Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108283 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Navman
• Model: iCN 520
• Released on: 2005-10-20

Features

• In-Car satelitte navigation that fits easily into your pocket guiding you throughout UK and Ireland

Manufacturer's Description
Navman's menu system is very easy to use;Simply type in your destination on the colour touch screen;and let your iCN 520 plan the best route for you;you can also select different on-screen views and data;as well as 2D or 3D maps to track your journey in real time.

Customer Reviews

So far so good!
I bought the Navman icn 520 on the recommendation of a friend, and so far have not been disappointed. The large screen is a bonus, but the whole thing fits easily in a pocket. I've tried to confuse it by heading off the calculted route but after a few stern warnings to 'do a u-turn when safe to do so', it quickly recalculates a new route and away you go! Before using it I recommend that you adjust the 'Routing Preferences' to suit yourself i.e quickest/shortist; motorways less often/more often; urban roads less often/more often. The detail on the maps is amazing- on the rural roads I use even quite small farm drives are shown. It froze on me once when only the on/off button would work, but pressing the reset button got it working again. Beware, that the first time you use it it can take 15 minutes to get a GPS fix (keep the car stationary), but next time it is very quick. Niggles? 3 so far. The user manual looks very pretty and is useful for the basics, but there is no 'Troubleshooting' section. Better to use the FAQ at the Navman Europe website. Occasionally the touch screen is a bit 'hit and miss' but there is a 4-way toggle switch you can use. The keyboard screen is not a 'qwerty' one which can get a bit annoying if you are in a hurry. However, so far it has not got us lost and was good value at £299. Finally, remember that Satnav won't work without an external antenna if you have a heat reflecting windscreen.

Flawed
Great system, easy to use and lends itself to being used outside of a car (more useful than you think). Is also much less bulky than the Tom Tom units.

However its absolutely useless in built up areas, it looses its signal and then spends an age trying to reacquire it. I used this model in anger around the city centres of Birmingam and Manchester and it was a complete waste of time.

I presume an external ariel would improve this but as it stands don't buy this if you intend to use it in cities

Reflections on Navman after a few weeks
Whilst it looks great, there are too many niggles; after a few weeks I look at mates with other systems and wish I hadn't been seduced to get this by the offer of a free snooper.

Main problems are:

The GPS strength is decidedly average. Others get satellite link ups when the Navman is down. Consequently, when the car is in a car park and you come out, you have to drive around lost for 10 minutes before you get a signal - mightly infuriating!

Also, it loses its signal around high buildings - did it last week in Manchester which really annoyed!

The fact that you have to use a stylus is poor, the Tom Tom is so much easier as you can make quick changes on route whereas with the Navman you have to stop, get the stylus out (to do this you have to take it out of the cradle) and then fiddle around; with Tom Tom and a few others they are all touch sensitive.

Then, certain of the functions you have to tap over an over until the unit responds.

Finally when you get problems the web site is down. Trouble is, you don't know this until you have typed all your details into the registration section! Oh and finally, when you try to register the product you are asked for a registration key number. There is no number that fits on the packaging or unit. What you don't realise is that you have to go to the Navman site and register there and then you get a product key!