Qstarz has launched an upgraded GPS Travel Recorder, BT-Q1000Platinum.
The BT-Q1000Platinum is the successor to BT-Q1000 and comes with both hardware and software upgrades.
With the kind help from the guys at Qstarz , DigitalReviews Network brings you a review of the BT-Q1000Platinum.
The BT-Q1000Platinum comes in Qstarz ‘s familar tasteful matte black box. The unit can be seen through a display plastic window under the Velcro panel.
Packaging
The content of box includes:
The BT-Q1000Platinum GPS unit, 100-240V power adaptor, car charger, USB cable, CD with software, driver and software key, carry case.
The Unit and Operation
The Unit
The BT-Q1000Platinum has a sturdy build, its sides are covered with rubber grip and has a nice non slip surface on the bottom
Like the BT-Q1000, it has a red button on top to record point of interest by push of button.
The power switch comes via a slider on its front left side and allows switching between two different modes:
• NAV – Navigation plus travel log
• LOG – travel log mode with no bluetooth connection
In terms of size, the unit is approx 70mm long, 45mm wide, 15mm high and weighs 64.7g (including battery)
Operation
Typical of the Qstarz GPS travel recorders, I had no problems getting bluetooth connection to the BT-1000Platinum. It was painless to connect the unit to my other bluetooth devices including my Nokia telephone and Loox 720 PDA.The GPS satellite discovery also worked smoothly and managed to get a lock without much delay.
The BT-Q1000P works straight out of the box without following any instruction. The GPS tracking feature works straight away once you power it up after taking it out of the box!! No need for setting the tracking mode between vehicle, bicycle or jog! I must say this is a great improvement!! Yes, its quite obvious I’m not a fan of manual reading……
Field Testing
Having the unit for a bit more than a week, my field consisted of another weekend drive through Sydney metro, lunchtime walks and train rides on Sydney railway.
Field Impression
The BT-Q1000P proved to be like Qstarz ‘s other GPS Travel recorder, the BT-Q1200, consistently faster in getting a position lock than my other GPS units my old Bluetooth GPS receiver and Navman GPS navigator.
In comparison to the BT-Q1200, I would say there isn’t any difference between the two – this should be not surprising given the two units uses the MTK GPS Module with 51-CH.Both the BT-Q1200 and BT-Q1000P managed to get a lock in the some notorously GPS unfriendly areas Sydney CBD without too long (approx 1-1.5minute cold start). Big ticks for cold start position acquisition and strength of signal acquisition. And both units managed to get GPS location locks even whilst traveling on Tangara trains – something my trusty old GPS unit didn’t managed to do.
Hardware wise, besides the solar power for BT-Q1200, the biggest difference between the BT-Q1000P and BT-Q1200 looks to be the increased memory capacity that allows you to record up to 200,000 waypoints. Twice that for the BT-Q1000 and BT-Q1200!!
Battery Life
The unit comes with 1100mAh battery and also worked consistently after leaving it on for 6 hours. According to the manual, the unit can operate up to 32 hrs.
Software
After having a bit of problem with the BT-Q1200 software I was looking forward for a new crack at this and to my delight I’m much happier for the new improvements.
The BT-Q1000P comes with drivers and 2 versions of QStarz Travel Recorder PC Utility- version 3 and 4.
Both versions can be installed with version 4 requiring a product key (this comes on the CD cover). In fact whilst version 4 proved to be more user friendly, version 3 was also equally needed.
Version 4 of the Qstarz Travel Recorder PC Utility is certainly much more user friendly. Across the top, there is eight buttons. Using the icons chronically from left to right is pretty much what you need to tag the GPS location to your photos and publish it on flickr or on Google Earth. Amongst these eight icons is a nifty tool to shift the time stamp of your photos – very useful for daylight savings and if you didn’t set you camera clock right!
Some noticeable difference between Version 3 and 4:
Positives
• Version 4 is easier to GeoTag your photos. Just progress through the icons from left to right
• Version 4 has a tool to time shift the photo time stamps
• Version 4 USB link to the GPS unit seems to be more stable
• Version 4 wasn’t fidgety with date format
Negatives
• Version 4 doesn’t seem to allow you to look at individual points of the GPS tracks. This can be useful and certainly was useful for me with adjusting my photo time stamp
• Version 4 doesn’t seem to allow you to get live GPS data when connected to the unit via USB.
• Version 4 allow you to split GPS tracks
Overall Impressions
– The BT-Q1000P is a great GPS receiver. Its cold start GPS position lock and GPS signal acquisition proved to be consistently better than previous generation of GPS receivers and equal to Qstarz BT-Q1200
– Battery life is good
– Build quality is good and sturdy
– The provided accessories are comprehensive
– The Qstarz GPS Travel Recorder Utility Version 4 is much more user friendlier.
– The BT-Q1000P works straight out of the box
– The BT-Q1000P could prove to be an ideal GPS unit for geotagging photos by photo bug travellers.
In the end, I think the BT-Q1000P is a good piece of GPS hardware and comes with suitable software.
It’s well built,does great job in GPS tracking, GPS navigation and comes with suitable software to geotag your photos.
The BT-Q100P is available in Australia for AUD159 and can be found at C1 (www.c1au.com) and Techrific (www.techrific.com.au).
| Accuracy (none DGPS) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPS Chip | MTK GPS Module | Position | |||||||
| Frequency | L1, 1575.42MHz | Without aid: 3.0m 2D-RMS <3m CEP(50%) without SA(horizontal) DGPS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, RTCM): 2.5m | |||||||
| C/A Code | 1.023MHz chip rate | Velocity | Without aid: 0.1m/s, DGPS(WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, RTCM):0.05m/s | ||||||
| Channels | 51 CH performance tracking | Time | 50 ns RMS | ||||||
| Antenna (Intemal) | Built-in patch antenna with LNA | Datum | WGS-84 | ||||||
| Sensitivity | Dynamic Conditions | ||||||||
| Tracking -158 dBm | Altitude | <18,000m | |||||||
| Acquisition Rate | Velocity | <515m/sec | |||||||
| Cold Start | 36 sec, average | Acceleration | <4g | ||||||
| Warm Start | 33 sec, average | Update | 1Hz as default (Up to 5Hz -optional) | ||||||
| Hot Start | 1 sec, average | Interface | |||||||
| Reacquisition | < 1 sec. | V1.2 compliant (SPP profile) | |||||||
| Power | Bluetooth | Class 2 (15 meters in open space) | |||||||
| Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery | Frequency: 2.4~2.4835 GHz | ||||||||
| Input Voltage | Vin: DC 3.0-5.0V | Power On/Off | Slide switch | ||||||
| Backup Voltage | DC 1.2 ± 10% | Power Charge | Mini USB | ||||||
| Charging time | 3hrs. (Typical) | GPS Protocol | |||||||
| Environmental | NMEA-0183 (V3.01) – GGA, GSA,GSV, RMC(default); VTG, GLL(Optional) , Baud rate 115200 bps, Data bit : 8, stop bit : 1(Default) | ||||||||
| Operating Temperature | – 10 ℃ to + 60 ℃ | ||||||||
| Storage Temperature | – 20 ℃ to + 60 ℃ | ||||||||
| Charging | 0 ℃ to + 45 ℃ | Device Size | |||||||
| Accessories | 72.2 (L) X 46.5 (W) X 20 (H) mm | ||||||||
| 110~220V Power Adapter | USB Cable | USB Bridge | |||||||
| Car Charger | Driver CD | Standard | Fully Compliant with USB2.0 | ||||||
| Rechargeable Battery | Quick Guide | Full -Speed | 12Mbps | ||||||
