Cobra NAV One 5000 5-inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)THE GOOD:
The unit's 5" screen is incredibly clear; spoken street names are loud and clear; menu is so easy to understand the unit can even be figured out without the book and just by navigating through screens. The "Go Home" button is great. If you're lost ... click "Go Home" and the unit directs you to any location set as "Home". Lots of great features, millions of points of interest; the Real-Time Traffic Information can be accessed with separate purchase of a Traffic Data Receiver. I'm not disappointed that I did not have to pay for something I did not need/want right now. The bluetooth option for accessing your cellphone is convenient although you may need to purchase a separate mic if callers have difficulty hearing your voice. Again, this was not a feature I was looking for and it was not as important to me as the large, crisp screen and the ease of use.
The unit has been greatly improved with software updates and I comfortably rely on it now that my initial issues were resolved. Cobra was extremely responsive to all questions/issues communicated by phone and email. Every problem was resolved in a timely fashion by knowledgeable technicians.

My system information is as follows:
Application: 1.4.0
Kernel: 1.49
Bootloader: 7
Database: 7036
Unit: 737000603011

THE ANNOYING:
1. SOFTWARE ERROR: "Fatal Error" [if you have this error contact Cobra (773-889-8870) for the update if unavailable on the website (www.cobra.com)]
RESOLVED ISSUE: A "Fatal Error" froze unit during 2nd day of use. After shutting unit down and leaving off for a few moments, it restarted and continued to function normally. Assuming a software issue I referenced Cobra website but found no updates available. Upon contacting Cobra a rep indicated a technician would contact me by phone. Surprisingly, within a few hours a tech called back. After a brief discussion he forwarded a software update by email. The instructions were easy to follow and the problem was resolved.
2. FEATURE: Trip Data

ISSUE: Eastern time incorrect. Unit apparently not updated w/Day Light Savings patch.
******
3. FEATURE: GPS Location

ISSUE: GPS location was occasionally incorrect. One day while in Winthrop, MA the unit displayed Chicago, IL. The location did not correct itself for approximately 15 mins. The unit appeared to exerience a delayed response in securing the GPS signal for reconfiguration as it was not even spinning the cobra icon evident while processing.
RESOLVED: I contacted Cobra and they directed me to return the unit for inspection with a detailed description of the problem. The unit was quickly sent back to me in perfect working order.
******
4. FEATURE: Hands-Free Calls from Bluetooth Enabled Cellular Phones - Speaker Volume

ISSUE: Although the adjustable volume of unit's spoken street names is clear and easy to hear; the Bluetooth feature is almost useless because callers can't hear me over the unit.
RESOLVED: Cobra provided a separate mic that resolved the issue. Again, this was not a feature I was looking for and was not as disappointed that this was not perfect. However, Cobra resolved a matter for me without any difficulty.
******
5. FEATURE: Exclusive Cobra-verified Speed and Red Light Camera location database

These are apparently not frequently used in my area. After completely forgetting about the feature, the unit alerted me to the location of an upcoming overhead traffic signal, complete with mounted cameras.
*****
6. FEATURE: Over 7.6 Million Interest Points

ISSUE: Points of Interest (POI) occasionally display on map when not selected in menu. It appears that POIs (i.e., gas stations, Indian/French restaurants, theatres, etc.) are easy to inadvertently select while scrolling through the menus since the screen is quite sensitive. Be sure to press the down arrow at the furthest right-hand side of the down symbol to avoid selecting the last item in a screen.
*****
7. FEATURE: Map Theme

ISSUE: Unit menu indicates 3 map themes: "Easy View/Standard/Simple." However, the manual and file content of recent software update list map themes as "Easy View/Standard/Fun."
Q. Is the unit displaying the correct map theme?
Q. Since the themes appear similar, what is the difference?
*****

8. FEATURE: For NAV ONE 5000 Map Update, order Item # MNA UPD 4000. (listed in product manual).

ISSUE: One week ago, I paid over $350 for the Cobra Nav One GPS 5000. It's apparently so new that Circuit City only had one unit for sale and software updates for glitches are not yet available online and are being forwarded to customers through email by Cobra technicians.
RESOLVED: Once again, Cobra appreciated my situation as a customer and kindly forwarded the Map Update at no charge since I purchased the unit with an older version installed.
*****

9. FEATURE: Battery Operation

ISSUE: Even with Battery Save Mode activated, the unit can run for approximately 1-2 hours without being plugged into the cig adapter. If you do not have an auxiliary charger in the car you can purchase a double adapter in order to have an extra outlet to charge your cellphone.
*****

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The next generation of portable, plug-and-go navigation is the Cobra NAV ONE 5000. The latest in Cobra's line of mobile navigation devices, the NAV ONE 5000 combines effortless technology and features, all in a compact, portable design. The device includes an award winning, easy-to-use screen design with the exclusive My Favorite Brands feature, which provides more than 600 brands accessible at the touch of a button. In addition, Cobra's patent-pending Compare Routes feature allows the driver to choose from two on-screen routing options to navigate around the traffic. The new, slim compact design features and easy to read 5.0" display with a highly rated, state-of-the-art user interface.

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Cobra GPSM 2100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Went to the store with every intention of purchasing TomTom One or the comparably priced Garmin GPS I had researched online for the past week. Really confusing considering all of GPS reviews I'd read gave no definitive explanations on why one rated over the other. Since it all seemed to come down to personal preference, I figured the only way to make a final decision was to demo each model at the store.
The TomTom One would not work! Each time I started to enter an address, the unit would revert back to demo ads. The Garmin model I was interested in was not on display. The sales clerk was kind enough to turn on the TomTom go to demo, but it annoyingly shifted between a loud demo and attempting to pick up a signal. If not for this, I would have overlooked the Cobra 2100 entirely.
What first caught my attention was price. Having failed to demo the units I wanted, the Cobra 2100 was the only GPS on display within my price range. In fact, it was the same price as TomTom One, but appeared to be larger. Side by side comparison made TomTom One look like a toy! I clicked through the various demo options and watched a simulation of a drive from the store to my home. Fine, yet I still had my heart set on the TomTom and was about to find another store to demo the model, but I changed my mind.
Though never owning any Cobra products, I'm aware that Cobra was a big name in radar detection at one time. In addition to GPS navigation, the Cobra 2100 comes with traffic light camera detection and speed alerts already installed. There are more traffic light cameras being installed throughout Baltimore City everyday. This feature and the Cobra name convinced me to give the 2100 a try.
Had the 2100 installed and operating in no top flat. As mentioned elsewhere online, it took more time to get it out of the box than it took to connect it. Once turned on it quickly detected a signal and showed me my present location. After quickly scanning through the menu, I typed in my home address, clicked 'NAVIGATE' and was routed to my destination.
The Cobra 2100 offers a clear visual presentation of the route you're traveling while giving clear and precise verbal directions of how to proceed. Advisories are given continually and well in advance of any turns or deviations from your present course. There is no text-to-speech, though IMHO, none is needed as a quick glance identifies all streets along your route.
Options are given to choose specific routes, but I ignored this on my initial run. The Cobra 2100 (like MapQuest, sometimes) attempted to route me away from what I knew to be a quicker route. Upon ignoring the route suggested, the Cobra 2100 quickly recalculated, suggesting a route based on my adjustment. I followed the same route later, this time taking the route suggested by the Cobra 2100. Cobra added an additional 10 minutes to my journey by unnecessarily routing me on and off the interstate. The "detour" consisted of a series of rapid lane changes and turns. As it was night and the maneuvers demanded I pay strict attention to driving, I didn't chance glancing at the screen. To it's credit, the Cobra 2100 provided precise verbal navigation so there was no need to watch anything but the road. I find I'm not particularly concerned about Cobra's routing suggestion. Had I been unfamiliar with the area, the additional 10 minutes would not be factor at all since the Cobra 2100 WILL, it demonstrates, get me to your destination safely.
Oh...before I forget...I passed through one of those camera intersections while testing the Cobra. It signals the driver by producing a series of camera clicking sounds and displays an on-screen traffic icon as an advisory.
WAY COOL!

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Cobra's Nav One 2100 is a specialized, portable navigation system designed for use in vehicles. Simply pick a destination via the easy-to-use touch-screen and you're on your way, as the Nav One 2100 automatically calculates the best route and gives you turn-by-turn directions (with voice and visual guidance) to your address or point of interest.
The Nav One 2100 features Cobra's iA.S.A.P. (Intelligent Accelerated Satellite Acquisition Protocol) technology, which takes advantage of 12 parallel channels for faster acquisition and uninterrupted satellite signal reception in urban canyons and dense foliage. The easy-to-read 3.5-inch color display features an ultra-bright, backlit touch-screen and a photo sensor that automatically adjusts the display for day or night viewing with superb readability even under bright, sunlit conditions. This complete plug-and-go system also includes a cigarette-lighter power cord and windshield suction-cup mounting bracket, letting you use it in any vehicle without performing an elaborate installation routine.
The Nav One 2100 comes with a pre-loaded North America street-level detail map that covers the 48 contiguous U.S. states, plus Hawaii and the major metropolitan areas of Canada. This unit is also traffic-ready, with up-to-the-minute traffic content available via the optional traffic receiver and subscription, which delivers personalized traffic data for 50 major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. In addition, Cobra's patent-pending Compare Routes feature allows the driver to choose from two on-screen routing options to get you around traffic. Also accompanying you on the ride are more than two million points of interest which are searchable by business phone numbers, trip data functions such as an odometer, speedometer, and trip timer, and a trip planner that lets you pre-program up to 10 destinations per plan, for up to five total plans. This unit even includes a trail mode so you can go off off-roading and mark your favorite waypoints for future return.
For your convenience, this GPS system includes English, Spanish, and French navigational voice languages and an automatic shutoff system that preserves battery power. This unit features highly accurate digital map data and rich content from Tele Atlas, and an SD memory card expansion slot for future feature expansion. Cobra's Nav One 2100 is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the Box GPSM 2100 receiver, 12-volt cigarette lighter power adapter, windshield suction-cup mounting bracket and user's manual.

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