This super-sized navigator combines a big 5.2-inch display with the convenience and flexibility of a portable device and fits a full array of features into a slim, easy to carry package that’s just .8 inches thick. The nüvi 5000 was designed for RV and truck drivers, whose distant windshields can make a small screen hard to see and even harder to reach. In addition to its large, bright display, its features include preloaded maps for all of North America, a photo viewer and MP3 player, and an FM transmitter that lets you hear turn-by-turn voice navigation prompts, MP3s, and audio books through your vehicle’s stereo. It’s also compatible with FM traffic alerts or MSN Direct content (receiver and subscription required). It [Read More...]
Buy Garmin nüvi 5000 5.2-Inch Portable GPS Navigator at Amazon
First, I would like to say that I really like my Garmin nuvi 5000. It is the first GPS unit I have ever owned. It is very easy to use and the large screen is very visible in all light levels. However, there are three areas where I feel the unit falls short. First, it needs a rechargeable internal battery that would allow it to be used disconnected from the automobile, even if only for a short period of time. The battery life would be extendable by having a way to switch off the screen and allowing the unit continue to operate. Second, the unit needs a better manual that goes more detail about the working of the unit. For example, it tells you how to add favorites locations to your unit’s memory, but it does not tell you how many locations you can have, nor does it tell you if an SD card will add space for more. The third and biggest problem with this unit is the lack of a good internal antenna. My experience has shown that the unit is not very good at acquiring satellites as it is designed. I have experienced the following problems using the unit mounted on the beanbag holder (Garmin’s Portable Friction Dashboard Mount) on my car’s dashboard: When parked in my driveway with a clear overhead view, it can take more then 2-3 minutes to acquire a good signal lock; Pulling out of my garage and driving down suburban roads at less then 40 miles per hour, it has taken more than 10 minutes to get a good lock on the satellites; Once when driving down an Interstate highway with a wide open sky view, the unit lost signal and took several minutes to re-acquire the satellites; and at other times it has showed it poor design of the internal antenna. To try to solve this problem, I purchased the external Garmin antenna. This antenna is designed with a magnet to attache to the car roof and plug into the back of the unit. This works very well and solves the problem of satellite acquisition, but makes for a messy dash. However, I found that if the antenna is just placed horizontally on the dash behind the unit it works just as well. This brought me to conclude that the unit should be designed with an attached flip up antenna, as come commercial unites have, to improve satellite acquisition. I gave it four stars, because with the added antenna, the unit works great and I would not want to give it up.
I am a long time owner of the Garmin StreetPilot 2720 and bought the NUVI 5000 for the larger screen. The larger screen is great but, it’s performance is poor. A lot of the time routing is just bad, routing me in circles. Sometimes it tries to route me via an old destination. The POI function, even with the “On current route” feature shows POIs behind me and far off route.
I am a Garmin fan but, I regret this purchase.
Update: After more problems, mostly lockups and failure to draw screen (map display), Garmin replaced the unit. Unfortunately, the problems with poor routing continued. I have had one lock up with the new unit. Also, false alerts about safety camers started to appear.
We are in the middle of a 5,000 mile trip out west and this unit is unreliable and disappointing.
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