Transystem
Transystem Inc. is a Taiwanese company producing small gps devices / data loggers and other RF (radio frequency) communication products.
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i-Blue 717
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This small device works well with PCs and Mobile Phones. It is only a GPS mouse, so there is no setup or configuration.
It has the same features as the Qstarz BT-Q818, so you might want to read its reviews, too. It also appears to be identical to the BlueNext BN-800GR.
- Good things
- Very cheap (€30, eBay, Nov. 2007)
- Smart Standby mode: In standby, battery will last more than two weeks. You can wake it up by simply connecting by bluetooth, after disconnecting it will go back to standy.
- Has a hard switch to completly power down
- Charged over a mini-USB connector (but no data transfer over USB)
- Replacable LiIon battery which is compatible with many Nokia cell phones
- Connector for external antenna
- Bad things
- Accuracy may typically vary between less than 1 meter and about 10 meters. With bad weather, even 60 meters and connection losses may occur.
- While it gets a fix after 20-30 seconds when standing still, it takes up to 5 minutes when moving, even if you are only walking slowly. When driving car or bike, reconnecting may be impossible.
- My mouse (the same) fixes also fast when driving or moving.
i-Blue 737
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- Bluetooth GPS
- Mediatek (MTK) chipset
- 1 Hz (5 Hz via hack, requires opening)
- Charge via USB
- 23 hours battery time according to review: Full review
Category:Transystem i-Blue 737 Users
i-Blue 737A+
- Bluetooth 1.2
- MTK MT3329 chipset
- chargeable Lithium-Ion battery (via USB)
- 66 channels
- WAAS,EGNOS,MSAS
i-Blue 747
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- Price: €55
- Bluetooth GPS + Datalogger
- Chipset : Mediatek (MTK) MT-3318
- Charge via USB
- You can configure which GPS data gets logged into memory
- before: 16 Mibit (2 MiB) memory (± 60000 track points - depending on what is being logged)
- new: 32 Mibit (4 MiB)
- Size: 46.5×72.2×20 mm
- Weight: 67 gramms
- Original Windows Software, works fine with wine on Linux
- BT747: Java Software for all OS, useful for the 5Hz hack
- MTKBabel, Perl command line tool for Linux and *BSD
- Mac Travel Recorder, nifty GUI for MacOSX
- WinGPSLogger: Splits tracks in so-called trips, generates GPX including manual waypoints, for Windows
- Full review
- Comparison with Wintec WBT-201 (German/Deutsch)
- MtkDLut Free alternative software (Windows) to setup and readout loggers using the MTK chipset such as the i-Blue 747. More reliable than the soft that comes with the device!
- Linux usage
The device can easily be used in Linux too; e.g., using BT747. I had a little trouble setting it up, so I decided to give a little explanation on how to use it in Linux:
First you need to load two modules, usbserial and cp2101 which are included in kernel 2.6.20 (probably earlier versions too, didn't check it). If the device gets plugged you'll get a device like /dev/ttyUSB0 to access your device (don't forget to give yourself permissions accordingly). The device has to be in LOG mode. It gets recognized in the other modes too, but didn't work! In case you use gpsd use
gpsd -p /dev/ttyUSB0
I don't understand why but it didn't work without the "-p" switch, although the man pages states it. Hope that helped, have fun with the device ;)
Category:Transystem i-Blue 747 Users
i-Blue 747A+
- Linux usage
Works since linux kernel 2.6.29 with driver cdc_acm. For earlier kernel versions have a look here.
Works in Ubuntu 10.10 with BT747 without any problems.
Category:Transystem iBlue 747a+ Users
i-Blue 757 Pro/iTrek Z1
- Bluetooth GPS+ Datalogger
- Mediatek (MTK) chipset
- Solar Panel
- US$69 on semsons.com
- Autonomy: 30 h/up to 100 h with solar panel
- Charge via USB
- packaging: a usb retractable cable, a grip, a car charger and a battery.
- 1 Hz (5 Hz via hack, 5 Hz logging works)
- 8 Mibit memory (±50000 track points)
- Original Windows Software
- BT747: Java Software for all OS, useful for the 5 Hz hack
- Full review
- MTKBabel, Perl command line tool for Linux
- Recommended use
It's a good datalogger for osm under *NIX. You can have long journeys with it thanks to its panel and its good battery... unfortunately, the memory can't be extended and it's limited to ~50,000 points (14 hours at 1 Hz). You can use it in a car or with your bike... where you will have to take some care about it's really poor plastic.
The best tool under unix seems to be mtkbabel, which fetch data and produces GPX files.
- Good Things
- You can at the same time log on the itrek and use it as a GPS antenna to a laptop/phone. Useful to follow your location with GpsMid while mapping.
- Quite cheap
- Real good autonomy with and without solar panel
- A lot of settings that you can tune
- A really good and simple command-line utility (mtkbabel) to fetch the data.
- Common battery (same as Nokia phones)
- Bad things
- Cheap plastic, buttons and articulations
- No memory extension slot
- Not suitable for walking - inaccurate results
- Hardware bug that prevents to transfer data unless placed in "logging" mode.
- No ability to just charge the battery via the panel, should be running to use it.
- Included software does not support GPX
Category:Transystem iBlue 757 Users
i-Blue 821
- Price: €~70
- Bluetooth GPS + Datalogger
- Mediatek (MTK) chipset
- Charge via USB or car cigarette lighter
- You can configure which GPS data gets logged into memory
- Memory: 32 Mibit (4 MiB) (up to 150,000 track points)
- Size: 93.5×46×10.8 mm
- Weight: 49.5 g
- Battery: built-in 750 mAh Lithium battery (5 V)
- Autonomy: 18 h (stand-by: 250 h)
- Update: 1 Hz
- Bluetooth range: up to 15 m (class II)
- MTKBabel, Perl command line tool for Linux and *BSD
- Good things
- Logs and gives the position at the same time
- Works out-of-the-box with mtkbabel (tunable)
- Lightweight, ultra-slim form factor
- Not really expensive
- Very good chipset, good accuracy (even when kept in a pocket)
- Good battery life, smart power saving function, smart auto sleep & wake up mode
- Simple to use
- 4 useful LEDs
- Seems not so fragile
- Bad things
- No waypoint button !!!
- No memory extension slot
- No external antenna connector
- No display (of course one may e.g. use some J2ME stuff on a phone with Bluetooth enabled, see http://www.veloxgps.de/, not to mention navigation software with maps etc.)
i-Blue 887
- Sold as photoMate
- Very small logger
- Bluetooth and USB connection
- Under Linux I have connected via bluetooth using mtkbabel. Connection via USB with a 2.6.27 kernel results in identification as requiring module cdc_acm, but no connection.
A 2.6.30 kernel allows connection via USB and then works with BT747 download here and website. Gentoo users can emerge sci-geosciences/bt747.
