Review on Garmin GLO Portable GPS Receiver with GLONASS Technology and Vehicle Power Cable by Francis Heart

WARNING - APRIL 2015 - Bluetooth GPS devices no longer work with Apple iOS 8.3. -- DO NOT USE WITH iOS 8.3 --UPDATE -- JULY 2015 -- Apple has fixed an issue with Bluetooth GPS in iOS 8.4. I have confirmed that GLO works perfectly on both iPad and iPhone with version 8.4! UPDATE - MARCH 2016 - GLO continues to work on iOS 9. I have tested it on iOS 9.02, 9.1 and 9.3 and found no issues. UPDATE - May 2017 - Currently running iOS 10.3.1. I originally bought the module to use with my WiFi only iPad, but today I discovered that it can help my MapMyHike app on my iPhone 6 track my exercise distance more accurately. The iPhone 6 (and most smartphones) uses a hybrid GPS and cell tower location system that isn't as accurate for a pedestrian. Added an image showing the increase in accuracy on iPhone. BACK TO ORIGINAL REVIEW: I bought my Garmin GLO over a year and a half ago so I have some experience. I only use it with an iPad with WiFi. The GLO is a small, reliable, accurate device with quick updates and wide coverage, but it's missing a simple element that I think is very important: a battery level indicator in either hardware or software. The power light on the device flashes about 20 minutes before the battery runs out, but that's not enough in my opinion. Luckily, in my experience, you should be able to count on most of the 12 hours they predict, which should outlast most devices it's paired with. Buy a spare battery for under $20 or a power bank and get 24-hour protection hassle-free! Now I've had some problems along the way: the first device I received stopped communicating after 3 weeks and was replaced with one that has lasted the last year and a half. I hope that what caused the first to stop communicating has since been fixed in production. I also had an issue with overcharging when connected to an external charger, but it turned out to be the charger (I thought it was the GLO for a while). Before writing this review, I decided to test the battery drain rate. . Will he be able to last the claimed 12 hours? The first test gave me 14 hours and 39 minutes of continuous communication with the GPS app on my iPad, so yes! Not bad for a year and a half battery. The second test the next day was within a minute: 14 hours and 38 minutes! I have not encountered any compatibility issues with this device. It worked with all the mapping software and GPS utilities I've used - Apple and Google Maps, Google Earth, ALK Tech's CoPilot GPS, MotionX's Waze, and GPS Drive to name a few. I usually use ALK Tech's CoPilot GPS because, like what MotionX offers, they store maps directly on the device, so you don't need an internet connection. Since I only have an iPad with WiFi, I don't have an internet connection when I travel. It will even transparently geotag my photos! I really wish Garmin would provide a utility that, in addition to showing the battery level which I need so much, would also show the standard information about the GPS utility such as: e.g. what satellites it uses etc. Historically this type of utility has been of great help in troubleshooting. I've answered a few of these in the FAQ, but here are some additional fixes and tidbits: 1) DO NOT USE WITH iOS 8.3 (see WARNING above). 2) The power button sensitivity that you see in many reviews was fixed in the firmware in late 2013. This firmware update was stable in early 2014, so it should be installed on all current production models. Unfortunately I couldn't update mine. There seems to be an issue with the USB, which is usually resolved by trying the update on a different computer. I only have one computer.3) The firmware update above also added support for up to 4 simultaneous Bluetooth connections and gave the GLO the ability to automatically turn off after five minutes if there are no Bluetooth connections.4) The device must be plugged in to charge. Some people have trouble with a dead battery because they don't realize it. Also, based on my experience above, I would play it safe and charge from a standard 1A power source rather than an external charger. It should normally charge in just over 3 hours from a normal 1A supply, but due to deep discharge this may take a while. 5) You can only geotag your photos on an iPad with WiFi (insert the location where the photo was taken). Just turn on your GLO and connect it when you take a picture (and enable the option under Privacy > Location Services > Camera). Then all you have to do is carry the GLO in your pocket. 6) Someone asked what version of Bluetooth they have. presumably used so that they can ensure that they are compatible. I took mine apart and it turns out it has a Bluetooth 2.1 chip. I hope something here will be useful for someone!