dkozin's Full Review: Garmin StreetPilot c320 Car GPS Receiver
I did not really need a GPS Receiver. I usually drive to the familiar places and if I drive somewhere else, Mapquest or Google Maps are just a click away. But the GPS Receivers are cool and I would not mind having one when I travel. When Frys had the Garmin StreePilot c320 on sale for $200 online (plus tax but with free shipping), I just could not resist. And I am glad I couldn’t.
What Is Garmin StreetPilot c320?
The Garmin StreetPilot c320 is a GPS navigation unit that features a 3.5-inch 16-bit 320x240 touchscreen, has a built-in antenna, uses SD cards for storing maps and comes with MapSource maps on a CD.
The unit comes with a windshield mount (suction cup). I also found a dashboard mounting disk in the package along with a car power adaptor and a USB cable. The receiver itself has a built-in Li-Ion battery that lasts 8 hours.
There is a jack to connect an additional (optional) external GPS antenna. The unit is also WAAP-enabled, which provides better accuracy. The receiver is 12-channel (parallel-channel).
The c320 comes with a 128-MB SD card you can use to load maps from the supplied CD onto. The SD slot on the unit accepts SD cards of higher capacity if you need to keep the entire US map on it.
Getting Started
The GPS unit itself lacks more modern look of TomTom One or Garmin Nuvi units. Instead of being flat, it looks like a miniature CRT-based display. No worries, it works really well in the supplied mounting bracket.
I live in California, one of two states where mounting items on one’s windshield is illegal. I do have a radar detector attached to the windshield with suction cups, but it is very low and does not affect visibility.
The c320 comes with a windshield-mounting bracket that is somewhat large. The package also included a plastic disc which can be attached to the dash and then used as a base for the suction cup of the mounting bracket so that you do not have to use your windshield.
There was nothing in the manual regarding this disc, but the usage is pretty straightforward. You peel the red backing from the adhesive side of the disc and stick it onto the dash. Then you use the mounting bracket with its suction cup to mount the GPS unit. The c320 has contacts on its base that connect to contacts on the bracket when you place the GPS receiver onto the bracket. The DC power cord connects to the bracket and to the 12v car power outlet.
My car (2004 Infiniti G35) has a little compartment in the center top of the dash. The G35s that were factory-equipped with GPS navigation had the screen there. My car had no such option. But this compartment came in handy. I attached the aforementioned disk to the inside wall of that compartment and the bracket fit in it perfectly with GPS unit being almost fully concealed with its screen showing and its face protruding by only a handful of millimeters.
Overall, the look is rather clean, although not as sleek as the factory-installed unit.
The GPS had some power in its battery upon arrival. One of the cool things about it is that you can charge it while using it in your car or while it is connected to your computer’s USB port when the computer is on (weather or not you are loading maps).
Even more cool: since the unit uses a standard mini-USB port (5v), I can even charge it suing my cell phone charger for Motorola RAZR or operate it using my Motorola RAZR car charger (both output 5v). I tried and it worked.
Once I registered using internet connection and installed the MapSource on my computer, I was ready to load the maps. The software is not very intuitive, but I figured it out quite easily.
With the c320 connected using USB, I loaded maps of California, Arizona and Nevada, which took less than one third of the space on the supplied SD card. I heard loading more maps than you need makes navigation slightly slower, so I did not fill up the SD card with the maps I do not need. In theory, I could have gotten a large SD card (e.g. 1 GB) and loaded the entire US onto it.
Usage
The device is very easy to use. It uses a touchscreen and you do not have to enter the complete address. Once you start entering the street name, after several letters it gives you suggestions you can select from. I was surprised how easy it was to enter street names.
The c320 can adjust brightness (switch to night mode automatically) at night based on time. You can select among three different views, including 3D. It can memorize several locations, including Home and give you directions at a touch of its screen.
The c320 gives you voice prompts, e.g. In half a mile, turn left and its screen, which does not look large, fits an amazing amount of information legibly and efficiently.
For instance, the 3D view shows street names, estimated time of arrival, distance to next turn, next turn street name. If you click (push) the ETA, the screen shows up that shows your average speed, maximum speed, heading and estimated time of travel and more.
Clicking on the next turn street name above brings a screen with a list of next turns with distance to each (scrollable).
If you miss a turn, it will recalculate directions automatically. If a street is closed, you just hit Menu and Detour and you will get alternative directions.
The unit also allows you to select a preference among fastest or shortest route, lets you select a mode where it avoids freeways or carpool lanes. The unit even announced what side of the street the destination is going to be at: a feature I absolutely love. E.g. Arrive at destination on right.
And it starts automatically when you start the car and turns off automatically 30 seconds after you turn the car off, unless you elect to have it stay on for longer.
Although it works very well most of the time, you might want to use your own knowledge if you drive to places you know the best route to, however. I will explain why below.
Shortcomings
First of all, it takes the c320 some time after you turn in on to figure out the current location and load maps and firmware. During this time, it will not give you directions. This is expected (other GPS units do this too). And, of course, you loose signal in parking garages, so it can only start figuring out where it is after you are outside.
The accuracy is good most of the time, but occasionally it might make you make a wrong turn (not too often).
If you elect Fastest Route in options, it will insist on you taking major streets, even if you know that they are jammed at rush hour or the road surface is bad (e.g. Wilshire Blvd in LA).
Update 06/2009
I still have this GPS unit and use it in my Infiniti G35. It works as well as new and even though there are newer models with fancier features, I am going to keep this Garmin. It is easier to use (and has more legible graphics) than TomTom One that my wife has and it mounting hardware is much better also.
Bottom Line
Although it has some minimal shortcomings, the Garmin StreetPilot c320 is a very useful product. Easy to use and feature-rich it is a very good budget GPS receiver. I highly recommend it if you have under-$300 budget for a GPS navigation unit.
Convenient touch screen allows for quick access to features such as addresses, recent locations, food, and lodging Features a SD card slot, a 128 MB S...More at Amazon Marketplace
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