Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70374 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: StreetPilot C550
• Released on: 2006-05-05
• Dimensions: 3.19" h x 4.41" w x 3.39" l, .57 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
The Garmin StreetPilot c550 GPS Vehicle Navigator represents the ultimate in GPS performance and simplicity. This portable navigator comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded maps and a wealth of options. Delivering the same easy to use and affordable navigation as Garmin's c300 series of vehicle navigators -- including a simple touchscreen interface, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions, and over six million points of interest -- the StreetPilot c550 also offers Bluetooth wireless technology with hands-free calling, an integrated traffic receiver, an MP3 player, and much more.

The StreetPilot c550 delivers high-end GPS navigation, and is easy to use right out of the box.

Navigation is easy with a touchscreen interface, voice-prompted directions, and more. View larger.

Compatible with Bluetooth wireless phones for hands-free calls. View larger.

Advanced Wireless and GPS Technology
At the heart of the StreetPilot c550 is a high-sensitivity WAAS-capable GPS receiver by SiRF that provides outstanding acquisition times and the ability to maintain a strong signal under heavy foliage and near city skyscrapers. This means you'll always know precisely where you are. Meanwhile, an automotive-grade, sunlight-readable, 2.8 x 2.1-inches (WxH) anti-glare TFT LCD touch-screen display offers easy readability. With dimensions of 4.4 x 3.2 x 2.2-inches (WxHxD), and at about nine ounces in weight, the StreetPilot c550 features a streamlined design that will fit easily on any dashboard with the included vehicle suction mount. The unit also features Garmin Lock -- an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location.

The StreetPilot c550 also includes Bluetooth technology integrated with a microphone and dual speakers that lets you make hands-free mobile phone calls on a compatible Bluetooth wireless phone. You can view incoming calls on your c550, and simply tap the screen to answer. Just speak into the built-in microphone while staying focused on your driving. In addition, you can retrieve and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or the phone's call history log. You can also make calls from the more than six million points of interest database -- which includes hotels, restaurants, stores, and much more.

Another feature unique to the c550 is its integrated traffic capabilities. The c550 includes the GTM 20, an integrated FM TMC traffic receiver. The GTM 20 notifies you of traffic conditions, construction and weather delays, and automatically suggests alternative routes. The navigator also comes with preloaded maps of Europe or North America and includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, and turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names -- making navigation as easy as it gets. An included MP3 player lets you enjoy music from your digital collection while you drive, and an included SD memory card expansion slot means that you can load optional software, such as language and travel guides -- making travel even easier and more entertaining than ever.

Customer Reviews

Built for Idiots
For some people a GPS unit that is built for even the most technically challenged person would at first thought seem to be a dream. In fact if you can't even work your DVD player then this is the GPS Unit for you.

Myself, well I have used the Garmin Ique and GPS 10 along with a Tom Tom 700 and all of the units while great, lacked something. What I really looked forward to was the 3D maps that I enjoyed on my Tom Tom on a Garmin. I also wanted 'real time' Traffic information, I have used the Plus Services that Tom Tom provide but that soon racks up the GPRS charges on a phone and abroad it is just horrific what some phone service providers charge.

Anyway I noticed the release of the Garmin C550, 3D maps and an integrated FM Traffic receiver with lifetime RAC Traffic subscription. I couldn't wait and ordered it immediately. It arrived last week and has been a let down from day one.

First of all I noticed how much the screen 'jerks' (I have been used to a smooth motion on the Tom Tom 700) so bad is this at times that I have made a turn before the screen has even caught up.

The Traffic receiver is worse, built in to the power lead the Traffic Receiver (GTM21) is about the size of a small USB memory stick. It has a long wire (less than 1M) that has two suckers on so you can stick this wire to the screen. However if you have a heated screen like I do you will not pick up the traffic signals. In fact I've tried the wire on the side windows and still no joy. The only place I can put the wire is outside on the roof and that is not ideal at all.

This unit has the best mount of a GPS I have used ever, it is so simple. However the ball socket mount worries me, over time this could wear and then the unit will not stay fixed were you place it. It already has a little less firmness and that is after 4 days of use. The extra wire for the traffic receiver is also a pain and adds wires around you as you have to stick the two attached suckers to your screen.

Maps - Garmin are usually great with maps and information. However for a forthcoming trip to France I am staying at some hotels. Garmin had one of the Hotels listed and not the other in another part of France. You have to ask yourself why? It is not a new hotel either and has been there a while. Pre planning is a nightmare and you have to turn off the GPS signal and then tell it you are at a location you are going to be visiting to be able to even remotely pre plan.

Display - How dumb is the interface now? This was designed for idiots, keeping it simple with no options to be more complex is annoying. I cannot see what my speed is from the main map display, nor can I add anything. All you get now on the main display is the time you are arriving, the distance to the next turn and some text with a brief description of the next road you are taking. If you touch the screen over the distance to turn it shows you a 2D version of the junction. Garmin used to have this screen 'pop up' automatically as you approached the turn but have abandoned this, I used to find it really useful and I am annoyed that it is not even an option on this.

This unit also does not come with mapsource, Garmin's own mapping program for your PC. So you cannot plan routes and transfer them, this device wouldn't support that anyway. There is no backup program and no pc software to use with it (unless you count the hideous poi loader from Garmin) If you delete any Garmin files by accident then you are lost as it does not come with a backup DVD to re-install. Not so idiot proof now is it?

Satellite Status; forget it, that little screen showing the status of your reception and your longitude and latitude has now gone.

Detour - Garmin added a 'detour' button, why? Tom Tom has a great system for avoiding road blocks and it is very user friendly with many options. Garmin give you 'detour' button with very little explanation of what exactly it does. I know it makes a detour but just how much of a detour? You just do not get the option to decide.

Roadworks/traffic hot spot avoidance - Remember the way you could highlight a place/road or area on the Ique and then state a date/time for your Ique to avoid it? Forget that, this unit offers nothing like that. A simple feature that Garmin offer on the streetpilot devices but not on this. If you use your GPS and travel regularly through certain areas you have no way to avoid known roadworks or areas you know are very busy then this is not the unit for you.

Having used a Tom Tom 700 (I still have it) I have decided that the Garmin is designed for the under 5's to use and of course they will love it. For anyone that requires a little more than a talking map this is useless.

Garmin, this is a poor product. Some excellent technology gone to waste. They took a load of cutting edge software and made it into a child's toy.

How could Garmin make this better? Add some functionality; come up with a solution to the poor reception on the traffic receiver. Read my review and make chances or you'll lose out to Tom Tom who are already off into the distance with their range of GPS units that offer a lot more for the money than this one does.

garmin c550
just recieved this item today really looking forward to trying it out, tried it out twice today already,really easy to use, took about 2-5mins to get sat signal on start up,then away to go. really pleased with results and if you detour away from track it suggests, very quick to recalcalate to get you back on track. screen is crystal clear and very easy to read and very smooth when giving directions. takes you right to the door excellent piece of kit. tried the traffic receiver but couldn,t get a signal but don't think i live in an area that gets a signal, will have to wait till i go further afield to try that out, will let you know at a later date if i encounter any problems with this unit, to early to say now but really pleased with this so far.

rather disappointing
After owning a Streetpilot c320 since they were launched last year, I'd been eagerly awaiting the c550 primarily because of the real time traffic alerts through its TMC Traffic receiver. No more juggling the phone to get traffic information from O2 - or so I hoped.
On the plus side - the unit does everything you'd expect from a top of the range GPS unit, with the software improved considerably from the c320. It even plays MP3s (though sound quality is pretty poor as you'd expect) and works very well as a hands free device, connected to your mobile via bluetooth!
However, I live in Glasgow, the third biggest city in the UK, and cannot receive a Traffic Alert signal until I get near Manchester - that's 200 miles of M74 / M6 without a signal. I have had "advice" from their technical support line, although this amounted to suggesting I position the aerial wire in a straight line on the windscreen and update the unit's software on the web (both done).
You may very well get good reception of the TMC traffic signal in some parts of the UK - but if you actually want to be able to rely upon it for avoiding jams across the UK, you can't.