GPS Receivers Item ID: #542Garmin nüvi 885/885T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Speech RecognitionProduct Information:
Item DescriptionItem Reviews5 Responses to “Garmin nüvi 885/885T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Speech Recognition” |
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This Garmin Nuvi 885T replaced a Garmin Street Smart C330. The larger screen was a pleasant upgrade from the Street Smart. The Nuvi can pick up GPS in your house, so now I don’t have to be outside when I’m planning trips the night before. I like the Nuvi’s size, graphics, features such as direction uploads from Google Maps or Mapquest, which comes in handy when the Garmin can’t find things that either site has listed. Now for the negative things: The volume is ok but I can’t hear the instructions when I have the radio on, a movie on, or even the windows down on the highway. My Street smart could talk to me over all that noise. The battery on the Nuvi lasts about 2 hours at the most. I used to be able to go about 4 hours on the Street Smart before I had to get the car charger on. So I now drive with the car charger on all the time, I need it anyway to get the MSN Direct to work. MSN Direct has a few gotchas. I happen to live in an area where the signal for MSN Direct is weak so it doesn’t start working until I move a few miles from home. Then it takes an hour or so to update all the information. Traffic, weather, gas prices,etc. Also beware MSN Direct goes offline on Jan 1, 2012. I don’t know what will happen to this feature after that. [...] doesn’t even sell the “T” model any more with MSN I think because of it. Better off getting a “T” that uses FM for traffic.
Tracking while driving I thought was a bit better in my C330. I find it trying to “catch up” to where I really am. Previewing and lane assist is a neat feature, something the Street Smart never had. The maps that are out there for Nuvi are not as up to date as my C330’s is. Street names are not up to date and I keep searching but there are no updates for the Nuvi’s maps at least not for North America.
Would I buy this Garmin again? Yes but not with the MSN Direct, since its expiring and I live in an area where it works sometimes. The extra $100 was not worth it.
I’ve yet to use the voice recoginition. You can save another $100 for a model that doesn’t have it.
The Garmin Nuvi 760 specs were just what I was looking for. I bought refurbished to get the low price. It came with all the goodies of a “new” unit and works perfectly. The bluetooth phone system, a feature I especially wanted, works very well, but was a bear to set up. Most of the problem was in the phone I wanted to use which was not on the choice list. (Nokia 6650) Problem had to do with voice “tags” which neither Garmin nor Nokia spent adequate time explaining. (hey, LOTS of people are new to this stuff!!). Once the tagging was done, things started working quite well.
I have had nothing but problems since getting this unit. The car charger plug keeps popping the 3A fuse in the wire, Several phone calls to Garmin have not solved the problem yet. I’ve changed several fuses, then they sent me a new docking station which didn’t solve the problem and now they are sending me a new plug in wire.
Note: part of this wire is an antenna to pick up the MSN signal.
I will admit upfront this is my first GPS so I have nothing to compare it to. That being said, I don’t know how it could be any easier to use. The speech recognition is great. I can listen to directions and still keep my eyes on the road. I would agree with some of the reviewers that said it would be nice if it gave you the upcoming turn information a little more quickly but I found it sometimes depends on how fast you travelling prior to the turn. Speaking an address instead of typing it in is just awesome. It recognizes my instructions almost perfectly. I use it everyday to find customer addresses in really far out places and it has gotten me right there everytime. I don’t understand the reviews complaining about the volume. I hear the voice responses just fine. Turn down the radio!! It did perform very slowly one morning but I just took out the battery and replaced it and it started back up just fine. I have had it for almost 2 months and it has performed almost flawlessly. I highly recommend it, especially for those who would like to have a gps but are afraid or hesitant to try the technology. The unit is very user friendly and the screen is nice and big and bright. I know MSN traffic is ending in 2011, but I bought the unit for it’s gps capabilities and for the speech recognition and voice activated entries and for that it is unbeatable. Buy it. You’ll love it too.
I think this is a good product. The screen in particular is a pleasure to view. Its minor problems: It’s a bit slow to react and sometimes the time given before a turn on a highway seems a bit short. That’s about it. Overall we are very satisfied. You do have to get some experience with it before you can use it with ease and enjoy all of its features. It is quite good and something I would recommend.