GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr™ for Digital Cameras Reviews

• A great device

  
  By A1JBPGLJ3LSJO0 on 2007-06-07
  I pre-ordered this and got it soon after the release and can't think of a reason to never use it. This is not just a photo tracker, but a full-fledged GPS tracker with excellent battery life. Think of the fun, hide it in a car of someone you don't quite trust and then retrieve it later. The software uses Google Maps to route tracker, and it matches the time code on digital pictures to the time code on the GPS files. If you go inside a building, the signal will be lost, but the software is smart enough to assume you're in the same place. The pictures upload to Flickr with a couple clicks and so long as you hard encode the GPS data to the picture files, Flickr will map them for the world to see.
  
  This works with any camera, because all you have to do is match the time.
  
  Also included in the box is a travel adapter, which is a USB charger that plugs into a car outlet, a home charger, and the needed cables. This works perfect in pockets, bags, and picks up a signal faster than my Garmin car unit.
  
  This is the best device until a camera is released with a built-in GPS tracker.
  
  

• Good tracker

  
  By A1KEH5LVZR95R6 on 2007-07-13
  I've used it during a 3 weeks trip around Europe.
  Good reception and reasonable cold start. Tested it side to side with a garmin NUVI and this device was able to recover the lost signal when coming out of a tunnel as quick as the Garmin.
  Position is quite accurate, though sometimes it creates a "spike" on the map when loosing the signal (eg when going inside a building).
  Software is ok for tagging but somehow basic whith other features. I prefer the more advanced features of jetphoto, so I invested another $25 on that software and now I have the perfect combination. Because of the software I only give it 4 stars, the hardware deserves full 5 stars.
  
  

• Photo Tracker is a good idea

  
  By A1POGSU2L0WCG8 on 2007-08-08
  I was disappointed with this item. It doesn't work with Mac's so I had to send it back. I also found the instructions for set up - we tried it on our other computer - to be confusing. But the good news is that, that is easy to fix if the company wants to do it.
  
  

• Overall good product

  
  By A2YDMATL9A0ZXU on 2007-12-26
  The good:
  
  - Performs as promised
  - Good GPS positioning, also tracks altitude
  - Does good job of locking onto and holding GPS signal
  - Software (ver 2.1) has a lot of advanced features.
  - Compact and lightweight device
  - Once you get it set up and figure out the software, its easy to use.
  
  The bad:
  
  - Software installation is confusing. Software, Drivers, and Firmware that ship with device were very outdated and updating all of these was a bit painful.
  - Even though the software has a lot of modern and advanced features, it has the look and feel of a program that was designed about 6 to 8 years ago.
  - The 1/2 page manual that shipped with the product is pretty bad. There is a PDF manual with the software that is a bit better.
  - Some of the sounds the unit makes are right up there with fingernails on a chalkboard (thankfully they can be disabled). The voice prompts the unit gives are a bit cryptic.
  
  Conclusion:
  
  The device and software do not have the polished look and feel of something that would come from a major electronics company. However, I'm pleased with the product and would recommend it. Just give yourself a little extra time for installation and figuring out the software.
  
  

• nice unit

  
  By A1HKG0O3ET1F2R on 2008-05-01
  I looked long and hard at the different trackers and I'm sure if I tried each and every one they would have features that I'm missing. The reason I got this one is the motion sensor. The unit is very controllable as to the time before "going to sleep" can be set in minutes, the tracking set in distance covered (in feet) or time between readings in seconds (every-X_seconds). So charge it up for 30 hours of continual use or weeks of it turning itself on when it detects motion and off after 5 minutes of no motion. The aquisition is fairly quick and once aquired locks on well. The unit can be connected with a usb cable to a laptop using Microsoft streets and trips and will show your current location constantly thus becoming an onboard map system. You can see reviews at http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp for more info.
  I tried it behind the seat of my nissan P.U. and was surprised it could catch some signal (not always) even with a shirt stuffed over it.
  
  
• Software and hardware flaws make this an unprofessional product
  By A3UF0EYTG7WNGI on 2008-06-07
  The GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr lives up to its not-so-cleverly misspelled name, in that it is an incomplete product that shouldn't have made it past the testers.
  
  The software is deeply flawed. The hardware is mediocre. The reception I can't comment on, since I was never able to download my data points.
  
  I took this on a weekend trip and recorded two days of hard-fought miles in the terrain near Yosemite Valley. Unfortunately, I was never able to get the data, because when I tried to download it, the program (running under Windows Vista) just locked up. Then, it ate the data.
  
  The hardware itself has a clumsy interface and offers cryptic audio and LED light feedback. This might be worth a few $10s but it's hardly worth $100.
  
  I'm returning this and getting a BGT-31 instead (a different manufacturer, look up for details), which appears to be just what I was looking for in the first place. After this unfortunate encounter with GiSTEQ, I doubt I will consider their GPS logging products again.
  
  
• Hardware very good, software so so...
  By A3AVBOJ0XA1347 on 2008-07-21
  I bought this to use with my MacBook Pro, running Windows XP.
  
  The hardware is phenomenal. I bought a cell phone belt carrier to fit it. When I am in my pickup, with the device between me and the seat, it still tracks. It tracks from inside the saddle bags on my ATV. Phenomenal...
  
  However, the Windows software is pretty... ah, basic. It records the GPS coordinates and displays them on a Google earth map. When I tried to write the GPS data to the photos, it records something, I don't know what. Unfortunately, in Adobe Bridge, when you try to actually read the GPS data in EXIF, all you get is the altitude, (in meters), and the file hangs up and will just keep trying to read the GPS data. If you export your images to Flickr, directly from the software, GPS data doesn't go with it. So, basically, what you can do with this in Windows with this phenomenal piece of hardware is look at a map with your pictures at the appropriate coordinates. That's pretty much it.
  
  As far as the Mac software they just came out with - it looks like a really great app. Unfortunately, they are only releasing a restricted version of the app and making you pay $25 for the "pro" version. Also, unfortunately, despite multiple attempts, their software won't recognize their own GPS device, so I can't use the Mac software.
  
  Their tech support is pretty weak. No telephone tech support. They do respond to your emails, but they just give generic advice - like "Did you try different USB ports?" The printed manual is one page. The manual on the CD is about 6 pages. There is a website manual for both Mac and Windows versions, which I found equally unhelpful.
  
  I am waiting for the software to catch up with phenomenal hardware...
  
  
• Very cool product, works well
  By A2YK3TLCVFFTJX on 2008-08-06
  I bought this to document the hiking trips I'll be taking with my Nephew. The first day we went on an 8 hour hike through the mountains in Sitka, Alaska. It worked perfectly. Due to the terrain and elevation the sat signals would be dropped but quickly relocated. Just like any normal gps unit would. Uploading and syncing the pictures with the gps log is painless and easy.
  
  I uploaded two pictures of the software to get an idea of what its like. Reading the other reviews made it seem like it was a really horrible program. I haven't had any problems and actually like it.
  
  
• GiSTEQ Phototracker
  By A7GY24XATGX2M on 2008-11-04
  Took GisTEC to China with me , but it was totally useless since the date would not change to the correct date after satellite sinc.
  
  
• gisteq photo tracker
  By A3FJVLVV1IHTBY on 2008-03-29
  the tracker works like is suppose, I enjoy using it with my camera, now I can even show other were the photo was taken. I did not think it worked like it does.
  
  

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