Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)(EDIT 12-19-2006: If you're looking at the 2820, unless you drive a motorcycle I strongly recommend the StreetPilot c550 which I've also reviewed. Read this review and then compare it to the c550.)
This is the second Garmin product I've purchased, the first being a StreetPilot C320 for my mother which I've also used extensively. (I've reviewed the C320 also. Most of the good things I pointed out in that review also apply here, so read that one if you want more details than what I give here.) This one was purchased for myself and my wife to use in our new car. (New toys! Hooray!)
The unit itself is pretty solid, measuring about the size of an oversized Stephen King novel, weighing about a pound and having a large widescreen-format touchscreen with four (backlit) rubberized buttons to the right of the screen. A power switch is on the right side, ports for microphone-in and audio-out are on the left side, and a mini USB port is on the back. The screen and buttons automatically adjust their brightness depending on the ambient light (the more light there is the brighter they get), but you can override the brightness levels manually.
One big disappointment was the lack of a built-in microphone and speaker, although Garmin includes a wired microphone that is surprisingly sensitive. Considering that both a microphone and the GPS would need to be within line of sight of the driver it doesn't make sense that Garmin didn't integrate the microphone right into the unit. The speaker is even more unusual; it's actually attached to the plug that goes into the cigarette lighter. So if your car has an awkwardly positioned cigarette lighter you'll find the audio coming out from an unusual angle. The fact that my mother's C320 (which cost less than half) has a built-in speaker while the 2820 does not is a further disappointment.
The unit truly is a plug-and-play affair. Setup is this: Take the unit, the power cord, and the mounting base (more on that in a moment) out of the box. Position the unit on your car's dashboard. Plug in the power cord to your car's cigarette lighter outlet. Turn on the unit. That's it -- done and ready to go. Provided you've got a reasonably clear view of the sky it'll take about 10-15 seconds for the GPS to locate itself, after which you'll have full functionality.
Installation caveats: As with all GPS systems you'll need to position the GPS in an area where it can get a clear view of the sky as the antenna is internal. (External antennas are available.) Garmin includes a weighted "pad" with a high-friction base that securely holds the unit onto the dash. They also provide a means of "permanently" mounting the unit onto the dash via an adhesive disc. I used the weighted pad and have no problems with it.
For gadget geeks like me, you'll want to connect the unit to your Windows PC (via USB) and download Garmin's WebUpdater application. This will update the software in the unit. Mine required about 15-20 updates, including a multitude of voice updates as well as a couple of "system" updates. I therefore strongly recommend you download and use Garmin's WebUpdater (which, incidentally, works on all Garmin products with USB interfaces).
So, how does it work? Garmin's interface is very smooth and polished. It's not perfect and you will sometimes find yourself getting lost in the multitide of menus and functions, but for most of your navigation needs you'll never notice this. You'll be using perhaps 15% of the menus 90% of the time and that 15% is very easy to work with. The navigation process is clear, concise and accurate. As an experiment I went through the same intersection several times and the 2820 announced the upcoming turn at virtually the same exact point, so it's definitely got some accurate positioning happening.
The unit offers a "traditional" 2D GPS perspective (where you're looking straight down onto a map of the surrounding area, with your vehicle positioned in the center of the map) or a pseudo-3D perspective (where the map is angled and you're looking down and forward from above the car's position on the map). I find the 3D perspective to be more interesting and Garmin seems to agree since that view is the default. Unlike the C320, the 2820 will zoom out depending on how far you need to go. For example, if you're traveling 10 miles on a highway the 2820 will zoom the view out to show you more of the surrounding area including points of interest, if applicable. As you approach your turn the 2820 will zoom in to closer detail so you don't miss the turn (you can also manually override this function and zoom in to whatever setting you want). In contrast, the C320 maintains its zoom level at whatever the user specifies.
Audio quality is very good, much improved over my mother's C320 and there's even support for multiple languages (so, yeah, it'll talk to you in Spanish or any of a dozen other languages.) There are three "American English" voices. One is dubbed "Jack", the second "Jill", and the third is unnamed. The "Jill" (female) voice is similar to the voice on the C320 and is the default choice for the 2820. The "Jack" (male) voice is somewhat easier to understand (versus Jill) but the unnamed (female) voice is inarguably the best of them. However, with this clarity comes a trade-off; using the unnamed voice will cause the 2820 to use generic directions ("turn left", "in 500 feet keep right") while using the "Jack" or "Jill" voice will cause the 2820 to call out street names and exit numbers. The reason for this is because the unnamed voice is really little more than a collection of sampled audio that the 2820 strings together appropriately, while "Jack" and "Jill" are a combination of sampled audio and computer-generated speech, thus allowing the unit to call out proper names and numbers when applicable.
There's a phenominal amount of data on this thing. I was particularly surprised by its airport options; not only will it guide you to the airport, but it will also guide you to the appropriate terminal or drop-off/pick-up area. There's also an extensive points-of-interest guide; tell the GPS what you want and it will tell you what's closest and guide you there with aplomb. Map accuracy is exceptional. It doesn't always take me via the route I expect to go or I'm used to going but it always gets me to my destination. I recently took this unit with me to DisneyWorld in Orlando and it successfully plotted dozens of locations for me, both on and off DisneyWorld property. It even recognizes DisneyWorld restaurants in at least four resorts and will guide you there accurately.
I selected the 2820 for its other features as well. The hands-free Bluetooth function works fine. After pairing it with a Treo 650 I was able to send and receive calls through the Garmin unit.
The 2820 also has the ability to receive XM satellite radio and XM's dynamic traffic system, "XM NavTraffic", which will reroute your path to avoid traffic congestion. This requires an XM subscription which I don't have (I'm a Sirius guy) so I was unable to test this.
You can also connect the 2820 to an optional FM TMC traffic receiver which, in areas that support the technology (mainly large cities like Manhattan), will also dynamically reroute your path. This is a less expensive option than the XM system but, again, I have not (yet) installed this so I cannot test it.
One particular item of note: The C320 has one significant shortcoming, and that is the screen tends to get washed out in anything resembling sunlight. I actually had to fabricate a small plastic hood for the C320 to make it visible and therefore more useful. I am happy to say that the 2820 has a significantly better screen. I had it on the dashboard of a PT Cruiser convertible, with the top down, at high noon, in the middle of Florida, on a bright and sunny 90 degree day and had absolutely no problems viewing the screen. The C320 (without the hood) would have shown me a vague blur in a similar situation.
So, overall this is a very positive review. So why only two stars? Several reasons, most of which having to do with comparing the 2820 to the lower-end products like the C320. First, the omission of a built-in speaker and microphone. The fact that Garmin's lower-priced systems has a speaker and the higher-priced systems do not is inexcusable, and the logic behind the external microphone eludes me. I am also removing a star for the other "nickel-and-dime" things. For example, the C320 includes a suction cup mounting for the windshield which is very convenient; the 2820 does not. The C320 has a built-in rechargeable battery good for about four hours which makes it invaluable if you're ever stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere; the 2820 has no battery. Combined the entire package is a little nonsensical; it's like getting a full stereo w/CD player as standard equipment in a Kia, but not even offering it as an option in a Mercedes-Benz. I am also taking a full star off for Garmin's failure to respond to two pre-sale and one post-sale email I sent to them. There is absolutely no excuse for lackluster customer support.
On the other hand, it could fairly be said that I'm not giving credit where credit is due. After all, the 2820 has excellent directions, a very good screen, a ton of preprogrammed locations and a host of additional features like the XM satellite radio connection. To that I say: So what? Any GPS worth anything will have excellent directions, a good screen, and tons of preprogrammed locations so crediting the 2820 for something that it should have just by its very nature is kind of silly. As for the additional features, yeah, you're probably right, but since I'm not actually using many of those additional features I can't rightfully praise the 2820 for having them.
So, is this a good GPS? Yes, one of Garmin's best. But there's a lot of room for improvement and if you don't need the Bluetooth, XM satellite, and/or TMC traffic functions there are much less expensive Garmin units that offer better value.
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Garmin StreetPilot 2820 5.6-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS NavigatorGarmin has long been a leader in automotive GPS technology. Now they're taking it to the next level with the StreetPilot 2820. All the powerful GPS goodness is here, plus a healthy dose of media storage for preloaded North American street maps all your MP3s, as well as Bluetooth wireless technology so you can make hands-free calls on a compatible phone. You also get XM radio compatibility, a massive points of interest (POI) database, and an audiobook player. Simply put, if you want to get the most out of your time on the road, the 2820 is the answer.
Design The 2820's front panel is dominated by a large, 3.8-inch automotive-grade, color, sunlight readable TFT display that features 454 x 240 pixel resolution. The display is touchscreen-enabled, and there's also an included wireless remote control. A built-in photo sensor adjusts the screen's brightness for light conditions automatically, so you always have the best view possible. A USB 2.0 interface makes uploading your MP3s to the 2820 a snap, and you can also send audio to the car stereo through the 3.5 mm stereo headphone/line-out plug.
With dimensions of 5.6 x 3.2 x 2.0 inches (W x H X D) and weight of just .91 pounds, the 2820 is small enough to take anywhere. It's also a great choice for motorcycle users. Meanwhile, an integrated dash mounting system provides easy adjustment and quick release. The unit contains a built-in GPS patch antenna, but an MCX-type connector offers an optional external GPS antenna connection.
Hands-free Calling The 2820 integrates wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free calls on a compatible Bluetooth phone. Motorcyclists can connect a Bluetooth-enabled headset or helmet simultaneously with a Bluetooth phone to the StreetPilot 2820 to talk hands-free on the road or receive wireless navigation audio prompts to their destination.
In addition, you can easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone's call history log. Don't know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from the 2820's extensive points of interest database -- including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.
Navigation The 2820 comes ready to use out of the box with preloaded maps of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico (optional maps of Europe are available, too). Simply enter a destination, and you're automatically routed with turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names. A fingertip touch screen interface, remote control, and 2D or 3D map perspective combined with the ability to arrange destinations to minimize trip distance make navigation easy. It also accepts customized points of interest (POIs) such as school zones, safety cameras, and LPG filling stations and includes proximity alerts to warn of upcoming POIs.
Master your Commute Monitor traffic tie-ups with the addition of an optional traffic receiver. In select metro areas, with the addition of the GTM 10 or GTM 12 FM TMC traffic sensors* or the GXM 30 XM smart antenna**, the StreetPilot 2820 notifies you of accidents, road construction, and weather-related traffic delays on the road ahead, and then offers an alternate route. Simply touch the screen icon to calculate a new route. In addition to valuable traffic information, the GXM 30 and a subscription to XM NavTraffic also provide basic weather information such as current conditions, forecasts, and Severe Weather Alerts.
XM radio, MP3s, and Audio Books The 2820's MP3 player, audio book player and optional XM Radio keep you entertained on the road. The MP3 player allows you to browse music by artist, album, and/or song. Meanwhile, optional audio books may be purchased from audible.com, which features over 70,000 hours of audio programs. Lastly, a subscription to XM Radio along with the GXM 30 smart antenna provide over 150 plus channels of commercial-free music, sports, news, talk and entertainment programming.
* Traffic services available in select cities throughout the U.S. and Europe. Subscription required in the U.S. and Great Britain. Free public service in Continental Europe. ** Traffic information available only in select cities in the Continental U.S. where coverage exists and requires an XM NavTraffic subscription fee.
What's in the Box StreetPilot 2820, preloaded City Navigator NT North America (full coverage), MapSource City Navigator NT DVD (full-unlock). alphanumeric remote control, external microphone, dash mount, portable non-skid mount, 12-volt power cable with external speaker, AC power adapter, USB interface cable, protective cover, owner's manual, and quick reference guide.
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