Home > Consumer Reviews > GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver

This GPS is awesome!!! I have struggled with trying to interface handheld GPS to my laptop for a couple of years. I live aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean using navigation software to plan my passages and have been frustrated trying to use my handheld GPS input which resulted in continual problems. That has all been changed using this new GPS and couldn't be happier with it's ease of installation and awesome performance. It picks up the signal below at my nav station, aquires quickly and performs without causing any problems with my computer. I have tried several systems and this unit outperforms them and I cannot recommend this unit highly enough, you will not be sorry...

The BU-353 can be used with BOTH OS 9 and 10. The latest PL-2303 drivers can be found here: http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?ID=31
With the OS 9 extension, I am using it with Street Atlas 6.0 Mac in classic mode. It takes about 6 seconds from a cold start to a 3d fix. The PowerBook or iBook can be put to sleep and still continues to track on waking. The BU-353 continues to track even in buildings where DeLorme's Earthmate with serial to USB adapter is a dead loss. The Globalsat BU-353 is a great product.

I'm using this receiver with a CarPC. This gets a 3D lock by the time the PC has come out of hibernation into the NAV software. Can't say enough. If you're looking, get this!

purchased this GPS unit because of the fast satellite acquire times and great GPS lock. I was not disappointed. This unit replaces my DeLorme Earthmate which was good, but this unit is unreal. I set up a route from inside my house and got the GPS lock in a couple seconds! This is so much faster than the DeLorme and I could never have done it in the house. Usually it always takes 1 to 2 minutes to get the GPS lock with the DeLorme and that's outside in the driveway. Talk about keeping a lock, this unit never dropped the 3D signal once on a very hilly, high foliage and rural area on the 125 mile trip. The DeLorme unit always dropped the 3D signal at least 5 times over the same route. The DeLorme unit is very good, but this one is fantastic! This GPS unit is always locked onto at least 8 to 10 satellites. This unit is also much more accurate, especially estimating the time to the next turn. It seems to have very accurate vechile speed determination. The DeLorme was always way off by 30 or more seconds. This unit computes the time to within a second. I do like the DeLorme software and if you purchase this GPS unit you will be very happy. Now I'll have to try it in the downtown area.

I can compare it to other two products that I have experience with. They were unreliable, slow and demanding.
This one, BU-353, picked up the signal before I put it under the clear sky as the other two required. It works even under the seat of my car!
Great product, you will not regret if you get one.
Thank you, GlobalSat!