Customer Reviews

OMNITECH CE00686A 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've had this Omnitech GPS for a little over a year now. My first impression was the interface was quite blocky and seemed messy. Overall it works, but it does have a few drawbacks. So from my experience, here are a couple things I've noticed:

1. The touchpad keys sometimes stick, so it won't always register what you've typed. Typing slow helps, but it is annoying nonetheless.

2. The stylus is a nice extra, however I find it to be useless when compared to the retracted tip of a ballpoint pen.

3. The Points of Interest button to find restaurants, shopping, etc is ok... if you are in the area you want to find something and only if it is food. Forget finding anything by name, that is almost useless. I tried to look up "Home Depot" or hardware stores in an area where I know there are a few, it comes up with nothing.

4. Many times the GPS is too late in telling you when to turn (especially when you are going over 30mph or in heavily trafficked areas where if you don't cut over immediately when you can to turn, you will not be turning there) or it will tell you around major highways to "Turn left on Main St, then turn left", when you are already on Main St trying to turn onto Maple Rd. In actuality, it means turn left once, onto Maple Rd. Gets confusing if you aren't familiar with the area.

5. I really would've liked one-touch, listed directions because I like to see the route it's taking me because I usually know a better way. Instead you have to press 3 buttons to get to it and the list will not progress as you approach the turns.

6. This isn't really a negative for the GPS, but I'm going to say it anyway. Where I live we have many major roads and interstates reconstructions/rerouting 2-4 times a year. Plus we're in an explosive area where new developments are popping up all over the place... developments/roads the GPS doesn't have. Even if you get the updated maps, by the time the next major road is finished you've already spent the money for the previous maps. As such, I won't buy the new maps until they stop reconstruction on the roads or the map updates catch up faster. Mine still tells me to "make a U-turn" on interstate highways.

7. The GPS will tell you that "you have arrived at your destination" when you are actually 4 or 5 addresses before... or after your destination.

8. This is only in relation to my car and cars designed like it, but the GPS charger is too long and gets in the way of my cup holders which are directly above it. I solved this problem by getting a 3-socketed splitter. The splitter's plug is much smaller than the GPS, and now I can plug in my ipod, GPS, and cell phone charger at the same time. It is a wonderful invention that saved me from spilling drinks and listening to the same 10 CDs over and over again.

I'd really like the GPS to kind of learn the places I go that aren't on the maps yet so it can at least get me in the vicinity of where I need to be. New construction sucks.

This little GPS works fine for the price. If you do an internet search on this model you will find that many people are finding many interesting uses for it. While some of these needed a fix from the manufacturer, not all of them do, and many people are very happy with these units.

I got the Omitech GPS model 16878 about 18 months ago. It was great until the touchscreen stopped working. The screen lights up and it goes to the usual main menu screen, but no sound or action if you touch it with the stylus. Resetting the device (reset button) does not fix it. Oh well there goes $150.

I ordered an Omnitech GPS Model #CE00688A from BrandMedia4Less. Without explanation, Seller sent a Model #16878 which requires the Purchaser to implement a quick fix (per Omnitech Support) as original SD Card supplied in the unit is defective. This is true of all Model #16878 units accordinding to Omnitech. Purchaser must use a new SD Card (not supplied) and to follow complicated directions beyond my abiliy. Written off as a bad experience.