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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Magellan GPS > August 2006 > 860T RoadMate First Impressions
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860T RoadMate First Impressions
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| Just received an 860T.
Similarity to 800 is high, as expected. Some menu changes, some obvious to
cover the 60 and T mods. Others seem to be minor refinements.
Two ³issues² for which Iım awaiting an answer from the Magellanic Cloud:
* Software tools CD was labeled for the 3000T, whereas the documentation CD
was labeled 860T as expected. It actually seems reasonable that the
software would be the same, but Iım not taking the chance. Interestingly,
there are only English and French PDF documentation files on the document
CD.
* Flip up antenna is sloppyı. Thereıs plenty of friction to hold it in
place, but thereıs playı both along and across the hinge axis. It works,
so perhaps this is a non-issue. Iım only concerned about possible future
warranty issues. Got it from Tiger GPS, and an extended warranty wasnıt
offered (as far as I could tell ... will pursue further).
The 860T cradle is substantially different from the 800 cradle, and is now
called the Enhanced Cradleı. Itıs obviously part of the Traffic package.
Before I get to the details of the traffic package, itıs interesting to note
that there is a coupling antenna for a remote antenna system. The built-in
flip up antenna still has the connection for an external antenna just like
the 800. However, the cradle also has a connector for an external antenna,
and the instructions say to leave the RM860 built-in antenna in the down and
locked position. That way, when itıs in the cradle, there is obviously a
coupling antenna to make the transition from remote antenna to the RM8XX.
Perhaps this solves either/both a multi-path and installation problem. At
least it should look cleaner. I wonder if the 860T has a unique remote
antenna with a bit more gain in order to overcome the coupling loss; TBD.
The ³Traffic Module² consists of a wire harness with a relatively small lump
in it. Apparently it contains a radio receiver capable of covering all or
part of the FM broadcast band. Thereıs an FM antenna that plugs into the
³Traffic Module² that is yet another thing to deal with in an installation.
Itıs a length of wire with small suction cup to stick to the windshield
(ostensibly). The wire is fairly long, and interestingly has a stereo mini
plug (1/8th inch?) connector. Hopefully no harm will be done if someone
accidentally plugs it into the RM860Tıs headphone jack. A stereo mini plug
seems an odd choice for an antenna connector, but perhaps thereıs a reason.
There are three wires attached to the ³Traffic Module²: power inı (from the
normal car, or I suppose also the AC, power adapter); power outı which goes
to the cradle, data cableı which plugs into the cradle. The socket for the
FM antenna is in the lump on the ³Traffic Module². The cradle has a
connector in the bottom that the RM860T plugs into. This is apparently the
ultimate purpose of the accessory connector on the bottom of the RM800 what
was heretofore unused, even when in the cradle. Power and data obviously
pass through it (and audio, see later paragraph). The data connector on the
cradle is one of the tiny 4-pin camera USB/Firewire connectors. I havenıt
found whether it would also take the USB connection to a PC, and donıt care
to experiment (yet another question for Magellan). Bottom line is that the
traffic module accessory, when offered for the RM800, will probably consist
of the ³Traffic Module², a new cradle, and the FM antenna.
The Enhanced Cradle also has an audio (³line² or headphone, unknown?)
output, which I donıt recall being part of the RM800 cradle. The manual
says that both the audio jack on the RM860T and the one on the cradle CANNOT
be used at the same time.
I noticed that the maps SEEM to have been updated. It appears that some of
the old Tiger database has been reincorporated. I donıt have the RM800
anymore to compare with it, so I could be all wet in that regard. Happily,
it includes a lot of the National Forest roads I use, BUT some of the NFS
main dragsı remain unlabelled ... odd.
Canıt report on the street name pronunciation yet. If it works well, I
wonıt bother with a follow-up note. If it doesnıt, or has significant
quirks, ³Iıll be back².
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| Update:
Even though the Tools CD was labeled for the 3000T, according to the support
line (I called the San Dimas area code 909 number, and got an immediate
answer; however, the responder sounded Scandinavian), the same software is
used for all of the RoadMates. I ran it, and indeed there was nothing that
seemed to make it specifically for the 3000T. I did not try actually
uploading anything. Iıll try to find time to upload some stuff, but itıs
not a priority for me. Again, no news will be good news.
On close inspection of the data connector, it is NOT the miniature
USB/Firewire connector that is used on cameras. Perhaps itıs something
unique to Magellan. The connector on the RoadMate has the USB symbol
adjacent to it, and it does connect to a USB port. The connector on the new
cradle has no symbol, so thereıs no way to be sure itıs a USB connection.
Iıll add that to my list of questions for Magellan.
I did connect the Traffic Module, and it worked like a champ. It accepts
power from both the car and AC power adaptors, which makes sense. It SEEMS
that there is an undocumented feature, namely the color of the road in an
affected area SEEMS to be different. After some driving around Iıll know
better if this is true. Iıll also reread the manual to see if I just missed
that feature.
I really like the new cradle compared to the original RM800 cradle which was
kind of bizarre. Even with the Traffic Module octopus (not required to use
the cradle), it makes routing of wires to the RoadMate much cleaner. Once
the cradle is set up in the car, you just insert/remove the RM860T. There
is no plugging and unplugging of cables. Why they waited to do this is a
mystery.
I ordered the external antenna, so as soon as that arrives Iıll be able to
test how well the coupling antenna in the cradle works. Since the GPS
status provides signal strength (C/No) measurements, it will be easy to
compare. Already looked at signal strength, and inside the house I got
about what Iıd expect: from high 30ıs to mid 40ıs dBHz.
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| One quick note regarding the pronunciation of street names. It appears that
when the name is non-English, the voice switches character to simulate
native pronunciation. This is based solely on the plethora of Hispanic
origin street names in Southern California. The difference is notable
enough perhaps to be a distraction. Thank goodness thereıs a way to have it
quickly repeat a direction. I know some areas with Scandinavian root names,
so if I get a chance, Iıll see if it does it with other than just Hispanic
origin names.
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