Ambicom CF GPS Reciever Pro

by Ambicom

Product Details

• Item Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000CEZ85
• Item model number: GPS-CFPRO
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,636 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 3, 2003

Product Description

MODEL- GPS-CFPRO VENDOR- AMBICOM FEATURES- GPS2003-CF GPS Navigation CompactFlash Card The AmbiCom GPS Navigation Receiver CompactFlash Card is the Global Positioning System Receiver for your mobile device and the perfect accessory to your Pocket PC device. The GPS Navigation Receiver comes with a full version software that is loaded with fantastic features such as dynamic voice navigation off-route warning and detailed street maps. Now you can turn your Pocket PC into a true GPS navigation system and never worry about getting lost! * In-Vehicle Navigation The GPS-CF comes with a full version navigation software package that provides long distance route planning intelligent backtracking real time location updates and more. Now you will never be lost again! * Turn-by-Turn Voice and Visual Instructions Dynamic voice prompts will guide you through the routes and enable hands-free navigation so you wont have to take your attention away from the road. * Ultra Compact Design Weighing only 1.5 oz. and small enough to fit in your pocket the GPS-CF is perfect from everyday route planning to cross-country road trips. Bring it with you wherever you go! * Continuous GPS Position Update Comprehensive real time connection to satellites pinpoints your current location and refreshes your map every second so your position is reflected on a moving map as you drive. * Easy Installation and Configuration User-friendly installation and setup wizard will guide you through the installation and configuration in a breeze. INTERFACE/BUS- CompactFlash Card Type I Com port: Auto select Baud rate: 4800 bpsCHANNELS - 12 channels all-in-view trackingPROTOCOL - NMEA-0183 protocol (GGA GSA GSV RMC) & SiRF Binary protocol.ACCURACY - (without SA): Position: 25 meters CEP Datum: WGS-84 Altitude: 18000m max Velocity: 700 knots max Acceleration: 4g maxANTENNA - Built-in antenna & optional active antenna with MCX connector.ACQUISITION RATE- Hot start: Warm start: Cold start: RADIO SPECs - Frequency Ra...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, so far so good (3 weeks), February 26, 2004

By 

nerdlyone "nerdlyone" (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ambicom CF GPS Reciever Pro (Office Product)

Bought this w. an iPAQ 2215, installation was very straightforward using the Quick Installation Guides. I had to change the COM port (as described in the guide), and after several attempts, COM 7 worked. It seems to switch COM ports from time to time, I don't know why.

I need the external antennae indoors, and especially to initially acquire the satellites, but within my car, it appears to be just sensitive enough without (tried on a clear day). I still mostly use the external antennae in the car, I'm hoping the extra sensitivity will perhaps reduce the power drain. Although the antennae has a magnet on the back, there's usually nothing in the car to stick it to, so I just wrap it around the rear view mirror.

I think the difference between this product and Ambicom's non "Pro" version, is this version's navigation software isn't a 30-day trial version, its Space Machine's Pocketmap Navigator V2 (last years). I went to Space Machine's website to download a slightly newer version, and newer maps, all for free. I will probably pay the $30 for the latest V3 software upgrade. The current version very occasionally seems to hang, requiring a soft-reset of the iPAQ. Also, for some reason it had problems downloading maps, I had to manually remove partially downloaded "San Francsico" to get it to re-install correctly.

The mapping mostly works great, but there were a few problems, in Santa Monica it tried to direct me off a cliff, because it erroneously thought there was a connector road from Arizona street to the coast highway (there isn't). Also, it couldn't find Studio City, CA at all, I believe because its part of North Hollywood. It also refused to believe that certain address ranges exist on certain streets, but I suppose this is to be expected since numbering can be very idiosyncratic. Lastly, it misses an occasional better route in San Francisco (e.g. through Golden Gate Park), probably because those roads are closed to traffic on Sundays. Fair enough, it can't be expected to handle that situation. Also, it's voice prompting usually mis-pronounces the various Spanish names in California.

I don't know if the V3 software with the V3 maps, will help. Still, overall, the software works well, most of the time.

Doesn't seem to drain power too fast (compared to say an 802.11b CF card). With everything at max power (the PDA's backlight, sound, etc., and no auto-turn-off), its probably good for a couple hours.

My only complaints with the Ambicom GPS Pro/iPAQ 2215 combo, mostly have to do with the iPAQ, but I'm writing it here because the problems really relate to its use w. GPS:

1. the speaker in the 2215 is too soft (at max volume) to hear the driving directions, given the background ambient noise in the car. Perhaps this isn't the 2215 's fault (other sounds, and voice notes are loud enough), but having the speaker on the back of the 2215 makes the problem worse. Using earbuds with the iPAQ to improve the volume, would be a bad idea, obviously.

2. The 2215 screen is too dark (at max brightness), given the relative daylight brightness in the car.

3. To store any useful amount of map data, you're going to need to add an SDIO memory card. I tried to store 3 SF Bay area counties (SF, San Mateo, Alameda) plus LA county, and it exceeds the available on-board memory in the 2215 (32 Mb). I added a 256 Mb SD card ..., and I can hold 2/3 of California, perhaps more, but that's all I needed. Make sure your PDA has an SDIO slot or more on-board memory.

4. Probably to be really useful in the car, it needs a "car kit" (mounting bracket, DC power supply, powered speakers, perhaps a way to mount the external antennae).

Still, its a very nice and inexpensive way to get GPS/Navigation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ambicon GPS pro, March 6, 2004

By 

"1trekker" (san antonio, texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ambicom CF GPS Reciever Pro (Office Product)

I purchased this product for use treking. The gps unit using the built in antenna will not pickup more than 1 satellite . This does not give a fix. The unit is not usable using the built in antenna. If I connect the external with the 8 foot cord the unit works good (tracks 5 or more satellites and gives a very good fix. (22 feet cep) I can use the device if I velcro the antenna to the top of my hat but then I have an 8 foot cord dangling. Ambicom tech support suggests laying the Pocket-pc with the gps unit on the ground and waiting 2 minutes. Results no better.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, July 23, 2004

By 

S. Vembar (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ambicom CF GPS Reciever Pro (Office Product)

Its been 3 weeks since I bought this CF GPS receiver for my HP Ipaq 2210.

Setting up the Software, and the hardware was easy. The initial fix (for the very first time, while being indoors in Manhattan with an antenna) took me almost 10 min. That scared me. However since then, I have not faced any problems. The average cold start takes me anywhere between 1-3 minutes.

Last week I drove up to Toronto from NYC and back (500 miles each way) and had the opportunity to fully test the GPS. The receiver worked much better than I imagined. There was no problems with satelites fixes, and it lost fix only once for few minutes. During my entire trip, I never had to use the external antenna, which was a pleasant surprise as I was under the impression that I NEEDED to use the external antenna while driving.

PocketMap Navigator software comes with this GPS. I am not sure if its a trail version, as it is no where mentioned as such. I also have downloaded Mapopolis trail software to compare these two. I like both of them. I find there is more map detail in Mapopolis. Creating a route in PMN is easier, as it downloads relevant maps on its own unlike in Mapopolis, you need to know which maps you need. I found the interface in PMN much better. However, there is no Canadian content in PMN. I look forward to the day when they have it.

In short, I am very happy with Ambicom CF GPS receiver. It is very slim and small. Its very economically priced, and based on my experience, a very good buy.