Navman MY55T GPS Satellite Portable Automotive Navigator Review

Navman’s MY55T portable GPS satellite automotive navigator has an impressively large 4.7 inch (diagonal) touchscreen making it even easier to see navigation maps while driving. The MY55T has an extensive feature set including; text-to-speech for announcing street names, Advanced Lane Guidance, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone use, Live Traffic Updates, Keyword Destination Search, Live Local Searches via Google and TrueLocal.com.au, Live Weather information and an FM Transmitter to connect to your car stereo. You need to look at the MY500XT or MY50T if you would like a built-in media player. Often ignored because of the primary automotive application, is the walking mode for navigation using roads and paths suitable for pedestrians.

Navman MY55T GPS

As mentioned, the Navman MY55T’s screen is larger than the common 4.3 inches however, the resolution remains at 480×272 pixels. So, although the screen is easier to see it does not provide any improvement in the level of detail.

The MY55T has a capacitive touch screen which from user comments available seems more responsive than previous resistive touch screens. A war still rages over the superiority of capacitive over resistive touchscreens or vice versa with no clear winner as yet. Women with long fingernails should note that they will have the same problem as with other capacitive touchscreens, such as the iPhone, with fingernail tips not registering. It’s also worth mentioning that glide touch is disabled by default in favour of the button scrolling system common to most portable GPS devices.

Navigating with the Navman MY55T

Smart Find Keyword Search

Keyword Destination Search is our favorite feature and it’s sure to be a much appreciated feature with other users also. It skips the multi-screen destination entry with an online search engine type single find menu providing the ability to search via entry of the full address, keywords or postcodes. Just like a search engine it will present a list of options for your selection. The speed of this process will win over many a fan.

NavPix

Navigation using NavPix is also an option. Navman call pictures that contain encoded GPS coordinates (geotagged) NavPix which can be used to navigate to the GPS location.

Navman Connect - Live Local Search

At this point it is worth mentioning that the Navman MY55T will perform live searches using Google or TrueLocal (online database of over 1.3 million businesses) utilizing a Bluetooth connection to a (compatible) mobile phone. Live searching ensures you have guaranteed current information as opposed to pre-loaded POI (Points of Interest) information which is current to the time the database was last updated. Live search will be a feature which comes to dominate destination selection.

The Navman unit comes with predictive text to allow address entry with fewer key presses. As each letter of an address is entered, the Navman compares all possible combinations against the maps installed and determine which address you might intend to type.

If you wish you can preview a calculated route and make amendments if you consider it necessary.

If you happen to miss a turn the Navman will re-calculate your route and you will be redirected to the new route.

Traffic

If you regularly commute over the same roads, Traffic may be a primary reason for purchasing a GPS device. Included with the MY55T is a lifetime subscription to the Suna traffic messaging service covering Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth.

Current traffic information enables you to avoid potential delays on your route. Event messages and traffic icons are displayed as they occur and are accessed automatically using the built-in TMC receiver. The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) carries broadcasts of real-time traffic and weather information via the FM Radio Data System (RDS).

If faced with a traffic delay, the MY55T can provide an estimated delay time or time of arrival allowing you to decide to continue on route or made a deviation to avoid the problem.

Multi-stop Routing

The MY55T will allow you to enter waypoints you wish to visit on route.

3D Junction Views

3D Junction Views helps give you through complicated intersections by displaying a detailed 3D image of the approaching major intersection. Arrows guide you through the intersection.

Advanced Lane Guidance

Knowing the correct lane to be in prior to a turn can make life on the road much easier. Navman’s Advanced Lane Guidance displays onscreen arrows which combined with spoken directions provide advice on the best lane to be in when approaching a turn on or off a motorway.

Location and Trip Capture with Voice-tag

This feature stores a location or trip with a voice tag so you can return again.

Digital Logbook

The Digital Logbook allows you to record your trip details and output mileage reports, including distance, start and end locations, time of travel and fuel consumed to ensure doing your expenses and taxes are quick and easy.

3D Landmarks

3D Landmarks seems to be a feature which polarizes users with some loving and some hating them. 3D Landmarks are highly detailed renderings of well-known buildings inserted to help drivers orientate themselves and find their way easier. Unfortunately, some users think they can make the map screen more cluttered and difficult to read.

Premium Safety Alerts

Premium Safety Alerts groups together speed and red light camera alerts, blackspot warnings and railway crossings.

Speed Limit Alerts

Having the current speed limit for the road you are travelling is useful safety and financial (avoid fines) convenience. Information is obtained from the pre-loaded mapping data so some limits may have changed since the last map update.

School Zone Warnings

As one might guess, this functionality warns the driver when they are approaching reduced speed limit school zone. User feedback has been that the alerts are a bit overzealous by popping up at any time of day and not recognizing those schools on busy roads which do not have a 40km/h speed restriction.

FM Transmitter

By tuning your radio to the Navman MY55T’s built in FM transmitter you can divert its sound output to the cars speakers for clearer playback of digital music files, voice guidance and Bluetooth connected phone calls.

Live Weather Updates

Live Weather Updates provide useful information about the weather on your planned journey or at your destination so you won’t be caught unaware.

Maps

Navman have a map guarantee which allows purchasers to download a free map update if one becomes available within 30 days of first using your MY55T. Updating is simply a matter of installing Navman’s NavDesk PC software (included) and connecting your device using the included USB cable.

User feedback has revealed some concerns with map accuracy which highlights how essential it is for consumers to check for map updates soon after they purchase their GPS navigator (especially given the map guarantee) and regularly after that. Everyone seems to realize that you need the latest printed road maps but, less so with digital mapping data. Navman supply a link from their website to NAVTEQ, their digital mapping supplier, where you can report mapping inaccuracies.

From some comments it is worth reminding potential purchasers to check that their Bluetooth equipped mobile phone is compatible with the MY55T before purchase.

The Navman MY55T comes with a reasonable 2 year warranty.