Garmin StreetPilot 7200 GPS receiver review

Feature	Test Unit
Model	Garmin StreetPilot 7200
Price	List price $1071.41 (what a strange price) Purchased through Amazon for $750
Review Date/Details	Unit was purchased and reviewed in Aug 2007. It came with software version 5.00. After checking the Garmin website and updating, the software became version 5.10 and additional language/voice features were offered. This continues our unbroken run of always finding updated software for units, even when purchased brand new and then immediately checked for updates. You should be sure to do the same.
Warranty	One year.
Support	Through Garmin's website or via their toll free support - (800)800-1020, 8am - 7pm Central time, Monday - Friday. It seems that it takes about 15 minutes to get through to a representative these days, but when you do get through, the person you speak to is invariably helpful and friendly, and all seem to be based in the US.
Inclusions	The unit comes with a complete package of just about everything you're likely to need : The unit itself Remote control (but no batteries) Dashboard mounting adhesive disk and plate (but no windshield mounting device) Car power supply USB cable AC charger User manual Quick reference guide Various other promotional literature CD with map data and mapping software
Runs out of the box	Yes, mount it, turn it on, and it starts working. Easy to follow menus and screen prompts make the manual almost unnecessary.
Size	The unit measures 7.4" x 4.7" x 1.6".
Weight	The unit by itself weighs 1lb 7oz. The unit complete with screen mounting hardware and power cable weighs 1lb 15 oz (not including the part that attaches to the dash). These are appreciably heavy weights, and as a result, mounting the unit is difficult and best done with a permanent type mounting device.
Mounting Accessories	The unit comes with a dash mount metal sheet. This can be attached to the dash either by screwing it in permanently, or by use of dual sided adhesive disks. This is a cumbersome and clumsy method of mounting. It works well if you have a large flat area on your dash, but if - like most of us - your dash is curving and crowded, you'll have difficulty finding somewhere to place your unit. The dash mount then connects to a quick release bracket making it easy for you to remove the unit from its mount (eg to hide it when parking the vehicle in a higher risk crime zone). No windshield mounting option is offered. Garmin advise that they can be purchased through third party aftermarket sources such as www.rammount.com.
Screen Size	7" diagonal screen 3.5" x 6.1" = 9:16 aspect ratio
Screen Pixels	In common with other 7" screens, this has a resolution of 234x480 pixels. 67 pixels/inch vertically 79 pixels/inch horizontally This is a fairly coarse pixel density, making the image and text less clear - the screen is big, but the resolution - will good as an absolute measure - is low for the size of the screen.
Screen Colors	Unknown but sufficient.
Screen Visibility	The screen is reasonably clear and easy to read in most lighting conditions. The low pixel density makes the text look unfocused and blurry - like looking at a television too close.
Screen Backlighting	Yes, multiple levels offered, and it also has an 'auto' option to set its own level of backlighting.
Day/Night Mode	An intelligent day/night mode function automatically switches to night mode at sunset and switches back to day mode at sunrise. Because the unit knows where it is and the day of year, it can calculate sunrise and sunset times. Night mode has subdued colors, but the screen can be too bright if driving in less well lit areas - you'd probably want to also reduce the screen brightness at night for best effect.
Controls	The unit has only one physical control - an On/Off switch on its front. This is not often needed because normally the unit comes on when you switch your ignition on and goes off when you switch it off again. All other functions are controlled via soft menus on the touch screen.
Interactive help files available	No
Limited functionality when moving	Offered as an option. Most of us will not wish to be 'protected' by this 'Safe Mode' option and will turn it off.
Graphics processor speed	Excellent.
GPS Receiver	Uses a Garmin unit. Reception is good, but most of the time, it seemed that a SiRF unit powered Garmin Nuvi 680, mounted alongside, would receive more satellites (as much as 50% more satellites, making for better accuracy and more stable fixes in poor conditions).
Max number of satellites simultaneously tracked	Not stated, but believed to probably be 12. It uses a Garmin proprietary GPS receiver chip.
WAAS enhanced	Yes
Dead reckoning capability	None. The StreetPilot 7500 offers this as an option, for an extra $320 in list price.
Satellite display	Yes. A satellite display screen shows the position of satellites in the sky, which ones are being received and the signal strength, plus also latitude and longitude, elevation, and current date and time (which is 100% accurate to the millisecond due to being taken from the satellites). The satellite display also shows the current position of the sun and moon.
Accuracy calculation	Yes, on the satellite display screen. This is a 'theoretical' accuracy only based on the geometric solution the unit is capable of computing, and some additional inaccuracy needs to be factored in for other variables such as propagation delays, ephemeris data, etc.
Can the unit show you your current latitude and longitude and compass heading	This information is shown on the satellite display screen.
Can the unit show you your current altitude	Yes, it shows altitude in feet on the satellite information page. Note that altitude calculations are substantially less accurate than the displayed theoretical accuracy - perhaps they are within a range of plus or minus twice the displayed accuracy.
Can the unit show you the exact time	Yes
External antenna capability	Yes. The unit uses an MCX type connector.
CPU processor speed	Not known, but the unit performs calculations and screen updates and everything very quickly.
Trip Computer functions	Yes. It shows direction of travel, instantaneous speed (this is more accurate than your speedometer), average speed (including stops), average speed (excluding stops), maximum speed (this can be embarrassing, and can be cleared by itself if you feel the need to do so!), total time since reset, moving time since reset and stopped time since reset. It also shows an odometer measuring distance traveled down to 1/10th of a mile and displays time remaining to reach your currently programmed destination (if applicable). Note that in addition to the odometer, there are also four mileage 'logs' in the unit, giving you in effect five different odometer functions.
Battery Type	There is no inbuilt battery.
Battery Life	Not applicable.
Power Input	The unit can accept power from the car's battery, and also from a computer or other device through a USB port, and a mains power adapter.
Auto Power On/Off	Yes. The unit remembers programmed destinations when turned off and on again.
Mapping
Map provider	Navteq
Countries provided	US and Canada.
Update policy, frequency and cost	Updates are expected every 12 - 15 months, and will probably cost $70.
Other countries also available	Yes. Many European countries, plus other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Malaysia and Singapore.
How is map data loaded into the GPS receiver	Map data is pre-loaded on the unit. Additional map data can be added via SD card.
Can the entire US be loaded into the unit	Yes. The unit holds all of the US and Canada.
Speaks Directions	Yes.
Speaks Street Names	Yes, and does a good job of pronouncing street names.
Languages spoken	The system can display prompts in 22 different languages. It can speak directions in 34 different combinations of languages, dialects and genders, of which 17 support full street name speech, the other 17 are just generic turn type instructions.
2D/3D	Yes, you can choose between these options.
Can you choose between North up or Direction of Travel up	Yes.
Split screen mode	No.
Map Scale Shown	Yes. Auto-zoom can be switched on or off as you wish.
Number of POIs provided	6 million points of interest.
Number of user POIs that can be added	2000. Garmin make available a POI importer program to accept POI data from other programs and load them into the 7200.
POI information includes phone number	Yes, both preloaded POIs and also any custom ones you might create.
POI proximity alert	Yes, for some types of custom POI only.
Speed limit warner	No
Does it show both miles and kilometers	Yes
Route Planning
How to enter addresses and other data	The touch screen can be configured to be either in ABCD or QWERTY format. The keyboard doesn't grey out letters as an aid to typing in names. You can partially type a name and then call up a list of matching places.
Can you build a multi-stop journey with waypoints	Yes
Will it solve the 'traveling salesman' puzzle	Yes
Can you program assumed speeds for different road types, and if so, how many different road types?	No. The unit's default settings are reasonably accurate, especially on the open road. They sometimes under-estimate travel times when driving in cities.
Can you choose different settings for different types of vehicles	Yes, there are seven choices - Car/motorbike, truck, bus, emergency, taxi, delivery or bicycle.
Can you program preferences for road/route types	Yes, you can choose to prefer, 'don't avoid' or avoid major roads, medium roads, minor roads, traffic, unpaved roads, U-turns, toll roads, carpool lanes and ferries. In addition you can also set up 'custom avoids' for either geographical areas or parts of roads. This can be helpful if you know there is, for example, congestion in an area or road works on part of a road. The ability to set three levels of preference is very sophisticated and helps the unit to make better choices when planning routes.
Does the unit present you with multiple route choices to choose from	No
Can you choose between fastest/quickest and shortest route options	Yes, each time you select a destination the unit can optionally offer you a choice between faster time, shorter distance, or off-road. The off-road option simply draws the shortest straight line between where you are and where your destination is and so isn't much use in most normal driving situations.
Will it show breadcrumb trails?	Yes
Extra Features
Bluetooth	No
Export data to laptop	Yes - has a USB port for exporting and importing data.
Can it play MP3 or other digital audio	Yes, and also will support line in audio, audio books and XM Radio too (with optional XM receiver/antenna).
Can it play MP4 or other digital video	Yes, it can show DVDs, images from a backup camera, or other video inputs. No cable is supplied, so you'd need to get a cable for this.
Can it display pictures	No
Integrated with real time traffic reporting	Yes - the unit can work with either XM Satellite traffic and weather services, or with TMC traffic data. You simply buy an antenna unit to work with whichever service you select and plug it in.
Integrated with other location services	No
Other features	The unit has a remote control that can be used to control all the functions of the unit. This is helpful and saves you having to lean forward or to the side to reach the unit's touch screen. It comes with mapping software to run on a PC so you can plan routes on your PC then upload data to the unit (either via the USB cable or on a SD card). It can be set to transmit its audio over an unused FM channel so you can listen to it through your car's stereo system. This is particularly useful if you are using its MP3 or audio book features. If you have the XM service option added, it can also display weather and stock ticker information.

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