thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

Hello,

I want to share my first short term experience with the Aokatec AK-G750 GPS receiver
at the D750.

I was looking fro a GPS solution for the D750 without cable connections like the
GP-1A from Nikon and others. For me it disturb the handling and you can stick somewhere.

There are some solutions available with external GPS receiver and Bluetooth dongle
and direct connected ones.
The only one I found which fits well as a GPS receiver direct to the D750 was the AK-G750.

Unfortunately you can not find many reviews about the Aokatec in the net.
A few are positive some are negative.

From a seller in Hong Kong I ordered it for 55 $ including shipping.
So, not to much money to be disapointed if it is going wrong :-)

After 2 weeks the part comes with registered mail and without additional
costs due to the customs in Germany.



1.Housing
Good impression of the plastic housing. Only the ON slider is a little bit small.
The manual is only a single sheet.
http://www.aokatec.com/pdf/Aokatec%20AK-G%20GPS%20Receiver%20Instruction.pdf

I think it is also suitable for the Nikon Df. Therefore the type name is upside down.

2. Fitting
The connection sits firm and stable at the D750 without gap within in the connectors.
The top sideward flap of the camera does not disturb the installation (like it happens
with a similar other product)
But there is a gap between the unit and the camera which could cause variation of
stress to the connectors.
Solution: adhesive Velcro strip between, which gives further a firm fit.

3. Compass calibration
This is the first step to initiate it.
If you have a rotary disk its quite easy. Or you do it at a tripod.
You have to turn for calibration the camera fast and constant.
In YouTube is also a video available.
The first turning has to be done immediately after switching on while the red LED
is not starting flashing.

4. Satellite tracking
The first cold starts were surprising fast.
Outside: about 30-45 sec. Inside a house it cold take some minutes or even do not work.

Warm start after the receiver is falling in sleep modus (outside): some seconds (avg. 3-5 sec)
Within a building longer.......

5, Battery drain
According to spec its quite less. Operation 60 mA, sleep modus 2 mA.
Up to now I did not feel a huge negative influence to the battery live.

I am quite satisfied with this small gadget. For 55$ I think ist quite ok and the accuracy
is for our hobby sufficient. I will see how it will prove during long term operation.

Greetings
Thomas

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Very nice report. I got the Aokatec AK N7000 GPS for my D600 three years ago ($46). It's a tiny unit, roughly the size of the door on the GPS port. I used it quite a few times, along with a Qstarz BT-Q1000XT Travel Recorder GPS receiver, and the combination worked well. Of course, I had to load the GPS info from the separate Qstarz unit, so that's probably why I stopped using GPS. Maybe I'll get the N7000 for my D750.

This is all Amazon lists -
https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Aokatec+AK-G750

ebay -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aokatec-AK-G750-GPS-Receiver-for-DSLR-Nikon-D750-Camera-/151548389860

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Very interesting. I was unaware of this Geotag device but for the price it looks reasonable. Thanks for the information.

catfish252

Looks pretty good Thomas and nice review, I see them on ebay now for ~$47.00 -- Does the unit just rely on the USB connector to secure it to the camera body? Does it get in the way of holding the camera? Thank you Thomas

thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

Thank you!

There I bought it....

Greetings
Thomas

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I just picked up the AK-G7 for my d7200 at eBay as well. Shipped free from California. Good pricing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AK-G7-Aokatec-GPS-for-Nikon-D3300-D7000-D7100-D7200-DSLR-Camera-/231669427867?hash=item35f092ee9b:g:vD8AAMXQCgpRyzx5

thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

Yes, it is only secured at the camera's connector.
That was also my concern, that the stress to this connector is may be too high. Specially when you carry the camera
in the camera bag.

To release stress to the connector I install adhesive velcro to camera cover caps and the receiver.
With this the gap is filled and it fits much more better.

To avoid to lose it because you stick somewhere I secure it with the delivered cord. The small lock is my one.
They deliver only the small blank cord :-)

Forget something, edit:
For me it do not disturbe the handling at all.
For photos I hold with my left hand the camera at the lens and not at the body...
Only if you need the connectors. Of course than the covers are be blocked.

Greetings
Thomas

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

The Velcro is a good idea.

catfish252

I agree with the use of Velcro -- Thanks for the info Thomas -- Great idea.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't like the idea of the Velcro on the camera - just my personal preference. If you attached something (double Velcro) to the GPS unit, that would fill the gap between the unit and the camera and prevent possible inward movement. It still doesn't solve the problem of the unit wiggling, though. Wiggling of the GPs unit could damage both the unit and the camera.

thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

Actually you are right.
But the movement is noticeable reduced and it is more stable. Of course it is not completely removed.
It helps a lot to make it more stable and balanced.
If you have an external GPS with a cable connection with the plug also movements comes to the connection...it is always bad.

The best is an built-in GPS. May be in the next successor of the D750 :-)

Greetings
Thomas

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Probably.

Ctrclckws

Built-in gps - d5300

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Whoops! I had forgotten about that.

Ctrclckws

Yes, but it's not the same as the D7x00 series.
It is my travel light camera, when I don't want to bring a bigger one.