IO Gear GBGPS201 Bluetooth GPS Kit -US and Canada Maps

Purchased this unit as a requirement for a college class. I only paid $13 on ebay for a brand new device. Here's the jist. You need an XP machine with active sync. Install the software on the device and install the maps to a SD Card. Next setup a bluetooth connection on the Axim x51v(WM5 OS). Set the security password to 0000 when prompted to do so. If it asks yous to key it in again, do it one more time. When you setup the com ports setup the incomining communications port as COM8 and the outgoing communications port as COM7. Make sure you check the serial port connection when setting up the com ports. Once that is done enable the bluetooth connection. In the IONavigation Software make sure you set the com port to COM7 and baud rate = 4800. Turn on the GPS and you may need to do a soft boot to get the GPS to work. But after that it does work. Have been using it for a couple days with minor problems. Also discovered that the maps are pretty accurate.

NOTE: Dell Axim x51v have a GPS program manager. DO NOT USE IT. Leave these setting blank. You only need to use the IONavigation software and the Bluetooth Connection.

I got this GPS to work with my pocket pc. After instllation it asked to an file called 'IOgearnavsysqvga' but it was nowhere in the instllation cd. I called IOgear support and I asked where I could find the file. I was left on hold for an hour and had to finally hang up. Their support SUCKS! Needless to say, I am unable to install this on my ATT 8525. Don't buy this JUNK or anything else from IOGEAR!

Originally I want to have this GPS working with my notebook. After two RMAs and long hours w/ the support, I still could not get them to work with my two notebooks. They refused to refund also.Bad service and bad product. Do not buy.

STAY AWAY IF YOU INTEND TO USE WITH A POCKET PC. It will not work on Windows Mobile 5.0, and IOGear knows it. It will slow your device to a crawl. I use a powerful Dell Axim x51 (fastest processor availabel and lots of RAM). They said they would patch it in 2005, but it's almost 2007 and they still haven't.

They guy who said it works with his Pocket PC was running WM 2003, and yes, it works with that.

iGuidance uses the same software base and they have patched their's. Consider iGuidance if you don't want to have to hook up your laptop to the car just to use GPS. Their customer service is outsourced and unhelpful

I have owned the IOGEAR Bluetooth GPS unit for almost a year now and I absolutely love it. This GPS unit locks on to satellites very quickly and it has never dropped out of reception. The mapping software (and maps database) however is another story. Keep in mind I made my purchase a year ago. They might have made improvements on the software since. I did not have the bad CD woes a couple of the reviewers have. My complaints are as follows. While making turns (usually onto or off of a freeway ramp), it sometimes gives off a rapid succession of contradicting instructions. It gets back on track once the turn is completed however. Sometimes, it doesn't give enough advance notice before a turn, although this doesn't happen very often. The software package is not ALL bad. For example, I love how it automatically computes a new route every time you make a wrong turn. It also lets out a sound right at a turn so you know whether you've made a right turn. The voice giving directions is crisp, clear, and pleasant. On my Axim x30 624 Mhz, the routing/re-routing computation is done very quickly. I also love the ease with which the maps on the CD can transferred to my pocket PC. I was able to load the entire map of CA and NV onto my pocket PC with unbelievable ease. How much map data you load is entirely up to you and the only constraint is the capacity of your SD/CF card or harddrive (for those using a laptop). All in all, despite a few minor shortcomings (annoyances mostly), the software is very usable -- it's never failed to bring me to my destinations. Due to budget constraints, I'm sticking to the bundled software for now. But if you can afford it, do a little research by reading reviews for other GPS software such as TomTom, Mapopolis, etc. among many others. Hardware-wise, the GPS unit is superb and I strongly recommend it. I am awarding 5 Stars for the hardware and 3 Stars for the software.