Navitel E500 magnetic. Does it make sense to buy navigation in the age of smartphones?
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This is a more philosophical question, because the supporters of each option have their own weighty arguments.
Although we usually have factory GPS navigation in our test vehicles, we also very often use an optional portable one. Why? The first reason is the tests that we try to run on a regular basis. The second is the desire to check how factory kits, often costing a fortune, look like in comparison with most often budget devices. Third, and for us often the most important, is updating maps, radar locations, or additional information. Unfortunately, while factory kits can get traffic information online, however, as we have noticed, car brands rarely update their maps.
Meanwhile, portable navigators not only usually have a free lifetime update, but these updates are carried out relatively often. Of course, the only point is to buy additional navigation for a car that is not equipped with it from the factory. And since the market is saturated with them, we decided to check how one of the mid-range drivers, the Navitel E500 Magnetic, behaves.
Navitel E500 Magnetic. You might like it
The installation method is what we immediately liked very much. With a hand attached to the windshield with a suction cup, navigation is connected thanks to magnets. Magnets and plastic protrusions that facilitate its proper attachment and play a stabilizing role. Of course, with the help of microcontacts, there is also an electrical connection that allows you to power the navigation. The power cable can be connected either directly to the navigation case or to its holder. Thanks to this, when we think about installing on a permanent basis, we can also constantly lay the power cord, and the navigation itself, if necessary, quickly remove and reattach. This is a very convenient solution.
The suction cup itself has a large surface, and the plastic cap, with which we can adjust the navigation angle, works reliably and efficiently. All this does not tend to break away from the glass, and navigation does not tend to fall out of the magnetic "capture" even on the biggest bumps.
We also like that Navitel, as one of the few brands, has thought about retrofitting the set with a soft velor navigation case. This is cheap, but great convenience, especially if we are aesthetes and we are annoyed by even the slightest scratch. And finding them is not difficult, because the rather old-fashioned body of the device tends to quickly stretch in places with a smooth surface.
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We like the case much less, it could be more oval and made of matte and pleasant to the touch plastic, but it feels solid, and several weeks of intensive use have also shown that it is extremely durable.
The power cable is 110 centimeters long. Enough for some, not for us. If we want to place the navigation in the center of the glass, then the length is sufficient. However, if we decide to place it in the corner of the windshield on the side of the steering wheel and quietly run the cable under the steering column, then it simply will not be there. Fortunately, you can buy a longer one.
Navitel E500 Magnetic. What is inside?
Inside, the well-known dual-core MStar MSB2531A processor with a frequency of 800 MHz with an internal memory of 8 GB, running the Windows CE 6.0 operating system, “works”. Known for being widely used in various types of navigators and tablets. It is characterized by stable and fairly efficient operation.
The TFT color touch screen has a diagonal of 5 inches and a resolution of 800 × 480 pixels. Also fully functional in this type of device.
Additional maps can be loaded via the microSD slot, and the device accepts cards up to 32 GB. Also on the case there is a place for a 3,5 mm headphone jack (mini-jack).
Navitel E500 Magnetic. Provision of services
Navigation is ready to go as soon as it is connected to a power source and receives a GPS signal. At the first start, it is worthwhile to carry out the configuration process, i.e. make the necessary adjustments to our individual preferences. It doesn't take long and is fairly intuitive.
A destination can be selected in several ways - by entering a specific address as a selected point on the map, using geographic coordinates, using a downloaded POI database, or using a history of previously selected destinations or favorite destinations.
After confirming the choice of destination, navigation will offer us up to three alternative roads / routes to choose from.
As with most other navigators, as soon as the journey has begun, Navitel will provide us with two important information - the distance left to the destination and the estimated time of arrival.
In a few weeks of fairly intensive use of the device, we did not notice any problems in its operation. It was quite effective to lay out alternative routes in case of a mistake or missing the place where we should have maneuvered.
We have updated the map only once. When doing this for the first time, you need to be patient, especially since we updated the maps of several countries and, unfortunately, it took us almost 4 hours. On the one hand, this may be the influence of the medium-bandwidth wireless channel that we used to connect to the Internet, and on the other hand, a rather large update that we carried out. In the future, we can limit ourselves to those countries that interest us, and not update everything “as is”.
We also appreciate the E500 Magnetic for its graphics. She is not overly overburdened and ascetically modest. All the most important information we expect while driving appears on the screen and is not absorbed.
The case of the device could look more modern. This, of course, is a matter of taste, but since we also buy with our eyes, changing its design could be very beneficial. However, it is very durable, which was confirmed by our intensive use.
The recommended retail price of navigation is PLN 299.
Navitel E500 Magnetic navigation
Specifications:
Software: Navitel Navigator
- Preloaded maps: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK , Vatican City State
- Possibility to install additional cards: yes
- Screen type: TFT
- Screen Size: 5"
- Touch screen: yes
- Resolution: 800x480 pixels
- Operating system: WindowsCE 6.0
- Processor: MStar MSB2531A
- Processor frequency: 800 MHz
- Internal memory: 8 GB
- Type Baterii: Li-pol
- Battery capacity: 1200mAh
- MicroSD slot: up to 32 GB
- Headphone jack: 3,5 mm (mini-jack)
- Dimensions: 138 x 85 x 17 mm
- Weight: 177 g
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