GPS Systems and Reviews

Lowrance iWay 500C GPS Steady Strong Performer

Lowrance electronics have been making electronic devices for a number of years mostly for the fishing and marine market so it was a natural progression when they decided to enter the GPS car market. The things that they have learned from the other markets can only help this company as they enter one of the hottest markets in the industry. The Lowrance iWay 500C looks to make its mark real quickly. Read further and you will learn what you can expect from the 500c and all it can do.

The 500C has a larger 5-inch screen that has a 320 by 320, 256-color display and it is very bright and readable even in direct sunlight. Sometimes the sun can be a problem, but this model seems to handle it very well which is something I really have to give this company credit for. The device measures 6.1 by 4.5 by 2.2 inches so it is small in size and very portable which another plus is for it. It weights slightly over 2 pounds, which really is not a lot, and it is sealed and watertight which can be expected since they have been in the marine and fishing arena for a very long time.

One of the things that I have to give Lowrance credit for is they seemed to have big hard drives on their products and this one is no different. You get a built-in 20GB hard drive in which 10GB is used to store your maps and points of interest and the other 10GB is for you the consumer to use. You may wonder what you will do with the other memory, but it comes in very handy. You can download more things to your unit or use it to download songs for the built in MP3 player. Yes, you heard me right it does have a built-in music player so you can take your favorite tunes with you when you travel. A nice added touch for those really long trips.

Five buttons are arranged vertically along the right edge of the unit which provide basic functions include power/backlighting, a map/music toggle, speak/volume, and the find and main menus. These are all easy to access and seem to work very well. The touch screen interface works very well and you should be up and running in no time, as Lowrance products are real user friendly, which is something I really like about them. You also can choose what data you would like to appear on the screen as you drive down the road. For many people this is a very important feature, as they always want to see what is going on.

The point of interest database that is included is very vast and you should not have any trouble at all finding what you need from it. The 500C has an audible prompt when it is time to turn and the screen will shift to turn preview mode. In this mode, many different things will appear to make your turns and keep you on route much easier. I like this feature and it seemed to work real well in all tests.

Overall, the Lowrance iWay 500C is a thing of beauty. You get a much larger screen than what most people is use to. The touch screen interface works extremely well and it is easy to operate. It should take you no time at all to get going with this model. A built-in MP3 player also is something I really like and it gives you a chance to listen to your favorite tunes as you travel down the highway. It seems more companies are now making this standard in their newer issues, which is something I’d like to see.

Performance wise the iWay 500C is a solid performer at a very good price. Out of the box this one is easy to operate and it will have you cruising down the road in no time at all. If you are looking for a bigger screen with some great added features than look no more the Lowrance iWay 500C has arrived. Grab yours and enjoy what this new model has to offer. With an MP3 player and a big memory there really is no limitations place on this unit. If you need a solid GPS unit than this is one that should be on your radar that is for sure. The company has been in business for years and has a solid reputation so you know they will stand behind their products. This model is one of the better ones.

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Checklist for Buying A GPS Navigation System

Everyone around you has already bought a GPS navigation system, but now you feel that it is your time to get one. What do you need to know before you make that purchase? We have compiled a checklist to help you decide which unit will be best for you.

Model and price is something that you must pay close attention to. If you’re comparing the same model for price make, sure it is exactly the same one. One letter or number can really change the price and the features on it. This is why you must make sure it is the right one so you can get accurate pricing for the model you are looking at.

Warranty will vary on many different models. Some companies will give you longer ones than others so this is something to consider. The only thing is make sure you know exactly what it will cover because different companies cover different parts of the GPS navigation system.

Runs right out of the box. Many times people like navigation systems that are ready to run out of the box. The truth though is many units just do not do that. If you want a unit like that you must be very carefully as some companies have a different perception about what run out of the box means. Size and weight is something that you must look close at as well. If you want something compact, there are many models to choose from. Most are very lightweight and all this must be considered when making a purchase.

One of the biggest things on GPS navigation systems checklists is screen size and colors. Most people will tell you the bigger the better, but not pixel size is something that is just as important. Pixels determine how clear your screen will read. Even if you get a bigger screen but the resolution is not very good, than it really is not worth the extra money that you will have to pay for it.

Most of the time you should have no problem seeing the display on your GPS navigation system, but when the sunlight and nighttime arrives many times it can be a problem. Companies have realized this fact and most now have a Day/night mode, which usually automatically adjusts it so you will always get the best performance possible. Controls are something else that you will want to look into. Most models now come with touch screens, but a word of warning with that as well not all are created equal. Yes, two models could have touch screens, but how they work can be different so take that into account.

Mapping is another area with GPS navigation systems that you also want to look careful into for a couple of reasons. Most navigation systems use maps that are a year or two old so you should look for a system that has a way for you to update them. The second thing that you need to look for is how frequent does the unit updates the maps that are pre-loaded and can you buy or add other maps to use. These are very important especially if you travel a lot.

Text to speech is a function where the GPS navigation system will announce every turn you have to make or what street you may need to be on. This is important because it keeps your eyes fixed on the road and not on the unit. Route planning is also very important. Many different models are making this a priority as it use not be one. Many extra features are being introduced that you may want to look into. Some of those include Bluetooth technology, MP3 players, DVD players and displaying pictures. Probably out of all those, the Bluetooth is the feature that people will use the most.  This feature lets you answer your phone through most GPS navigations systems if it is compatible. This is the only drawback as most units are not compatible with every phone so that is something that you will need to look into.

The checklist above is some of the things that you will need to look at when purchasing your first GPS Navigation system. Most people just grab a unit that a friend recommends or grabs one that looks nice. Do not make these mistakes. Do your homework and study the models you’re considering so you can get the most out of the hard-earned money you will be spending. Just buy what you need and do not buy more just for the sake of owning it

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