[aprssig] Really CHEAP Puck-type USB GPS Receiver

[Stephen H. Smith]

If you want a GPS to use with a computer-based APRS or mapping program, this is 
an unbeatable deal.

Amazon is currently selling the GlobalSat BU-353 USB "hockey puck" GPS receiver 
for USD $25.28 with FREE shipping!

This is a USB-interfaced device that will work with any kind of COMPUTER-based 
APRS setup, but NOT with stand-alone hardware devices like Kenwood radios, 
TinyTracks, Tracker 2, etc.

The unit draws only 80mA at five volts from the USB port it is plugged into; 
i.e. no batteries or external power source required. The low drain means it 
will have virtually no impact on the battery life of a laptop or netbook.

It uses the now-ubiquitous SIRF-III GPS chipset and standard Prolific 
serial-->USB interface chip internally.  The standard Prolific driver commonly 
used with serial<-->USB cable dongles works with it, to create the virtual COM 
port required by most mapping and APRS programs like UIview or APRSpoint.

The SiRF-III chipset is sensitive enough that the device will probably work 
just fine inside the car on top of the dash, but the device is waterproof and 
has an embedded magnet to stick to the roof of a vehicle if needed.

Link to the Amazon page for this device (Warning: long URL may wrap lines and 
break)

<http://www.amazon.com/GlobalSat-BU-353-Waterproof-USB-Receiver/dp/B000PKX2KA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327081831&sr=1-1 
<http://www.amazon.com/GlobalSat-BU-353-Waterproof-USB-Receiver/dp/B000PKX2KA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327081831&sr=1-1>>


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Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:        WA8LMF
Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net

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