Navigation Question

[BOATRDAV]

I will be ordering a 07 explorer soon and I would like to have navigation on vehicle. I really don't think the factory unit is worth $2000 with portable units going for over half that price. So I would like some input if anyone has the factory unit and if anyone has a Garmin or a Magellan unit and how do they like it. Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[wharriso]

I will be ordering a 07 explorer soon and I would like to have navigation on vehicle. I really don't think the factory unit is worth $2000 with portable units going for over half that price. So I would like some input if anyone has the factory unit and if anyone has a Garmin or a Magellan unit and how do they like it. Thanks in advance for your replies.

I have a Magellan Roadmate 800. It has the look and feel of the Hertz Neverlost with a touch screen. A few times on trips I had both the Neverlost and the Roadmate running at the same time and they came up with the same results, wrong or right. The Neverlost responds a few seconds faster than the Roadmate but besides that, they are the same. I did notice one problem with the Roadmate, sometimes is has trouble picking up a satellite when the car is moving, that may have something to do with me not having an external antenna for it. I costed me $600.00 brand new but you can get them cheaper on eBay. I've been meaning to get an external antenna for it but so far I have not needed it.

 

[mikeh44]

i believe that the ford unit is made by pioneer myself i use a laptop and a usb gps unit

 

[nleipziger]

I've been using a Garmin Nuvi 350. Excellent results and mounts real cleanly on the dash. I'll post a few pics tomorrow of the mount.

 

[zeeman84]

I have the optional factory navigation in my 06 EB Explorer while my wife has a add on Magellan unit in her 05 Escape, so I believe I can offer a good comparison. We have found that her Magellan unit is just as good as my navigation as far as accuracy and ease of use. The advantage of having the factory nav screen system is how nicely it controls all of the the audio functions along with the rear dvd system. I find that this nice intregration of all the control funtions in one easy to use screen is worth the price.

 

[06EddieNav]

you also get the Audiofile sound system with the navigation radio as well. Its a very good unit, however it should have bluetooth capability, a rear view camera input, Ipod interface, and be voice activated as well.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

you also get the Audiofile sound system with the navigation radio as well. Its a very good unit, however it should have bluetooth capability, a rear view camera input, Ipod interface, and be voice activated as well.

"Should", yeah!

 

[2006_MM_FYRE_41]

Dave, I have an 06 Moutaineer with the Nav system. Yes it is made by Pioneer and it works, for the most part, very well. I say for the most part because I have found a few streets that were not listed but i'm sure an updated DVD will be available. One good thing about it is that it will reroute you if you miss an exit.

Tim

 

[wharriso]

Dave, I have an 06 Moutaineer with the Nav system. Yes it is made by Pioneer and it works, for the most part, very well. I say for the most part because I have found a few streets that were not listed but i'm sure an updated DVD will be available. One good thing about it is that it will reroute you if you miss an exit.

Tim

Now I have a question: Does anyone know why some GPS's require DVD's and some don't? My Magellan doesn't use a DVD and I wouldn't know how to load it if I had one still it appears to have the latest streets loaded and appears to update itself. I want to put an console navi in my truck but I don't want to be buying DVD's for it every year. Why do some update themselves and others do not?

 

[bentley]

Now I have a question: Does anyone know why some GPS's require DVD's and some don't? My Magellan doesn't use a DVD and I wouldn't know how to load it if I had one still it appears to have the latest streets loaded and appears to update itself. I want to put an console navi in my truck but I don't want to be buying DVD's for it every year. Why do some update themselves and others do not?

Some are hard drive based while others are DVD based. I'm guessing that your Magellan is a hard drive based nav. I don't know for sure how Magellan handles updates but if i had to guess they probably offer update files you can download into your PC then upload into the GPS unit.
They typically update DVDs only every couple years because of the cost. A new Nav DVD for an explorer goes for a few hundred bucks.

 

[bitkahuna]

Usually non-factory units are not connected to the drivetrain and as such can't 'dead reckon' when there's no nav signal.

Another benefit of factory units is integration with other features. I have the nav on my 06 Explorer Limited and really like it although have found 1 glitch and I wish the status bar at the top was an overlay rather than blacking out that part which reduces map space. The screen is not tall enough with that space wasted. The glitch by the way is that even with voice guidance off, the system will STILL mute the left speaker when it's not sure about guidance and has you following a yellow marked trail. It's saying (silently) that it can't guarantee you'll get where you want to go. You can't actually turn the voice off, just set the volume to 1 or 0 but as I say it still cuts out the left speaker while speaking sometimes which is annoying if I'm listening to music.

But overall, the system is good and PINPOINT accurate.

 

[jameszr1]

Navigation

I had my OEM Nav system put in after it was delivered as I bought it off the lot. It's the factory one, perfect install, works GREAT and don't forget, your also getting the sirius radio, and 6 CD player. I bought my wife a garmin for her new jeep, and she likes it a lot, BUT my system is not only more accurate, but offers more things. I'd spend the money unless you don't want the rest of the goodies.