WBT-201: Wintec WBT-201 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS Receiver (Auto on/off, WAAS, Bluetooth, USB, Push to Log, Data Logger with Google Earth Integration)
| Overall rating: |
|
WBT-201 is the 2nd generation data logger from Wintec. It is now updated with Atmel-uBlox ATR 0625 chipset to provide excellent sensitivity at -158dBm and 40mA low operating current. In addition, WAAS is now enabled out of box for better accuracy. The new auto on/off mode turns the unit to stand-by mode when there is no Bluetooth activity during navigtion mode. If the unit is in logging mode, then only Bluetooth will turn off.
WBT-201 is a multi-function Bluetooth GPS data logger in an ultra compact form factor. The stand-alone track recording function is independent from any host and can be operated with Bluetooth off. The recorded track can be configured and even uploaded to Google Earth automatically with the bundled GPS utility.
Features
- New! Push-to-log for user-addable log pint
- Maximum data up to 131,072 waypoints
- Google Earth integration
- Can be used as USB or Bluetooth GPS Receiver
- Data includes latitude, longitude, time in year-month-date-min-sec
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 0 x 0 x 0 inches
- Weight: 4 pounds
not too shabby
this is accurate down to the inch when i turned it on and first locked on to my position, but if your going to use this in a town or city, tall buildings and alleyways will skew your position. have not used camping yet but i have a feeling as long as your not in a valley with steep walls on either side it should work really well.
Works with Linux
Terrific GPS logger!
Works with gpsbabel and gpsd, with bluetooth and USB connections. Download the “G-Rays-2″ configuration tool to change settings, which is much better than the included windows software. Lots of configuration options for capturing data. For example, logs points at specific time intervals, distance intervals, change of course, etc. Battery life 6 to 7 hours (without bluetooth), and fits standard Nokia Li-ion cell battery. Very sensitive – works well in urban environments.
Great for geocoding
I’ve had this for a while, and think it is a very small, light, well thought out piece of hardware. I can just turn it on and stick it in my pocket in the morning, and get a track of the whole day if I took some pictures and want to geocode them later.
You can download tracks pretty using easily either bluetooth or usb cable. There is Palm software you can use to download tracks to that as well (called Wintec Tool).
The free included software (Time Machine X) while not particularly polished is very usable and full of features. It is also still being actively developed, and you can download the latest from the Wintec site.
Don’t forget to keep the clock on your camera set!
Great GPS Logger!
I use this to geotag my photos and have used a few different applications to do this, but mostly use HoudahGPS since it’s the only ‘all in one’ solution I have found.
The GPS itself can’t get any easier to use, although I wish there was a setting to switch Bluetooth off on startup instead of the default ‘on’.
I really don’t have anything bad to say about it other than sometimes it will take a while to get a lock on satellites when I’ve changed locations with it powered off.
For the size, reliability and overall function this performs it meets my needs quite well.
I find the PC software for it to work, but isn’t the greatest layout. I’ve managed to work my way through it without much trouble however.
Great GPS logger, but beware the slot in the corner
I bought the Wintec WBT-201 GPS logger because it is recommended by Pierre Bernard, the make of HoudahGeo (a fantastic geocoding app for the Mac), and is supported by several OS X applications. It is a great little device. It’s small, is fast to fix its position on startup, and in open areas is deadly accurate. As with any GPS device, I found that in the city with tall buildings all around, it sometimes “drifts” 10 to 20 metres off course. Fortunately, myTracks (another great OS X app) enables me to edit my tracks and correct any significant errors.
The only downside to the Wintec WBT-201 is that the driver and software included with the GPS logger is Windows only. The HoudahGeo site provides a link to a Mac driver which enables a USB connection, and of course the bluetooth feature works fine with a Mac with no extra drivers required. The challenge is in changing the device settings (although fortunately it’s not necessary to set up the Wintec WBT-201, as it works fine out of the box). Some determined individuals are working on a Mac version of GTK+ (an open source app for modifying device settings), but there’s no easy-to-use version available yet. In my case, I keep an old Windows laptop lying around for just this sort of situation, so I installed the included software on it and adjusted a few settings, including the time interval (default is 1 second, I changed it to 10 seconds), the distance interval and the blink rate for the LED. But don’t worry if you don’t have access to a Windows system and can’t modify the device settings, as the Wintec WBT-201 has plenty of memory to save many hours of track points at 1 second intervals.
Lastly, don’t expect much from the manual (or the software). Fortunately, it’s not that difficult to figure out how to work the thing, and a bit of searching on the ‘net will fill in the gaps. All in all, a highly recommended piece of equipment.
UPDATE (14 March 2009): Don’t use the little slot in the corner of the Wintec WBT-201 to attach your device to a backpack, bag, belt loop or whatever. I almost lost mine because the thin strip of metal across the slot broke, releasing the keyring I had put through the slot. I happened to look down at my belt loop, and saw the empty keyring hanging there without the GPS logger. Fortunately, I backtracked my steps and found the Wintec, but you might not be so lucky. Now I keep it in an outside pocket on a messenger bag or backpack, and it works fine.
UPDATE (23 March 2009): I contacted Wintec customer service in Taiwan, and they have offered to replace my WBT-201. The interesting thing is that they say inserting a metal keyring in the slot is an “unsuitable use,” and that the slot was designed for a lanyard only (and it is apparently made of plastic, not metal). Of course, this is not explained in the manual that comes with the WBT-201, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has put a metal keyring through the slot. This limitation of the design reduces the usability of the WBT-201, as I’m not sure I want to risk dangling it off my backpack or belt loop, even using a “suitable” lanyard.
Great track logger
Great device!
Tiny! Fast! Easy to use.
Works fine with HoudahGPS on the Mac.
The PC software however sucks big time. Never seen anything this ugly.