GlobalSat BTA-806, BTA-830 and BTH-820
6. Performance
Review Pages
The BTA-806 worked perfectly with all tested devices (PDA, Mobile Phone, BT GPS devices) and since it is v2.0 compatible, it ensures compatibility with upcoming BT devices. Its small dimensions make it truly portable, the only drawback is that you have to carry the included setup disc with you, for every time you connect it to a new desktop or portable PC.
The BTH-820/BTA-830 can be charged either from the included AC/DC adapter or from a USB port. To fully charge them, you need over 2 hours. Both devices indicator LEDs turn off when they are fully charged. The built-in Li-Ion battery lasts (according to the specs) around 7-8 hours. From our tests, we didn't notice times higher than 5 hours which most users should find acceptable.
We didn't have any major installation problems, except for the case of the PDA. Even if its not Globalsat's fault, a web page with instructions and workarounds would be highly appreciated.
The sound quality was acceptable in most cases. The device's built-in power is not that high, resulting in a weak bass and an almost flat sound. The effective range of the receiver is around 7-8 meters, depending on walls and other obstacles. Beyond that, the sound was distorted and at times stopped.
Connecting the BTH-820 with a PDA caused skipping. The problem is mostly related to the PDA device and not the BTH-820 itself. There is a related topic over at the Aximsite, that might help you overcome such problems.
Using the BTH-820 with a mobile phone and a PDA will allow you to take your incoming calls while listening to music. The procedure is easy, just press the ">" button and speak. The music of course will stop playing and after you finish the call, pressing the ">" button returns to the music. You can also perform a redial function by pressing and holding >> or << for 2 seconds. You can initiate voice dialing by pressing and holding the play key for 2 seconds. The included microphone is not the best we have used, since our caller on the other line, reported noise and static.
The BTH-820 can be also used to remote control Windows Media player, either under WinXP or Windows 2003 SE (PDA).
The BTA-830 worked very well with the BTH-820. However, we witnessed skipping, not constant but random, up to 1-2 seconds. The BTA-830 can be used with any brand of BT Headset. We tried a BT Headset from Sony Ericsson (HBH-660) and after the pairing procedure, it worked without any problems.
Review Pages