MIO C510 - Review
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From: Greg on 11 Aug 2007 20:27 "Marts" <marts_57(a)yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:uq8rb3d702p99p9d4kqa1u74b3kvrl5o38(a)4ax.com... > The Mio does this too. Only tested it once but it seemed to work OK. Hmm. My MIO certainly does *not* do it. Thanks though. (btw, I do think that at least some of the TomToms have the accelerometer as well - I now recall reading about it somewhere, although I *think* I also read that they had to disable it because it wasn't working properly........) Greg.
From: Fraser Johnston on 13 Aug 2007 23:42 "Greg" <gregREMOVE.sullivan(a)REMOVEsullivang.net> wrote in message news:46bd2805$0$22577$5a62ac22(a)per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au... > "Marts" <marts_57(a)yahoo.com.au> wrote in message > news:1clnb3lvco43qahcq97mp0fa7srn6r62bk(a)4ax.com... >> For normal operation in areas where there isn't any say, extensive tree >> coverage, or high rise buildings it seems to work fine. > > That's been my experience too. (I also have a C510). I have had exactly the > same problem that you have in Sydney CBD wrt signal reflections etc. > Fortunately, I don't really need it in the CBD, but for those that do, an > external antenna is probably mandatory. > > My main beef is that it too often advises either illegal or impossible > u-turns, despite having disabled u-turns in the routing prefs. There's a map > update available now but I'm not expecting miracles if/when I get it. > > I'm a chauffeur driver and I find it "occasionally useful". It is usually > very accurate with street numbers, and this *alone* justfies the cost for me. > > Someone else also told me that the TomTom was very good in tunnels. I wonder > whether that's because it *estimates* your position (using last known > speed?), or whether it really is picking up a signal? My C510 doesn't work in > tunnels at all. The pocket pc version of tom tom estimates speeds in tunnels based on your last speed in my experience. Fraser
From: Fraser Johnston on 13 Aug 2007 23:43 "Marts" <marts_57(a)yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:uq8rb3d702p99p9d4kqa1u74b3kvrl5o38(a)4ax.com... > Greg wrote... > >>Someone else also told me that the TomTom was very good in tunnels. I wonder >>whether that's because it *estimates* your position (using last known >>speed?), or whether it really is picking up a signal? My C510 doesn't work >>in tunnels at all. > > No, it can't pick up a signal. What it does is to "estimate" your rate of > progress based on last known data. Mine used to change color when the > signal was lost then when we exited the tunnel it would change back and > was fairly good at picking up where we "left off". > > The Mio does this too. Only tested it once but it seemed to work OK. > > These were in the Citylink tunnels that go under the Yarra River in > Melbourne. Yeah. My tom tom greys out in the Northbridge tunnel and keeps going based on your last speed when it lost the signal. It is a really clever bit of software. Fraser
From: The addy formely known as ant. on 14 Aug 2007 07:52
Home > Cars > Parts & products -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Test: Car GPS Better than the street directory? Online 06/07 Contents Test: Car GPS What to buy / What to look for Compare GPS Results tables Features Profiles - the best Profiles - the rest What's GPS? How it works General limitations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Test: Car GPS Test results for 11 portable car GPS units priced from $399 to $699 We tested for: In-car performance in and around Sydney Ease of use Safety instructions and warnings Recognition of interstate destinations Heat resistance How are CHOICE tests different? We buy all the products we test - no industry freebies, no government funding. We're non-profit, we don't take ads and our work is funded solely by people like you. Findings: Before you buy a car GPS system, think about how often you usually have to use a street directory or map when driving, and whether it's worth spending hundreds of dollars for those occasions. GPS doesn't work very well in city centres with high-rise buildings, and the mapping data still has big gaps outside major centres. Brands tested ALTINA A600 DOTEL Smart navi GARMIN Nuvi 310 GARMIN StreetPilot c510 NAVMAN F20 (A) NOVOGO t700 ROAD ANGEL Navigator 6000 SHINCO nav.m8 GM-400S TOMTOM One New Edition UNIDEN GNS 8350 (A) VDO DAYTON PN 2050 (A) According to the manufacturer, this model is about to be discontinued. What else you'll get in this report As well as the test results for 11 models you'll get: Prices, features and profiles for all models. Invaluable buying information: practical advice on what to look out for when buying a car GPS. CHOICE Shopper: Buy a membership and get this exclusive members' service that can save you time and money on your purchase. What to buy / What to look for What to buy Brand Price GARMIN StreetPilot c510 $549 NOVOGO t700 $499 GARMIN Nuvi 310 $649 NAVMAN F20 (A) $499 TOMTOM One New Edition $499 (A) According to the manufacturer, this model is about to be discontinued. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The rest The UNIDEN GNS 8350 and ROAD ANGEL NAVIGATOR 6000 have very good in- car performance scores but both have some small onscreen buttons that are hard to use. The ROAD ANGEL also got the lowest ease of use score. The VDO Dayton PN 2050 got the lowest in-car performance score (though it was still good at 71%), and our testers found its voice unpleasant. The SHINCO nav.m8 GM-400S, ALTINA A600 and the DOTEL Smart Navi all received comparatively low ease of use scores. We also tested the MIO C510 and C310. Unfortunately, both models have been discontinued. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What to look for Data entry: Check how easy it is to enter addresses and routing preferences. Ideally, check a few destinations in the area you're most likely to use the unit to see how well the mapping data covers it. Display: This should be large and glare-free, and show the information you want to see - such as a two- or three-dimensional map view, distance to the next turn, current street name, time of arrival, and distance to destination. Voice instructions: Make sure these are clear and loud enough to understand over car noise. Installation and portability: Check how easy the system is to install, but also how easy it is to remove and carry - you're likely to take it with you when you park, as it would be an attractive target for thieves if you left it on the dashboard. Check they allow you to store your home address and to select a location on the displayed map. This article last reviewed June 2007 Compare GPS Results tables Performance Brand / model Overall score (%) In-car performance score (%) Ease of use score (%) Safety score (%) Points of interest score (%) Price ($) Garmin StreetPilot c510 www.gme.net.au 84 85 86 90 50 549 Novogo t700 www.flatscreenavenue.com.au 82 81 85 100 43 499 Garmin nuvi 310 www.gme.net.au 80 82 82 90 35 649 Navman F20 (A) www.navman.com.au 80 83 82 88 25 499 Tomtom One new edition www.tomtom.com 80 84 91 40 43 499 Uniden GNS 8350 (A) www.uniden.com.au 75 82 75 70 28 529 VDO Dayton PN 2050 www.siemensvdo.com.au 73 71 76 88 40 599 Road Angel Navigator 6000 www.roadangel.com.au 72 85 63 68 35 699 Dotel Smart Navi www.destinator.com.au 70 82 66 38 47 449 Shinco nav.m8 GM-400S 68 74 69 52 32 499 Altina A600 www.natcomp.com.au 66 72 68 48 25 399 Features Specifications Brand / model Walking Option Bluetooth MP3 player Routing Options: no tolls / no unsealed roads / no highways Upload points of interest Fuzzy look-up Claimed battery life (hrs) Dimensions (HxWxD*, mm) Weight (g) Garmin StreetPilot c510 www.gme.net.au · / / · · 8 83 x 108 x 53 257 Novogo t700 www.flatscreenavenue.com.au · · / · / · 2 73 x 122 x 21 193 Garmin nuvi 310 www.gme.net.au · · · · / · / · · 4-8 73 x 98 x 22 150 Navman F20 (A) www.navman.com.au · / · / · · 3 82 x 117 x 25 194 Tomtom One new edition www.tomtom.com · · · / / · · 2 83 x 107 x 26 184 Uniden GNS 8350 (A) www.uniden.com.au · · / · / · 1 79 x 116 x 32 194 VDO Dayton PN 2050 www.siemensvdo.com.au (B) · · / / · approx 4 81 x 106 x 24 196 Road Angel Navigator 6000 www.roadangel.com.au · · · / / · · 8 77 x 92 x 21 187 Dotel Smart Navi www.destinator.com.au · · · / / 2 79 x 111 x 39 188 Shinco nav.m8 GM-400S · · · / / · · 2 134 x 75 x 27 244 Altina A600 www.natcomp.com.au · · · / / 2-4 82 x 117 x 24 194 Table notes Scores: The overall score is made up of: In-car performance: 45% Ease of use: 40% Safety: 10% Points of interest: 5% Price: Recommended retail in June 2007 (A) According to the manufacturer, this model is about to be discontinued. (B) Optional docking station. Features: Walking option: This lets you plot a route for pedestrians - for example, ignoring one-way streets, or using paths through parks. Bluetooth: The unit can connect with some Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones - check the list of compatible phones before you buy, if this is important for you. MP3 player: You can use your GPS to play your MP3 files - although not usually while you're using it to navigate. Routing options: You can program it to exclude toll roads, unsealed roads or highways from the calculated route. Upload points of interest: You can upload additional points of interest (for example, from manufacturers' websites), and/or enter your own. Fuzzy look-up: If the system can't find the street name in the suburb you've entered, it'll search for it in neighbouring suburbs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How we tested Our testers checked the in-car performance of the systems by assessing the reliability of the voice commands, the timeliness and accuracy of turn instructions and the directions and errors in map data. They also checked satellite reception in Sydney's CBD and looked for addresses and travel destinations outside Sydney, including checking to see if a route between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island could be calculated. For ease of use, testers looked for a Quick Install guide, a detailed instruction manual and a secure windscreen mount. They assessed brightness and clarity of the screen, usability of controls and ease of navigating the menus. They checked maps for readability, timing of turn instructions and information display readability. They also checked the screens' adjustability, and viewing clarity in daylight, bright sunlight, and at night. Our team assessed safety by looking for clear warnings about the need to obey traffic rules even if the system occasionally gives contradictory instructions, checking whether there's a safety mode limiting use of controls and whether controls are large enough to operate while driving. The testers also checked the systems after three hours in a temperature-controlled oven at 60ºC to simulate being in a car on a hot summer's day. This article last reviewed June 2007 Features Features they (almost) all have Li-Ion battery Colour LCD display in landscape format. Touchscreen USB /PC connection SD memory card slot Languages. You can pick from a number of languages for the display and voice instructions. The only models that give onscreen and spoken instructions in English only are the ALTINA, DOTEL, ROAD ANGEL and UNIDEN. Option to calculate the fastest or shortest route. Full route display. This allows you to view the entire route before zooming to a more detailed view. Option of two-or three-dimensional map display. Display car speed, distance to destination, estimated time of arrival, street name and distance to the next turn. Volume control for voice instructions. Points of interest marked. ATMs (except the UNIDEN), schools, police stations, car parks, petrol stations, airports, railway stations, doctors (except the GARMIN models), hospitals and fixed speed cameras (except the NAVMAN, though data can be downloaded from its website, NOVOGO and UNIDEN). Option to search for a point of interest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extras Based on the models tested, it's now quite common for GPS systems to have an inbuilt MP3 player, but we found that in most models (SHINCO and UNIDEN excluded) it couldn't be used at the same time as the navigating system. The TOMTOM One New Edition and the retested GARMIN also have Bluetooth capabilities, which means that if your mobile phone also does, the GPS can act as a hands-free device. This means you have one less thing to plug into the cigarette lighter socket, and it may encourage those without an existing hands-free mobile not to break the law. However, plenty of research has shown that even using a hands-free phone in a car makes you more likely to have an accident. Some of the models also warn you of red lights, speed cameras and school zones. Although some also let you know when you're exceeding the speed limit, we found most of the warnings were incorrect - presumably because the map data isn't up to date. Australian map data is currently updated once a year, and you can buy updates from retailers or manufacturer websites. You can also get overseas maps for most models. This article last reviewed June 2007 Profiles - the best GARMIN StreetPilot c510 Price $549 Good points Excellent safety score. Equal-best screen tested. Very good in-car performance score. Equal-best screen score for use at night. Has an optional safety mode to restrict some operations by the driver. Has effective text to speech function. Bad points Relatively bulky shape - not 'pocketable'. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOVOGO t700 Price $499 Good points Excellent safety score. Very good in-car performance score. Has a headphone socket. Has an option safety mode to restrict some operations by the driver. Bad points None to mention. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GARMIN Nüvi 310 Price $999 Good points Excellent safety score. Very good quality of displayed data. Very good display in daylight and at night. The smallest, lightest model. Has a good printed manual. Has a safety mode (but it's 'off' by default). Large onscreen buttons that could be operated while driving if necessary. Very good in-car performance score. Can connect to some Bluetooth mobiles. Has text to speech function (but hard to understand). Bad points Poor for interstate destinations. Refers to Australian states as counties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAVMAN F20 Price $499 Good points Very good in-car performance score. Has dedicated buttons on the front to find the nearest service stations and parking ( as long as they're in the map data ) Bad points Distance to next turn is in figures too small to easily read while driving. Only allows navigation from your current location, so you can't plan a route in advance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOMTOM One new edition Price $499 Good points Can connect to some Bluetooth mobile phones. Very good sound quality. Very good in-car performance score. Equal-best screen score. Has an optional safety mode to restrict some operations by the driver. Bad points No printed manual. The mount may be hard to remove from the windscreen. This article last reviewed June 2007 Profiles - the rest UNIDEN GNS 8350 Price $529 Good points Headphone socket MP3 player Has an optional safety mode to restrict some operations by the driver Bad points Distance to next turn is too small to be easily read whilst driving Inconvenient for regular day/night use - you have to leave the navigation application to adjust the screen brightness Some of the on-screen buttons are too small to operate easily Unable to route from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VDO Dayton PN 2050 Price $599 Good points Headphone socket MP3 player Equal-best screen score for ease of use at night Bad points The voice is unpleasant to listen to, with a harsh, high-pitched background noise Entering destination addresses is much slower than the other units tested Our test unit needed to be reset several times during the test when it refused to talk after being switched on -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ROAD ANGEL NAVIGATOR 6000 Price $699 Good points MP3 player Bad points The maximum volume setting is not very loud. Not recommended if you like to drive with your window down. The navigation application is slow to start up - time is wasted on a global animation sequence Is not supplied with a printed manual Menu structure is slow and tedious to navigate Touch screen in too sensitive Turn direction symbols are often confusing, eg U-turn symbol hooks to the left Inconvenient for regular day/night use - you have to leave the navigation application to adjust the screen brightness Relatively vague turn instructions - some were simply wrong Some of the on-screen buttons are too small to operate easily Unable to route from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOTEL Smart Navi Price $449 Good points Headphone socket MP3 player Bad points Some turn instructions are not voiced sufficiently early enough to allow you to prepare for the turn The voice was not as easy to understand as the other units tested Is not supplied with a printed manual Inconvenient for regular day/night use - you have to leave the navigation application to adjust the screen brightness -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHINCO nav.m8 GM-400S Price $499 Good points Headphone socket MP3 player One of the cheapest models tested Bad points The maximum volume setting is not very loud. Not recommended if you like to drive with your window down. Distance to the next turn and next turn direction symbol are too small to be read whilst driving Failed the Adelaide-Kangaroo Island test. Could calculate a route but wouldn't give distance or estimated travel time -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALTINA A600 Price $399 Good points Cheapest model in the test Headphone socket MP3 player Bad points The voice is tiring to listen to Has a poor mount - the gooseneck is long and allows the unit to vibrate and move around a lot Touchscreen is sensitive - it's easy to accidentally enter the same letter twice Inconvenient for day/night use - you have to leave the navigation application to adjust the screen brightness Failed the Adelaide-Kangaroo Island test. Could calculate a route but wouldn't give distance or estimated travel time This article last reviewed June 2007 What's GPS? GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It was developed by the US military, but is available free of charge to the general public. It has many commercial uses, from land, sea and air navigation to land surveying and map-making. GPS consists of 24 satellites that orbit Earth exactly twice a day at an altitude of about 20,200 km. The orbits are aligned so that at least four satellites are 'visible' at any time from most places on Earth. The satellites carry highly accurate atomic clocks and constantly send coded time signals to Earth. A GPS receiver can read these signals and use the time delay between the send and receive times to calculate its distance from the satellite (assuming the signal travels at the speed of light). A receiver uses a method called three-dimensional trilateration to then calculate its position on Earth: It calculates the distances to four of the satellites. The spheres around each satellite that have the calculated distance as their radius overlap in exactly one point - the receiver's location. Theoretically, three satellite signals are enough for a pretty good guess: while three spheres overlap in two points, only one of them is likely to be on Earth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How accurate are they? Normal GPS can be up to about 20 m out: the satellites' signal may be slowed down by the atmosphere, the signals may bounce off high-rise buildings or other structures, or the receiver itself may have its limitations (quality of the antenna, etc). More expensive GPS receivers can correct at least for atmospheric inaccuracies by picking up Differential GPS (DGPS) - a network of stationary GPS receivers with known locations that constantly compare their position with the position calculated from satellite signals. They can then calculate a correction factor, which is sent to DGPS- capable receivers in the area. DGPS increases accuracy to a few metres. More info If you want to read more about GPS: Go to Wikipedia. The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment has produced the 20-page guide GPS - a guide for users. This article last reviewed June 2007 How it works A car navigation system consists of: A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that picks up satellite signals that allow it to determine your exact position. A map database (all the tested models have maps for most of Australia on internal flash memory or an SD flash memory card). This includes a large number of 'points of interest', such as schools, police stations, car parks, petrol stations and hospitals. A computer processor to calculate routes, distances and times. A screen displaying maps and route instructions. A loudspeaker for verbal instructions. You enter where you want to go. Using the map data, it then plots a route, calculates the travel distance and estimated time of arrival, and displays the route on a map. You can usually choose between the fastest or the shortest (geographically) route, or specifically exclude toll roads or highways. Using satellite signals, it keeps track of your position and guides you along the plotted route with travel instructions on the display and verbally via a pre-recorded or computer-generated voice. The portable units in our test have a mount with a suction cap that can be attached to the windscreen. They plug into the cigarette lighter for power, but also have a battery that provides a few hours of operation. They're installed within moments, and can therefore easily be moved from car to car. The tested models cost between $499 and $999, which is much cheaper than the fully integrated systems that come as standard or optional equipment on some (usually more upmarket) cars. However, integrated systems are usually connected to the car's electronics, and can overcome some of the limitations of portable units. For example, they can use speed information to keep calculating your position when there's no satellite signal, such as in a tunnel. All the tested models work with the same satellite signals and use Australian mapping data from one of two providers: Sensis or Destinator. However, the software each brand uses to let you turn all this into information that guides you from A to B can vary significantly. This article last reviewed June 2007 General limitations No satellite signal, no guidance. Car navigation doesn't work when you're in an underground car park or tunnel. And even high-rise buildings in a city centre can block the view of the sky to an extent that leaves navigation systems lost or at least handicapped. The systems can only be as good as the mapping data allows. When we let the units search for destinations or plot routes in other states, our randomly selected addresses and points of interest showed weaknesses in the mapping data and points of interest, especially in rural areas. Don't blindly trust your navigation system. There were a few occasions during our test when the voice instructions were wrong but the displayed information correct. And there may be traffic situations that are simply too tricky to handle for a navigation system - for example, if some quick lane-change manoeuvres are required. Some models have a 'walking' option that lets you plot a pedestrian route ignoring one-way streets and using, for example, walkways through parks. However, none of them is suitable for guiding you on bushwalks. So car GPS can be useful and is certainly a novelty at the moment, but it definitely has limitations (and frustrations). Before you rush out and buy one, think carefully about whether it'll really be worth it: how often do you usually have to use a street directory or map, and where are you likely to use it? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The map issue All the tested models use map data supplied by either Destinator or Sensis/Whereis. Although our testers didn't find any obvious differences in the data itself, the units display different levels of detail and categorise 'points of interest' in a different way. Our testers found several glitches caused by outdated data, such as the appearance on systems of non-existent roundabouts and being advised to turn right where there were signposts indicating that this wasn't possible. However, small changes in map data are unlikely to seriously delay travel time - though they can certainly increase the road rage quotient. Australian map data is updated once a year and can be purchased either from the retailer or downloaded from the manufacturer's website - but it's not cheap: ALTINA: $60 DOTEL: $179 GARMIN: $160 NAVMAN: $179 NOVOGO: $249 ROAD ANGEL: No info provided SHINCO: No info provided TOMTOM: Available, price not provided UNIDEN: $199 VDO DAYTON: $169 Overseas maps: ALTINA: None available. DOTEL: US, Europe (from $179) GARMIN: Europe ($299), US/Canada ($369), New Zealand ($279) NAVMAN: New Zealand, Europe, US/Canada (from $229) NOVOGO: North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Taiwan ($329 each) ROAD ANGEL: No info provided SHINCO: No info provided TOMTOM: Western Europe, South Africa, US/Canada ($160 each); Eastern Europe ($100); Hong Kong, Singapore ($65 each) UNIDEN: New Zealand ($199) VDO DAYTON: Europe ($299), New Zealand ($169) |