GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
I recently had the opportunity to spend some quality time with a Magellan RoadMate 2000, and I learned some interesting things, like the fact that this is not really a "crossover" GPS unit designed for backcountry use! Check out my Magellan RoadMate 2000 review for the update.
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Many auto GPS receivers come with an integrated MP3 player, allowing you to control musical selections in your car via the GPS. Some even work with Audible audio book (.aa) files, or come with XM Radio receivers. Typically, playback is paused when navigation directions are announced; some units even rewind a couple of seconds when the music starts back.
There are a number of things to consider when purchasing a GPS receiver with an MP3 player; speaker quality, whether or not you can import playlists, the amount of disk storage available for files (if the unit doesn’t use an SD/MMC card for storage), how intuitive menus are, etc. The variations are too great to delve into here. Our GPS reviews link to many user reviews, so dig deep and check them out, or find a message board for the unit you are interested in, and search or ask.
This article in theday.com covers a lot of ground, focusing mainly on GPS for pedestrians, with a strong emphasis on the Garmin nuvi and its competitors. Here’s the most informative snippet from the piece, comparing Garmin, TomTom and Magellan for those on foot:
"…some devices are more helpful than others for walkers. Garmin says its pedestrian mode negates one-way roads so that walkers can be directed the wrong way. It also allows walkers to go through access roads in parks where cars aren’t allowed.
Similarly, TomTom International BV’s new entry-level $499 TomTom ONE device, 5.5 ounces lighter than TomTom’s next-smallest device, directs walkers in pedestrian mode down the wrong way on one-way streets or along pedestrian bridges or bike paths if those are the fastest routes. And the pedestrian modes on many cellphone services such as Sprint’s MapQuest Navigator enable users to find walking directions and eliminate restrictions such as one-way streets and right-turn-only intersections.
But on the Magellan devices, walkers using the street maps will be directed as if they were a car. Magellan expects pedestrian routing features to be available on its new products early next year."
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Bluetooth is one of the hottest new features in GPS receivers, primarily because you can use them for hands-free cell phone calls, via the GPS receiver’s built-in microphone and speakers. Yet this technology can do so much more.
Address book syncing allows you to look up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or your phone’s call history log. Plus, you can look up points of interest (POI’s), find a restaurant and have your GPS call to make a reservation!
Each of the units listed below offer Bluetooth for hands-free cellphone use. Except where noted the links go to our own auto GPS reviews:
(Amazon link)Call them message boards, discussion groups, online forums, or some other combination of those terms — Connecting with other folks on the web, who are using your particular brand of GPS can be one of the quickest ways to get an answer on anything from basic noobie queries to perplexing technical questions. Especially helpful are groups that focus on particular brands and models of GPS.
A few caveats before the list of message boards…I’ve tried to screen out those groups dominated by spam. Also, some of these groups overlap, and they vary greatly in posting volume. Speaking of which, I have one tip for the many Yahoo groups below — you may want to choose to view messages on the web only, rather than by email, lest your inbox quickly become clogged. Finally, be sure to drill up and down through these websites. There were just too many forums to list them all, and there are other great message boards out there.
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Magellan auto GPS reviews.
I’ve been playing with a Magellan RoadMate 2000
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Magellan auto GPS reviews.
The Magellan RoadMate 2200T
Below this model, the RoadMate 2000 leaves off the SD slot, MP3 player, photo viewer and traffic capabilities. One step above the 2200T, the CrossoverGPS (formerly known as the 2500T) adds pre-loaded topo maps to the 2200T’s feature set.
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Magellan auto GPS reviews.
The Magellan RoadMate 6000T comes pre-loaded with maps of the U.S and Canada, uses the SiRFstar III chipset, and sports an integrated traffic receiver (3 month subscription included). It also has entertainment features — MP3’s and photos can be loaded to an SD card. The 6000T differentiates itself from the 3000T and 3050T primarily by incorporating Bluetooth for hands-free cellphone use.
Compare prices on the Magellan RoadMate 6000T
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Magellan auto GPS reviews.
The Magellan RoadMate 3050T GPS is one of the newest additions to Magellan’s line of auto
navigation systems. Featuring built-in maps of the U.S. and Canada, the
30050T also includes a digital music player (MP3 and WMA compatible), a
photo viewer and the SiRFstar III chipset (unlike the Magellan 860T). A built in li-ion rechargeable battery makes it easier to use these features away from your car. Also included is the Magellan TrafficKitTM receiver and a 3-month starter
subscription, which provides live
traffic incident reports to avoid accidents, road work and more. The 3000T is basically the same unit, minus the TrafficKit receiver and starter subscription, though you can buy the receiver as an add-on.
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Magellan auto GPS reviews.
The Magellan RoadMate 860T GPS updates the popular RoadMate 800, adding real-time traffic capabilities (includes 15 months of traffic service), SayWhere™ text-to-speech, and added space for multi-media file storage. It does not have the new SiRFstar III chipset; you’ll have to buy the RoadMate 3000T or 3050T for that. The 860T also has a shorter battery life than the 3000 series models, which may matter if you’re going to use it as an MP3 player or photo viewer away from your car.
Compare prices on the Magellan RoadMate 860T
Here’s what others are saying about the RoadMate 860T:
