Lowrance iWAY 500C Car GPS Receiver

Pros: Easiest to view and use. MP3 capabilities. Price.
Cons: Poor reliability, buzzing sound from speaker, bulky and single function use.

This review is based on one week's of daily use of this product. I will try to highlight details that I hope will give you enough information to judge for yourself if this product is right for you. Background- I was searching for a GPS unit that ...

Pros: Large screen. Easy to input destination. On-screen data entry. Loud, clear voice directions.
Cons: Heavy unit wobbles a bit. Uses a lot of power. Doesn't easily connect to stereo.

The Lowrance iWay 500c does what a GPS navigation system should do: it provides an easy way of inputting destination addresses, it locks onto the GPS satellite system in a reasonable time, it provides generally clear directions via voice and on its large ...

Pros: Large, bright screen; good voice volume
Cons: Weight, strange routing, unintuitive, no "go home" one-touch, slow.

Following are my comments about the Lowrance iWay 500c after having evaluated it for about 10 days for a friend. Pros: ·Large and bright TFT screen - 5" diagonal; unusually large for GPS auto navigation devices in its price range; does not wash out ...

Pros: GREAT Display, Touch screen
Cons: POI screw-ups, Occasional need to recalibrate screen, Directions sometimes confusing

I've had a built-in unit in each of my past two vehicles, so I'm quite used to using a GPS, and wherever I can, I'll try to compare the Lowrance to my built-in units. Installation I got the Lowrance 500C for my wife's compact imported car, and ...

Pros: Big, bright LCD display! MP3 player built in.
Cons: No Apple Mac support.

For the last 2 years, I was doing on-site computer service and consulting work. I needed some type of reliable in-car GPS system so I could locate my customers easily. (People often called on my cellphone changing around schedules, and it was VERY ...

Pros: Massive screen and POI database, great routing.
Cons: Can't upload POI database, lacking street names on map, mediocre reception

I wrote this review for my Law Enforcement Equipment website, www.signalzero.com . This review is based on my feelings for both general and law enforcement use. The Lowrance Iway 500c, with its large 5” touch screen, looks like a innovative products ...

Pros: Big Screen, Touch Screen, Nice Clear Voice directions, Easy 2use Functions/Screens, Weatherproof
Cons: Bulky, tiny speaker on power plug just good enough for use when changing vehicles.

I'm a researcher when I'm buying something new maybe too much so, but the Lowrance iWay 500c is by far one of the best products I bought myself in recent years. After unpacking my Lowrance and aquainting myself with it for an hour or so while loading ...

Pros: Heavy duty parts,simple touch screen,5 inch viewing area. MP3 capability.
Cons: POI could be better . More street names could be shown on Maps.

I researched all GPS units and after pros and cons listed on GPS sites decided to try the iway 500c. The unit is well made all components are heavy duty and all accessories are included several mounting choices and amplified antenna. The lock on my ...

Pros: Works very well, easy to read, good voice which comes out clear and crisp.
Cons: It's a bit heavy and a little bulky.

The Lowrance iWay 500c does what a GPS navigation system should do. Provides an easy way of adding destination addresses and it locks onto the GPS satellite system fast. It gives you clear directions by voice and on its large screen, larger than the ...

Pros: Beginning trials have been very good and I like the unit.
Cons: Big present problem with music downloads that have rendered the unit useless.

I bought my Lowrance iWay 500c on Jan 17 2005. I have used it once in the vehicle and I like it a lot. It has a nice, big screen that is easy to see and the touch-screen makes it easy for user input. Also, the format for adding destinations and unique ...

Pros: large screen,
Cons: See above

Had it a year before really using it. Instruction manual difficult to understand and ambiguous (in spite of my 3 college degrees). Takes forever to determine it's location. Errors. Turns are too late. Screen touch system inadequate. Apply all kinds of finger pressure and nothing happens!!.
Would like to return it but I waited too long. As a sailor, I'm interested in the new i600C but will avoid it because it's a Lowrance. 680$ down the drain !!Mort Levy. Montreal.
mortimer.levy@mac.com

Pros: Large screen, Easy to use. Works great.
Cons: The pre programed restaurant was wrong

Bought this unit new on Ebay for $275. First one I've ever bought. Was a little cautious due to the epinions.
Well I was pleasantly surprised. Works great. Easy to learn, I just glanced at the instructions. And had it up and running in minutes.
Have used it around town and its worked flawlessly every time. Except for trying to find one of the pre programed restaurants, there it was wrong. But the large easy to see screen, and the ease of use. More than make up for that.
All in all I'll give it an A

Pros: When it works (infrequently) it performs as expected
Cons: Not recommended

I have had the unit for several years and its performance continues to slide. I drove from Washington DC to Georgia on a clear day and I was only able to access the satellite for the last hour of the trip.
When I down loaded the update , all other info re lodgings,restaurants etc was deleted.
I have been unable to reach customer support and get put into a non-responsive loop.

Pros: Very accurate, tons of great features
Cons: Sensitive to heat and vibration. Resets or crashes often.

Unless you can protect it from heat, direct sunlight and vibrations you should buy something else. I struggled with mine for 4 weeks before deciding it was too unreliable. I will probably buy a Garmin StreetPilot c550 instead (TomTom's look nice but apparently break often)

PROS
- Outstanding features with extremely accurate maps.
- Lots of POIs
- Tons of space for MP3s and pictures
- One of the best vehicle mounting systems around and even comes with a bracket to mount on a motorcycle
- Easy to download software and map upgrades from your computer

CONS
- Gets very hot and in direct sunlight it will shut itself off
- Sensitive to vibrations - hit a pothole and it resets itself. Sometimes it gets stuck in a reset loop and you have to turn it off.
- Occasionally the map fails to refresh or an icon fails to load and the system will "crash" like a PC
- Only supports USB 1.1 so downloading MP3s takes FOREVER

Pros: Big Screen
Cons: Bad reception

I have problems with the unit not finding location. Returned 2 units for various problems and even the third one is still horrible -- can't find location for minutes, you usually reach the destination before the unit finds the satellites! Had troubles with the previous unit's touch-screen.

Good screen but what good is it when the unit does not work?