Globalsat BT-328 - Page 3

- Conclusion

Globalsat's BT-328 is intended as a low entry GPS solution, offering good performance at an affordable price. The new design of the Globalsat products is very appealing and eye catching. With a weight of only 65gr, it is so light that you can forget that you are carrying it with you.

In the performance comparison, the newest SiRF GSC2 based device showed excellent performance under ideal conditions (clear sky) but under more adverse conditions, especially indoors, couldn't match the performance of the SiRF III based BT-338. The device could not switch to SiRF mode, which gives power users the opportunity to perform some tweaks and may prove annoying. The SiRF GSC2 consumes less power than the SiRF III, giving the BT-328 almost the same operation times as the BT-338, even though it has a smaller battery capacity than the BT-338.

Overall, we were satisfied with the Globalsat BT-328. Don't forget, this is an entry level GPS product with a good price (US$79.00) and very good performance. Of course, it doesn't have all the features or power of the BT-338, but it is certainly a respectable alternative solution.

The Positive

• SiRF GSC2 chipset has good performance
• Very small dimensions and low weight
• Attractive design
• Good retail package
• Car charger is included
• External antenna can be connected (optional cable)
• Device turns off after 10mins of inactivity
• Low price

The Negative

• Doesn't support WAAS/Egnos
• Doesn't include mini-USB port for charging it
• Doesn't support any automatic power on mode
• Device cannot switched to SiRF mode
• In case of emergency reset, you need to open the device