Navigon 2200T 3.5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech and Free Traffic Alerts Review

Navigon 2200T is an entry level GPS navigator a 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) touch screen however, it does have some excellent features for the pricepoint including lane assistance, text-to-speech, Reality View Pro and free real-time traffic updates as well as SiRF’s Instant Fix II which minimizes the time for GPS receiver to gain a satellite lock.

Navigon 2200T 3.5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Navigon’s Reality View Pro

A photo-realistic 3D image of complex interchanges as they are approached is provided by Navigon’s Reality View. It’s a feature that needs time to get used to as the Reality View replaces the tracking view before and intersection meaning you don’t see your vehicle’s position on the map but, you do have the advantage of seeing a more detailed intersection map.

Advanced Text-to-Speech

Another safety/convenience feature of the Navigon 2200T is Text-to-Speech (TTS). It allows the GPS to announce street names when giving navigation directions rather than simply stating the turn direction. TTS improves driving safety by providing confirmation that you are on the plotted route without needing to check the map display.

Lane Assistance Pro

Lane Assistance Pro is Navigon’s second generation of lane assistance software functionality. It provides clear visual lane guidance complete with lane maps and arrows that indicate exactly which lane will keep you on course. It gives the driver more time to position themselves in the correct lane prior to a turn.

Free Lifetime Real-Time Traffic Updates from Navigon

As it usually involves a subscription fee, free real-time traffic upates for Navigon 2200T owners is an attractive incentive to buy this GPS navigator. Traffic Message Channel (TMC) updates can save time and petrol. Red-yellow color-coding with incident icons informs drivers in real-time of traffic congestion giving them the option to get the Navigon 2200T to plot an alternative route. Traffic updates are available for over 95 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

Navigating with the Navigon 2200T

Like most GPS navigators, the Navigon 2200T provides many ways to select a destination including;

search area button to select a map area (position confirmed with crosshairs)
selecting your destination by tapping on the map display
search for the city first if you don’t know the street address or for the street first if you don’t know
search for a Point of Interest (POI) which can be nearby, in a city or somewhere nationwide

Entering a Destination – NAVIGON Video Tutorial

Finding a POI in a City – NAVIGON Video Tutorial

Some other useful navigation and route planning features include;

Predictive text assistance to speed up information entry
Route Blocking allows intersections or turns you don’t like to be blocked
Exit Guide enables users to search upcoming exits for one of six POI categories – food, gas, lodging, rest areas, auto service or shopping
Multi-Destination Trip Planning allows you to plan your entire trip at once
Speed Assistant function displays speed limit and provides customizable warnings if you are exceeding it
DirectHelp provides instant driving directions to and contact information for nearby hospitals, police stations, roadside assistance, and pharmacies. You also have your exact location to give out so that you can be located quickly

Maps

The Navigon 2200T GPS navigator comes pre-loaded with complete maps of the lower 48 U.S states. According to Navigon their maps undergo more than 150 million updates annually. This is a good reason to take up the optional FreshMaps subscription which offers up to 12 updates of both regular maps and POI over three years from mapping industry leader NAVTEQ.

Introducing NAVIGON FreshMaps

To meet it’s challenging performance demands, particularly the visual interface, the Navigon 2200T is powered by a 533 MHz Samsung 2443 processor, has a built-in graphics accelerator and runs the Microsoft Windows CE Net 5.0 operating system.

Other Useful Features

Auto-off Feature turns off your system when you turn off your car
Auto Day/Night Mode adjusts your screen for better daytime or night-time viewing