Navman ICN 520

Author's product rating:   

Reliability	Satisfactory
Ease of Use	Simple
Look & Feel	Excellent
Battery life	Satisfactory
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Small, portable, reasonable price
Disadvantages:	5 character post code search; windscreen reflection

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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Introduction
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Satellite Navgation (or Sat-Nav) is one of the latest 'in gadgets'. Still an expensive optional extra for your car, the portable unit is gaining ground as the new king of car accessories. It is substantially cheaper in portable variety with offerings starting at around £200. Buy a portable unit and move it from car to car, and even use it whilst walking about town - find that elusive street and restaurant.
The principles are simple - a small antennae built in to the unit picks up the signals from 3 or more US military GPS (global positioning satellites). You need three to get a precise location fix.
This is fine providing the US never decide to turn of the free signal that they send the world over.
The detail is in a clever bit of software that takes carefully mapped local road data and turns the combination into a map and directions. Most modern units have a colour screen and talking directions.

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My Buying Decision
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I really missed my old built in sat-nav unit and having to use a paper map seemed like returning to the dark ages. Time to research and buy a portable unit for my car (and walking).

It is a tough choice due to the number of models and manufacturers on offer today. Ultimately price was a significant consideration, with the Navman coming in at a very reasonable £299 from PC World online (£285 after my company voucher discount scheme). This is for the UK version which includes all UK roads and the major routes of Europe. Additional EU country maps can be purchased for £70-£99.

The Navman unit is also available in a 'Premium Edition', which just includes all the maps of 16 European countries included on CD and a remote control for ease of use. I have not tried the remote control yet but will probably buy one soon.

The main players in the portable arena seem to be Navman, Garmin and Tom Tom, although I also considered Mio.

Tom Tom started life as a handheld software navigation provider which later expanded to produce stand alone units called Go. A good concept that was updated recently to include some nice features like bluetooth handsfree compatibility with your mobile phone and full 7 character postcode searches. Main downside - the size. Not pocket sized so hard to carry around. Certainly more features than the Navman but also pricier.

Garmin have been in the navigation game for many years with a great many specialised units for walkers, boats, planes, cars etc. Garmin have some new units, roughlly the same size and shape as the Tom Tom Go. They have the same issue of portability and also are more expensive again. Map displays are the best on the market at present. Features are slightly less than the Tom Tom and about on a par with Navman.

Navman are also a long term player in navigation software, coming from New Zealand originally (1988), and rapidly gaining a good reputation for their marine, portable and car units.

The final decision came down to the size and features per pound - Navman won.

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What's In The Box?
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- The unit comes installed with the Navman SmartST™ software (essentially v3.5 of the current mapping software).
- The UK roads are pre-loaded onto a 256Mb SD memory card (so no computer necessary to use the unit) which comes with a protective case (not needed really as keep in unit for the most part).
- A full colour manual (in one language for a change so not filled with useless pages in other languages). Also a quick start card.
- The unit with one stylus
- A mains power charger with continental plug adaptor
- A car charger
- Car suctionmounting bracket
- CD with PC software
- USB connection cable for PC use
- A registration card (which has an incorrect web address)
- Protective soft carry case for unit

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Features
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- 2D and 3D map views - 4 different modes to suit your preferences (2D mini, 2D moving, 3D moving, directions only)
- Multiple destinations for your route
- Points of Interest (POI) on your route (such as petrol stations, cash machines)
- Downloadable speed camera POIs to alert you to 'safety black spots'/' revenue generating spots' (delete according to views)
- 5 character postcode search
- Automatic back on track option - gets you unlost even when you try had to ignore the original instructions
- Ongoing journey information (time to detination, speed, distance to next turn, distance to go etc.)
- 3.5" colour LCD screen (touch sensitive)
- Voice guided directions (male / female selectable but cannot download celebrity voices)
- Inbuilt rechargable battery - works for 3-4 hours depending on use/brightness/volume etc.)
- Favourite destinations store (including 'Home') which can be a location (i.e. not just an address).
- Next turn
- Colour schemes (day and night modes, plus others)
- Avoid area route planning

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Using the Unit
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I have found it simple to use and easily possible without recourse to the manual. You can run it from the battery or from the car cigarette socket. The latter requires a wire trailing over your dashboard so I prefer the former wherever possible.

You can enter information by touching the screen or using the supplied stylus (which stores in the unit). The buttons to the left offer menu options only. I tend to use th stylus to keep the screen clear - the exception might be when at traffic lights where I want to quickly change the journey information from distance to destination to ETA, for example. A quick press of the bottom left corner cycles easily though these options.

You start up the device and it quickly loads the maps and software.
Select your destination via postcode (first 5 characters), road, house number, intersection or point of interest. Press Go and the route is calculated very quickly.

Change the map display to the preferred one using the button on the left of the display. The map can be displayed in a number of ways - the 3D move map is nice and varies in scale depending on your speed. Smaller when you are slow and backing out to a broader view when travelling fast. An excellent feature.

Navman recommend letting the unit establish a GPS fix before starting off your journey. Typically this takes 2 minutes. On the move it takes 5 minutes. It can calculate a route before the GPS fix but cannot direct you. I recommend waiting for the fix - it also has the benefit of letting the car engine oil get towards operating temperature which is good for it.

Warning - I had one journey where it simply could not get a GPS fix. I set off before a GPS fix was established and it never caught up. On returning home I had to reset the unit to get it to work again. Only happen once but will keep an eye on this. It could be a software bug.

The display is clear except in bright sunlight - you have to angle it down to see easily. For the most past this is not a problem. You can adjust the brightness and colours to help overcome this weakness.

Directions are clear, albeit a little robotic, from the cheap internal speaker. Not as good as a built in unit but okay. You get advance notice of turns and obstacles as well as the visual indicator of the next turn. Nice and easy and timed well to the speed you are travelling.

If you wander off the planned route, the 'back on track' feature will automatically recalculate a new route and direct you accordingly. This takes only a few seconds. A nice feature.

You can access the menus and features only when not moving as a safety feature or if you confirm you are the passenger. A little over the top but they have to cover themselves from the inevitable law suit from the moron that uses it whilst driving.

It really is that simple - select detination, hit go and follow the map/voices. Just use a bit of common sense - sometimes it does get confused so check the route looks reasonable (you can even preview it before departure if wished).

** SECURITY TIP: never, ever leave the unit in your car (even hidden). These are the 'must have' criminal targets of the moment and you will not only have your window broken, but also have to replace the unit out of your own pocket as no insurer will cover against that type of carelessness. **

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The Windscreen Mount
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The supplied cradle mount is adequate at best. A ball joint allows angle to be changed easily and the usual sucker and suction lock hold it firmly to the windscreen.
To dismount it, you unclick the suction lock, and then have a rubber tab on the actual sucker to release it from the screen.

** TIP - test the mount is secure before placing the device in it. It is easy to think it is safe. Give it a gentle but firm tug first **

The power cord (if used) has to be fitted atfer the unit is mounted in the cradle. This is a bit fiddly as there is not a guide to the location of the power socket which is underneath the display.

Placeing the mount takes some trial and error. You clearly need to mount if out of the driving line of sight. I have found that it will not stick to anything except plain glass. The section behind my mirror has a black coating for the rain sensing wipers - it will not attach here.

** SAFETY WARNING - do not attach above a passenger air bag or next to a curtain air bag (if they go off in an accident the unit will be embedded in your body). The manual makes no mention of curtain bags. ** In my Accord the curtain bags are contained in the A-pillars so the only place to safely mount the unit is in the centre to the left of the instrument binnicle.

** SECURITY TIP: remove the mount and hide it if you leave the car unattended. It will attract criminals to your vehicle if left in view. **

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The PC Software
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Loads to your PC in a standard manner. It insists on the device being attached at some point and will allow you register the device with Navman for support purposes.

You can load additional map data to your supplied data card (there is enough room for some more maps so do not rush out and buy spare cards). Most maps are disabled as the UK version has limited EU mapping.

Updates can be upload to the supplied card if available from Navman (new operating software may become available to fix issues over time) as well as updated maps (you normally have to buy these).

It is a little basic as an interface, focusing on some overly useless graphical display of the maps in an image of the earth. There is online help and it is worth a read if you are a PC novice.

The good news is that this is not essential to use the unit.

** TIP - do not load everything for Europe unless you really need it. It will just slow the unit down as it has to search through more data on the map card **

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Problems to date
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One return journey completely mismapped the route and tried to take me the long way round to my street. Luckily I was testing the unit and new the problem. In real life this would be a major inconvenience and would have added miles to the journey. Interestingly the going journey was perfect. I think it may be down to my Home selection being made slightly off a mapped road.

I have had one mismapped road (see below) which caused the unit to shut off directions in a sulk.

The GPS lock has failed once for no apparent reason. This has not reoccurred.

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Experiences with Navman the Company
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Called pre-sales to ask whether my Honda Accord had an athermic windscreen - they could not give me a definitive answer and referred my to the manufacturer. Not a good response when they are saying it will not work if you have one ! (turns out it does not - so does work).

I have only one attempted contact with them so far - to report the incorrect web address for registration of the product on the card and to ask for the correct one. No reply in over 2 months now !!! (As it transpires, you can register the unit online once it is connected to your PC).

Navman recently closed it's online forum because there were too many 'complaints' alllegedly. Not a good sign for customer support.

There is an online support area with frequently asked questions and articles, plus downloads of updates when available. Overall the support site is not particularly comprehensive. You cannot, for example, download or view the manual online.

They claim it is an 'out of the box' solution with a charged battery. Not so. The battery we received was nearly depleted and we had to use the in car charger to test it out on the way home.

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The Maps
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Navman use TeleAtlas mapping data. My experience to date has been good barring one new bypass which has been around for at least a year and is still not mapped. The result - we apparently took a trip across a field until the unit got into such a state that it shut down and refused to 'get us back on track' (even after we were back on a mapped road.

You do not get updates to the map data included with the purchase price (which is poor). Updated map data is expensive (looking at £70+). Generally map data is updated twice a year so you can get last years map data if you buy at the wrong time.

** TIP: You can look at the supplied CD for map version date before purchase if the shop allows it **

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Points of Interest
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This is a feature to load specific locations and use them to navigate to. The unit comes pre-seeded with some standard ones covering rail stations, hotels, petrol stations, cash points, etc. Although nice, they are not comprehensive and often the symbols are not accurately placed (wrong side of the road).

You can load custom POIs and the main use for this is Speed Cameras. There are several ready sources of upto date locations available free online (never bother paying anyone and never get suckered into the 'free with unit' sales pitch). The load process is easy but does require some work with the files to make them ready to load. Novice computer users beware - it takes a small amount of technical knowledge so seek advice if unsure.

I loaded speed cameras, custom icons and custom sounds recently. On test, I found the icons worked perfectly as did the custom sounds (needs a customised load file and is not documented). Once the custom sound had been used once it caused the standard directions to become garbled. I think this is down to the quality of the custom sounds I used and it is fixable easily. Not something I would recommend for the general user. Stick to the standard sound and icon for speed cameras.

There are a finite number of custom POIs that can be loaded, and getting data for others is tough. I think you are very much stuch with the preloaded ones unless very dedicated in inputting Logitude and Latitude to a custom file for upload.

You can also save favourite locations as POIs (up to 250 I think) which can be unmapped locations, friends houses, etc.

Overall a nice feature - especially the 'get me to a pertrol station' capability.

One small weakness - you can only display a maximum of 99 POIs in a selection for navigation. You have to select an area or destination first to get a manageble list, or pick the 'find one near me' option whilst en-route. It limits the ability to plan a journey by these alone.

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Strengths
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- Very portable - easily carried in a top pocket or handbag, unlike the TomTom Go competitor units.
- Simple to use.
- Clear directions.
- Good price for features.

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Weaknesses
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- The car suction mounting bracket has no length option so can be too far away to easily reach (especially on modern cars which have steeply raked windscreens).
- The map can be a little crowded with information. Not as clear as I would like.
- These types of devices will not work if you have an 'athermic' windscreen.
- They do not supply an external aerial for those with athermic windscreens.
- There is no protective mechanism for the touch screen. Some third party companies offer covers which allow some protection and these would be a good addtion to the standard Navman box.
- The screen reflects quite badly in the windscreen of my Accord due to the steep angle of the windscreen. A shield for the top of the mount would solve this and it clearly shows they have not tested the units in too many cars. A night this can be quite distracting.
- Does not have 7 character postcodes.
- Cannot cope with house names rather than numbers so no good to find 'The Glebe'.
- The direciton button mechanism is fiddly and easy to mispress. Navman has realised this an newer units are adopting separate buttons as opposed to the combined 'rocker' style on the 520 model.

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Conclusion
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You can find out a little more at: http://www.navman.co.uk/

Overall I am quite happy with the unit for the price paid. It is a recommended buy if you are in the market for a portable sat-nav system. They key strength is the size of the unit for ease of carrying.