Navman ICN-520 - UK GPS Navigation System Best Buy

Excellent entry level navigation - 29 Jan 2007

2 out of 3 found this review helpful.

For the price, this unit is fantastic!!! Yes, there are one or two niggles but so far it literally has been minor. I have owned mine for about a year and it has always got me to where I want to go. Brilliant to be able to download from the net if you want other maps etc and costs far less than other models which pretty much do the same thing. Can't understand mhy anyone would moan at this price.

Flawed - 31 May 2006

17 out of 17 found this review helpful.

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

Great when it works! - 29 May 2006

8 out of 8 found this review helpful.

Was excited about getting the 520 as liked the widescreen and flat panel design better than the TomTom (this was before the new TomTom 510 was released). My main issue has been the delays in getting a GPS fix (sometimes really long ones where I almost have reached my destination!). Sometimes I do a get a fix quickly, but this seems unpredictable. Would have been better with a door to door post-code search as well. Wasnt aware of this limitation when I bought it. Yet, the graphics are great and when its working, the 520 is an effective and user-friendly unit. Just wish it would be more consistent. Am considering the new TomTom 510 for my second car.

After a hickup start ! - 02 Mar 2006

14 out of 14 found this review helpful.

Initially my heart sunk to my toes when it seemed not to gather GPS info. However, RTM (read the manual) faq, after it had locked on for the first time (after 20 mins), the GPS aquisition was almost instantaneous. So don't panick when the first use takes a little time. It does more or less what it says on the tin.

Reflections on Navman after a few weeks - 28 Jan 2006

49 out of 51 found this review helpful.

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!