Customer Reviews

Garmin Mobile 20 GPS Receiver for Smartphone

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this to replace a CoPilot Bluetooth GPS receiver that is suffering from a dying battery. I intended to use it only with my Sprint PPC-6700 and the CoPilot software. However, after owning this for a couple of days, I am changing my plans.

This device is both a bluetooth hands-free device and a GPS receiver. The speaker is loud. I used it to make a call to Garmin customer service where I found that I was entitled to an upgrade to Garmin 2008 maps (the unit shipped with maps from 2006) free. The Garmin software has tons of POI and the maps are adequate. You also can use free service, Garmin Online to obtain real time traffic alerts. Be warned that this service opens a data call on your phone, which unless you are on an unlimited plan could get expensive real fast (I didn't notice the open connection for over two hours). The maps come on a 2GB mini (NB!) SD card with an SD adapter. I don't like the Garmin interface as much as CoPilot, I find I really miss the test-to-speech capability. However, at the current Amazon price, the software is just about free.

The bonus feature that this thing has, which has pleased me so is that it also fits and pairs with the Nokia N800 Internet tablet. It's a tight squeeze, but once in there it looks great and the free maps provided in the Nokia OS 2008 make a nice "add-on" GPS device. In fact in a test, I had the Garmin paired with both my PPC-6700 running CoPilot and the N800 running its map program for over 6 hours without a hitch. During the phone call I mentioned above the nice lady at Garmin customer service told me the Mobile 20 would only pair with one device at a time! The unit comes with four "charging" adapters, but the included mini-USB won't charge my PPC-6700. Neither will the enclosed "small" Nokia adapter fit my N800. But the folks at Garmin are sending me the right one for free.

The cons of this unit are the the mount is kind of on the small side and of course, there's no battery. Then there's the what do you do with it when you get to the mall question. With an N800, my brick like PPC-6700 and now this I guess I'll have to think of something ("Charlie? You're NOT wearing Cargo Pants."). One thing's for sure, I am NOT buying a murse.

I was shopping for a GPS system for my car for a few months before I decided to go with this because I already had a Palm Treo that this would be compatible with, it had built in bluetooth, and came with all the software. This sounded like a great bundle because it was much less expensive then some of the other GPS systems that included everything that this did. However after using this approximately 2 times, I found it hard to connect to the bluetooth and when I did the maximum highest volume was hard to hear even with all the windows rolled up. On one of the two occassions using the GPS it sent my Palm Treo into an endless cycle of reseting and turning on and reseting again. I tried to do a hard reset on my phone after this to stop this cycle from occuring but unfortunately I could not get it to stop. I had to goto my local phone dealer and have them take a look at my Treo, they could not figure it out either, so they replaced it with a new Treo (thanfully I pay extra for phone insurance each month).

I ended up returning this item after that because I did not want it to keep causing problems with my phone but even if that didn't happen I still didn't like not hearing my phone calls or even hearing the turn by turn directions, which was a pretty good part of this package, with the exception that my female voice directions stuttered...

The Mobile 20 is excellent at tracking to a destination. The touch input is excellent. However, there appears to be serious system fault, probably in the software, that results in major interference when voice directions are activated. This renders the voice guidance useless. Due to the small mapping screen, properly functioning voice guidance is critical to use of the Mobile 20.

I did not try the SW that came in the box, it is all from 2005. Just went directly to Garmin's website and downloaded the newest 2008 Garmin XT SW for the phone. It is working great on a Verizon XV6700 (also tested on the XV6800). The touch screen on the phone works great with the SW and all the buttons in the SW are big enough to use without a stylus.

The maps are also from 2005 but, this model is also eligible for the 2008 maps for free. Just needed to order the DVD through the mail and move the new maps to the device.

Garmin's website is a little hard to use but had no issues when I emailed their support team. Got an answer next day with detailed directions.

I own a Palm Treo 680 and have been looking at GPS units and came across this package for my phone. I couldn't believe how low the price was on this package. I took my chances and order it. When it arrived I opened the package everything you needed was in the box. I plugged the Blue Tooth GPS unit into my cigarette lighter and plugged the SD card into my Palm Treo 680 phone and the software took a minute or two to install. I registered the product with the Garmin website and downloaded the latest update for the phone which one update allows the screen to stay on continuously instead of timing out which is very handy. I paired my phone with the Bluetooth GPS sensor/phone cradle, typed in a destination and was off and going. I have found the GPS to be very accurate and I was very surprised that it even took the same route as short cuts I take myself.I like the Blue Tooth GPS unit as it also serves as a cradle for holding your phone and includes a charging cable to keep your phone battery fully charged at all times. The hands free Bluetooth speaker works very well when making or receiving calls.The GPS has the function of Where am I and what intersection is close by. You can even upload your own Points of Interests to the SD card.It has many more features available that I won't get into here. I have seen the setup in the price range of $200 to 300 and was real happy to get it for $79.00. This is my experience with the unit installed on my Palm Treo 680 and I highly recommend it if you own a Smart Phone and are looking at standalone GPS units.

Some of the problems I encountered were experienced by the other reviewers. Originally, it would not work in New York City but was just OK at home. My solution was to call Garmin support. The person I spoke with resolved all the issues over the phone in a through and professional manner. It works really well, in fact, much better than the Street Pilot I own and almost as well as the GPS in my car. I requested the free map update online -and it was delivered by USPS in about a week.

This review, if rating only the Garmin support, would have been 5 stars.

This is a nice GPS to use with your PDA phone.

Positive: Four devices in one, "a smart mount" which means that the GPS sensor is embaded in the mount also included are charging cables to charge the phone battery for long trips, the mount can also be used as a speakerphone for hands free calling. The other best feature that i like the FREE! Garmin online service as long as you get a data plan from your service provider. You get wheater, traffic, hotel, and gas price at your current location, This is awsome!! right? and the good thing about it, it's free!!

Negative: The volume is too low when using the device as a speakerphone and the Garmin maps could me more up to date, when i am supposed to be their latest updated maps. other than that i would rate it with a five stars.

I use the receiver/software with my HTC ppc-6700 and it works great. Zero warm-up period. Garmin maps and info. is way better than any other I've used. Works really fast, no stuttering, no problems whatsoever. Very pleased!!!

This product was supposed to be compatable with my AT&T 8525 phone but was not. The data card included was an SD and not a micro SD as needed by the phone. The customer service person at Garmin was completely unhelpful, especially when she found out that the product was purchased from Amazon and not directly from them. This is not the usual experience I have when buying a Garmin product.

I really liked this product, it is easy to use, It have great sensibility even when stored inside the glove compartment, fast to connect to my nokia 5530.

Only disadvantage it doesn't work as a hands free speaker, but because I don't need that feature I'm in peace with it.