Archive for the ‘GPS’ Category
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
A GPS receiver integrated with a heart rate monitor has been serving customers who work out continuously and intend to keep a track of their workout. The Garmin 305 is one such device with a perfect performance as far as the core functionality is concerned. There were previous models by the manufacturer bur had certain drawbacks like problems with satellite acquisition, inconsistent heart rate monitoring, erroneous tracking and unsatisfactory design of the device. But it seems like Garmin has taken care of all these issues with its newer model, the 305.
Firstly, the basic functionality expected from the device has been improvised greatly. The sync time to the satellite is now pretty reasonable with a minute or so. The GPS performance is found to be good even in the woods and few other areas where reception usually poses a problem. The tracking is much better than the previous model, and more importantly it is consistent. The distance measuring and lap average pace calculation is very satisfactory in it. The heart rate monitor of this model comes with a new sensor that’s more comfortable and flexible. The date offered by this monitor is also more reliable. Unlike the previous model, the heart rate strap is flexible rubber on either side of the face and is very comfortable and well designed.
The display quality is really good and has one appealing feature. The data presented on various pages can be user customized. There are a number of data fields, say forty or so, from which the user can choose to be on the display screen. Heart rate, distance, current pace, average run pace and average lap pace are a few of them. Also, there are three different screens the user can toggle between while using the device and choose to display different information on each of them. The workout data can then be uploaded to the computer from the device so that the user can keep track of his/her performance. The PC software that comes with the device too is very user friendly and very transparent.
Though there are very few drawbacks to this device, it is important to know what they are, so that it becomes easy for the customer to decide how important they are in deciding whether to go for the device or not. Firstly, there have been reports of a few cases of erroneous point-in-time (instantaneous) pace measurement. The customers say that the data varies significantly during a run. The battery life of the product is not satisfactory, which is close to around two and a half hours and there are a few pages on the display where the battery life indicator does not show. The device is not waterproof too, which makes it vulnerable o weather conditions. It isn’t very convenient while biking as a bike mount is not included.
The bottom line is that the Garmin Forerunner 305 is very much improved from its earlier version and is a must have for workout freaks interested in keeping tack of their performance accurately.
TomTom ONE 130 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
The Tom Tom One 130 GPS navigator does the basic job of being an aid to the driver and assist in routing on a satisfactory basis as it does not include any of the high end features which are normally seen in GPS units of a much higher price. If the user does not need any of those features then this unit seems to be reliable, offering consistent service with an appreciable ease of use and a portable design.
To start with, this is an entry level model with basic features, found very useful especially for those using a GPS for the first time. The slim design of the unit is very attractive as it can easily fit in a shirt pocket and hence is also possible to use it as a handheld GPS apart from using it while driving. There are many settings on the unit that can be customized according to the user’s choice and is very easy to use. The unit comes with a well designed suction cup for mounting and is very easy to mount and take it off. The time estimates given by the device are very accurate and the voice is clearly audible. It also has a feature called link volume to speed which is very smart on the device’s part.
There is a choice of voices in the device itself and does not need the user to go online for this purpose. The points of Interest database is pretty large and it almost instantly recalculates the route when the driver deviates. The updated version of the software is available online, free of cost and the user gets a free map database update if attempted within the first thirty days of ownership. The device displays the current speed of the vehicle, the speed limit of the current road and also displays the speed in red if it is considerably above the limit. There is a part called help me in the menu which is very useful in case the driver is doubtful about the situation. The itinerary can be planned with more than one stop, which is not possible in similar models. The real time zoom is attractive and there is a separate database of emergency contacts like hospitals, police etc.
A few users have seen that even the latest version of the map does not show areas that have come up within the last three years. The feature of speaking street names is not included in the unit and it is very useful to take the right turn. There have been problems with the satellite reception as the unit gets old and it is not easy to connect to the internet as the user does not get an external plug that has to be used to charge it from an outlet. The memory capacity of the GPS is less and with the basic information it is already full leaving no room for updates and other applications. The directions given by the device can sometimes be misleading and the screen size is small compared to many other alternatives. The screen also seems to be made of plastic unlike its competitors and hence is unattractive.
Though the unit seems to be doing fine with the basic functionality, there are serious errors in its maps and unless changes are made to it, it does not really serve its purpose well.
Magellan RoadMate 1400 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
If basic navigation without any additional features that may pose a problem with the actual functionality of the device is what the user is in search of, then he cannot go wrong with the roadmate 1400 by Magellan. It is the simplest of GPS units available and it is obviously very easy to set up and use. It can be a promising unit for starters as it can easily become a part of their traveling and always be there at their service.
First, the 4.3 inch screen is what catches the eye of most of the users as it is really wide and bright with attractive colors. The unit on the whole is small, thin and very light. The screen also changes color at night making it easy for the user to view it without any strain. It is easy to set the unit up un the dash board and is also fairly easy as far as the operation is concerned. The display is good and the unit gives reliable and easy to follow driving directions. The satellite reception is fast and can calculate directions almost instantly as soon as the destination address is given using the touch screen of the device. It can store the destinations in its memory and has a huge database of several categories of points of interest.
There is a side map that is always shown on one side of the screen, so that the driver knows in advance what’s going to come next so that he could be prepared. There is a bell that rings when a turn has to be taken and so the user is not confused whether to take a turn or not. The routes are very accurate and there is an option of selecting the fastest or shortest trip. The detour is done really fast and the points of interest can be made use of when the exact street address is not known, or when in an unknown area. Multi point routing is also present in this device and the volume is pretty high, clearly audible with the radio on. Getting latest updates of the map from Magellan website is a very easy task.
The voice of the GPS is not found to be pleasing to many users as it is a bit mechanical and not natural. It does not have the capability to receive live traffic updates so rerouting cannot be done automatically without taking the user to the point where the problem is on the route. The battery life of the device is not found to be satisfactory and there is no charger that comes with the device that can be used with a computer, apart from the car charger. In order to get the unit going, it has to be continuously connected to the car battery while traveling. There is also no pedestrian mode in the GPS making it difficult for walking tours of the visiting cities.
All in all, it is a wonderful GPS with very reliable basic functionality and does not include any bells and whistles, making it simple to use, just for the purpose.
Garmin nuvi 765/765T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
The 765 is a great model to upgrade to from an earlier version and also a good one for people buying one for the first time. It is a premium product in its class and seeing that it comes from Garmin, the best in the business, is definitely a plus. It has the capability of doing many different things really well with its collection of impressive features. It is a promising product for those in need of a high end Garmin GPS and all the features it has to offer.
One feature that is very basic to any GPS is acquisition of satellites and this device is good at doing it in a less time, which is very welcome to the apprehensive customers who very much need all the other features it has to offer. The features new to this model are the lane routing and the 3D buildings view. The lane directions are very helpful when there are several lanes on the freeway and there is going to be a split in them in a particular distance. It takes the confusion out of the user when he needs to be in the right lane. The 3D feature is helpful in cities and busy streets. There is a lot of information the device displays during travel such as the distance before the next turn, the speed limit at a particular place, the current speed of the vehicle, the estimated arrival time, the traffic density and estimated delay in the arrival due to traffic. It does the recalculation of the route automatically and quickly depending on the traffic updates.
The screen is also large and bright and the device syncs to any mobile phone equipped with Bluetooth, to make hands free calls, which is very useful in busy streets. The colors of the map and the layout are the best in its class. It includes logically organized menus and supports faster updates. The points of interest included in the device are numerous, accurate and organized in an efficient manner. The rubber coated frame around the screen makes it resistant to accidents and the internal antenna makes it attractive.
When using the unit without a power cord, the volume level is not very pleasing and cant be heard even with the slightest conversations in the vehicle. It also needs to be given a lot of information and making use of a lot of buttons makes it tiresome, as the touch screen requires only the tip of the finger and the buttons are very small. The battery life is not up to the mark with a life of just above an hour. The FM transmitter is also not very useful due to its weak performance and there are no verbal alerts in the POI section of the device.
The GPS has almost every feature desired by a customer belonging to any class and that too for a price not too high compared to its advantages. It has the latest features integrated after a lot of hard work by the design team and other professionals of Garmin, which can be of great use to the end customer.
Garmin nuvi 755/755T 4.3 Inch Portable GPS Navigator
If the search is for a high end GPS system with live updates and good connectivity, then Garmin Nuvi 755 may serve the purpose. It is a very simple device with lots of features as it can connect to MSN direct to give information regarding various issues on the road to be taken, that may be of importance while traveling. These features help the user getting to the destination with ease and no confusion.
The information (maps, routes, addresses etc) on the device can be backed up on both, a Mac and a PC. The screen is very wide and lets the user view 3-4 streets in advance of the current position. It also has text to speech and provides lane assistance. It has a currency converter (that doesn’t update automatically though), a calculator and a memory card slot, that allows playback of mp3s and also lets the user view pictures transferred from the computer. Also, a few songs can be downloaded from the Garmin website, free of cost. The trip assistance of the device is very useful as it even gives mileage of the vehicle and the gas prices at nearby gas stations.
The speed limit is very accurate and the route recalculation, when there is a detour, or when the wrong turn is taken, is also pretty fast. The traffic assistance of the device is of great importance as it helps in avoiding routes with heavy traffic and roads closed due to construction etc automatically. The route to be followed can be easily customized by telling the device what to avoid in the various steps to be followed to reach the destination, like U-turns, Interstates, Toll roads etc. It has weather assistance and also shows current offers at various places and displays ads that may be useful to the driver.
If there are destinations that have to be reached frequently, they can be added to the favorites section of the menu and triggered whenever needed. But once saved, the list displays only the street names of the destinations in the favorites section and not the town/city name, which is not very convenient for the user. Also the device does not display the names of different towns that are being crossed during traveling, even though the screen has a lot of space to fit in such data. The names of small water bodies like rivers and lakes are also not recognized by the device. This can be quite disappointing, as the user might find a place very attractive somewhere along his journey and would hope to go there someday in the future, but he will not be able to do so as he is not aware what the place is actually called. The release button is placed at the bottom of the GPS mount which makes it difficult to remove from the windshield mount. The keypad of the touch screen has very small buttons that makes input by fingers a very difficult task. So a stylus has to be used for this purpose. The voice is not very loud, the FM transmitter is not satisfactory and the screen colors are not customizable either.
The device is like any other GPS with live updates its strongest asset. But it is costlier when compared to its alternatives. If price is not an issue, this product can be worth buying for all it has to offer.
Garmin nuvi 855 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
For users who have previously used GPS devices and need an upgrade to a high end product that has exclusive features, the Nuvi 855 by Garmin is an apt choice. The device is user friendly like any other GPS from Garmin and does include attractive features and the option of whether or not to utilize a few options is left to the user himself. This makes it a customizable device regarding both, price and features.
The most attractive feature included in this model when compared to its earlier ones is the speech recognition feature or the voice command feature. It allows the user to talk to the GPS unit to give instructions regarding the destination address and the route. There is an extra device that comes with the unit for this purpose to receive the speech signals and can be mounted to the steering wheel with ease. The ability of being able to tell the device where the driver intends to go instead of inputting the details manually is definitely a luxury and also a safety feature that comes handy while driving. The alternative touch screen is always there like before and its width is as attractive as ever. The detailing present on the screen is also very impressive and the unit can be used right out of the box without any hassle. The manual is minimal though, as it has all the excellent features like its previous models in addition to the new ones.
The directions and turns can be viewed in advance so that the driver would be prepared when the time comes. It works with amazing accuracy and also allows the user to view the surrounding terrain using the bird’s eye option. It is also much thinner and lighter than the earlier versions and it is easy to load the data and locate it later. The detailing on the map is also better than the 755/765 and it is easy to scroll over the map using a finger. The names of surrounding places also appear on the screen as the vehicle is moving, which can be of assistance to the driver. The Points of Interest can also be chosen to appear on the route, so that decisions about halts can be made on the fly. The device accepts SD cards with music and picture that can be used through the GPS system. It also has the lane assist option which is very much useful on busy interstates. The junction view is also there to assist the driver.
Like many other Garmin products the volume of the device is low and interference is a problem in big cities when using the FM transmitter. The other drawback is that it is not equipped with Bluetooth. The units screen only shows the current speed of the vehicle constantly as a default, which is not very useful instead of showing the distance to the destination. It does not come with the MSN direct receiver initially, but it can be got at an extra cost of around $80 with a year’s service. The unit also does not have a power off button. All it has is a slide button to turn it to the standby mode. The battery is used in this mode too, so it has to be physically removed from the device to stop it from becoming dead.
Overall, a recommended upgrade for those who have seen it all with the previous models, though with few drawbacks to take notice of.
Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
The Nuvi 780 is one of the high range GPS products offered by Garmin. If the high end features offered by the product are taken advantage of, it can prove to be a reliable product just like any other Nuvi. Though it has its own share of bad sides, the brand name and the service are of considerable importance. It is a well known fact that once the extra features increase on any device, the basic use of it takes a second seat and this device is no exception.
The first thing the driver notices about this GPS is that the touch screen is much faster. The interface is also very user friendly and appeals to customers of all age groups. The Garmin’s Web Updater software is just like the device, easy to use and thus makes updating the firmware a very easy task. The updates can also be used to increase the number of voice options and languages in the system by just downloading them to it. The image view is better in the display and the various options present are much better than those of the earlier versions. The pronunciations are very accurate and as a result, do not confuse the driver. The menu layout is also very simple when compared to its alternatives and it is possible to go to any screen from the present screen, which is very convenient than having all the menu options in layers. Also, different points can be added to a selected route such as food, gas station etc with very fast searches.
The onscreen speed limit displayed by the device is very accurate and does not mislead the driver. While purchasing the 780, the MSN direct cable can be bought at an extra 20 bucks instead of buying it separately for a hundred. There is a trial service available for MSN direct which can be utilized to the maximum and deciding whether to commit or not. It can be used to get live traffic and weather updated while traveling. The MSN is always ahead of the radio in giving traffic updates. Stock prices and movie times can also be checked via MSN direct and be of a great service to the user. Fuel price updates are also given to assist the driver. The device will go for a recalculation of the route automatically after knowing that the traffic is high or the road is blocked. Also, Points of Interest can be added to the GPS using Google maps and Mapquest.
The time taken by the system to syns to satellites initially can be prettylong and disturbing. The voice prompt is also late sometimes which may add to the discomfort. The Bluetooth capability of the device is not up to the mark as it does not sync with all kinds of mobile phones. The volume is also disappointing and so is the FM transmitter as it showed a lot of background noise. The algorithm of shorter route does not work accurately and the position refresh rate is not fast. The MSN direct is only available in the huge cities at present. So it does not make sense spending the extra money on it where it does not work.
If the extra features of the GPS are definitely needed, the 780 is a promising device and offers all the advantages of owning a Garmin product.
