Customer Reviews

Archos GPS In-Car Holder for 605 Wi-Fi (Holder Only)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Archos 605 WiFi itself is a good product, but don't expect to get a good GPS out of this In-Car Holder! I've tested quite a number of different GPS models, and want to warn you - this Archos GPS, well put it simply, sucks, and here is why:
- Can not play music while in GPS mode (which kills the whole purpose of adding GPS to a PMP player);
- Inaccurate road instructions;
- Minimal GPS functionality;
- Awkward unit-to-holder connections
- Sound from an internal speaker keeps coming out even when connected to audio output line;
- Not very user friendly GPS software;
- Need more? Get it - I am sure you will find some more ... :(

This product does not work out of the box due to an invalid map code supplied with the unit. Repeated emails to Support have gone unanswered. This is a terrible product and the total lack of support is indicative of a company that has no respect for it's customers.

Starting with the positives:

1. Nice display on 605 wifi
2. Holder works well

Negatives (*and these may possibly all be resolved with software updates):

1. Poor route calculation. Some suggested turns make no sense (e.g., turning off a street, adding distance on a different street, only to come back to the original street)
2. Takes a long time to launch GPS program
3. Difficult to navigate the menus
4. When using POI's (points of interest), cannot check the location of POI's with the same name before calculating a route (e.g., multiple Home Depot locations -- Which town is being targeted for the one that is selected?)
5. Cannot see the distance to a POI before calculating a route
6. Difficult to edit a via

The good is that the suction cup works very well and the unit is compact.

THE BAD is all the rest. Very bad route calculation unless you are going to use it for up to 5 miles trips. If you have toll booth on the highway it will never get you on it regardless of did you turn the avoid toll roads on or off. In fact I was in NY state trying to get to Niagara Falls and this "smart" navigation wanted me to leave the Route 90 where the toll booths are go up 87 all the way to Canada cross over and get to Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. I opened ticket with Archos support 8 months ago. I was told that it is third party vendor that develops the Navigation system and they can only send the problem to them but can't track the solution nothing but it should come out at some point as update. 8 moths so far no update no nothing. I am stuck with $120 worth of useless windshield plastic hanger.

i purchased one item and it was bad, I returned it and the same thing bad again. the product Key that comes wit the Archos GPS does not match the unit.

1. Map code is wrong. Customer support is clueless. Had to go online to find the right code. Took a week to get software working.
2. Can't listen to MP3s while in Navigation mode. Useless for long trips.
3. Cannot manipulate GPS functions while unit is not attached to holder.
4. Cannot suppress audio on unit even when an external audio cable is plugged into the holder. You have to plug audio cable into the Archos unit itself to shut up its (lousy) speaker.
5. Cannot output video via holder's aux port (to a car's headrest monitor, for example)

The holder itself is a pretty good mount though (but too expensive just for that function).

Bottom line, we're returning this thing and just buy a car mount from Arkon. We'll stick with Garmin for our GPS needs.

I purchased this in July of 2008. I've been using it with my 160GB 605. The suction cup has broken off twice and been replaced both times by Archos. I would not recommend this unless you are able to support the weight with something else. I even have it resting on the dash and it still broke off. I assume it is from putting it in and taking it out of the GPS cradle. It is nice to run the audio out to a stereo and still be able to charge the unit.

Ok. This is a base model GPS unit that has a base model cost. The Pro's is once you learn how to navigate through the GPS it is just like a Garmin 205 with more detail(I have one in my other car). They both have a POI, speed limit indicator, good detail on maps, you have to download the software for both of them from the internet and easy to understand directions. The biggest problem I have/had with the Archos GPS is they did not give me the correct "code" to start my software download. The other problem is the holder is big and bulky and finally the speaker is not very loud. Other than that, I really do like the GPS. It will give you the exit number you need to exit on and it has a bit more detail than the Garmin 205. Overall I'm glad I bought it and saved the $50 difference on the two units. So If you have a Archos 605 I would buy this if you want a GPS unit. If you don't have an Archos 605 (which I love), buy the Garmin 205. The Garmin is very small, easy to use but will get lost at times like any base model GPS (even though I have not had that issue with the Archos, YET).

Map code did not work and item returned to seller. Archos was not able to find a solution on the map code problem after multiple phone calls to their support giving them all information supplied with the kit.
Unit has not been used because of that.

- The GPS came with a mapcode that can not be used. If you call customer number support.
- The customer suport have no idea what is she doing with repeating telling me that the map code I have is wrong, it should have no symbol. The only map code I ever have is what ever printed on the disc, and yes the disc as the sleeve has nothing written on it.
- Once you got everything installed, the GPS heated the archos so much that we took it off.

and I got to update this review as the design is very lousy. The speaker keep going on as mention above, even you have audio output to the car speaker.

Now, we can not even use it as the Archos holder.

We are returning this product.