Holux GPSlim 240 Bluetooth GPS Receiver
By: Holux Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 29
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 On: 2008-08-18
it is really a great product when it is brand new. BUt problems come out after a period of time. The cigarette charger was defective at the time it arrived. The batter died after 11 months so you have to connect it to either the computer or a outlet for power for it to be working.
I rarely used it, only about 10 times in the 11 months. The worst thing is tha its warranty worthes nothing. Not even an address is provided for your to get it fixed. And its manufacturers website lists address out of US, no response to email request. You are then in the desert, hopeless.
think about it before you buy products from Holux. Youd better get one from a local manufacturer.
 On: 2008-08-14
Very sensitive receiver and quickly paired with my verizon samsung i760.
Nice small size you can keep it in your pocket while driving around and it still works great.
On: 2008-04-27
Setup was easy. Configured with Dell Latitude D820 w/bluetooth and Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008.
On: 2008-04-06
I have an HTC Touch and until the gps update comes out I needed a gps receiver. I picked the Holux GPSlim 240 becasue of price and other reviews on amazon. I was able to connect the receiver to my phone with no problems and so far (over a month) I have had no problems. The only issue I have found (not the receivers fault)is that while using the BT Receiver I cant use my BT Headset. I think you might need some type of hub or router to use both. Because of this if you use a service like TeleNav you cant hear your directions via your headset. Im sure this is an issue that will be the same with any BT Receiver connected via BT.
On: 2008-04-01
I got this for Christmas of 07, for use with the TOM TOM PDA for my business travel and BeeLine software for Geocaching on my Ipaq RX3715. Initally it worked great. However, when it gets warm, it looses its bluetooth connection. Now when I mean warm, I mean, 70 degrees.
I live in Minnesota, and yes, it does get above 70 here. So having a device that stops working when the car (finally) gets warm is less than ideal.
Now I suspect that when it stops broadcasting bluetooth, its still tracking sat. data, as the sat light continues to blink, but that just makes it fustrating.
The manual has a warning on high temperatures, as I recall.
Im shopping for something a more reliable, and will go to something with replacable batteries.
 On: 2008-02-23
I purchased this to use with my Sprint HTC Touch running Windows Mobile 6. I use it in conjunction with Google Maps 2.0 beta. I could not ask for anything more in a GPS device. I could only give 4 stars because this was a DEMON to get up and running. Minimal instructions were included in the package and on the site and it took a little bit of research to make it functional. I previously used Sprints Telenav service on a Blackberry which incurred a monthly fee. I did not use it regularly and felt wasteful the months I spent the money and did not use the product. This is a one-time purchase and the Google Maps is free. That makes it an excellent value for the price overall.
 On: 2007-12-13
This is my very first GPS receiver and its a great looking product which is easily stowed inside a pocket. As Id expect, reception isnt great when traveling between tall buildings or deep ravines; but oh well. Other than that it works wonderfully, five-star rating. Ive tested it on hikes, bikes, and driving. In that respect, I cannot complaint whatsoever as it proved to be very trustworthy and was very excited about it.
But for only the first three three months. After that time (bought it elsewhere), this GPSlim 240 unit stopped reporting the position. Just like that. Although the Bluetooth signal was detected, the output was gibberish both on my mobile and computer, and the device even claimed it had a satellite lock deep inside a building! I went to the store, and asked for repair under the warranty.
After three weeks, a new unit was returned to replace the original. As soon as I step outside, I try it and now it works. Awesome!
But for only 1 mile when ... poof, no more Bluetooth reception from the GPS receiver! However, the two lights still blink (therefore it has battery, has satellite lock and, supposedly, has Bluetooth activated). This time, no receptor I have can find the GPSlim 240 by Bluetooth; and I only had this new unit for less than 10 minutes!
Although Im disappointed by the perceived frailty of this device, both the performance it has demonstrated for the first three months and the fact that its still covered by the warranty, gives me plenty of reason to hope it may finally work again some day with the same reliability I was already used to. Im just hoping Im not disappointed about it again.
On: 2007-12-13
Since there is no physical interface other than the On/Off Switch and the charging port theres not much to complain about. The unit is really small, shorter than a stick of gum. I paired it with my Nokia phone (6120 Classic, S60 OS), went outside, waited for a few minutes for the flashing light and ran google maps with the myLocation feature set to GPS. -Bingo-. Now you need to understand that this unit is only a GPS sensor. You turn it on and it starts sending serial data over the blueTooth port. You still need a PDA , Cell phone, or Lap Top that has a Navigation or Mapping program, but there a several available including Google Maps which does not do map matching like most Personal Navigation Devices (PND) (Garmin, Magelian) but is still very useful for finding your way around. If you have a smart phone or PDA with blue tooth, this is a great toy.
On: 2007-12-04
I bought this to go with my T-Mobile Blackberry Curve 8320. Setup was a breeze, and now I can use Blackberry Maps for directions. (Google maps for Blackberry has some issues with bluetooth gps, but thats not the fault of this device.) The thing is incredibly portable (just thicker than a pack of gum), and works with the same mini-usb charger that my blackberry uses. For the size, features and price, you really cant lose. Highly Recommended.
On: 2007-11-19
Great unit for the size, bluetooth is great no wires needed, decent battery life.
The unit sometimes will not pickup sat lock, you have to wait a while or turn it off and back on again, but usually keeps a good lock once it gets it. Also location is important, needs to be out in the open and unobstructed to get a solid lock.
If you need something that works every time you need it and 100% of the time and very quickly, go with another device. Unit can be a pain when its not picking up a sat lock and you are in a rush.
On: 2007-10-30
A GPS receiver that I can put in my pocket and use with my PDA! What could be better? It works flawlessly, connects quickly, and charges via USB cable, which I can easily get adapters for to charge while on the road! I use it for Geo-caching and navigating on the road. It works great! Highly recomnded to turn your PDA into a very capable GPS system (though you will need a GPS app as well)
On: 2007-09-24
This is my first GPS device and I am using it with a Windows Mobile 6 device (T-Mobile Wing). Out of the box; got the Holux paired up and up and running in a few simple clicks.
Battery life is excellent and the signal strength is perfect.
Could not have asked for a better GPS device.
Excellent product.
On: 2007-09-13
My purchase of the Holux 240 did not go as well. The unit as delivered seemed to operate correctly, but would not connect to my Nokia 6682 (it would connect to a friends BlackJack) nor to any computer (Windows or Linux). Even when connecting to via Bluetooth no data was ever transmitted.
I spent weeks trying to contact Holux GPSlim technical support and the one response I received provided no useful information.
Amazon should be commended for their handling of the situation. They were prompt and professional with contacts and refunds.
Kudos to Amazon for exceptional service and support!
Paul
On: 2007-09-01
On the one hand: its small, it works well.
On the other hand it abuses the USB spec: 1. it requires a special "USB data cable" (part number GR230-A2) to work in "wired" mode. 2. it abuses the USB current spec: the manual says it says 1 amp, whereas the USB 1 spec is 0.1 amps until its "configured" by the host.
Regarding the cable, if you look on page 12 of the manual, youll see that they put RS232 signals on the USB connector (not D+ and D- as the USB spec calls for).
On: 2007-08-31
On the one hand: its small, it works well.
On the other hand it abuses the USB spec: 1. it requires a special "USB data cable" (part number GR230-A2) to work in "wired" mode. 2. it abuses the USB current spec: the manual says it says 1 amp, whereas the USB 1 spec is 0.1 amps until its "configured" by the host.
Regarding the cable, if you look on page 12 of the manual, youll see that they put RS232 signals on the USB connector (not D+ and D- as the USB spec calls for).
On: 2007-08-24
well, this is the first bluetooth receiver ive ever used, but i can tell that i wont purchase any other receiver for a really long time; ill buy same one if this ones broken.
first, it is so outstandingly SMALL. since i havent seen the details of size on amazon, let me post it which i measured it myself: length 6.3 cm; width 2.1 cm; height 1.4 cm (centimeter would be more accurate at this point, convert to inches if you want). you can hang it on the key chain, put it in the pocket without even notice.
second, it is accurate enough for common use as horizontal error within 5-25 meters and vertical error within 5 meters, the most accurate acquisition at this moment is within 3 meters on vertical. let me put it this way, this is the ideal bluetooth receiver for people who want to travel somewhere with eyes opened, otherwise you need the more accurate and much bigger ones that receive 32 channels or even more, but frankly i dont see the point of using such accurate receivers except burning the green or showing off.
third, it starts fast and connects to the phone fast. I bought it specifically for my Nokia N80 fone with Route 66 installed, which is easy to find on the internet for both the software and the resources. I tested it twice: the receiver gets fully connected and updated within 1 minutes. well, the first time would take longer for sure, but it sure gets fast after locked on. Also, the battery is good either: it stands longer than 6 hours, and it comes with the car charge with USB cable. since its Li-battery, you dont need to charge it after the electric goes all away, just plug it in the charge anytime you want that will not shorten the battery life at all.
Even if it has less channels in use than some receivers in the market, i dont mind. you cant get your hands off it as soon as you see the size and the performance of it. Strongly recommended to common users.
On: 2007-08-17
I use this with my t-mobile dash and it works well. Was a bugger to get setup with google maps but it will work.
Takes a while to get an initial lock on, especially if your are in a moving vehicle; but once locked on all is well.
On: 2007-08-12
At the time of this review, the Holux GPSlim 240 was the smallest bluetooth GPS receiver in the world. Its probably the only GPS receiver that fits inside an Otterbox 1900 along with a Palm PDA. (BTW, the Otterbox 1900 is essential if you plan to use a PDA GPS in a harsh environment, such as motorcycling/hiking/quad running in the rain).
The chipset is sensitive enough to pick up a signal even when the sky is completely overcast. Its compatible with both the Palm Tungsten E2 and Palm T/X, and for software it will work with TomTom 5 and 6. The battery will run for at least 3.5 hours (I havent pushed it longer than that when disconnected from a USB trickle charge).
EDIT: Since the review above, Holux now makes a model using the MTK chipset (the M-1200), which uses less power and can go 23 hours on one charge. Its only a couple millimeters bigger.
On: 2007-07-23
I leave my gpslim 240 under the seat of my car plugged in to the cigarette lighter. Since its always on, my phone (Samsung Blackjack) can always be used to get directions, display a map using Windows Mobile Live Search. Anytime I want, I can throw it in my pocket, and know that its fully charged and ready to go!
Highly recommended!
 On: 2007-07-23
Im living in downtown chicago, and I thought it would be cool to have navigation when I walk around downtown. First of all the switch on this thing is defective... I have to turn it on then jiggle it back to get it to start. It connects fine with my blackberry pearl. But thats it. It doesnt work around tall buildings, under cloudy skies, or in some cars (especially taxies it seems). So this has been useless for me.
On: 2007-07-22
I leave my gpslim 240 under the seat of my car plugged in to the cigarette lighter. Since its always on, my phone (Samsung Blackjack) can always be used to get directions, display a map using Windows Mobile Live Search. Anytime I want, I can throw it in my pocket, and know that its fully charged and ready to go!
Highly recommended!
On: 2007-07-12
I bought this little unit to use with my laptop and (an older copy) of MS Mappoint, and it works flawlessly. Mappoint has its quirks, but the GPSlim 240 has had no problems locking and keeping a signal. As a bonus, I discovered it also works with my BlackBerry and google maps. Way cool!
One note: the included USB cable only works for charging, not data. You have to buy a special cable for about $25 to be able to use the USB port to connect to the GPS via USB. I had originally purchased this thinking I would use it via USB, but it ended up being cheaper just to buy a $10 BlueTooth transmitter for my laptop.
On: 2007-06-11
This device is great for what I purchased it for. It paired without any trouble to my blackberry pearl. The pictures dont do it justice on how tiny it is. It did not work properly with my laptop connected via USB. This appears to because of the driver provided doesnt work properly. It does not create the virtual com port that is needed to interface with most GPS software.
On: 2007-05-16
I have a BB 8100 (Pearl) and this paired right up. Within minutes I found my location as displayed by Google Maps or the BB maps application, and watched as my location repositioned the display (while driving). It seems to connect easily with a satellite, and usually in less than a minute from a "cold" start.
I now have GPS and voice driving directions from my Blackberry without having to pay a fortune to my mobile phone provider. :-)
I did notice that cloud cover affects its speed (cloudy=slower satellite acquisition)--but I imagine thats the case with these things.
On: 2007-05-13
So far so good - I previously had a GPSlim 236 - but ended up suffering from (I found out) the all too common problem of it not communicating.
Ive only really used it on one trip & I did not charge it before starting on the way back - the battery didnt last too long, but I also left it on the car for 2 weeks when I could have recharged it.
Very small.
On: 2007-04-26
Im using this with my Samsung BlackJack and it works fantastic with Google Maps/ Windows Live Search. GPS signal acquisition can take up to about a minute sometimes but then it just works. To anybody considering the combo with a Window Mobile phone please be aware that youll need to "hack" the registry to get the phone to recognize the GPS. Not hard - they are plenty of WebSites describing the process but definately not out of the box. Not a fault of this devise though.
On: 2007-04-06
Im very happy with this GPS receiver, which I use primarily for urban geocaching with my BlackBerry Pearl.
Signal lock is good - outside of urban canyons, I get signals quickly and they remain relatively precise. I have much more trouble in deep urban spots - my sense is that this is a pretty standard problem. Once I get a signal, it takes a long time to lose it, and sitting for a minute does add satellites.
The battery life is as-advertised: I can get 6-8 hours without trouble. Since the USB connector is standard, I can charge it with a cell phone charger, and the included charger now serves as my phone & GPS charger in my car.
The included software never worked, and as noted in other reviews, the manual is basically unreadable. Theres a theoretical standby mode to save battery life, and I assume that this happens automatically, but I dont know what tricks I could play to prolong battery life.
Now if only there was usable geocaching software for the Blackberry...
On: 2007-03-17
All Ive got to say is that if all GPS receivers worked as well as this one does, then I would have jumped on the GPS bandwagon years ago. Alas, the receivers of the past didnt work nearly this well, nor do the other modern receivers from what I can tell. This this is so sensitive that I can actually toss it in my glovebox and completely forget about it until it needs recharged. Now, if only I had a cigarette outlet in my glovebox, then I would never have to even think about it. That being said, it is extremely aestetically pleasing and I would never want to hide it from sight, I display it proudly on my keyring!!!
On: 2007-03-14
This small GPS receiver is the same length and width as my USB flash drive and about twice as thick. But despite the small size, this unit is far ahead of the HP bluetooth GPS receiver that I previously used. It can get a satellite fix usually within 10-15 seconds. It can even get a satellite fix while indoors (of course that does not have any real value but it just shows how sensitive the unit is). I can put it in my shirt pocket while driving and still maintain the signal. And it is small enough to attach it to my car keyring (it has a slot for a loop type fob). By the way, I am using the iGuidance GPS software on my Cingular 8125 mobile phone. It can hold a charge for 8 hours and can be charged with the car charger (included) or even from a USB port on my laptop. And with a USB cable, I can use it as a GPS receiver for my laptop which does not have built-in bluetooth.
So why only 4 stars? Well, it has this strange instruction: It is prohibited to operate this system while driving your car Huh??? Must be another Lost in Translation episode from the Taiwanese documentation.
Otherwise, I recommend this unit if you want a very small but very capable GPS BT receiver.
On: 2007-02-15
I bought this for in-car navigation and couldnt be happier. Its literally the size of a flash drive and holds a charge for eight hours, which means that I can velcro it to my dashboard when I need to use it and not have any wires hanging in front of me when Im driving.
The USB-power source is convenient as well, because it can be charged from any USB port--a huge plus for me when Im traveling.
As far as technological performance, I cant offer any complaints. It finds satellites almost instantly and holds them very well.
Easiest five stars I could give.
On: 2007-02-14
I bought this for in-car navigation and couldnt be happier. Its literally the size of a flash drive and holds a charge for eight hours, which means that I can velcro it to my dashboard when I need to use it and not have any wires hanging in front of me when Im driving.
The USB-power source is convenient as well, because it can be charged from any USB port--a huge plus for me when Im traveling.
As far as technological performance, I cant offer any complaints. It finds satellites almost instantly and holds them very well.
Easiest five stars I could give.
On: 2007-02-13
Flawless bluetooth GPS receiver: best GPS chip available today (Sirf Star III, in its low-power version), small and light as a USB pendrive, good battery life (8 hours), car and wall charger in the box, good bluetooth reception, fairly cheap for what you get.
What else could you ask for?
If you dont mind the size and weight, consider its bigger brother: the GPSlim 236. They are exactly the same, the 236 is just bigger and heavier, lasts a bit longer, and has data cable and external GPS antenna connections.
I went for the 240 because of the portability: best choice for my Nokia N73 + Tom Tom Navigator 6.
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