GlobalSat BT-821C Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Not the thing for the non-tech-savvy, there are no step by step instructions included to hold your hand. But if you look up model number you will find software to enable you to connect bluetooth GPS to your mobile device. I downloaded "bluetooth GNSS" from the android play store, enabled location spoofing on my Lenovo P11 tablet, and was up in 10 minutes , including a couple of minutes for the initial satellite lock. Installation on my galaxy phone was faster. When I am in an "asphalt canyon" area , the extra precision is much appreciated. My tablet's GPS is useless even among 4 story buildings near downtown bostonIf you are even a little technically inclined and have 15 minutes , you can do this. Very accurate and necessary for using my Lenovo P11 android tablet, because it's gps is sloppy. I cannot raddress long term battery durability (number of cycles it will take a charge), but the battery life per cycle is well over 8 hours, and the battery is user replaceable. I got this for a great price on amazon but scarcity now brings increased expense.

The ad says this device works with 'Bluetooth enabled smart phones'. That's flat out wrong because it doesn't work with Apple devices. Also, the device only comes with a car charger. Since the device requires a special connector instead of the more universal Micro-USB cable, there is literally nowhere else it can be charged. This makes the BT-821 highly unusable compared to other devices.

I'm a 757/767 pilot for one of the US majors, using this GPS receiver with a MS Surface 2 tablet running Jeppesen Flight Deck Pro. The unit acquires a fix rapidly and displays the aircraft position on the Jepp enroute view as well as on the airport diagram. However, anytime you open another app on the Surface without keeping the Jepp FDP in view (split window) it stops 'talking' to the GPS receiver. It does not drop the bluetooth connection, but when you go back to the FDP view you will not see your position for a minute or two while the FDP initiates receiving fix info from the Global Sat unit again. Not a deal breaker, but slightly annoying.Unfortunately this unit only ships with a car charger. Since the input voltage is the same as an iphone charger (5v, 1 amp) I cut the tip off of the supplied charger and spliced it into a USB cable. That way I can plug it into my iphone charger block, works perfectly. Or you can order a USB cable with a 4.00 x 1.7mm barrel plug to do the same thing.

UPDATE 11/09/2021:This GPS unit is still going after 6 years. The battery has swollen up from being in the truck all the time. I have removed the battery. I now have it paired to an ONN 10" Tablet Pro from Walmart. I am using the app BLUETOOTH GPS FOR ANDROID (Google Play). You still have to go into developer options and choose "Allow Mock Location" and choose Bluetooth GPS as the app it is sending the info to.First of all thanks Amazon for getting this shipped to me so quick.I purchased this unit to replace an older GPS receiver of several years of age. I use this with an Android tablet computer in my truck while travelling. The BT-821 shows 10 satellites in view, and accurate to around 10 feet. I have only used it on very short trips at the moment, but I am well pleased with it. The navigation software isn't jittery like it used to be with the older unit I had.You will need to install an app called "GPSInfo" from google play, and your favorite navigation app (mine is CO-Pilot Premium USA)Pair the bluetooth device with 0000 as the pairing code. Set to allow MOCK location from developer settings.This is a great GPS receiver and small enough to fit about anywhere.

The BT821 linked right up with my Blue2Can on my Nikon D850 camera. Very simple to start. The location acquisition was very quick and in the field that became important as I drove from location to location to take photos. The bluetooth connection was very reliable and with the unit in my pocket did not have any trouble with the camera connection or the GPS location acquisition. After 10 hours of continuous use I still had battery left so I don't know how long it will go but it is more than satisfactory for me.

good unit for the price but the battery lasted only a week what a bummer and now needs to be plugged in all the time.

I purchased this Bluetooth GPS for use aboard my motor yacht. I am traveling hundreds of miles South this autumn to find the Sun. In terms of concept, I love the unit. I plug it into the cigar lighter on the flying bridge, and it aquires a signal quickly. The GPS pairs with my HP Pavilion dv5 quickly as well. I interface the GPS to the OPEN CPN program (which provides a template that will allow the user to download and overlay NOAA Raster Nautical Charts onto the computer display.I have two helm stations. With a wireless GPS, I can simply close the laptop, grab the laptop and its power supply, and move from one helm location to the next with no trouble at all. It is nice to not have to drag a GPS down to a lower helm station (where signal may be compromised).When the boat is at dock, and the GPS is plugged in, and my OPEN CPN chart program is activated, the GPS keeps ticking away the position on the screen.Here's the rub: When I start to cruise, and after a short while, the GPS consistently stops talking to the laptop, and the boat's position remains frozen on the last acquired location. Obviously, that is NO GOOD.I suspect that some type of interference from the operating engines is shutting down the Bluetooth connection. To reacquire the position, I am forced to reboot and restart the program. When navigating a vessel on open waters, this is time consuming and distracting . I wish I could fix this fatal flaw, but I don't know what to do.As a result of this flaw, the GPS is basically useless for my intended use.