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Knowledge Is Key
For Intelligent Decisions
Satellite Logic is a leading,
authoritative source of information in
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Logic provides one of the most
valuable and comprehensive
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market! This is a primary Worldwide
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clients to analyze, evaluate, inquire
and select their best tailored
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solutions.
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Garmin StreetPilot 7200
The Garmin StreetPilot 7200 stands out mostly because of its huge 7" screen. It is a solid unit and perhaps too large and heavy for many smaller automobiles. The 7200 is a relatively new GPS navigation device designed for larger vehicles such as RV's, semi-trucks and buses. The 7200 includes an audio book reader, an MP3 player and XM satellite radio. With XM radio, you not only get music, but also weather and real-time traffic conditions that overlay maps in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The StreetPilot 7200 uses this data to automatically calculate and suggest faster alternate routes before traffic starts backing up. Of course this is all in addition to pre-loaded maps of North America, a touch screen interface and voice-prompted routing.
So what else distinguishes this unit besides the huge screen? Maybe the dead-reckoning feature that allows drivers to continue receiving navigational cues when GPS signals are obscured (such as in tunnels), through a built-in solid state gyro and a connection to a vehicle’s odometer system.
The 7200 unit comes packed in a nice cardboard box and the huge size is notable right away. Its 7" screen makes it a monster, but a big screen also means it is easier to read than a smaller screen, so if you have the dashboard/windshield space for the unit, don't be discouraged.
The unit has a heavy duty industrial grade feeling to it. Even the power cable that runs from the cigarette lighter plug to the mounting adapter seems thicker than other cables for other GPS units. In addition to the unit itself, you get a mounting adapter that is designed to be mounted on the dash rather than on a windshield with a suction cup (probably due to the weight of the StreetPilot 7200). The 7200 uses a similar type of mounting system as do earlier StreetPilot units, but increased in size to spread its weight over a greater area. A mains charger and a USB cable also are provided. The nicely printed color manual and a quick start color guide will help you get familiar with the unit.
Also included is the CD-Rom with mapping software that can be used on any PC. A remote control is provided that allows you to operate the unit without having to reach over to touch the screen controls on the unit itself. The remote control requires two AAA batteries which are not included in the kit.
The dead reckoning enables the GPS unit to guess at where you are going when it has insufficient satellite location information. This is occasionally helpful if you're going through a tunnel for example. Or when using the unit in a downtown city 'canyon' environment, with small blocks and tall buildings on both sides of the road. This can be a difficult test for any unit, and the dead reckoning can help the unit remain consistently where it should be.
Using the StreetPilot 7200 is very easy. The difficult thing is to mount the unit in the vehicle, but once the unit was installed the interface is very intuitive. It turnes on automatically when the cigarette lighter power switched on, and - of course (because it has no built in batteries) - turned off when it lost power. The unit seemes slower to lock on to satellites than other similar units, perhaps because it doesn't have a SiRF chip inside it to receive the satellite data.
The StreetPilot 7200 combines Garmin's latest interface with many of the older more technical features and options that seem to have disappeared from most newer units. These technical features are not essential to most average users, but a professional user will appreciate them. For example, the ability to select the Map Datum. Another 'industrial' type option would be the choice for the audio output to be set for either headphone level listening or line output.
Using the unit while driving is a pleasant and easy experience. The big screen is easy to read and use. The space for each of the touch screen controls is much larger than on smaller screens, and when you're quickly reaching over while driving, the ability to correctly hit the right touch control zone without needing to take your eye and concentration too much off the road is very valuable.
Like most Garmin products, it has a good, well engineered and almost unbreakable feel to it. If you want or need to solve 'traveling salesman' type routing, then the 7200 is a good choice.
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