We have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the Globalsat SD-502 since our GPS Event at the Celtic Manor in Wales where Tom Thompson won the first SD-502 GPS in the prize draw. Unfortunately it took a long time to productise the prototypes, but it would seem that the wait was worth it.

Globalsat UK and Easy Devices were on tenterhooks during the run up to the PocketGPSWorld.com Basingstoke GPS Event as the shipment of devices was wending its way from Globalsat Taiwan to Edinburgh. They did of course turn up just in time and sold like hot cakes at the show.

Globalsat UK commented:

Tom Thompson receives the first Globalsat SD-502 in the UK from Sean Wood of Globalsat UK.

The Globalsat SD-502 in my HP iPaq hx4700.

Globalsat introduced the World’s first SD GPS receiver in 2004. This year Globalsat have updated the technology and included on-board memory for maps and applications. Using the latest SiRFstarIII III GPS chipsets this new GPS boasts stunning performance, along with low power consumption.

Globalsat’s SD-502 is the next generation of integrated GPS receiver with memory that offers a combination of non-volatile storage and navigation capabilities in a package about the size of a postage stamp. It’s 512MB of built-in memory allows the storing of large amounts of map data, allowing users to locate places of interest, i.e. restaurants, pubs, clubs, museums etc, and finding their way about town. Extremely lightweight and ideal for users who require high performance GPS on the move, the SD-502 can be used in a range of navigational and recreational applications. Globalsat’s manufacturing technology along with the cutting edge, SiRF Star III chipset, enabled this latest GPS receiver to provide higher sensitivity, lower power usage and faster time-to-fix!

Features:
• WAAS enabled SiRF Star III high performance and low power consumption chipset
• Built-in high sensitivity GPS antenna
• LED to show GPS fix or not fix
• Built-in super capacitor to reserve system data for rapid satellite acquisition
• SDIO interface
• Operating platform: Pocket PC 2003, Win CE.Net, WM2003
• Based on Bsquare SDIO Now!
• Built-in memory size: 512 MB

Compatability:
Devices below have been tested and fully compatible with the SD-502 with v.1.32:
‧ Dell Axim X3 Pocket PC
‧ Dell Axim X30 Pocket PC
‧ Dell Axim X50 Pocket PC
‧ Dell Axim X50v Pocket PC
‧ Dell Axim X51v Pocket PC
‧ HP iPAQ h1930 series Pocket PC
‧ HP iPAQ h1940 series Pocket PC
‧ Hewlett Packard 1950
‧ HP iPAQ h2210 series Pocket PC
‧ HP iPAQ hx2410 series Pocket PC
‧ Hewlett Packard 2750
‧ HP iPAQ hx3970 series Pocket PC
‧ HP iPAQ h4150 series Pocket PC
‧ HP iPAQ hx4700 series Pocket PC
‧ HP iPAQ h6315 series Pocket PC
‧ Eten M500
‧ Fujitsu Loox 720
‧ Asus MyPal 730
‧ O2 XDA2
‧ T-Mobile MDA compact
The SD-502 DOES NOT support PalmOS, Mac 8/9/OSX, or Windows 95/NT/98/ME/2000/XP.

SD-502 Specifications:
Channels 20 channel all-in-view tracking
Position Horizontal 10 meters, 2D RMS
5 meters 2D RMS, WAAS corrected
Time 1 micro-second synchronized to GPS time
Hot start 8 sec., average
Warm start 38 sec., average
Cold start 42 sec., average
Reacquisition 0.1 sec. Average
GPS Protocol Default: NMEA 0183 (Secondary: SiRF binary)
GPS Output format GGA (1 sec), GSA (1 sec), GSV (5 sec), RMC (1 sec), GLL, VTG is optional
Acceleration Limit Less than 4g
Altitude Limit 18,000 meters (60,000 feet) max.
Velocity Limit 515 meters/sec. (1,000 knots) max.
Voltage 3.3V
Power Consumption 90mACharacteristics
Dimension 74.2mm x 31mm x 13mm
Memory Size 128MB, 256MB, 512MB