Handset Icon Indicates a Cellphone
is Locked On and Calling
GENERAL:
This portable (only 9.2 oz as compared to the GPSmap 76C at 8.3
oz) StreetPilot c550 is about $760 (or about $190 less than the StreetPilot
7200), check for latest discount prices (HERE).
It comes ready-to-go right out of the box with preloaded maps and many options. The unit has an internal rechargeable battery and provides the same, easy-to-use, navigation as the c300 series with enhancements like Bluetooth wireless technology hands-free cellphone calling, an integrated traffic receiver, and an MP3 player. The unit was tested with Software Ver. 4.10. It has only an ON/OFF button and a thumb wheel volume control on the right side. The internal battery powered the unit for approximately eight hours with the backlight at 50%.
This unit has the new SIRF-III high-sensitivity GPS receiver -providing faster acquisition times and maintaining signal under heavy foliage and near city skyscrapers. The screen is a very sharp, 3 1/2" diagonal, sunlight-readable TFT. The screen is brighter than the c300 series, with one of the highest-resolution (320x240) color screens we have reviewed. See comparisons to other units (HERE). Configurable vehicle icons allow you to select a customized car-shaped icon showing your position on the map. The Mass Storage has 1.94 GB of internal memory with about 667 MB left for other data and maps. It's interesting that the unit is "Ready to Navigate" the instant it is turned on, as if the receiver is running in the background when the unit is turned off.
The c550 appears to be designed for an audience that mainly wants Garmin to "Take you There" without having to do much computer work and not necessarily the "GPS Enthusiast". (See Joe's FAQs). However, for its intended purpose, it works very well. A system based on the c550 is being installed in Avis and Budget rental cars.
The internal battery will power the receiver even though the unit is unplugged from the 12vdc. Measurements of the battery drain from a car battery are shown (HERE).
Click on Thumbnails
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Out-of-the-box parts: GPS back showing the snap-in ball socket and
speakers, suction and permanent mounts, travel case
Power/FM radio plug, unlock code, and USB cable ° Hand-size
unit
GPS Navigator:
The c550 comes with preloaded maps of Europe or North America and
includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, and turn-by-turn
voice directions that speak street names, making "heads-up" navigation
easy.
NOTE: If you change the voice in the "Locale" section, you
need to select a voice labeled "TTS" (Text To Speech) if you wish to use
this feature.
Look up an address:
(1250 Northwest Highway, Garland, TX 75041, submitted by a reader)
Press: "Where to?", "Address", "Spell State" (TX), "Spell City"
(GARL) -at this point the unit figures out that it's Garland TX, "Enter
House Number" (1250), "Enter Street" (NORTHWEST), the address comes up
with the proper zip code, now press "Go!" (or "Show Map").
Waypoints (Favorites):
If you have MapSource, upgrade it to at least v. 6.11.5. Then
MapSource can recognize the c550, and any waypoints loaded into a MapSource
map can be uploaded to the unit directly without having to go through the
.gpx routine. These Favorites will be ADDED to any favorites in the
unit.
NOTES: Waypoints can't be deleted 'en mass' or by symbol as with all the Garmin hand-held units we have reviewed. They must be deleted one at a time with the Favorites Edit function. However, a reader has come up with a 'workaround' to delete all waypoints at once (HERE).
The c550 does not come with any MapSource capability. One would have to purchase a MapSource map or Trip & Waypoint Manager in order to create, upload, or view waypoints in the unit on a PC map.
Missing DVD:
While the MapSource DVD is not included in the package, the American
buyer (only) is entitled to the disk, and if they send an email to Garmin
via their support web page: http://www.garmin.com/contactUs/techSupport.jsp
including their unit serial number etc., Garmin will send you the
DVD for free. Then, using the unlock code included in the original
package (on a yellow sheet), the user can install MapSource onto their
PC. With this DVD one can unlock the map in a second GPS, if it supports
NT maps. (Thanks to Paul Haring for this tip!)
Auto Routing
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Splash Page "Cars" Icon Shows that
Traffic Information is Being Received ° 2-D Map ° 3-D Map
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From the "WhereTo", Select a Destination
2-D Route ° 3-D Route (Streets
Change to Yellow)
Some Example Screen
Shots
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A close zoom level is required to display your Favorites.
Screen Shots can be Stored in the "Mass Media" (by clicking on a
camera icon).
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Select Routing Options °
Setting the Brightness is done Manually ° MP3 Player Control
FEATURES:
In addition to the touch-screen display found in previous versions,
the StreetPilot c550 along with its counterparts, the StreetPilot c530
and the StreetPilot c510, come equipped with new c500 series features.
"Garmin Lock" is an anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific 4-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location. It is also an MP3 player and accepts customized points of interest (POIs) such as school zones and safety cameras.
Bluetooth Wireless:
Features exclusive to the StreetPilot c550 include Bluetooth technology
integrated with a microphone and dual speakers that lets you to make hands-free
mobile phone calls on a compatible Bluetooth wireless phone. One can view
incoming calls on the c550, by tapping on the screen to answer.
Speak into the built-in microphone while staying focused on your driving! In addition, one can retrieve and dial numbers from their personalized phone book or the phone's call history log. You can also make calls from the StreetPilot c550's points of interest database -which includes hotels, restaurants, stores, and more. In tests with several cell phones, synching with the c550 was remarkably easy, and the audio quality was good.
Integrated Traffic Receiver*:
A unique feature to the c550 is its integrated traffic capabilities.
The unit includes a GTM-20 FM TMC traffic receiver installed in the 12vdc
power plug (with lights for Power-on and Traffic reception) which notifies
you of traffic, construction, weather delays, and automatically suggests
alternative routes. The traffic receiver comes with a free 3-month
trial subscription (US). To extend the initial service, visit (HERE).
Subscription cost is $60 per year. One can pan the Traffic maps (only)
by touching and sliding on the screen.
*Traffic services are available in select cities noted (HERE).
Traffic Screens
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StreetPilot c550 FM Traffic
° StreetPilot 7200 XM Radio Traffic
(Not all Traffic Information is Created Equal. Apparently
Slow and Heavy traffic are combined into Orange)
However, one can determine the severity of the traffic congestion
from other screen pages.
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Index of traffic events starting with
the closest ° Details of the Index
Optional Software (Extras):
Optional software available on plug-in SD cards lets you add new
features to your c550 without connecting to your computer. Travel
Guide gives you helpful and thorough reviews and recommendations for restaurants,
hotels, shopping, nightlife, sporting events and tourist attractions. Travel
Guide for Europe available for purchase. Travel Guide for United States
is coming soon. Savers Guide is a geo-coded coupon book that notifies
you of nearby discounts on restaurants, hotels, shopping, and more at thousands
of participating Entertainment businesses throughout North America.
Trip Computer
Things We Would Like to See Improved: