1. Features, specifications
Evermore is a Taiwanese manufacturer that produces quality GPS products for all categories of users. Lately, many GPS devices include logging features that give users the ability to track down the path and later analyze, add pictures and export them to the Internet. Such a device is the Evermore GT-800 we have in our hands today, a device aiming at Geo-tagging.
- Evermore GT-800BT
The Evermore GT-800BT is a Bluetooth GPS receiver that is both compact and portable. With GT-800BT, you can now add full GPS navigation capabilities to your PDA, smart phone or laptop at minimal cost while promising to offer the performance levels you may expect from a dedicated GPS navigator.
GT800 is a GPS solution which specific designed for Web2.0 user who loves to share their adventures with others. GT-800 provides free software Cmoremap AP which can helps you to organize your Track and Photos into a Digit Trip Diary (Moremap) and upload onto Free web space http://www.cmoremap.com. With the Three-Steps Easy Upload wizard in Cmoremap AP, everyone can easily become a Super Blog Writer! It's high sensitivity allows you to put it in anywhere you want without worries! (pocket/ backpack/ car compartment…). The long battery life can be continuous using for 24 hours. Lastly, you only need one USB cable to Plug-and-Play your track.
Powered by Li-ion rechargeable batteries with an impressive battery life, the GT-800BT is as easy to carry around as your mobile phone. Date transmission and connections via Bluetooth eliminate any need for wires, and the Bluetooth transmitter allows GPS data to be transmitted to your PDA, smart phone or any other Bluetooth enabled device within 10 meters.
- Features
- Easy Installation & Operation
- Support USB plug and play to download the track data
- User Friendly software with mouse click only
- Easily adding photos to a route to illustrate the route
- ublox-Atmel Chipset 16 Channels all in view tracking
- High Sensitivity -158dBm
- Support Standard NMEA-0183 V2.3 protocol
- Auto Adjustment Baud Rate 4800-115200 bps
- DGPS : WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS
- Bundled with “Photologr “software support multi- language (Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, English, Polish, Danish, Spanish, French, Russian)
- Dual-purpose for data logging and navigation
- Large capacity for continuous records for 120,000 positions
- Lithium-ion rechargeable battery lasts for more than 15 hours of use
- Specifications
General: L1 1575.42MHz, C/A code, 16-channel, Carrier-Aided with HWTrack©
Sensitivity : -158dB minimum
Update Rate : 1Hz
Accuracy
Position: 15m CEP without S/A
Velocity: 0.1 m/sec without S/A
Time: ±1μs
WAAS Accuracy Position: 3m CEP
Velocity: 0.05m/sec
Acquisition
Cold start: 34sec (average)
Warm start: 33sec (average)
Hot start: 3.5sec (average)
Reacquisition
0.1 Second
Dynamics
Altitude: -1000m to 18000m
Velocity: 500m/sec
Acceleration: ±4g
Protocol
NMEA-0183 V2.3, 8-None-1
Baud rate: Auto Adjustment 4800-115200bps
Datum:219 standard datum, default WGS-84
DGPS: WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS
Antenna: Built-in Patch Antenna
NMEA Message: GGA, GLL, GSA, GSV, RMC, VTG
Dimension;Weight
73*45*20mm/60g
Battery: Lithium-lon Rechargeable Battery 3.7V/1100mAH
Charger Power: 5V ±0.5Vp-p ripple DC
Current Consumption: 90 mA
Operation Time: Up to 15 Hours after full charge
Operation Temperature: -20°C to +70°C
Storage Temperature: -40°C to +90°C
Operating Humidity: 5% to 95%
2. The package
Evermore GT-800BT GPS is currnently available in online stores for ~$99.
The product is obviously different than simple GPS solution due to its logging abilities.
In the package you will find only the essentials and we would like to see car charging adapter:
- 1x USB cable
- 1x EU Plug
- 1x AC Power Adapter with USB
- 1x Moremapper Software CD
- 1x GT-800BT GPS unit
- 1x Re-chargeable battery
- 1x Quick installation guide
A big sticker inside the box provides basic instructions users should follow when they will use the device for the first time. The Evermore GT-800BT should be charged for 4 hours before first use. After powering on, the Green LED will light up indicating that the GT is performing the first time satellite fix. Once the green LED twinkle, the GT is ready to work. Sattelite fixing may take 3-5 minutes.
The Evermore GT-800 is a small, standard-sized GPS receiver and its weight is 60gr (including battery).
Below you can find information about the LEDs and buttons found on the device:
The main on/off switch is placed on the front side of the device. The mini-USB port for charging and connecting the device to the PC is placed at the bottom side.
Opening the case on the back, again we will find a warning about properly charging the device before use.
The bottom label gives us more details about the product's features.
3. Using the device
Apparently the Evermore GT-800BT can be used like any other GPS receiver connected to a variety of devices via BlueTooth, or as a GPS logger. Note that the Bluetooth enabled device has a passkey that you must type before you can pair with them. In our case, the passkey is four zeros (0000).
On the top of the device we find the Power button (clear plastic) and two indicator LEDs. To turn on the datalogger you have to push and hold the Power
button for 3 seconds or more. This is a security mechanism that protects from non-intentional
GPS activating the GPS unit. Once switched on, the data logger is activated on its own. The satellite LED will flash in
green as soon as the GPS signal is fixed.
A "fix" is when the GPS has located the satellites and
knows their position. After the power is turned on, press and hold the Power button for another 3 second to
turn on the Bluetooth function. The Bluetooth LED will light solidly
until the Bluetooth achieves pairing, and then the LED will start flashing slowly. Press and hold the Power button for more than 3 seconds and the device will be turned off.
In order to use the advanced features of the Moremapper included software, you will need to have a digital camera that will take pictures. A good idea is to make sure that the camera time is correct, according to the local time. Notice that if your digital camera is old you might need to reset the date after removing the battery.
Taking pictures in car while moving may result in tracking
inaccuracies, so slowing down or even stopping the car before
taking the picture would be a good idea. If you already have older pictures and you need to use them, you can still change the date/time within the Evermore Moremapper software.
Another neat feature of the Evermore GT-800BT is that it can be used to upload the logged files into the PC via the included USB cable. You don't need to install any additional drivers, just make sure the device is powered on before connecting the USB to the main computer. After moving the .EVR file to your PC you can later open it with the Evermore Moremapper software.
4. Evermore Moremapper Software
The latest version of the Evermore Moremapper software can be downloaded at the evermoregps.com.tw web page. For our tests we used the latest available version (3.2.1.27).
The installation process is very easy:
After finishing installation, we are ready to start software.
The first screen welcomes us and allows us to choose among the available (10) languages:
We had already recorded a route with the GT-800BT and transferred into the PC. At the top side of the main window there is the "Choose Track File" button. The software also prompted us to use some pictures we might have taken during this course.
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After loading the recorded route, the software connects to the Internet and "draws" the course using the Google maps as a background, giving a good visual result. Several statistics are also available on the top including speed, altitude and total distance. Of course you can playback the course at full speed or slower/faster:
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Under the Basic mode you cannot edit the route. For that you will have to switch to the Professional mode. More on this later..
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After that point you can upload the route to a free internet site called www.cmoremap.com.
In addition, you can add pictures and change their properties, as well as add comments. The software will automatically add the coordinates of the place you desire to place the picture.
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Our picture is placed and the geotagging tags were saved.
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The software can be used in two modes, basic and professional. When you select the professional mode, more tabs are added (Camera Time, Settings, FAQ) to the main software window. Under the Settings we can also change the way the GPS logger works (interval, speed)
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In case your photos are not properly time/dated, you can change their attributes from the "Camera Time" tab.
(Click To Enlarge)
Under the Professional mode, you can also edit the selected route. By selecting starting and ending points you can place them on the desired points (drag) and then edit them (keep, delete, adjust). It may take you some time to get familiar with the procedure but it works just fine.
(Click To Enlarge)
Uploading the edited routes to the cmoremap.com web site allows other users to view them online.
5. GPS Receiver Tests
We paired all the tested GPS receivers with an Asus A6JA laptop, via the BT protocol. Each device has its own Serial port mapping under Windows. We placed the two GPS receivers side by side at the dashboard of our car. The same environmental conditions are valid for both receivers (night, clear sky, 25° Celsius ).
We recorded all the produced data for a preselected route with VisualGPS and later analyzed it with GPSLog. We couldn't measure the TTFF tests ("Time to First Fix" which is the time it takes for a GPS to determine its current position), since there isn't such a software under Windows XP.
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Average Signal Level (dB)
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Comparing the SirfIII Globalsat BT-338 with the Evermore GT-800BT, we see that the Evermore device didn't maintain a 3D fix for the whole time, which is not so good. On the bright side, it always had more satellites in view/use compared to the Globalsat.. Lastly, the Average Signal levels for both GPS receivers were very high.
- Indoor Sensitivity
We placed both receivers inside a house and one meter away from the door. Both GPS receivers had a 3D fix, with the Globalsat device to perform slightly better.
6. Final Words
After spending several days using the Evermore GT-800BT I am very pleased with its features and its overall performance. This product can be used either as a typical BT GPS receiver with any kind of portable device or as a standalone GPS logger. It's weight is around 60gr which is not the lightest GPS available. However, the included battery is strong enough to keep the device up for around 24hrs.
So you may wonder, what kind of users can use this device and for which purpose. For sure, the Evermore product would be attractive for the following categories of users:
- Tourists / Mountain Climbers / Hikers
- Record your travel route,
Show your geotagged photo on Flickr/Picasa,
Organize your photos by Geotagging software,
Share your photos / track with your friend
- For business management
- Manage business trip of your sales people or any people on errand.
- For your loved ones
- Understand where your loved ones have been, especially for teenagers.
- For Hobby / Professional Photographers / Journalists
- Geotagged your valuable photos, show them on Google Earth / Google Maps, Organize your geotagged photos by geotagging software.
- For Ocean Lover
- Record your route on sea, especially as there’s no road reference on sea, show where you caught a big fish on Google Earth on sea!
- For Real Estate Agent
- Show the neighborhood of the house you are selling on Google Maps, for example, the school and the traffic condition of the neighborhood.
The included Moremapper software makes the above uses an easy task. It has a clean interface and works very good, even we would like to see some GUI polishes in upcoming versions.
As a GPS receiver it showed a good performance compared compared with the devices based on the SirfIII chipsets, although we should mention that the device didn't maintain stable 3D Fix during our course.
The included USB cable can be used to either charge the device or simply to transfer the recorded courses to the PC. And of course, the device can be installed easily with no additional drivers required.
Overall, we feel that the Evermore GT-800BT is a complete product which offers many functions and features. It's retail price is around ~$99, which is typical for such a product if you ask me. If you need a GPS logger with a good software support, the Evermore GT-800BT will be your companion for a long time during your trips.
The Positive
- Complete retail package
- GPS logging functions are easy to use
- Small dimensions
- Very good battery life (~24h)
- Supports WAAS/Egnos
- Evermore Moremapper software works well
- Retail price is reasonable for this category
The Negative
- Atmel GPS chipset showed less performance than SirfIII
- No option for external antenna
- No Auto-off (power saving) function