The Good The Navigon 7100 GPS device offers a number of advanced navigation features, including text-to-speech functionality, an integrated traffic receiver with subscription-free traffic service, and a lane assistant function for optimal routing. The Bad The 7100 is a bit sluggish and the interface isn't as user-friendly as the competition. You can't sync your cell phone's contact list with the device.
The Bottom Line Though the Navigon 7100 offers some handy navigation tools and integrated Bluetooth, the confusing interface and sluggish performance prevents us from giving it higher marks. Visit for details. Editor's Note: Portions of this review were taken from our evaluation of the Navigon 5100, as the two systems share similar features.
Just recently, we reviewed the and were pretty impressed by this newcomer for its useful set of navigation features, including the integrated traffic receiver, lane assistant function, and 3D 'photorealistic' view for complicated intersections. Now we're turning our eyes to the step-up model, the Navigon 7100 ($649), which adds integrated Bluetooth and a larger 4.3-inch touch screen. Unfortunately, we're not as pleased with our experience with the 7100. General performance was slightly sluggish and the system's interface can be confusing-definitely not as user-friendly as competing products.
I have been searching all over the internet for information about updating the Firmware and Software for the NAVIGON 7100. More Navigon 7100 Update videos. Update your navigation device. In order to find and buy the correct maps, additional features or upgrades for your navigation device please open NAVIGON Fresh on your.
Plus, the Bluetooth capabilities are limited since you can't transfer your phone's contact or call-history list to the portable navigation system. Given all these factors, we'd rather give up some features and get better performance from the. Design The Navigon 7100 very much resembles the Navigon 5100 with its attractive, curved body and sleek black finish.
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However, it's bigger at 3.5 inches tall by 5.1 inches wide by 0.9 inch deep and 7 ounces, and, thus, allows for a more spacious 4.3-inch touch screen. It displayed sharp maps and bright colors, and the screen was also readable in various lighting conditions, including bright sunlight. We must say that the onscreen keyboard is a bit cramped, so you can't easily input addresses with your fingers. Fortunately, the Navigon 7100 comes with a stylus for more accurate text entry. The user interface is the same as that found on the Navigon 5100 and. The main menu page is user-friendly, with four large and intuitive icons for New Destination, My Destinations, Take Me Home, and Voice Command. We wish there was a Map icon to go directly to the map screen, but as is, you have to tap Options first and then Show Map.
Also, once you dive deeper into the applications, things can get a bit confusing and laborious. The function of all the icons on the map screen isn't clearly identified, so we'd recommend giving the user manual a quick read or familiarizing yourself with all the unit's functions before heading off on your first trip. The power button is located on the right spine. On top of the unit, you'll find an SD expansion slot, while there's a reset hole, a mini USB port, and a 3.5-millimeter jack on the bottom.
Finally, the speaker, external antenna jack, and stylus holder are on the back. The Navigon 7100 comes packaged with an SD card preloaded with maps, a vehicle mount (windshield and dash), a car charger, a USB cable, a soft carrying pouch, and reference material. The car mount's design is the same one included in the Navigon 5100, which we found quite interesting. It's quite modern looking, and I didn't even know what it was when I first took it out of the box. To me, it looked like a landline phone receiver, while a fellow CNET editor said it looked like a shower head. I think it's the long, slender arm that throws you off.
Features The Navigon 7100 is equipped with a SiRFstarIII GPS chip and all maps of the United States and Canada are preloaded on the included SD card. As with most GPS devices, you can enter a location by specific address, point of interest, recent destination, user-defined home, and so forth. The 7100 can calculate routes in one of four ways-fast, optimum, short, or scenic-and gives you the option to allow or avoid highways and toll roads. There are also pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle route options, and our favorite, slow-car mode. Other standard navigation features include automatic route recalculation, multistop trips, simulated demos, speed alerts, and, of course, text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, including text-to-speech functionality for specific street names. You can view maps in 2D or 3D mode, and with day or night colors. The map screen shows you plenty of data, such as the name of the street you're on, distance to next turn, estimated time of arrival, remaining distance, a compass, signal strength, and more.
You can always choose to hide some of these elements via the Settings menu, since the screen can get pretty overwhelming with all the data and points of interest.
OK, so I managed load the new 1.2 updates on the 7100. Here is what I noticed so far: -The system speed has improved. (see below) - The button responses are much faster.Their are more POIs and a couple of new categories too (was there always a separate category for ATM?) I think the poi menu is about the same even though has to load more pois (so maybe that is an improvement?) -The touch screen is still the same.possibly a very slight improvement. I still miss a few buttons, have to douple tap a few others, but less often than before. It's also about 95% accurate using the stylus. The routing is not much better in my location. I picked a route to a drug store 2 miles where the GPS could have taken a variety of paths.
Testing with just the route profiles, I got a total of 3 different routes. Only one was more of the 'normal' traveled route.
I think that the Navigon and prob other GPS units derived the route based on the average road (speed) profile. It starts by plotting a straight A to B vector then take into account the speed profiles of all the streets/road it crosses. That's why it's so important to have accurate speed profiles. I think the new TomToms will be able to do this based on user inputs. I think this is what they all will eventually do. I have yet to try the routing extensively, so I can not say if the new software has improved overall in the routing logarithms.
On another note; the is a speed improvement in using a faster sd card. I have tested the stock 2g SD card v. 2g Sandisk Ultra II v. 4g Sandisk Extreme III. My simple test was just on boot-up easch test was ran 3 times and an average was taken. The stock can can bbot up in in about 32 seconds (from first splash screen to warning screen), the Ultra II can do it slightly faster in about 30 seconds, the Extreme III (4gigs) was able to boot in just 27 seconds.
The non-scientific test was done with version 1.2 loaded on each card. As a matter of fact, with Sandisk Extreme III in it's usb adapter, I was able to upgrade to 1.2 from my XP computer in about ten minutes (maybe less). I was able to back-up the entire content of the new SD card (1.8 gigs of data) in about 1 min. Highly recommended. I'm hoping to improve the system some more by tweaking the WinCE OS deleting unnecessary language and metric units.
I'm sorry to hear that. I have heard of this happening to someone else on another forum. I do not why that happens to some. I would suggest reinstalling; but first, delete off all the data off of your new card and reload the your backed up data (version 1.1). CONFIRM that it's operating normally after the restore and then, redo the upgrade.
I upgraded using the SD card reader on my computer and not through the USB link of the GPS, it should make any difference except time. Good luck and please post your results. Happytobelucky: try to use one of the other modes. Maybe the program thinks that by going on the highway (which has a higher speed rating) is logically 'quicker' steevo: my best guess is it's the average between distance and speed.
This is precisely why it needs to be more intuative. Collecting data from users will definatlely challlenge it's logic and force it to learn to adapt to real-world driving conditions and habits.
I just got back to the forum and read your post. Will have to try the shortest routing profile tomorrow. In the meanwhile, today, I had an opportunity to use it for a 40 mi trip (each way). Was happy with the routing, especially for the first time, I appreciated the traffic/construction/road closure updates. I am really looking forward to my trip to Pittusburg and probably D.C next weekend. I did the update tonight and have a problem.
A couple of 'My Destinations', when I try to load them come up with 'the destination cannot be loaded'. I can not delete it or do anything with it. Also my saved routes, show they are there, but will not load.
I used a new 4g SD card for the update reloaded the update and did not add in the old save destinations. Planning a route, starting at my home, going to a airport and then on the a hotel. The program had both location in it from a search for POI, in those cities and the route loaded and I saved the route. Now when I go to saved routes, it ask me to load route and then tells me 'cannot load route'. Guess it is time to call Navigon.
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Reloaded the update and did not add in the old save destinations. Planning a route, starting at my home, going to a airport and then on the a hotel. The program had both location in it from a search for POI, in those cities and the route loaded and I saved the route.
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Now when I go to saved routes, it ask me to load route and then tells me 'cannot load route'. Guess it is time to call Navigon I just encountered my first 'can not load route'. A planned route from my home (a saved destination) and a POI (Zagat rated restaurant) was saved but was not able to load.
I tried changing the name of the route but it still would not load. So I re-did the route and saved it as another name and this time it worked (loaded).
I tried to reload the old route and still no go so I deleted it. Other saved routes from v1.1 as well as v1.2 are loading fine.