Showing posts with label gps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gps. Show all posts

9/23/2012

Rosen AM/FM DVD In-Dash 7in LCD Navigation Ipod/Bluetooth Sat GM - Rosen DSGM0710N11 Review

Rosen AM/FM DVD In-Dash 7in LCD Navigation Ipod/Bluetooth Sat GM - Rosen DSGM0710N11
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I installed this unit in my 2010 Yukon SLT last night and I am very happy with what the unit offers. I removed a real GM Nav Radio and replaced it with this Rosen and like it way more than the GM original. For one thing the GPS is much nicer, the factory only worked with a North up orientation, which I hate, when your going south you will end up turning the wrong way. This unit has a nice 3D screen, more radio presets and a DVD player (which I will most likely never use). The GPS screen is not the most colorful I have ever seen, but that is of no real importance to me, although I know that some people may not think it is "cool" enough for them. It does have IPOD controls and hooked right up to my XM without any problem at all.
As far as the install, well, I did it in less than an hour. All you have to do is use a putty knife to pull the trim piece around the radio off, a 7mm nut driver to remove a total of 8 screws from the radio bracket and your heater controls underneath the radio, and one 7mm screw on the drivers side trim piece between the door and windshield where the tweeter is mounted. The new radio has interface cables that plug directly into the factory cables (takes less than 3 minutes for that part) and hook the GPS antenna to radio, plug in your AM/FM antenna and you are ready to mount the unit back into the dash. The radio will have more wires because of the wiring harness, so you have to tuck the harness back into the small opening behind the radio. Put the temperature control units back in place before you put the radio in place and then tighten up the 8 screws, put your trim piece back on and all you have left is mounting your GPS antenna. I ran the wire underneath the dash, through the fuse box and under the trim piece that holds the tweeter and let the antenna peek put the trim in the very front of the window next to the VIN plate. At that point you just put back the screw holding the side post trim piece and you are all done. It hardly takes any longer than it took me to write this review. You do not have to cut and splice one single wire. The best part was when I turned the unit on, everything worked perfectly.
Pat
Cocoa beach, Fl

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9/07/2012

Lanzar STS65BT 6.5" In-Dash Double Din LCD Radio Touch Screen (Bluetooth) Review

Lanzar STS65BT 6.5 In-Dash Double Din LCD Radio Touch Screen (Bluetooth)
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- There isn't any SD/MMC Card Slot like stated in the featrue list!
- Each time you turn on the device, the volume is set back to the default level (very high).
- Each time you come back in the USB source, MP3 files start playing again from the top of the list.
- You can't browse the directory per directory on the USB soure...
I really don't recommend this device!


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8/24/2012

Alpine IVA D310 - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner Review

Alpine IVA D310 - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner
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Good unit with great sound. Great with radio and CDs. But the main reason I got it was to use it with my iPod. This is where this item falls flat. First off, you have to buy an adapter (KCA-420i) just to get the iPod controls to the head unit.
Once you've done that, you'll find out (I did the hard way) that the data transfer b/w the iPod and deck is ungodly slow. Not music wise, but music info wise. It's extremely sluggish scrolling through songs/artists/albums. So I've basically been playing it on shuffle.
But now and then, you feel like listening to a specific song/album. You can do that with this deck, but be prepared to take time to scroll to the item.
I will be switching this deck for the IVA-D106 which is much faster.
Cheers.

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8/20/2012

Goodyear GY 500X 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Goodyear GY 500X 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
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I have Alk Technologies, PC Miler Navigator 430. It also uses NAVTEQ maps. It will still send me on truck restricted roads, happened to me today, and on very rare occasions, a low bridge. I'm trying to find out if the new Garmin GPS nuvi 465t for trucks uses NAVTEQ maps. If so, I wouldn't waste big money on these GPS's. I would just buy a cheap Tom Tom or Garmin, and read a map!!

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8/13/2012

Panasonic Strada 7-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Panasonic Strada 7-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
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I got this Unit WAY before any of the previous review does, so I already know how this unit works inside out.
yes it has the problem that previous reviewers say but, should we even call those *problems* ? I mean, some of the things could be easily fixed with a simple firmware update. This is Panasonic's first attempt to enter the US's In dash Navigation market. They have great Units in Japan, but I guess Panasonic Japan does not share information with their USA side. So they have to create this from scratch.
Let me list what this unit can do/cant do.
-It can Play MP3 on CD-R/RW, but it cannot read MP3 on DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW.
-It seems that it does not like bad quality CD-R, my friend's cheap CD-R having mad issue with this unit. but mine plays just fine. Well, we should all get quality stuff isnt it ?
-It takes a lot longer, sometimes failed to read DVD-R/RW disc.
-It's DVD playback is Region locked to Region 1, but is not hard to overcome that problem (I think its illegal to say it here)
-Map is based on Navteq's 2005 data, yes you got that right, unit that's out in 2007 still using 2005's map data(maybe because its cheaper, who knows), because I ran into couple of roads that has been changed, one even changed from 2 way into 1 way, almost got me killed. So you better MAKE SURE that you're in the right side of the road.
-Remember to select your route preference before you start your guide. because by default, it does not allow Highway, does not allow tolls, does not allow anything. that means, all local if possible. That might be cool for some people, but I didnt know about it the first time I use it, because my other Unit has the Allow toll and Allow highway option enabled by default. So I ended up spending like 3 hours on something that I suppose to be there in 1 and 1/2 hour.
-The route guidance is kind of funny, sometimes the shortest route that it shows does NOT mean its really the shortest. So if you know that you're already going the shortest route, do NOT listen to the unit.
-It plays back MP3 fine, quality is ok.
-CD Play back is fine, plays original disc no problem, if you want to use a backup, you better make sure the cd-R quality is good.
-You CANNOT record your inserted CD into the HDD. I have no idea what Panasonic is thinking on this one, because as far as I know, the map data used about 10GB of space, that means, in the other words, about 20GB of disc space is there to collecting dust. Maybe a future update will resolve this. who knows.
-HDD unit runs really fast, it takes less than 1 second to get the route out, by default, it shows you 3 routes.
-This unit runs really hot, yes it has a fan behind but ... I would suggest you to turn the screen off if its not in use. it reduce the heat by maybe 30% (rough estimate)
-Screen is big enough, a bit bigger than Pioneer's 7" unit. and the screen is really clear, tried a lot of DVDs on it very good picture quality.
-Fast startup time, about 10 seconds or so.
-Oh yes, did I say the map is not very up to date? Maybe Panasoinc wants to get more money out from us. Anyway, the map data is FAR FROM complete. I cannot find some of the address at all, when I can just do a google search and it pops up right away.
-The way to enter address is kind of funky, you have to enter the way THEY want you to enter, for example, if you want to go 123 Avenue, there're couple of "possbilities", it could be 123th AVE, it could be 123 th AVENUE, 123th AVENUE, 123 AVE, or 123 AVENUE. Keep that in mind.
I still have more to say, but I'll leave those alone.
Is this a good unit ? I think so, if you're looking for fastest and cheapest price HDD unit that *works*, this is a unit for you. but you BETTER MAKE SURE, you try them out first at a store or something.
Im happy with this unit, hey I mean for couple hundred bucks, you get a HDD NAV with dvd playback ? My father's brand NEW CX-7 with all options loaded, all he got was a DVD navigation that cant even play DVD-videos!
Im also 100% sure that Panasonic will update this unit to bring more features out. So dont worry too much about it. Couple hundred bucks only, get it !

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8/01/2012

Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver Review

Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver
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I've had this antenna for a couple of weeks now, and it only retrieved traffic info for two days. Since then, it connects to either of two radio stations in Atlanta and reports "no delays on route", even when I'm stuck in a two-hour traffic jam on I-285. Switching stations results in the "green dot" on the traffic monitor, and a further result of "no delays on route".
Several calls to TomTom tech support have been fruitless. The last time, they claimed their traffic server was down indefinitely. That would be bad enough, but the RDS-TMC information is not controlled by TomTom's service, it comes from Clear Channel's Traffic Network. The traffic server is only for their GPRS/Mobile Phone/TomTom Plus traffic service.
I had tried the TomTom Plus service prior to ordering the antenna, and it worked fairly well (when the traffic server was up) but I found the $19.95/month charge that T-Mobile added on to my bill to be a bit excessive when this antenna was supposed to do a comparable job.
I'm sending it back. If it was just an intermittent outage, I could understand that. Two solid weeks of "no traffic on route" while sitting in the I-285 parking lot for thirty-seven miles each way is ridiculous.

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7/05/2012

JVC KW-AVX800 7-inch In-dash Multimedia System Review

JVC KW-AVX800 7-inch In-dash Multimedia System
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I purchased this unit specifically because I wanted certain functions. After extensive research, I found that this device said in the product specs that it would do everything I wanted. While technically true, it performed so poorly in some areas that I in the end was disappointed. I have now tried several units trying to get these functions, including this unit. Ultimately, I returned this unit, though because it was not good enough at all of the things I wanted it to do. If you do not care about some of the things I do (or you care about other things - for example, for me DVD playback was irrelevant, so I did not even try this out), the unit might be fine for you.
Keep in mind, in order to do a lot of these things, you need to buy a separate breakout box or adapter that is not included in the price. Here is a list of what I wanted it to do & how it did:
1.Bluetooth integration. Fantastic. Best voice dial integration on any product I tried. There is a dedicated hard button to turn on voice dial that can be accessed no matter what mode the unit is in. Call quality was also good. It also accessed and played in a very good quality my music on my bluetooth smartphone. Truly, best in breed, and if all you care about is bluetooth integration, then this unit is for you.
2.Ipod integration. Not so good. Although the unit is touch screen, instead of listing items on the screen and letting you touch them to select, it instead only goes through one item in a menu tree at a time & then you have to hit an "enter" button that is not marked as enter. It looks like they took a non-touch screen interface & used it in this unit instead of writing one to take advantage of the touch screen capabilities. Worse, it sometimes looses time scyc with my latest generation ipod (I tried both a new 8 gb nano and a new 80 gb classic & had the same problems). Basically, the time would come up with "00:00" quite often, and then stay there. Because the unit continually thinks you are at the beginning of a track, it will not let you rewind. This can be a problem with books on tape or podcasts. This happened at least a few times per week. My installer said JVC was aware of this problem.
3.XM integration. OK but not great. It suffers from the same annoying lack full touch screen integration that exists for ipod, albeit to a much lesser extent. You can, for example, select a preset by touching the channel. However, my xm presets would often disappear from the preset list. What I mean is that the slot for the preset would be there, but the channel name would be missing. This happened almost daily. My installer said JVC was aware of this problem.
4.Control of unit from factory redundant controls on steering wheel. Poor. I wanted to be able to control basic functions on the unit from the factory steering wheel controls so I would not have to take my eyes off the road. Sometimes it worked, sometimes (often) it did not. Volume down refused to work most of the time.
In the end, item 1 was great, item 2 was below average, item 3 was OK, and item 4 was poor. On balance, not good enough for me to keep.


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5/26/2012

Clarion MAX385VD 6.5-Inch 2-DIN Multimedia Station with Touch Panel Control iPod Ready Review

Clarion MAX385VD 6.5-Inch 2-DIN Multimedia Station with Touch Panel Control iPod Ready
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I ordered this item from Amazon. Once I had it professionally installed I was informed that it was a faulty radio because my Drivers side tweeter wouldn't work with it but would with other tested radios. I informed Amazon and they overnighted another radio to me and once it was installed I was very impressed. Looks great in a car with a double din. Plays DVD flawlessly! Touch screen is very responsive and many options etc!! My speakers are much louder and more clear now with this unit. Would recommend buying from Amazon before going to your audio shop where they would charge you much more!

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The MAX385VD 2-DIN multimedia unit packs a variety of features in a single chassis design. iPod connectivity requires a simple cable without the need for bulky control boxes. Control your iPod from the 6.5-inch touch screen and enjoy both music and video files, while charging the iPods battery. Listen to MP3 and WMA music files burned on both CD-R/RW and DVDR/RW for hours of audio entertainment. Add Sirius Satellite radio, and enjoy more than 150 channels of music, talk, sports, and traffic information. DVD-Video/DVDR/DVDRW/CD-R/RW ReadyMP3/WMA Compatible with ID3-TAG Display18 FM / 6 AM Station Presets6.5-inch QVGA Color LCD MonitorTouch Panel ControlPhone MuteiPod Control (Optical CCUIPOD1 Cable required)Sirius SSP Direct Connection Ready24-bit D/A Converter6 ch RCA Output (Front + Rear + Subwoofer)40 W × 4 Built-in AmplifierRotary Volume ControlBuilt-in IR Eye and Remote IncludedRear Audio and Visual InputRear AV OutputThe 24-Bit D/A converter delivers a sonic experience beyond CD quality. The only way to experience the sonic impact of DVD movie soundtracks or music videos is through 24-bit processing. Clarions 24-bit D/A converter eliminates the signal defects of older 16 bit decoding by actually oversampling the digital signal. This greatly improves overall sound quality of the D/A converter, creating a more natural sound and better imaging.

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5/25/2012

Dual XDVDN9131 4X50 watt AM/FM/DVD with 7-Inch Touch LCD/USB/SD/BT/NAV/iPod Multimedia Receiver (Black) Review

Dual XDVDN9131 4X50 watt AM/FM/DVD with 7-Inch Touch LCD/USB/SD/BT/NAV/iPod Multimedia Receiver (Black)
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I bought the Dual DVDN9131 at Wal-mart on 1-23-10. Today is 3-6-10 and I just shipped it back to Dual to be fixed or replaced. The unit worked fine when I first installed it, but now when I try to use the blue tooth to make phone calls people cannot understand what I am saying. My voice is Garbled like I am talking under water or something. I contacted Dual customer support and they told me to ship it back for repair or replace. I don't know what to expect from here, I have never owned any Dual products before. This radio seems to be a nice unit, I just hope they take care of the problem in a timley manner.

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4/28/2012

Bushnell Onix400 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

Bushnell Onix400 Waterproof Hiking GPS
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This is one of those products that can either be a great thing or can be a great disappointment... All dependent on actual need / intended use.
For me, it has been a great product that met my needs. I like to do a lot of camping and hiking in the middle of the woods and all I need from a portable GPS is just the basics. Let me mark locations, get me from the car to the camping site or marked locations and get me back. For this, I don't really need advanced features such as street routing, a POI database filled with restaurants, gas stations, etc. For that, I use the navigation system on my car.
Having said that, pretty much, any of the portable GPS devices meet my requirements but what attracted me to the Onix 400 was the addition of the XM Weather receiver. That extra feature, for me was worth the price as it does come in handy to be able to see when storms are coming, their severity and to be able to estimate roughly when it will be on top of you and how long it will be before it passes once is on top of you.
While the GPS with the Weather feature has been great on my outings, I do have a few complaints, which I did make sure Bushnell knew so that they can improve the product.
1. While XM does seem to work during bad weather provided the device is out on the open, it is useless when one is stuck inside a tent while waiting for the rain to stop. The GPS does have a connector to allow peripheral devices to be connected, including an external antenna, but Bushnell does not offer such an antenna. The closest they have is a headset with an antenna, but is not designed to take the role of a real external antenna. Cable is short and because of it being a headset, I don't believe it will be a good idea to leave it out on the rain for any extended periods of time.
2. The cost of extra batteries. Only Bushnell batteries can be used due to their design. These batteries are not cheap to be able to buy a couple of spares, so one has to trade real time info for battery life. Pretty much, to extend battery life, once you get to where you need to be (Camping Ground),turn the unit off and if the sky shows signs of bad weather approaching, turn it on, wait for the XM signal to update the Weather info, then turn it off again.

For me, this has not been a major issue, as turning the device off is what I would have done anyway with any other portable GPS without XM and turned it back on when on the move. Just thought other users may want to be aware of this.
In summary, if you are looking for a portable GPS specific to outdoor activities and would like to keep an eye on severe weather, this is a GPS for you.
If you want to use it as an MP3 player or for urban door to door navigation...
Have you looked at Tom Tom or Garmin?

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