Garmin StreetPilot 2730 3.8-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

by Garmin

Product Details

Product Manual [1.88mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 3.2 x 2 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BWRK2S
• Item model number: 010-00408-04
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description Knowledge is power, and thanks to the advanced technology packed into the Garmin StreetPilot 2730, you'll get plenty of both. The big news about this model in comparison to its predecessor, the 2720, is the addition of XM radio capabilities. With a subscription to XM radio services, you'll get real-time XM NavTraffic, XM WX Weather, and XM Radio service. What does all that mean? When coupled with Garmin's legendary GPS technology, it means you'll always know not only exactly where you are, and but also what lies ahead.

The StreetPilot 2730 is ready to go right out of the box.

Navigation begins with a simple screen. View larger

Thanks to XM-powered traffic data that is integrated into the unit's 3-D map display, you can see what hazards or traffic disruptions are in your area. View larger

Load up your favorite MP3s and play them. View larger

Or, listen to programming on XM radio. View larger

And don't forget to check the weather, which is also powered by XM. View larger

The Power of XM Radio
XM NavTraffic is the first nationwide satellite-based data traffic information service to enable an onscreen overlay of current traffic conditions. The StreetPilot 2730 uses this data to automatically calculate and suggest faster alternative routes long before traffic starts backing up. Accidents, road construction, or other incidents affecting traffic are graphically represented as icons on the navigation map. Precise information relating to a traffic incident is also available, including the precise location of the incident, the lanes affected, and the predicted duration. What's more, roadways are color-coded to indicate directional traffic flow speed.

The 2730 also keeps you up to date on weather conditions, thanks to XM weather data. Current weather conditions for over 2,000 locations, and weather forecasts for 162 cities, are displayed on the screen. United States county storm and flood warnings are also highlighted, giving you the best and latest information available for your travel plans.

The 2730 is also a powerful entertainment device, as it offers more than 150 channels of XM satellite radio channels, featuring 100-percent commercial-free music, as well as more than 30 channels of news, sports, and talk. You can send XM and navigation audio to your car stereo through the StreetPilot's integrated FM wireless transmitter or via an integrated 3.5 mm stereo headphone/line-out plug. And if that's not enough, the 2730 also comes equipped with an MP3 player that lets you take your personal music collection on the road. Loading music from your computer is drag-and-drop easy, and there's no need for special software. The StreetPilot 2730 also works as an audiobook player; you can download books from audible.com and enjoy your favorite authors on the road.

An included GXM 30 antenna receives and processes all XM traffic, weather, and audio data. For maximum portability, the magnetic, waterproof, puck-size antenna can be placed on the dashboard or the roof of the vehicle.

Top-Tier GPS Performance
Don't forget that the 2730 is a high-end GPS navigation device with text-to-speech functionality that allows the unit to audibly announce the names of upcoming streets and points of interest. This lets you keep your eyes on the road while you navigate through busy traffic and tricky roadways. The 2730 also features a widescreen, automotive-grade touchscreen display that automatically dims and brightens based on ambient light conditions. And an included wireless remote control can be used to operate the device's functions.

Finding your way with the 2730 starts with inputting a location on the touchscreen. Next, the unit's text-to-speech feature speaks to you just like a back-seat driver, telling you the names of streets, when to turn, and in what direction. And if you happen to miss a turn, don't worry--the 2730 automatically calculates a new route to your destination. In addition to point-to-point navigation, the 2730 can calculate the most efficient route between multiple destinations--a real time-saver for realtors, salespeople, and errand runners. You can also tell the unit to avoid specific areas or road segments when calculating a route. With the 2730, you have the option of selecting a three-dimensional mapping perspective, or one of several 2-D overhead viewing options. What's more, audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings help you navigate more quickly while keeping your eyes on the road.

An integrated dash-mounting system provides easy adjustment and quick release, or you can use the included "bean bag" mount if you don't want to add a mount to your dash. An included speaker attachment that is built into the 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter enables the 2730 to deliver voice prompts. An internal antenna that communicates with up to 12 GPS satellites is provided, as is a USB port for PC connectivity. There's also an MCX-type connector for hooking up an optional external GPS antenna. And if you need waterproofing, the 2730 is up to the challenge; it meets IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, which means it's submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

Another time- and frustration-saving feature of the 2730 is the database of preloaded maps and points of interest. Gone are the days of uploading partial maps from your computer to your GPS device: the 2730 has them all built in. The unit comes preloaded with Garmin's highly detailed MapSource City Navigator NT North America maps of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Finding points of interest along your route is made easy with the 2730's huge built-in database of nearly six million hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin has also made it easy for users to upload custom points of interest--now you can add school zones or safety cameras to your database. You can even turn on a proximity alert to notify you of upcoming custom points of interest.

Note: Subscriptions are required for XM NavTraffic and XM Radio services.

What's in the Box
StreetPilot 2730 receiver, MapSource City Navigator NT North America maps, GXM 30 antenna, integrated FM wireless transmitter, 12-volt power cable with external speaker, alphanumeric remote control, PC/USB interface cable, AC power adapter, beanbag mount, dash mount, protective cover, owner's manual, and quick-reference setup guide.

Product Description

The StreetPilot 2730 offers real-time XM NavTraffic, XM WX Weather, and XM Radio capabilities. It comes ready to go, right out of the boxtheres no need to download maps from your PC.The XM Traffic, Weather, and Audio capabilities give the StreetPilot 2730 great utility, even when drivers know exactly where they are. XM NavTraffic is the first nationwide satellite-based data traffic information service to enable an overlay of current traffic conditions. The StreetPilot 2730 uses this data to automatically calculate and suggest faster alternative routes long before traffic starts backing up.Accidents, road construction, or other incidents affecting traffic are graphically represented as icons on the navigation map. Precise information relating to a traffic incident is also available, including the precise location of the incident, the lanes affected, and the predicted duration. Roadways are color-coded to indicate directional traffic flow speed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pricey, high quality, routing software OK., January 30, 2006

By 

T. Agoston "tawmbooks" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garmin StreetPilot 2730 3.8-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This is my first GPS unit. Having used and loved the Magellan units in Hertz rental cars, I watched and waited for prices to go down below the $1k mark. These are my first impressions:

The 2730 worked right out of the box -- I just plugged the power cable into the cig lighter, removed the 2730's snap-on screen protector, slid the unit into the weighted base, placed it on the dashboard and powered it up. In spite of the car being parked in the shadow of a 10-story high-rise, the unit quickly locked onto multiple satellites and gave an accurate location textual and graphical readout.

The included manual could be better organized and have more detailed explanations, but the 2730's front panel button controls are fairly intuitive for basic tasks. Menu navigation is easy. (Note, I did download and skim the manual from Amazon before purchasing the unit. I suggest you do the same.) Haven't used the included remote control yet, and at first glance there may not be much need for it.

The screen is a bit small (for my middle-aged eyes), but once you learn its layout, a quick glance at appropriate spots on the screen gives you useful reference data: next turn instruction (text), distance to next waypoint (number), speed, ETA, etc. Within the menus the display and choices of data can be modified.

With my wife driving, I entered our travel destination in Tribeca -- lower Manhattan / NYC (40+ miles away). Using the touchscreen was easy and intuitive. The unit's routing calculation was fairly quick. However, we checked the traffic report (on the old fashioned AM radio news station!) and found that the 2730's selected route would take us down the FDR drive which had some congestion. Moreover, the FDR is on the East side, whereas our destination is closer to the West side. The 2730 couldn't be faulted for the congestion, but the East side routing seemed strange. We started off by followed the unit's initial routing instructions (to stay on I-95 south), but soon veered off onto familiar local parkways which we knew would take us over towards the West side of NYC. As soon as we got off-course, the Garmin quickly recalculated, and anticipated the route we intended (which turned out to be a tad longer -- perhaps why it was not chosen in the first place).

The speaker volume (with clearly-spoken instructions) was adjustable to suit our car's noisy interior. Driving down the West Side Highway, the 2730 did not give us sufficient SPOKEN warning to prepare for an upcoming left turn -- however, the left turn instruction was clearly laid out in text on the screen. I got the impression at that particular point that our physical location was a few 100 feet ahead of the GPS coordinates (perhaps due to limited GPS reception from our location in NYCity).

I am sure there is much more to discover about the 2730 (I haven't tried Points Of Interest or the XM Satellite radio options). After the first trip, I would say I like the unit, find it to be very high-quality, and sold in a convenient bundle with all of the accessories needed (at least those that are apparent now). Some critiques are that the 2730:
1) screen is small
2) is very expensive
3) no internal battery for portable operation (needs to be plugged in to 12v source)
4) instruction manual has extremely limited information. Lots of hidden functionality i.e. difficult to find out how to input locations without a specific address (to mark, name and save a current location -- like a camping spot -- in memory).

Bottom line is if you can spend $800 - $1k, it's a very good GPS bundle. (Note: as of 2007, price is about half!)

ADDENDUM from Trips 2 and 3 (commuting to and from work):
The routing software chose the fastest, most direct route, using a combination of highway and back roads -- impressive and efficient. The map accuracy is very good, except for a few quirks like calling a company campus entrance road an "alley."
Mounting on the dashboard is good for a heads-up navigation display. The beanbag-style weighted portable base is suitably heavy, BUT the unit can go flying off the dashboard during a sharp turn.
Turning on the WAAS function (for more accurate location reading) significantly slows down initial satellite capture.
The trip computer offers lots of functionality as well sa quantitative and predictive data.
2007: I still use the unit regularly, find it useful and reliable, although a bit bigger and bulkier thatn some of the newer Garmins (but with smaller screens).
Telephone support by Garmin has been very good.
Have not used the XM Radio option for traffic -- have not heard that traffic info in the NY Metro area is sufficiently real-time or comprehensive.

81 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garmin 2730 is GPS (Great Product 4 Sure)!, February 9, 2006

By 

Fun on Line (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garmin StreetPilot 2730 3.8-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

I'm really delighted with the product. Before purchasing, I did as much research as I could regarding the various manufacturers and their product offerings:

Pros:
1. I love it!
2. It works well and if you veer off the calculated course, due to your personal knowledge of the area, it recalculates very quickly and ultimately gets you to where you want to be.
3. I'm learning the name of streets that I never knew before due to the text-to-speech feature!!
4. When traveling alone, one doesn't have to fumble with a map while trying to find streets, etc., and divert attention from driving safely.

Cons:
When I first got it, I had a terrible time trying to acquire satellites. At some point, the unit told me that it could not find any satellites and asked if had I traveled thousands of miles. I thought, no, I've been sitting here all the while and responded accordingly. Again, the same problem. Then, after a while, when it asked me again, I answered yes, and then the unit was off and running within a minute or so with satellite acquisiton. It's a minor point, but it wasn't anything addressed in the user manual.

1. The wire for the external, auxilliary antenna has a mind of its own. It doesn't always stay put in the jack. Having said that, the user manual doesn't show where the antenna jack is. I think it's the same plug for the headset, but I'll never use a headset, and, satellite acquisition seems to be quicker and plentiful when using this jack, so I'll continue to use it.

2. The auxilliary antenna can be mounted via a windshield bracket (with suction cups) OR magnet. "OR" because, you have to do one or the other. The antenna attaches to either via two, miniscule screws that you have to screw in. So, since the bracket is plastic and not with some metal, you have to screw the antenna either to the bracket or the magnet and use accordingly. If you should change your mind, be sure to bring a very small philips head screw driver, nimble fingers and good eyesight. I almost lost one of the screws when first opening the package since I didn't expect the mounting to be of this nature and the screws were in the same bag with the magnet and not separately wrapped. Tear into the plastic too vigorously and the screws may go flying!

3. POIs are touted in the literature, etc., but not readily available for the US. AND, you can't create one on the fly. AND, the documentation doesn't address how to create a file to upload with POI's. And even if you could, it appears you need co-ordinates instead of an address in order to create a POI. So, things like school zones, etc., can't be easily put in on the fly so that you're made aware of these areas the next time you pass through.

4. The unit can play over your FM radio, XM satellite stations, with a subscription. But, the unit has no internal speaker or battery, so you can ONLY play it in the car and not away from the car, unless, you plug in the AC adapter, and place it near a receiver in your home?? I tried the FM receiver in the car for the text-to-speech travel instructions and the sound was weak.

5. The confirmation clicks when programming it are only heard when used in the car, since the speaker is contained in the cigarette lighter power adaptor.

6. The GXM antenna for the XM radio/traffic information has a relatively short wire and it needs a clear line of sight to the sky. So, if you're riding with a passenger, and put the antenna on the roof (antenna has magnetic bottom) through the passenger window, it's going to be right in the passenger's face. There's an extension available, but it's confounding why they wouldn't give you an extra 2-3 feet on the wire for starters. The extension gives another 8-9 feet at about $40 or so.

7. The trip computer provides helpful information. It calculates total trip time, moving time, stopped time, and a couple of speed calculations. The trip computer starts as soon as the trip is calculated by the unit. So, if you create a trip, and then don't leave right away, the total time, stopped time and speeds are going to be off by the amount of time sitting (maybe for reasons of still packing the car or a tardy family member) before getting under way. It would be nice if the unit gave the option when to start the trip computer, i.e., immediately upon calculating a route, OR, when the unit first detects car movement! Using the latter would yield more accurate end-of-trip info.

8. Garmin released an update (ver.4.54) for the software. However, it's a beta version. Their caveat is that it should work but there's always a chance that it doesn't since it's beta and not been released officially yet to the field. (Their disclaimer verbatim: Although this software is believed to be reliable, it has not yet been released for production and should be used at your own risk.) Honestly, I don't want anything that's still in beta and be a tester for software that might freeze the unit, and require more of my time to correct it or have to send it to Garmin (for a fee) to fix it.

9. The XM Traffic feature - according to XM, the coverage is by county and not by roadway. So, if you're on a major roadway such as a turnpike that traverses a large part of the state and cuts through many counties, does that mean that traffic or accidents in those uncovered counties goes unreported to the streetpilot and you find yourself without a traffic alert?? I've opened a subscription, can't answer my question, and will see whether I keep the XMTraffic subscription.

10. I think the User Manual can be a little more informative than it is. There are messages or symbols that appear on the unit that do not have any mention and therefore no explanation in the manual. Yes, the unit works right out of the box, BUT, we all know that there's more to learn in using something like this and the documentation should be more helpful in accomplishing that. And, like others, I downloaded the user's manual way before I decided to buy the unit. So, I was familiar with some of its functions before I even received it, but still needed the manual to find the info and step through some of the additional features.

In conclusion: I've only had the unit for a short time. I'm sure I'll become more familiar with it as time goes by. If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely still choose this unit. I DO like it and find it very helpful. The 'cons' presented above are according to my tastes and preferences. They may not be issues for others.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great unit with very little to complain about, January 18, 2006

By 

Brock Burgess (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Garmin StreetPilot 2730 3.8-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This is quite an upgrade from my Streetpilot III. Wonderful screen , intuitive interface, nice backlit remote with a nifty thumbstick, preloaded maps (it actually says the street names), XM radio, MP3/AudioBook player.

My only complaints are:
1) the FM transmitter is pretty weak (I use the audio-out with cassette adapter)
2) Memory is built-in and not expandable. It does have ~750mb of usable space, but it would still be nice if I could use my own memory sticks (CompactFlash, SD, etc...)

So of my measly 2 complaints, only 1 has no workaround. There are tons of little touches/improvements that I don't have the time or energy to go into right now.

It's a 5-star product, no doubt about it.