Columbus V-900 Bluetooth GPS Data Logger (microSD , Voice Tag for POI, Driverless, Push to Log, 25 millions waypoints*, XP/Vista/ Linux/Mac OSX Compatible)

by Columbus

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B001JJRBU8
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,469 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Comlumbus V900 is a bluetooth datalogger that allows you to record and track your GPS position. It can also be used to geotag your photos.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Small and accurate with room for improvements, January 19, 2009

By 

G. Ko (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Columbus V-900 Bluetooth GPS Data Logger (microSD , Voice Tag for POI, Driverless, Push to Log, 25 millions waypoints*, XP/Vista/ Linux/Mac OSX Compatible) (Electronics)

I used this over a 3 week trip through Mexico, Argentina, and Chile in order to geotag my photos. I didn't want a camera specific logged which I'd have to attach to my camera because I didn't want to deal with yet another cable or strap hanging off the camera body. We were planning on doing a lot of hiking in Patagonia so I also didn't want to carry a full size GPS which would weigh me down. So the small size and low weight of the V900 was perfect. I usually just turn it on when I head out, throw it into my camera bag, and turn it off at the end of the day. During my trip, the gps coordinates were accurate enough. Though back in NYC, when surrounded by tall buildings, it can take several minutes to get a gps lock and the accuracy drops off. It will sometimes give a location that is a few blocks away from my true location.
There are a few websites out there that claim 24 hours of battery life in its 'logging only' mode, but I've only gotten about 12 hours at most. I haven't tried it as a bluetooth gps receiver. The logger accepts a micro SD memory card and a 12 hour log takes approximately 4MB. There is no way to adjust how often log points are updated under the 'normal' logging mode. You can select a frequency between 10 and 100 minutes when in 'spy mode.'
Unfortunately, when you connect the logger to a computer through the USB port, the card is not readable. The USB port is there only for charging or powering the device. The only way to read the logging data, is to pull the card out and to access it through a separate memory card reader. The card has to be formatted under the FAT file system, but that's not a problem for Mac users.
The log data files are CSV text files which you can read or copy on a Mac or PC, but they are not in a standard format. The logger comes with a Java app which can read the data log file and tag photos, but it does not support RAW files. This app can export the data log as a .kmz file which is fine for Google Earth, but it doesn't work for some photo geotagging programs. For my work flow, I'll use a program, NMEA2KMZ, to convert the CSV file to .gpx, then use houdageo to geotag my photo RAW files. At that point, I can import the photos into Aperture.
The provided Java application can also be used to configure the device. The only options are:
1) to choose between 'Standard' and 'Professional' modes which basically gives you different logging data points.
2) to set or deactivate the overspeed alert.
3) to set the 'spy mode' timer frequency.
Again, since the computer cannot access the memory card within the V900, it simply writes these configuration options to a text file, which you have to manually copy to the memory card through a card reader. An option to disable beeping when turning the device on or off, or when inserting and ejecting the memory card would also be nice.
Its far from perfect, but if you're willing to deal with the shortcomings, the V900 will work fine.


Update: TimeAlbum 1.61 now supports exporting of the CVS data files to the NMEA file format. This is an improvement since houdageo, gpsbabel, and other gps programs will recognize this format. I no longer have to go through the trouble of starting Windows in Parallels just to run the NMEA2KMZ151 program in order to convert it to gpx.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As Advertised - Winner for Me, March 19, 2009

By 

M. A. Jones (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Columbus V-900 Bluetooth GPS Data Logger (microSD , Voice Tag for POI, Driverless, Push to Log, 25 millions waypoints*, XP/Vista/ Linux/Mac OSX Compatible) (Electronics)

I looked at Bluetooth GPS receivers for six months before I purchased the Columbus V900 to go with my IPAQ 210. I was all settled on a different product when I came across the Columbus 900. I took a chance and purchased the 900 with just a little research.

What got my attention was that
1) In addition to being a receiver (which is all I really wanted), it acted as a logger, which I realized it would be useful not to have my IPAQ continuously joined to the GPS on very long trips
2) It had a removable memory card (was not sure why I cared)
3) There was an audible over speed feature (wish I had that six months ago when I got my first speeding ticket in 40 years)

I was a bit concerned that this receiver is more expensive than most, and the only support is in Chinese. There is an English version, but you quickly realize it is a duplicate of the Chinese website with all the links broken. Also, the company that makes this receiver is a one product company - not reassuring the company will be around.

I have been using the Columbus 900 for about a month. I am real happy with it. It has easy to understand lighted icons, a sleek design, audible sounds, removable memory card, and if connected to a power source it turns on when power is turned on and turns off when power is turned off (such as power in the car).

It is sensitive and locks onto satellites generally in about 30 seconds even indoors within 8 to 10 feet of the windows. It takes less time (as advertised) if turned off for less than two hours. Its reported location matches my Garmin GPS76 almost exactly.

The instructions do not seem to be in a logical order, and read a bit wonky for an American. It is much better than most translated instruction manuals, so don't let this comment get in your way. Just read the whole manual first - then go back through the sections in the order that make sense to you.

Connecting to the IPAQ did not follow the instructions at all. Even through both are written for Windows 6, the actual screens and actions to connect the Bluetooth were different. I managed to get it to work somehow after a couple of minutes of fumbling through the screens. I believe this to be an implementation difference in HP's IPAQs.

The software supplied is not up to par with more advance systems, but better than most and is still useful. Forget about the free version of VisualGPS. If you like the tool, go for the professional version BeeLineGPS (especially with higher resolution devices like the IPAQ 210). The manufacture is at VisualGPS.Net. My Copilot software saw the GPS right away. Other software required a bit of work to figure out the actual serial port - again more of an IPAQ issue.

Somewhere in the literature, Columbus 900 claims to have a replaceable battery - not very likely. Okay, I took it apart to see how it would be done since the instructions give you no indication that you can change the battery. (Don't do this yourself - I was an electrical mechanical engineer specializing in tiny devices in my day). I see no easy way for a consumer to replace the battery. A battery specialist (or watchmaker) that can deal with microscopic screws may be able to do it.

I have not fully tested the battery life. I did get 12 hours in logging mode before I recharged it. I have used it for an hour or two per day over many different days without running low. By the way, these types of batteries do better if you keep them charged and do not completely discharge frequently.

The log writes to a comma delimited file that I easily imported into Excel. It was said that this was not a standard format; I am not sure what was meant by the statement. I found the information readily useable with all the standard values that GPSs provide although some accuracy measures were defaulted to zero and never seemed to be updated.

I had no expectations that the standard USB port is for power and charging only. This is common now among many devices.

If you are looking for a smarter GPS receiver/logger - this is probably is as advance as they come right now. For its designed purpose, it does very well.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This device has justified my expectations, November 27, 2008

By 

G. Giorgi (Tbilisi, Georgia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Columbus V-900 Bluetooth GPS Data Logger (microSD , Voice Tag for POI, Driverless, Push to Log, 25 millions waypoints*, XP/Vista/ Linux/Mac OSX Compatible) (Electronics)

Recently received my Columbis V-900. Before that I bought Garmin Nivi 650 at Amazon, but I missed that it has no track logging feature which is really important for me.
Therefore I decided to buy quality data logger, and found this unit...

First view:
- It is really small.
- Nice, stylish design.
- Material is very high quality (plastic, metal back,...).

Nice features:
- It can be used as logger and as receiver simultaneously (most bluetooth data loggers can't do that).
- POI button can be used to start new track as well.
- Logging can be started/stoped by short press on power button.
- Has beep confirmations on events/actions.
- Voice tagging is really useful feature, it helps a lot when you have many POIs. (recorded voice quality is poor, but is enough to recognize speech)

Signal reception is quite good as on other MTK chipset GPSes.
I compared/tested with iBlue-747 - accuracy is same.

Conclusion:
- This device has justified my expectations.
- Not cheap, but that's ok, if we take into account it's quality and useful features.