After almost a week of waiting, finally the package arrived from Hong Kong. The box looks like it had taken some beating, as expected for a parcel service but its content intact.
What's in the box ?
A GPS Data logger, Cigarette lighter cable, USB cable, mains charger, battery, Software CD and Quick start manual.
What is a GPS Data logger ?
Right, now the hard part. GPS Data logger is a GPS Receiver which store internally (logged) coordinates of its position as programmed by user. Its able to log once every second right to about once every 15 minutes. This particular model can store internally up to 150,000 points.., if its programmed at its highest rate then it will be 150,000 second for the memory to be full.
For specification see here
The i-blue 747 Logger is a self contained logger and its also a GPS receiver which gives Bluetooth output for PDA's, H/P or PC for navigation software. The size of this unit is slightly bigger then the zippo lighter. Connection to PC for data logged download and configuration is via USB or Bluetooth, the later is a much better option.
On ebay it was listed as 16 MB internal memory, however upon receiving I found that its the later version with 32 MB, if 16 then it could only store 100,000 way points and no Blue tooth connection for log downloading and control except output of the GPS data for PC etc as a Nav only. The 32 MB units is a newer version having full Bluetooth control.
The i-blue 747 capable of logging by Time, Distance or Speed or combination of the 3 criteria together to create a rule.
Power supply ?
This model uses Nokia hand phone battery, so no problem with that. Car charger, household charger and USB charger. A spare battery is handy if you have intention of logging long hiking or biking trip.
There is a 3 position power switch on the left hand side, with OFF, NAV and LOG. In OFF the unit is dead, in NAV it give bluetooth output for other device, in LOG it will log your movement at the same time gives bluetooth output as in NAV. In NAV the bluetooh will goes into sleep mode if there are no bluetooth user, but in LOG it will not do that since its should operate in stand alone mode.
On the righ hand side there is a mini USB, this is for charging and connecting the device for download and configuration changes which is not necessary since the newer version capable of bluetooth for this except for charging.
What are the uses of this device ?
Lots of uses, my intention is to do mapping, so that I could contribute to mapping sites, their requirement is that a logger must be able to log at 1 second interval. This one fit the bill, with a bit of a hack its capable to do 5 times per second logging. Its not necessary since this unit is capable of recording as distance travel, set it at 5 meter interval and you'll have a very accurate log.
Another uses is photo geo tagging, carry this logger with you while using your camera, get back to your PC, use the software provided, your photo will be Geo Tagged and upload to Picasa or other online photo server, those photo will be displayed as where you snapped them - smart isn't it, not really. What happen is the GPS will logged your position with Lat/Long and Time stamp, the digital camera will do time stamp on each photo,, the software wil corelate the two and stamp a Lat/Long on the photo EXIF tag.
Person tracking, put this in your kids (wife) hand bag and see where they go..., after they get back of course, handy to check your kids driving whether they speed or not.
Other uses as a GPS receiver for your Notebook, PDA's, Phones, etc.
How does it perform ?
I'm impressed with such a low cost device, it is very accurate, out of the box with battery in and switch on the unit aquire satellite in roughly 30 seconds and maintain it rock steady, even inside buildings. It uses the newer MTK chip set which could track up to 51 satellite, but 31 or 20 is a good figure. It's have a very low power consumption, on a full charge it could be use for about 30 hours.
I'm using this unit for mapping, since I already have the Garmin Nuvi for navigation, this logger is a low cost addition to do that. Garmin handheld unit like the 60Csx cost about RM 1999.00, it will be a waste for my usage since I am not going jungle tracking just street plotting.
Below is a sample plot, I took from my house to the Subang wet market, I export the log to Garmin Mapsource and it shows perfect plot, only at one point where I forgot to switched it "ON" and when I do switch it,, the logging suddenly shows as a sudden jump. The sensitive receiver can pickup satellite signals from inside a backpack, pockets, even inside airplane as claimed. On my trials its pick up with the unit inside my trouser's pocket.
As a superbiker, one use is to logged your travel, the log can be directly display on google earth/map and you will be amazed to where the heck did you go...
Below another sample, this time on Google map showing my daily trip to work, on Google Earth is similar. There is a button on top, this if you press will insert a marker at that position, handy if you want to dog tagged a location, it will shows up on the map as a star or a red round donut.
Where to get one ?
Try here
Verdict ?
I am satisfied with this unit, for RM 250.00 inclusive S&H from Hong Kong,, its a steal.
NoX
planning 2 buy a CHEAP tracking device also 
Just placed order from him at ebay. 
