


• Auto On-Off function for smart power control

Who needs 10Hz*:

• Circuit racing.


• Aviation.


• Boating.


• Skiing


• GPS data analysis.

_________________
Mike Barrett

[NickG]

Unfortunately the problem with all QStarz devices is that they have just a tiny 2MB of RAM, meaning if you actually log at 10Hz, you've only got about 2-3 hours of recording time.

Even if you log every 2 seconds, I usually run out of RAM during a 1 week skiing holiday and end up losing a day or two of data.

Until they put a sensible amount of RAM in (64MB) or microSD, I won't be upgrading...

Actually, I now realise my comments above are not relevant to this device, which doesn't actually log anything without being attached to a PC. I'm confused therefore, how you can use it for skiing as it says in the article? Who on earth skis with their laptop?!!

[Duddy]

You could link it to an HTC Android phone using the blutooth.
The is an app called Race Ace on the google market, its blurb says datalogging for your car on a race day based on the GPS, it might work for skiing.
I've not tried it (I've no bluetooth GPS now) but its worth a try as the app is free.
_________________
HUAWEI P30 Pro (new edition) with Speedtrap Alert & alcatel1 for SatNav
CoPilot 10 with CamerAlert
RoadHawk in-car video
Reading glasses getting thicker as is my waist
Retired but want to go back to work for a rest.

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