Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cobra GPS NavOne 5000, November 28, 2007
THE GOOD:
The unit's 5" screen is incredibly clear; spoken street names are loud and clear; menu is so easy to understand the unit can even be figured out without the book and just by navigating through screens. The "Go Home" button is great. If you're lost ... click "Go Home" and the unit directs you to any location set as "Home". Lots of great features, millions of points of interest; the Real-Time Traffic Information can be accessed with separate purchase of a Traffic Data Receiver. I'm not disappointed that I did not have to pay for something I did not need/want right now. The bluetooth option for accessing your cellphone is convenient although you may need to purchase a separate mic if callers have difficulty hearing your voice. Again, this was not a feature I was looking for and it was not as important to me as the large, crisp screen and the ease of use.
The unit has been greatly improved with software updates and I comfortably rely on it now that my initial issues were resolved. Cobra was extremely responsive to all questions/issues communicated by phone and email. Every problem was resolved in a timely fashion by knowledgeable technicians.
My system information is as follows:
Application: 1.4.0
Kernel: 1.49
Bootloader: 7
Database: 7036
Unit: 737000603011
THE ANNOYING:
1. SOFTWARE ERROR: "Fatal Error" [if you have this error contact Cobra (773-889-8870) for the update if unavailable on the website (www.cobra.com)]
RESOLVED ISSUE: A "Fatal Error" froze unit during 2nd day of use. After shutting unit down and leaving off for a few moments, it restarted and continued to function normally. Assuming a software issue I referenced Cobra website but found no updates available. Upon contacting Cobra a rep indicated a technician would contact me by phone. Surprisingly, within a few hours a tech called back. After a brief discussion he forwarded a software update by email. The instructions were easy to follow and the problem was resolved.
2. FEATURE: Trip Data
ISSUE: Eastern time incorrect. Unit apparently not updated w/Day Light Savings patch.
******
3. FEATURE: GPS Location
ISSUE: GPS location was occasionally incorrect. One day while in Winthrop, MA the unit displayed Chicago, IL. The location did not correct itself for approximately 15 mins. The unit appeared to exerience a delayed response in securing the GPS signal for reconfiguration as it was not even spinning the cobra icon evident while processing.
RESOLVED: I contacted Cobra and they directed me to return the unit for inspection with a detailed description of the problem. The unit was quickly sent back to me in perfect working order.
******
4. FEATURE: Hands-Free Calls from Bluetooth Enabled Cellular Phones - Speaker Volume
ISSUE: Although the adjustable volume of unit's spoken street names is clear and easy to hear; the Bluetooth feature is almost useless because callers can't hear me over the unit.
RESOLVED: Cobra provided a separate mic that resolved the issue. Again, this was not a feature I was looking for and was not as disappointed that this was not perfect. However, Cobra resolved a matter for me without any difficulty.
******
5. FEATURE: Exclusive Cobra-verified Speed and Red Light Camera location database
These are apparently not frequently used in my area. After completely forgetting about the feature, the unit alerted me to the location of an upcoming overhead traffic signal, complete with mounted cameras.
*****
6. FEATURE: Over 7.6 Million Interest Points
ISSUE: Points of Interest (POI) occasionally display on map when not selected in menu. It appears that POIs (i.e., gas stations, Indian/French restaurants, theatres, etc.) are easy to inadvertently select while scrolling through the menus since the screen is quite sensitive. Be sure to press the down arrow at the furthest right-hand side of the down symbol to avoid selecting the last item in a screen.
*****
7. FEATURE: Map Theme
ISSUE: Unit menu indicates 3 map themes: "Easy View/Standard/Simple." However, the manual and file content of recent software update list map themes as "Easy View/Standard/Fun."
Q. Is the unit displaying the correct map theme?
Q. Since the themes appear similar, what is the difference?
*****
8. FEATURE: For NAV ONE 5000 Map Update, order Item # MNA UPD 4000. (listed in product manual).
ISSUE: One week ago, I paid over $350 for the Cobra Nav One GPS 5000. It's apparently so new that Circuit City only had one unit for sale and software updates for glitches are not yet available online and are being forwarded to customers through email by Cobra technicians.
RESOLVED: Once again, Cobra appreciated my situation as a customer and kindly forwarded the Map Update at no charge since I purchased the unit with an older version installed.
*****
9. FEATURE: Battery Operation
ISSUE: Even with Battery Save Mode activated, the unit can run for approximately 1-2 hours without being plugged into the cig adapter. If you do not have an auxiliary charger in the car you can purchase a double adapter in order to have an extra outlet to charge your cellphone.
*****
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Gobra Nav One GPS 5000, November 26, 2007
I purchased this because of all the cool features: Bluetooth, traffic ready, red light camera warning, up-grad able memory, etc.
My first unit was returned same day since it locked up on me right out of the box. My second unit has not been much better since it has locked up twice already. If you insist on this unit carry a back up paper map since when it locks up the only way to reset it is by allowing the battery to run out and then power up again. If you are on a trip and are dependent upon this for directions you are out of luck.
The second issue is that it is sold as being traffic ready which it is not the case since the subscription for this service is not yet available and may never be unless there is a high demand for the unit.
Next, the expandable memory chip which is an SD chip is not a standard SD chip but rather one BEING developed (and not yet developed) specifically for this unit. So there is currently no way to upgrade the memory.
Next, the Bluetooth feature made for hands free driving with your cell phone is terrible because the people you are speaking with can not understand what you are saying.
The red light camera warning has been helpful since it has revealed several I was not aware. I live in a city that id inundated by them.
The customer service has been terrible since there are not techs, just salespersons who are not tech savvy at all.
My recommendation is to stick with the Garmin units. I have a Garmin Street Pilot that is a no frills unit but has always performed flawlessly when I needed it.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is working as advertised, April 25, 2008
I researched before taking the plunge on the Cobra 5000 GPS. Many early purchasers complained about "freezing" problems. Well, Cobra must have listened because recent boxed units do have updated firmware, and software patches are published on their [...] website. So, I suggest you apply the most current patch kit, and then let's see what you think.
The unit is easy to use, the display is huge and bright, just as they advertise! OK, so it won't fit in your pocket, but you just can't have everything. The voice is clear and volume is easy to control. I have tried out both the 2D and 3D views, and both have their pros and cons. Satellite acquisition seems good, and the street maps are quite current. I do hope that future map updates will be available, as we all know that new road construction is always going on somewhere nearby!
Finally, do realise that Cobra is not going to build any more GPS products themselves. There was a Cobra corporate news item late in 2007 to state they are getting out of the actual development, but if you read carefully, Cobra will not abandon these products altogether. I think that means they may simply OEM some other manufacturers products in future, and stick their name on them. Fine, but what about us with real Cobra GPS products? Time will tell, but Cobra assures that they will continue to support their current product line of GPS's. Let's hope so, or they may loose many customers if we are left with useless devices...
UPDATE.... September 2008.
The Cobra 5000 has worked magnificently all summer. If you buy one, make sure you UPDATE the software/firmware. Go to at least the V2.0 release. No freezing, it just works! Still recommended after several months of use. POI database is great for finding restaurants and such when you are travelling in unfamiliar areas. Great feature and easy to use.
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