GlobalSat SD-502 SDIO GPS Receiver

GlobalSat SD-502 SDIO GPS Receiver

Ranking: 4.9 out of 10

Manufacturer: GlobalSat
Model Number: SD-502
Price: $149.99 -- get the latest pricing from Amazon

Description:

Great SD-502 is the next generation GPS with memory device that offers a combination of storage capacity and navigation all-in-one feature about the size of a postage stamp. Its 512MB of built-in memory also allows for tracking signals and storage of large amounts mapping data. With the manufacturing technology along with the cutting edge, SiRF Star III chipset, this receiver will provide higher sensitivity, lower power usage and more rapid time-to-fix!

User Reviews -- Add a new review for this Product

Amazon needs to post the compatibility list

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.4 out of 10
Created: Dec 26, 2008
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I've had problems with different BT GPS receivers and decided to look into the CF and SD interface options. Reading the reviews on this product and shopping elsewhere, Amazon has failed to provide the manufacturer's compatibility list for this device. If your PDA isn't there, don't buy it. I can't say "buy it" if it is there. I've decided to update this review with the latest data from GlobalSat. Still, Buyer Beware and make sure you have updated drivers from them. Check your device and OS!
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br /Confirmed Compatibilty
br / * Dell Axim X30 (Previously incompatible. Driver update?)
br / * Dell Axim X50
br / * Dell Axim X50V
br / * Dell Axim X51V
br / * HP iPAQ rz1710
br / * HP iPAQ h1930
br / * HP iPAQ h1940
br / * HP iPAQ 1950
br / * HP iPAQ rx1955
br / * HP iPAQ 2200
br / * HP IPAQ h2210
br / * HP IPAQ hx2410
br / * HP iPAQ 2750
br / * HP IPAQ rx3115
br / * HP iPAQ RX3715
br / * HP iPAQ h3970
br / * HP IPAQ h4150
br / * HP IPAQ hx4700
br / * HP IPAQ 5550
br / * HP IPAQ 5555
br / * HP iPAQ h6315
br / * ETEN M500
br / * ETEN M600
br / * Mio 168
br / * Fujitsu Siemens LOOX 610
br / * Fujitsu Siemens LOOX 720
br / * Asus MyPal 730
br / * SPV M2000
br / * Palm Treo 700 (AKA Treo 670)
br / * Palm Treo 700w (Previously incompatible. Driver update?)
br / * Samsung SCH-i730
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br /Devices listed above have been tested and proved to be compatible with SD-502.
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br /Compatible OS
br / * WM5/6
br / * Pocket PC 2002/2003
br / * Win CE
br / * Win CE .NET
br / * WM2003
br /
br /(Note: I do NOT see Palm OS listed above.)
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br /Non-Compatible Devices:
br /# Dell Axim X3/X30 Pocket PC (I left this here to show you how they were previously listed. They are now listed as "compatible." The only way that is possible is through a driver update you would need to download.)
br /# HP iPAQ hw6515
br /# Toshiba E800BT
br /# Toshiba e400
br /# Qtek S100
br /# Qtek 9090
br /# Audiovox 6600
br /# HTC Universal PDA's ( Magician/ MDA Compact/ i-Mate JAM/ T-Mobile MDA Compact/ Qtek S100/ Qtek 9090 )
br /# O2 XDA II Mini
br /# O2 XDA Neo / Dopod 818
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Buy only if you want to waste your money.

Rating: 1 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 26, 2008
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The SD-502 seems to be a great product if it worked. I purchased itin October 2006 for about $145.00 and installed it on a Dell X3. The install was flawless and it latched onto satellites very quickly. I loved it. It was sooo easy. Then came the real test. I took it with me on a road trip from VA to FL (approx 16 hours). 6 hours into the trip the device failed. Although the GPS side of the product seemed to work (blinking light and all) the mapping software kept saying the map files (which I stored on the on board 512 MB memory) was corrupt. If I turned off the device and let it cool it would start working again for 5 minutes and die again. The unit was worthless for the trip and I had to revert to MapQuest..:( I came back and sent it back to Global Sat USA. They send me a wrong unit as a replacement (SD-501 with no on board memory). I called them and they promptly sent me a SD-502. I put it into my PDA and I got no light it was dead. I sent the second one back and explained the problem. The replacement they sent me turned out to be the same bad unit I had just sent them. The bottom line, the techs very very courteous to talk to and it seemed that they were supporting a really bad product. The product is really not built for long use. After spending money shipping back and forth three times and not seeing any hope for this product. I decided to cut my loses. I have thrown this unit out with 5 months of warranty still left and went out and purchased a Garmin Nuvi 350 (I should have done it in the first place). Anyway after wasting $250.00 on this flimsy product I decided to warn any user that wants an honest review to save their money. I never write reviews, but I do not want any one else to lose money on this product. I hope you don't waste your money like I did on this terrible product.

Absolutely horrible

Rating: 1 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 26, 2008
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I concur with the previous reviewer. This GPS is a piece of junk. I received it as a gift for my birthday, and it never worked right. Only about once in 50 tries does the Palm recognize the GPS, and even then, it "disappears" after about 5 minutes. I even did a hard reset on my Palm Treo 700w and installed only the Street Atlas Handheld software and the GPS driver and that didn't work.
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br /Bottom line is this: If you're trying to get this device to work with your Treo 700w, forget it and look for a GPS that's (a) better built, (b) has better drivers, and (c) actually has a tech support dept that cares.
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br /Amazon really *does* need a 0 rating --- especially for this product.

Doesn't work at all!!

Rating: 1 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 26, 2008
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Where's the zero star...? I bought this to use with my new Palm Treo 700w with CoPilot Live 6 software. After uninstalling, and playing with the thing for way to long I have come to the conclusion that the thing just doesn't work. The SD card is very slow at accessing the information placed on it. Can't even run the GPS software from it! I can't even get a signal...The website doesn't have any troubleshooting and the CD it came with has no info what so ever! Guess I'm going bluetooth for a GPS reciever, save yourself lots of time and aggrevation and DO NOT get this product!

perfect

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 26, 2008
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I have had this for about 2 weeks, and it is just awesome! I have an axim x30, and it performs flawlessly. We have used it for geocaching and normal navigation.

Works Great - If you have the correct PDA

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 26, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
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You will need to visit the usglobasat web site to see if your device will work. Palm devices are not supported.
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br /I've tested this SDIO GPS receiver on a Dell AXIM 30 with PocketPC 2003 second edition OS, Dell AXIM 30 with PocketPC 2003 first edition OS, and an iPaq hx2790b with Windows Mobile 5 OS. Tested these devices with Pocket Streets and Trips 2006 and they worked perfectly. I keep the MAPS on the 512MB SDIO card of the GPS receiver.
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br /I prefer using the iPaq hx2790b since it also has a CF card. This lets me use Oziexplorer with its maps loaded on a 1GB CF card.