Holux M-1000 Bluetooth GPS Receiver

The Holux M-1000 Bluetooth receiver is the next step in the Holux GPS Bluetoth receiver evolution and locks on to up to 32 satellites very fast. However if you live in a climate which varies more than a few degrees from room temperature and humidity, the life of the Holux M-1000 may be rather short.

Tested hardware and software

The test was done using a Holux M-1000 Bluetooth GPS Receiver bought from a random retail shop. The Holux M-1000 was used together with a HTC TyTN WindowsCE mobile phone with Navigon software installed.

The Basics

The Holux M-1000 comes with a rechargeable battery, a USB data cable and a Quick Guide, but not the power supply and cigarette adapter mentioned in the manual. A DVD with smart2go Maps and a 7 day license is included but not used in the review, as software with a 7 day license is basically trial software and not worth bothering with if you haven't heard of it before you open the Holux M-1000 box.

Pros

The GPS chip in the Holux M-1000 finds satellites very fast and can handle up to 32 at a time.

The Holux M-1000 is even smaller than the GR-236, and performs a bit better. The M-1000 is the next step in the Holux GPS Bluetooth receiver evolution from the GR-236.

Cons

The rechargeable battery is a proprietary type which cannot be readily bought in eg. a photo store or a supermarket.

The GPS house is not weather resistant and cannot handle very high temperatures, which is unexpected, as the usual GPS receiver location is in the car front window where lots of humidity and strong heat from the defroster is commonplace.

Experiences And Useable Information

Some PDA's and smartphones may ask for a PIN when you pair them up with the Holux M-1000 - in that case, enter "0000", four zeroes, as the PIN.

Conclusion

The Holux M-1000 Bluetooth GPS Receiver is an excellent GPS Bluetooth receiver, available at a reasonable price. It is not very solid or weather resistant and the manual warns against use in warm climates and being used while directly in the sun, so expect it to break sooner than you're used to with GPS receivers. But with a unit price at this low level, you simply buy a new one and carry on. The Holux M-1000 is truly a consumer, use-and-throw-away, product.

Written by Hans-Henrik T. Ohlsen
March 2008