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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
 Posted - 07 sept. 2009 : 14:34:08
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USER REVIEWS - MAGELLAN MAESTRO 4700
4.7" Screen - Magellan "New Gen" software - AAA Tourbook - Bluetooth hands-free
Product page on the Magellan site : >> LINK <<
Link to Wishlist topic : >> HERE <<
Edits by gpspassion 20091019
Original Post : I recently purchased the 4700 GPS and would like to share experiences, tips, and suggestions with other users.
My previous GPS (and still functioning) was a Lowrance iWay 500C, which I have had for many years. It was a great unit in its day, but lacked street naming except for interstates and numbered roads, was 20 times heavier, and heated up a lot. Getting map updates also became next to impossible. It was however a little more user friendly for a beginner. I am catching on to the 4700 now! The Bluetooth feature on the 4700 also sold me, but needs some improvement; I was able to pair a second phone, but it won't connect with it even when the first phone is turned off.
As this phone becomes more popular, I hope users will share their experiences, and perhaps an expert will join here and moderate this section.
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 11 sept. 2009 : 15:50:05
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| Anyone have any experiences with the TRAFFIC LINK accessory and the 4700? |
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elvisfan
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 11 sept. 2009 : 23:52:14
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| I have the traffic link with the Roadmate 1470. It is the same hardware and software basically. It does work. Especially with construction. It can be off. You have to take what it tells you with a grain of salt. |
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steelgtr
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 07:40:26
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Are the 4700 and 1470 basically the same?
I'm thinking of trying one but am spooked at all the Maggie horror stories!
bob |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 12:01:27
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I am only familiar with the 4700, which I have had just a few weeks. I am a 8 year or more GPS user, so I have had some experience with another non Magellen unit which I stll have but is very outdated. So far I am pleased with the Magellen. I can think of a few improvements that could be made either by firmware changes or software, but nothing earth shattering!
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steelgtr
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 15:33:32
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I've had a Garmin Color pilot and a Street Pilot 2610.
Recently I tried a Garmin 765T and a TT 730T. I was disappointed in both. The Garmin doesn'troute as intuitively as my 2610 and the TT has screen brightness and mount issues.
Neither gives a logical next turn warning. Either too soon or too late. The 2610 with it's zoomed in next turn screen worked great.
When does the 4700 give you the "beep" before the turn?
thx
bob |
Edited by - steelgtr on 17 sept. 2009 15:38:45 |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 15:49:12
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| It beeps a couple of seconds before the turn. It's cute in that it beeps in up tones for a right turn, down tones for a left, and steady beeps for a merge etc. You can also vary what tone is uses etc. There could be a couple of tweaks to the firmware and software etc., but I generally like the unit. It seems to lock on to satellites very well. I actually usually keep the unit on the platform just in front and under the middle console, (my shifter is on the steering column in my SUV) fairly far away from the windshield, and it picks up signals very well. On a long trip I'll keep it on a sandbag type mount on the dash. |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 16:25:49
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| Incidentally, my prior unit was/is a Lowrance 500C. I still occasionally use it in the other car. It is big and heavy, got hot easily, and needed an external antenna to work well. It did pick up WAIS signals etc. (I am not sure if the Magellan does WAIS!) The software program was very well thought out and gave a special enlarged screen just before the turns, like your old unit you described. This should be incorporated into the Magellan; the Magellan does auto zoom before a turn, and gives the audible signal. Lowrance stopped supporting the 500C and updates to the map were impossible to get so far. |
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steelgtr
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 16:33:19
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jerry,
Do you have any recent Garmin or TT experience to compare to? Mainly routing accuracy, etc?
thx
bob |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 17:04:43
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Bob,
It's too early to tell; I have only had the unit a few weeks. I have no problems in the Balto-D.C.-Eastern Shore of Maryland areas. The maps seems up to date, as well as the POIs. There are a couple quirks I noted that I hope will be fixed with updates on the firmware. When you first input your destination, the unit doesn't talk to you until you are actually on the first road of your trip, although the map shows what to do, and if you ask for directions, it will verbally give it to you. (E.G.; if you start in a parking lot or non road area) There are also some phone quirks that are supposedly being addressed. I have had no problem pairing my Palm 650 (non windows os) with the Maestro, but it won't download the address book from etc. It does do very well with the hands off application.
Also, you can't add just a phone number to the address book without going through the entire destination senario and then saving it.
(I am very pleased with the unit; my iWay 500C only used text to speech for main interstate and numbered highways and did not name all the streets.) |
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elvisfan
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 17:20:56
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| The 4700 and 1470 use basically the same software. The 4700 does have some features that the 1470 does not have. Bluetooth, voice commands. I would suggest going to magellangps.com to compare the units. |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 17 sept. 2009 : 20:04:51
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The Bluetooth feature is great if you use your cell phone in the car`.
The Voice Commands are very limited, and in my opinion, not even worth turning on at present. If they improve the capability to match some of the units installed in the vehicles by the manufacturer, it would be great. (Although when I said "Take me to your leader," it took me right to my wife! ) |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 22 sept. 2009 : 15:39:11
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To ELVISFAN:
RE: TRAFFIC LINK
Are you satisfied with the TRAFFIC LINK? It did not come with the Magellan 4700 and can be purchased at Amazon for around $60. I just wonder if it is worth the expense. I do live in a "covered area"; Balto-Wash. Does it give alerts for everywhere in the area, or just the Interstates? If my planned route traverses smaller roads etc., are they included in the alerts?
Thanks for your help!!
Jerry |
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elvisfan
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 22 sept. 2009 : 19:22:12
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| Traffic link only works on the interstates. I have never seen a message come up for any other type of road. I took it because it Amazon threw it in when I bought the unit. It seems to work better for construction then crashes. A crash would most likely be cleared up before the information gets to the unit. I haven't been involved in any major tie ups yet. Minor delays have shown up. Only you can make the call. You will see on here that some people have been in major tie ups and the GPS shows nothing. |
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jerryoster
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 22 sept. 2009 : 19:25:54
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Here is my Wish List for improvements to the 4700. Please add yours.
Maybe Mitac/Magellan monitors these forums, or we could send it on their website support section:
1. Bluetooth functions need to be improved I could pair a second phone but not communicate using it, even if the primary phone was turned off.
2. Also with the phone function, trying to dial a number directly from the address book only works occasionally with Bluetooth, not consistently.
3. When first starting a navigation route, there is no initial verbal command, especially if you start from a parking lot or shopping center that is not completely mapped. The map show the route, but there is no command until after you start on the initial road.
4. I don't think there is a mechanism for manually adding just a name and phone number to the address/phone book without going to the address find senario and GoTo screen and saving.
5. It would be nice to pair a second phone and a second imported phonebook, or merge phonebooks from more than one paired cell phone.
PLEASE ADD YOU SUGGESTIONS,AND WHEN WE GET S SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, WE CAN TRY TO CONTACT MAGELLAN. Most of these can probably be incorporated in an update of firmware and or/software.
Jerry
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gps-one
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 26 sept. 2009 : 03:53:43
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| i had the 4700 for couple of weeks but returned it for the time being until they fix the tts muffle sound issues. the announcement of the street name was so muffled that i had a hard time understanding it. it is a pretty good unit otherwise. |
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[TOPIC] Magellan Maestro 4700 - User Reviews
