I’ve been long overdue for an update to my old PDA-based navigation system, and with my new traffic-sensitive commute I finally bought and installed one. In addition to the usual navigation features, I wanted handsfree BlueTooth capability to take calls on the road as well as live traffic data to assist in my commute. The cheapest system with these features was the Garmin Nuvi 370.
It is neatly mounted in place of my old nav, using the Kuda mount and an adaptor from ProClip. Shown here is a live traffic map, which I often use when driving to and from work. Of course the regular view is 3-dimensional, and I get to enjoy new-to-me features like displayed street names and full voice pronunciation. The available MINI graphics are certainly a nice extra as well.
My old Navigation Page was once a popular source as a guide to making and custom installing a nav system, so I’ve taken the opportunity to update it.
I like my nüvi 370 as well, but it’s not perfect, and there are days where I still miss my old StreetPilot 2610. The mounting bracket for the nüvi is a huge step forward, integrating power and microphone jacks, but if you decide you want to use the line-out, external antenna (not needed) and traffic receivers, you’ve now got three cables hanging off in various ugly and awkward ways that must each be disconnected when you remove the unit from the bracket. Such as when you’re parking…
I’m interested in your feedback on the Bluetooth features. I wrote them off long ago. The speaker’s too quiet (even for spoken directions) and the MINI’s a loud environment, so it’s pretty much useless for hearing what anyone’s saying. I don’t know what the mic’s like, however.
How useful do you find the traffic alerts? Do you use a route from home to work and allow it to modify the route according to traffic?
Comment by blalor — September 13, 2007 @ 6:43 am
Links to the clip and mount?
Comment by Ernie Oporto — September 13, 2007 @ 7:28 am
Brian: The only cable needed to remove when popping off the bracket is the traffic receiver, the other cable is integrated into the mount. And I have that installed in the dash too so nohing really visibly hanging off.
I’m happy with the bluetooth. People tell me they can clearly understand what I’m saying. It does of course sound like I’m on a speakerphone, but I would WANT that, to make them fell a little uneasy and keep it short. Volume does need to be at max but it’s fine (and you can ask Ian just how loud my car is right now). Of course it’s mounted much nearer to me on my dash than if you mount things to your windshield.
So far the traffic has saved me a few times, and I watch it every day to and from work. We’ll see if I continue to find it useful.
Ernie: That info is in the Nav page.
Comment by Josh Wardell — September 18, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
Hmm, that set up looks vaguely familiar :).
I only have the nuvi 360, but it’s still excellent. My only complaint is that lately, it seems like it take forever for the unit to acquire the satellites. Do you have this problem with the 370?
Comment by Geoff — September 27, 2007 @ 10:16 am