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paulkbiba
USA
5014 Posts |
 Posted - 18 juin 2006 : 03:11:54
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Cobra NavOne 4000/4500
Today we are looking at one of the high-end all-in-one GPS units. The Cobra 4000 and 4500 are the same units, but the 4500, which is being reviewed here, has real time traffic. Common street prices are $599/$799 (4000/45000).
The Basics
The 4500 is a large unit that has a full 5 inch touchscreen. To give you some idea of its size here is a shot of the unit next to my Cingular 8125 phone.  The unit uses a SiRF chipset, but not SiRFIII. I found reception good, but it did loose lock several times in New York City and I would recommend an external or reradiating antenna if you are in a difficult reception situation. It comes with TeleAtlas maps of the United States and Canada and 7.6 million Points of Interest. It is a 12 volt unit and, unfortunately, does not have a battery. An AC power adapter is available as an optional accessory. It should be included, in my opinion, especially at this price. Also available as accessories are a carrying case and an external antenna. The unit comes with a suction cup mount which is strong and has withstood winter cold and spring heat. The traffic receiver is an extra piece and is velcroed onto the mount. Not a very neat installation, unfortunately. Cobra could have done better here. The traffic receiver also comes with an external antenna which is really two wires and suction cups that attach to the front windshield. You can see the receiver and extra antenna in the shot above. In my area of New Jersey the extra antenna is necessary, but it might not be for you. The unit does not do pictures or play mp3s.
The pictures you see in this review are based on the latest software update from Cobra, so current owners may be a bit confused. This update includes many excellent changes and will be made available shortly to all current owners at no charge. The changes are major and every owner should start getting excited now!
At the back the unit has jacks for power, external antenna (which uses a non-standard jack so you will have to get the antenna from Cobra or use a much cheaper re-radiating antenna which should work just as well), the traffic receiver and a mini-usb port. Updates to the machine are by means of this port and you will require external power to do them. You can get the AC adapter from Cobra or pick up one at Radio Shack. There are a couple of updates on the Cobra site, not including the major one I mentioned above, and they loaded easily and without problems.
The unit comes with a nice manual, but the manual isn't necessary because it has two built-in help systems. The first are a series of help screens that can be accessed by hitting a button when the desired function is displayed. The second, which can be turned off, is a series of voice prompts that tell you what is going on when you access a new function. It's very clever and works quite well. After you have heard all the prompts you can turn them off. The screen is bright, withstands sunlight well, and is visible with polarized sunglasses. The unit is made in Italy - which I find quite interesting.
Getting Started
When you start up you are given the choice of English, French or Spanish and then you can go directly to the map screen or the the navigation screen. Here is a shot of the navigation startup screen:
Startup is pretty quick and the unit gets a lock quickly and can also get a lock while moving - albeit with a slight delay. The first thing you notice, really, is the size of the screen. It is almost impossible to go back to a smaller unit once you use a 5 inch screen. Everything is so easy to see!
As you can see from the above screen, and from this system setting screen, everything is big and the buttons are easy to push. The whole interface is completely fingertip friendly:
System settings include: Audio Help on/off; key click on/off; adjust volume with speed; auto brightness (which works much better after the software update); day or night colors or auto select (here is the night screen):
US or metric units; ABC or QWERTY keyboard; Smart Power (turn off screen after 1/2 hour of no movement and then shut down completely after 1 hour); speed alarm; proximity alarm and simulation mode and simulation speed, among others.
Map options include north up/direction up; 2d or 3d view; detail levels; terrain; display arrival time or time remaining; various zoom options and turn details; set local and highway average speeds and others. Here is what is meant by the Terrain option:
If you zoom out far enough the display changes, as above, to look more like an atlas where you can see terrain changes marked by color. A gimmick, but nice to play with. Each setting screen has a help button so you can check what you are doing if you're not sure what the setting does. A very nice touch that greatly enhances the machine's usability.
This brings up another point. Cobra is clearly trying to make ease of use a real priority in the design of this unit. The help is one example of this. Here's another which is part of the new software update. When you are entering an address the letters "drop out" as the address is entered, so that your choices are restricted and entry is faster. Take a look at this shot to make it clearer:
Here I'm entering the street White Oak Ridge Lane. So far I've entered Whi - notice that a lot of the letters are blanked out and that T is an allowed selection. After I enter the T this continues until the unit recognizes the street. It makes for very fast data entry. Clever thinking, Cobra!
Navigating
Route planning is quick and has a typical Cobra surprise. Here is the route planning screen with all your options easy to hand:
Notice the fastest/shortest buttons. Everyone has this option, but look at the View Routes button next to them. If you push this you get:
Notice that BOTH routes are displayed with their details up at the top. You can zoom in for more details of each route and then make your choice by hitting either GO button on the right. Really nice!
Here are the 2d and 3d route displays. The new 3d display reminds me a bit of one of the worlds the SG1 team visited on the Stargate SG1 sci-fi show. I'm not sure I want to get that close to the Sun!
You can route to all the usual suspects such as address and cross roads and there is a nice big City Center button which makes routing to that location very simple. The new software will tell you what side of the street your destination is on. The 4500 doesn't have text to speech, but it will speak Interstate numbers, state road numbers, highway exit numbers, etc. At this price, however, I think that text to speech is not an unreasonable thing to ask for.
Cobra has done a very nice job of organizing the Points of Interest and I have found that the way they have set it up, with their main menu and submenus, makes finding a POI extremely easy - perhaps the easiest of any software I've ever used. And this is saying a lot given the number of them:
Routing does permit the setting of Via Points, which is quite important. Also you can add addresses to the address book or create a number of completely customizeable address books to keep address organized - for example, you could create a Work address book, and a Restaurant address book and a Friends one, etc.
When you are under way the machne has a set of four completely customizeable route "things" to act as a trip odometer, trip average speed, trip maximum speed, trip total time, trip driving time, trip stopped time, current time, current speed, current altitude, sunrise/sunset, and permanent odometer:
Now here is another Cobra surprise. When you are navigating and come to a turn a completely different display is shown. It's sort of a "skeleton" that shows only the bare bones of the route:
At first I found this a bit annoying, but the more I used it the more I liked it. It cuts out all the distractions of the map and makes your route plain with just a quick glance. At complicated intersections it really points the way in a fashion that can be easily grasped.
Once you are driving you have a "More" screen which gives you some more options which are pretty self-explanatory.
Detouring and road avoidance is very easy on this unit as can be seen from both of these screens:
The final surprise is included in the new software. The unit will now have a database of speed cameras and red light cameras. This is a result of Cobra's experience with its radar detector products. Here's what you see when you come to a red light camera (I couldn't find a speed camera in my area):
You can program the unit's responses in this screen:
Traffic
The unit comes with a 90 day free subscription to traffic info. The information is transmitted over FM radio channels, so if you are in an area with poor FM reception you won't find it very useful. Traffic info is not available in all of the US yet, so your area may not be covered and the listing of covered areas on the Cobra site seems rather dated. All the more reason for a trial period. Users should realize that traffic info is still in its infancy in the US and you are going to find many glitches as the system gets up and running. There are also several competing systems around, but it is way too early to tell if one is better than another. If you go for traffic I would take it with a grain of salt and get what you can out of it. Don't think it will be completely reliable.
I had two problems with this part of the review. The first was that even though I live in the NY Metropolitan area I simply couldn't find much traffic to get stuck in! And I did try! The second was that when I did get stuck a couple of times I couldn't get any pictures because guess what? I was in traffic! The unit did tell me several times that there was traffic ahead and did re-route me. But since I was re-routed I have no way of telling if the traffic was actually there or not.
Traffic is customizeable on the unit in that you can turn the alerts on or off and you can program in a delay. In other words, you can tell the machine "Only offer to re-route me if the traffic delay is 5, 10, 20, etc. minutes". Cobra has its own algorythms for determining traffic delay based on reported incidents and flow data. They feel that their flow and delay predictions are better and easier to understand than those currently available. I can't comment on this .
Since I couldn't get anything myself I asked Cobra to send me some real screenshots so that you could see what is happening. Here is a shot of traffic flow delays with the legend screen that comes up. I can confirm that I have indeed seen all of these screens on my unit at one time or another. Notice the brown and red colors. The unit is indicating different traffic flows on each side of the street.
Here is the screen that pops up if a delay is encountered that is equal to or greater than the preset that you entered:
If you hit the View Traffic List button you will see this:
If you hit the View New Routes button you will get this:
You may get this popup depending on the delay type:
And, finally, here is the traffic settings screen:
For myself, I can't decide whether the traffic option is useful or not. Reception in my part of New Jersey is only so-so and the type of driving I do doesn't take me into a lot of traffic. When I do get into traffic it is when I'm going into New York, and there isn't any real alternative if one of the crossings is blocked. You will have to make that decision for yourself. That's why the trial period is so important.
Bottom Line
I really like this unit. The design exhibits a lot of "outside the box" thinking that I really appreciate. It is also extremely easy to use and the large screen is just marvelous. The TeleAtlas maps are more complete than those in my original TomTom Go, or in my PDA with TomTom Navigator 5. I have compared them side-by-side.
The minuses are the lack of battery power (because of the large screen and its high power draw) and the lack of a 120v power cube. It really should be included in the package. Also the less-than-elegant traffic radio attachment could be improved. The Cobra external antenna is also too expensive and I'd recommend a re-radiating one instead. We have a review of a re-radiating antenna from Semsons and you can see how the Cobra performs, as it was one of the test units. (www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51197)
Great job, Cobra, with some really innovative thinking!
Moderator
Don't forget the GPSPassion Club!![]() |
Edited by - paulkbiba on 19 juin 2006 00:25:42
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admin_0
1 Posts |
Posted - 25 juin 2006 : 04:49:04
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I have just installed this system and have read that you said there is a MAJOR software upgrade for it, can you tell me what it is and where it can be found?
Thanks for the GREAT post of this unit.
John Marse
you can contact me @ JMarse@AOL.Com |
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paulkbiba
USA
5014 Posts |
Posted - 26 juin 2006 : 01:07:33
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My understanding is that the upgrade will be on DVD and will be offered to all Cobra owners very soon at no charge. Be sure that your unit is registered so that they can contact you.
Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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neil.schneider
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - 26 juin 2006 : 17:00:08
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| Great review, thanks. |
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paulkbiba
USA
5014 Posts |
Posted - 26 juin 2006 : 17:30:08
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Happy to oblige :-)
Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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admin_0
1 Posts |
Posted - 02 août 2006 : 00:06:38
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Paulkbiba,
I had been searching for quite awhile when I came across your review and I have to tell you it was the reason I ended up buying the NavOne. While it has some issues I have been using it now for 3 days and it is very nice.
Love the reroute feature and coming from someone who JUST got a speeding ticket I love the "SPEED WARNIN" feature built into the unit...lets me know when I creep past 25 MPH....:)
I did get an e-mail from Cobra in request for information on the update you spoke about in regards to the DVD...I did not get a yes or no but they did say something would come out at the first of the year.....did not say if all buyers would get the upgrade however as I think they thought I was talking about MAP updates.
Anyway.......I hope they read this and send software to all the people with the NavOne 4500....I dont have much use for the traffic alert feature here in my area...not near any large city but it is nice.
Thank you again for a great detailed review...again it sold me on the unit.
Paul Abernathy
National Electrical Speaker
NEC Consultant
Master Electrician |
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admin_0
1 Posts |
Posted - 09 août 2006 : 13:47:56
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I just got my 4000 and it was a breeze to set up. I'll try it out on a trip this weekend.
Has any one found a generic AC adaptor for it in Canada...$40 is too much to pay... |
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hjb417
14 Posts |
Posted - 16 août 2006 : 15:00:41
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| One of the things that sucks about cobra is you can't detour by X amount of miles... instead it has this asinine concept of segments, has that logic been reworked? |
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ncc_13424
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 28 août 2006 : 23:42:52
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| For everyone's information, Cobra has just released software version 2.00.91 http://navone.cobra.com/software_updates_navone4k.htm This update incorporates all of the features that Paul described in his very comprehensive and informative article. However, one thing that has not been made entirely clear is the fact that although the new software adds speed and red light camera selections, these selections will not work until the new camera database is released by Cobra sometime this fall. This clarification is also given on Cobra's software update page under the v2.00.91 enhancements/fixes, but unless you read it carefully, you may think that this new feature is not working properly when you test your unit. Personally, I think Cobra should have waited until the camera database was ready and then released it, along with the software that adds the selections, in one fell-swoop. That would have made it a tad less confusing. But as Paul stated, there's a lot of new features and improvements that made v2.00.91 worth waiting for. One hint though. You may want to leave the "Prefer Main Roads" option set to "Yes". I've uncovered a bug in that new feature when "No" is selected that adds unnecessary and confusing turns to your route (regardless of whether shortest distance or fastest time is selected). I've already notified Cobra of this bug and hopefully, they'll come out with a fix for it in their next release. |
Eric |
Edited by - ncc_13424 on 28 août 2006 23:45:33 |
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ncc_13424
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 28 août 2006 : 23:49:02
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quote:
Originally posted by hjb417
One of the things that sucks about cobra is you can't detour by X amount of miles... instead it has this asinine concept of segments, has that logic been reworked?
I agree 100% and it's one of the enhancements I've asked Cobra to consider incorporating in a future software release. |
Eric |
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admin_0
1 Posts |
Posted - 11 sept. 2006 : 16:42:16
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I'm amazed that they don't use Postal Codes/Zip Codes for directions, as that is so handy!
I'm also disappointed that, with the extensive Marine Chartplotter products that Cobra has, they haven't introduced a cross-over unit, as so many of their competitors have.
Any recommendations on a cross-over unit? |
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docfreed
16 Posts |
Posted - 13 sept. 2006 : 17:26:55
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Have just bought and am using NavOne 4500 (Long Island area). Had been using a Garmin 550C. With the new software (preinstalled and the database patch [also preinstalled]) this unit is the best on the market. The depth of program options is fabulous when compared to the lame and dumbed-down Garmin software. I would equate the 4500 to the Garmin 2620 (possibly the best consumer GPS ever made). But the
4500 can be had for about $615 when compared to Garmin asking $800 for the 550C which really makes this a steal.
Couple of annoyances - the attachment of the traffic radio leaves much to be desired and the 3D even with the software update looks like Darth Vader's helmet.
IMHO Cobra could knock Garmin off of its perch by putting a little more emphasis on marketing this unit. |
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hjb417
14 Posts |
Posted - 14 sept. 2006 : 06:37:03
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| Did they fix the display problem where the car/arrow would cause the map to refresh the entire screen when the arrow/car was near one of the corners... basically, other NORMAL gps have the arrow/car always in the center and move the map every second... this unit actually does the opposite. The map stays fixed until the arrow/car reaches near a corner/border of the screen... then the ENTIRE SCREEN IS REDRAWN!!! |
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docfreed
16 Posts |
Posted - 14 sept. 2006 : 14:57:07
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I haven't noticed but I'll look on the way home tonight. They fixed a huge amount of stuff (and BTW the DVD with the patch is now available from Cobra). One thing that I have noticed is that the unit is still a bit sluggish in recalculating but not a serious handicap.
There's a lot of neat stuff on the traffic reporting side too. |
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docfreed
16 Posts |
Posted - 15 sept. 2006 : 14:08:26
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It seems to have been fixed - the arrow always seems to remain near the center of the screen.
I did find a bug. When the unit is set to autozoom, it zooms wildly and at random, changing magnification at about once per second. I just set mine to manual zoom and the problem went away. |
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admin_0
1 Posts |
Posted - 28 sept. 2006 : 08:56:33
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quote:
Originally posted by paulkbiba
The unit is made in Italy - which I find quite interesting.
A little bit of digging will confirm that the device is actually manufactured by Italy's AvMap s.r.l. (http://www.avmap.it/). AvMap spent their first four years of existence in aeronautical navigation products before branching out into automotive navigation with their first such device in 1998. They've also had a part in a Paris-Dakar effort.
AvMap is part of the cleverly named C-Map Group (http://www.c-map.it/), founded in 1985. I say cleverly named because they create marine navigation products (geddit? C-Map, aka SEA-Map).
I'm not going to say how I figured out the manufacturer, because I'd like to see if more info comes to light in the future through the same route. Suffice to say, it is 100% beyond question. ;)
I would guess the unit has been largely made to spec for Cobra though, because I can't find a similar unit (in terms of overall design, user interface, etc.) from AvMap or anybody else, so far.
Oh, and if anybody from Cobra or AvMap's reading, I'd love to give you some feedback on the device (I've got plenty of experience in product testing, both hardware and software). Sadly, your "Report Problem" and "Suggest Improvement" links on your website do nothing, and nor did a request to your customer service rep to put me in touch with somebody:
http://navone.cobra.com/
That said, the latest firmware is a HUGE improvement, and major kudos to Cobra for the speed with which you had the upgrade shipped out to me after my initial request! I'm definitely happy with my NavOne 4000! I'd just like the chance to help make it even better...
To anybody considering buying, I'd say go for it. The NavOne 4000's a great device, and only getting better. (How many other manufacturers can honestly say they're giving major new features to existing customers, free of charge?) Were traffic info available anywhere nearer than 3 hours drive from me, I'd doubtless sign up for that too - but given that my home of Knoxville, TN has no Clear Channel radio stations I doubt I'll get the chance any time soon).
Footnote: Who'd have thought I'd be bemoaning not having Clear Channel? ;) There's a first for everything, I guess! |
Edited by - on 28 sept. 2006 08:58:34 |
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Article - Review - Cobra NavOne 4000/4500
