StarGPS compared to the GPS-Mate

StarGPS-NX includes a GPS-NX01 receiver that directly sends NMEA, Synta, NexStar or LX200 data/commands to set the telescope date, time, latitude and longitude. The GPS-Mate uses an external "converter" box to translate GPS data into LX200 commands (no Synta or NexStar support). With both systems the telescope already understands the commands so there is no software required (simply plug them in). However, by using the GPS-NX01 microprocessor, StarGPS-NX eliminates the need for a "converter" box along with the added cost and associated problems (see User Comments).

The original StarGPS intelligently makes use of your existing 497/497EP Autostar microprocessor and display features. The included StarPatch software updates the Autostar so it can interpret GPS data all by itself. You can even connect your own Garmin or Magellan GPS to the Autostar. As an added bonus, StarPatch also ensures that your Autostar is up-to-date with the latest programming from Meade (full updates in less than 2 minutes, over 10x faster than the Meade ASU). StarGPS and StarGPS-NX are clearly the best and the only well-integrated GPS solutions!

User Comments (note that StarGPS-LX has been replaced with StarGPS-NX)

I thought that you may be interested in my thoughts and observations, I have not had the opportunity to directly compare the StarGPS and the GPS-Mate. However, I have had the time to use both the StarGPS which is on my ETX-125 and the GPS-Mate which is on my LX-200 Classic. The StarGPS works extremely well, and downloads data very quickly. The StarGPS has also improved the pointing accuracy of the ETX-125 to a point to where it routinely out performs the LX-200. I find this to be surprising, given the difference in the quality of these two scopes. Don't misunderstand me, my ETX-125 has always been a good performer. I just did not expect it to be able to out perform a LX-200 under any circumstances, since my LX-200 is also a great performer.

I am starting to see some problems with the GPS-Mate. This GPS-Mate is getting harder and harder to initialize. The "start" button has to be pressed numerous times before the unit starts the acquiring sequence. In reviewing the product instructions, this problem is addressed. No reason is given as to a possible cause, the user is just instructed to try again (and again and again) until the unit starts to operate. Once the acquiring sequence does start, the entire acquisition and download process takes four to five times as long as the StarGPS. There also is a problem with the local time display. When in daylight savings time the local time is accurate, however in standard time the display is one hour off. The separate control box is a little difficult to find a place for. On a smaller scope, I would find this to be quite a problem. There also seems to be an unusual drain on the 9 volt battery required to power the unit. Whether this is just a high power consumption unit or a drain of power not associated with actual use I don't know. But I can see where it could leave a user without their GPS in the field unless the battery is checked regularly and a spare is readily available.

Finally there is the issue of pointing accuracy. I have tested both of these scopes (the ETX-125 with the StarGPS and the LX-200 with the GPS-Mate) in the alt/az mode with only using a one star alignment. Where both scopes perform surprisingly well, the ETX with the StarGPS routinely out performs the LX-200 with the GPS-Mate. When a two star alignment is done on both scopes, I have gotten to where I can just press enter on the autostar without centering either of the two alignment stars and still get a "good" alignment with the ETX-125 and the StarGPS. However, with the LX-200 and GPS-Mate alignment stars must be properly centered and entered or the third target will not be in the eyepiece. A similar result is noted when both scopes are aligned in the polar mode.

Now in all fairness, I must point out that these two scopes are obviously not equal. Prior to the use of any GPS units on either scope, the LX-200 outperformed the ETX-125 all of the time as one would expect. And I have not as of yet used a GPS-Mate on the ETX-125, or have I used a StarGPS-LX on the LX-200 (however curiosity will eventually force me to try this). I am merely pointing out that in my case it is clear that the addition of the StarGPS to my ETX-125 greatly improved its overall performance to a point where it can surpass the LX-200 even with the GPS-Mate. This is still not comparing apples to apples, however in this case something has caused the underdog ETX to be able to take on and win against the Giant LX-200. And I believe that to be the addition of the StarGPS.

I hope that this clarifies any misunderstanding of a previous review that I wrote regarding the GPS-Mate. Which was never intended to directly or indirectly compare the two units. At that time I was quite pleased with the GPS-Mate, and still am to an extent. However I am also strongly considering upgrading the GPS-Mate on my LX-200 to a StarGPS-LX.

As I told you I would, I have now purchased a StarGPS-LX unit for a 10 inch LX 200 classic that I recently acquired. My last remarks compared my StarGPS Autostar unit on my ETX 125 against a "GPS-Mate" that I had purchased for an 8 inch LX 200 classic. Since you have these remarks on your web site review section I trust that you remember me. I thought that I would send you an e-mail to up-date you on a more recent comparison, this time on two scopes of the exact same type, on the same nights right next to each other.

StarGPS-LX vs. GPS-Mate
First let me say that both of these units do what the are supposed to do. And the GPS-Mate was the first unit made available that was compatible with the LX 200. In retrospect I wish now that I had known that StarGPS-LX was soon to be released. But that will be easily (but not cost effectively) corrected with the purchase of a StarGPS-LX unit. With nothing to compare it to the GPS-Mate is an adequate unit. However there are several downsides when compared to the StarGPS unit.

GPS-Mate Pros & Cons:
1. Pro - The unit does work
2. Con - Cost, at eighty dollars more without some special additional feature that would warrant this cost difference it is just not worth it, this in itself should be a deciding factor in anyone's research and purchase.
3. Con - Battery life, it would seem that the GPS-Mate is a little hard on it's 9 volt battery (this is particularly evident in colder weather). As the battery becomes weaker it seems to take longer to find the GPS satellites (sometimes up to twice as long).
4. Con - Control box, now that I have a StarGPS-LX unit, I question the value or purpose of this control box on the GPS-Mate other than to hold the battery which is not even needed on the StarGPS-LX unit. This must be the part that cost an extra $80.00.
5. Con - Cable management, as most scope owners will agree loose cable hanging all over your equipment is an accident waiting to happen in the dark. With the GPS-Mate you have the one long cable (too long in my opinion) running from the receiver to the control box, and another cable (once again too long) running from the control box to the scope. Most of us have enough cable taped up, and tied up that are un-avoidable without adding to the mess.
6. Con - Accuracy, time and time again I am convinced that the GPS-Mate is slightly less accurate in the download of time, longitude and latitude, or at least one of these. I have tried to judge this as fairly as possible, even going so far as to switch the units back and forth between these two scopes. The scope that is using the GPS-Mate always seems to be slightly less accurate after alignment. I am not an expert in GPS technology, but if I had to wager a guess, I would say that this is due to the fact that the StarGPS-LX unit appears to download the data faster into the scope. I make this statement based solely on watching the indicator light(s) on the two units.
7. Con - The indicator lights, out of the two, I prefer the StarGPS-LX light indicator system of the one light over the three lights on the GPS-Mate. The reason for this is that with the GPS-Mate, all lights go out when it has completed the download function. Should you have walked away from the equipment prior to observing this take place you cannot be sure that the scope received the download properly. With the StarGPS-LX once the download is complete you find the reassurance of a slow flashing red LED to confirm everything went as planned.

StarGPS-LX Pros & Cons:
1. PRO - The unit works very well
2. PRO - Cost, the best buy for the money by far
3. PRO - Does not need a battery
4. PRO - No control box to try to find a place for
5. PRO - Cable management, one simple cable of a reasonable length, long enough to place receiver anywhere needed, but short enough not to have to tie and wrap up.
6. PRO - Accuracy, time and time again I found the StarGPS-LX to provide a more accurate GPS assisted alignment. 
7. PRO - The indicator lights, once again my preference is the StarGPS-LX for reasons stated previously.

Thanks for a GREAT Product
Clear Skies

Chuck Morris
Oak Lawn, Illinois