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Knowledge Is Key
For Intelligent Decisions
Satellite Logic is a leading,
authoritative source of information in
the Satellite Industry. Located in the
heart of the Silicon Valley, Satellite
Logic provides one of the most
valuable and comprehensive
knowledge bases on the Satellite
market! This is a primary Worldwide
information center which enables our
clients to analyze, evaluate, inquire
and select their best tailored
solutions. Our company sets the
industry standards for targeted
buying leads, reflecting a dramatic
advance over traditional marketing
solutions.
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Magellan RoadMate 1430
Magellan, one of the world's renowned GPS manufacturers, came our recently with a new line named RoadMate. RoadMate units are affordably priced for the budget shopper. Magellan has refreshed the RoadMate line with three alluring new widescreen models. After taking the top-of-the-line RoadMate 1430 for a spin, the new units not only look good, they're also much easier to use.
The 1430, at 3.3 by 4.6 by 0.7 inches (HWD) and 7.1 ounces, is almost exactly the same size as the company's premium Maestro 4000 series widescreen models. It is also equipped with the same Centrality Atlas III 30-channel GPS receiver/processor as the Maestro 5310, which provided excellent sensitivity in my testing. Perhaps the most welcome similarity between the new RoadMates and their higher-end cousins is that the RoadMates now feature virtually the same menu system found on the Maestros. This much-more-intuitive UI has large icons for Show Map, Enter Address, or Points of Interest. A second screen provides access to the trip planner, exit POIs (that is, POIs at exits, such as gas stations, lodging, and restaurants), and the user options (setup) menu. Both screens have a handy Home icon, as well as a tow-truck button that provides your exact location.
With a non-descript all-black design, the Roadmate 1430 fits perfectly with nearly any interior. In addition, the flat-black case is resistant to fingerprints. Plenty of real estate is available as the 1430 comes with a 4.3” color touch screen with WQVGA resolution to pick out the smallest details. While some devices may use a wide array of physical buttons, the 1430 is limited to a single power button; every function performed via the screen.
The Roadmate 1430 uses the Centality AtlasIII chipset, a well-designed platform that performs very similar to the higher-end SiRF StarIII GPS framework. While the AtlasIII may suffer from the occasional recalculation, glitches are rarely noticeable. In urban traffic and bad weather the unit provides excellent routes and does so relatively rapidly. Any GPS unit is only as good as its mounting system and the Roadmate 1430 leaves nothing to chance. While the mount is hand-operated, the GPS unit is held securely. In addition, the unit doesn't vibrate when taken on the freeway.
The battery life on the 1430 is decent, coming in at 3 hours. However, this isn’t a big issue given the unit is packaged with a car adaptor for continuous use. The Roadmate 1430 also lacks media-playback capabilities, so this limited charge will go farther. For those who want media playback, the Magellan Maestro line is well-suited to the task.
Even though the 1430 doesn’t have the bells and whistles associated with higher-end models, the features offered with this unit are sure to improve overall user satisfaction. Perhaps the most useful feature offered on the 1430 is the text-to-speech capability. While most units mutilate names and locations, the Roadmate is able to synthesize speech in a natural, easy-to-understand fashion. Unfortunately, the speaker can be tinny, especially when the volume is turned up.
The live traffic feature is a new feature to the 1430. To receive updates, the device uses an FM transmitter to relay the information over the Radio Data System. The FM Radio Data System is the same platform used to send station IDs and song information. Each unit comes with three free months of service and regular price is $39.99. If an alert is sent out, the device will display detailed information and offer a choice to reroute and avoid the problem.
When it comes to finding a restaurant or gas station, the 1430 is sure to please with its database of six million points of interest (POI). On top of this, the unit has an exit POI feature that shows points of interest at highway exits.
The Roadmate 1430 can be updated annually for a fee. Due to the long update time, road changes can become an issue. For those who want current data, TomTom offers updates on a much more frequent basis.
Bottom line, Magellan has done it again, setting the gold standard with their range of GPS units. From the feature-packed to the wallet-friendly, Magellan is sure to offer a GPS solution for the needs of every driver. Unlike flashy systems, the Roadmate 1430 is a no-nonsense navigation unit guaranteed to get any driver from point A to point B with ease.
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