Kenwood Excelon DNX6960 6.1" In-Dash Double-DIN Navigation DVD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATED REVIEW: My earlier review only gave this unit 4/5 stars because it wouldn't download the address book from my iPhone 3G. Please read on and see how this issue was resolved.
I got this unit yesterday at Mickey Shorr (Canton, MI). They installed it in my 2006 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer in about an hour and I was off and running. The iPod integration is top notch. Using the touchscreen controls I instantaneously scroll back and forth between songs. So for the guy who installed this unit in his F-150, I'm not sure why you're experiencing the latency issue of 10-15 seconds to scroll to the next song, or go back one track. I feel bad for him because I'm thrilled with the speed and ease of use. The GPS is from Garmin who I believe to be the best. GPS in the unit is very accurate and could NOT be easier to use. Overall, with 15-20 minutes of fooling around I was able to master all the controls of the DNX6960 and same with my wife (since it's in her car).
I formerly had an issue with the unit in which it couldn't download the address book from my iPhone 3G (software version 4.1). The phone paired with the unit instantly (AWESOME!) but would not download my address book. The letters "DL" would show up at the top of the telephone screen for 3-4 seconds and disappear. This told me the address was being downloaded, but the address book touch screen icon was still greyed out. Low and behold, by mistake I found where the installer hid the bypass switch and it was set to "ON." So I figured this meant the unit was in bypass mode, meaning the parking break IS BYPASSED from having to be engaged to watch videos and download the address book. Apparently not because when I flipped it to the "OFF" position just for the hell of it, the address book touch screen icon became active. I said if I was able to figure this out I would let everyone know and rate the unit 5 stars. So here we are. I figured it out and I have no reluctance giving the Kenwood DNX6960 5/5 stars. I hope this helped someone out who was experiencing the same issue.
AC

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Getting there is now more fun thanks to eXcelon AV navigation systems. With full-featured navigation from Garmin, a brilliant 6.1-inch touchscreen, support for a variety of media, and expansion options aplenty, the Kenwood DNX6960 will keep on track and well-entertained.

Navigation Features
3D Building Map 3D Building Map displays realistic images of prominent landmarks and buildings in major North American cities. This function provides an appealing birds-eye view that makes getting to your destination more enjoyable.
Lane Assist with Junction View Enjoy advanced notification using Lane Assist with Junction View: As the name suggests, Lane Assist guides you to the appropriate lane to be in for upcoming directional changes such as at junctions or interchanges, and Junction View displays a view of upcoming road details to enable smooth driving as you approach.
Built-in NAVTEQ Traffic Data (Requires KNA-NT100) NAVTEQ provides real-time traffic data for over 80 major cities in North America. This means that if traffic is congested up ahead, the navigation system will automatically re-navigate the route to get you to your destination in the shortest amount of time.
Additional Navigation Features
Easy-To-Use GUI (Graphic User Interface)
Over 6 million points of interest
Program Up To 500 waypoints For long trips
Text-To-Speech (TTS) Voice Guidance (English, French, Spanish)
Selectable 2D or 3D Map Display
Track Log Display
Trip Computer
ecoRoute

AV Features
Control of iPhone, iPod and Video Playback The DNX6960 is compatible with iPhone and iPod models as well as video playback. In addition to conventional searches for playlists, artists, albums and genres, additional search commands can also be performed for music videos, TV shows, movies, video playlists, etc. via the convenience of Voice Control Command.
Flick Through and Browse A function similar to iPod�s Cover Flow is now featured on the DNX6960, allowing users to flick through and browse for music albums, video titles, photographs, etc. on connected media; the contents or titles of selected sources on the screen can also be viewed.
Split Screen An improved GUI makes split-screen operation easier to operate. For example, the split screen displays two different screens side by side while the primary and secondary screens allow you to toggle between two frequently used screens via touch-screen operation.
Built-in Bluetooth The eXcelon DNX6960 comes equipped with built-in Bluetooth capability to enable handsfree operation so you can keep your hands on the steering wheel where they belong and concentrate on the road ahead.
6.1-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX6960 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.1" TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination by choosing from a large palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX6960 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD and DTS-CD discs. It plays back AAC, MP3 and WMA audio files; MPEG1 video files; and can display JPEG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And of course, you can still listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX6960 displays FM radio text when available, traffic information, and allows you to enter station names.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX6960's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
Plenty of Power, Room to Grow The DNX6960 features an on-board 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, but also offers three sets of 5V preamp outputs (front/rear/subwoofer) for building your system.
System E's+ Crossover System A single IC that allows the user to select from 8 different high-pass filter crossover frequencies plus pass-through, with independent selection for front and rear outputs. This makes it easy to optimize the performance of all amps and speakers in a car audio system without needing an external electronic crossover. System E's+ also incorporates a phase switch and low-pass filter for the non-fading output. The low-pass filter has selectable cutoff frequencies of 50Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz and Through.
System Q EX Sound Control Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) that can be combined to give the user extreme flexibility over the sound's tonal character. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. System Q EX allows the user to modify the preset curves by changing the amplitude of the bass, midrange and treble compensation, and the Q of the bass and midrange compensation. The new curves can then be saved as presets for future recall
HD and SAT Radio Ready The DNX6960 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You can also add an HD Radio tuner (requires KTC-HR300). When you connect an HD Radio, Tuner features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX6960 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX6960, GPS Antenna, Sleeve, Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Tools/Hardware, Installation Manual, User's Manual, Navigation Manual, Warranty Card.

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Garmin Oregon 450t Handheld GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)This is our first handheld GPS...we have been using it for almost 2 months now and over 200caches......we love it. very easy to use, and the paperless caching feature it great, the only thing i would consider doing differently is using high grade batteries, the cheap ones dont last very long but that is not the fault of the gps. It was very easy to learn to use and has so far been very accurate. we have not had any problems reading the screen even in the brighest sun. I can load a ton of caches on for the trip or load and we can cache in the city. either way it has been great! would recommend this to others who are cachers for sure.

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Tap the touchscreen then hit the trail with Oregon 450t. This next-generation handheld features a rugged, touchscreen along with preloaded topographic maps, 3-D map views, a high-sensitivity receiver, barometric altimeter, electronic compass, microSD card slot, picture viewer and more. Even exchange tracks, waypoints, routes and geocaches wirelessly between similar units. Touch and Go Oregon 450t leads the way with a tough, 3-inch diagonal, sunlight-readable, color, touchscreen display that offers crystal clear enhanced colors and high-resolution images. Its easy-to-use interface means you'll spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time searching for information. With user-selectable dashboards, you can customize the appearance of your display. Both durable and waterproof, Oregon 450t is built to withstand the elements. Bumps, dust, dirt, humidity and water are no match for this rugged navigator. Explore Backcountry in 3-D
3-axis compass view.

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Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Voice Command and FM Transmitter (Soft Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned the Garmin nuvi 850 for a couple of months, and have made several trips with it. I find it to be a mostly reliable GPS navigation unit, and recommend this product, with some reservations.
Its principal benefits are:
* Voice recognition works under most conditions, at least where substantial noise is not an issue. It is necessary to interact at the speed of the unit, waiting for your turn to speak, which is indicated both visually and audibly. The voice-activation remote control is a clever tool for accessing this feature, although placement of the remote on the steering wheel in such a way as to avoid accidental activations is difficult. Once voice recognition is active, the unit does not always understand commands on the first attempt, but I found that reducing fan speed on the vehicle's air conditioner (to reduce background noise) usually helps with this.
* The menus are generally user-friendly, although there is a learning curve that requires some practice for less frequently used areas. The menus are not always intuitive. For example, having user-defined routes as an item separate from favorites, rather than as a sub-menu under favorites adds a memory component when trying to access that feature.
* The directional voice prompts are timely, and match the visual cues provided on screen. I found the male British voice to be the most easily understood under most road conditions.
* The low-glare screen is consistently viewable in a variety of lighting conditions, although somewhat less so in the brightest light. It is, however, difficult to keep clear of fingerprints and smudges that produce their own glare and can interfere with viewing.
* Routing and re-routing is fairly quick. The initial route calculation tends to take several seconds, and slows for more complicated mapping. The closer you are to the destination, the more rapidly the calculation or re-calculation seems to take place. Most routes seem quite efficient, with only an occasional questionable route selection offered.
My principal complaints with the unit are:
* Battery life is short. Expect to run this unit under car power for trips much longer than an hour. Also, removal of the battery between trips was the only means I found to reliably keep the battery from draining with the unit off, even in as little as a couple of weeks on the shelf. The inability to charge the unit via USB with the unit turned off is not a great concern, but does lengthen the charging time requirement.
* Maps that do not reflect current information. Usually this was most noticeable for highway speed limits that had changed, sometimes several years earlier, and for points of interest that did not match actual conditions. Routing can sometimes be misleading as well. For example, when trying to locate a Post Office, I was routed to an adjacent highway from which there was not a direct entrance.
* FM transmission is a feature without much reliability, given the constantly changing nature of radio signal interference on trips of more than the shortest distance. However, the audible prompts are loud enough to be heard from the unit directly, and sound even better over headphones.
* While rare, I have experienced lengthy (several minute-long) delays in satellite acquisition on system start-up. When it happens, it negates the value of the product, but the nuvi 850 still outperforms an earlier GPS unit that frequently dropped satellite connection while in transit. At least I have not experienced that problem with the nuvi 850 yet, and most of the time, it acquires satellite information in a matter of seconds on start-up.


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Simply speaking, nuvi 850 is one advanced navigator. It features voice-activated navigation, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter and more. Like the rest of the wide nuvi 800-series, just speak a menu option and nuvi obeys your command. Speak Commands nuvi 850 not only tells you where to turn but listens to your spoken commands. With nuvi's innovative speech recognition, you safely control nuvi's interface with your voice — allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. Simply press the button on the remote (which attaches to the steering wheel) to activate speech recognition and begin speaking menu options. nuvi even recognizes shortcut phrases for popular functions. Tell nuvi "Find Address" and speak an address to start navigating.
View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color.

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Garmin GPSMAP 62S Handheld GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I can't get over how well the 62s gets a satellite signal...even indoors! I'm in my home office with a couple of small windows and just turned on the unit, after having it turned off for a couple of weeks: It booted and acquired the first satellite in less than 60 seconds and can navigate in less than 90 seconds, with four out of 5 bars on my signal strength meter. When I turned it off and then on again, I was able to navigate as soon as it booted...in 20 seconds. It seems to "remember" what satellites are overhead and spends less time searching for signals if it has recently acquired a signal.
I used the 62s while hunting and found that I could always get a solid signal regardless of how dense the forest was. The 62s is so much better than the eTrex Vista I had been using since 2002...the 62s is in a different league.
The user interface took a little getting used to, when compared to the eTrex Visa, but the 62s has a lot more features. The technology has come a long way in 8 years.
By the way, Garmin's web site only specifies that the 62s accepts up to 4GB Micro SD cards. However, 4GB Micro SD cards hard to find, but the 4GB Micro SDHC cards are readily available. I contacted Garmin Tech Support to confirm that the 62s supports both Micro SD and Micro SDHC cards up to 4GB max.
The power saver feature worked great, and I love the fact that the user interface can be customized.
I purchased a ZAGG screen protector for my 62s. ZAGG didn't have one for the 62s yet (the 62s was too new when I purchased it) but the one that fits a GPSmap 60 can be trimmed and works fine.
I have absolutely no regrets at having purchased this product, and I'm a real picky consumer. Garmin scored another home run with this one!

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The newly designed GPSMAP 62s handheld navigator features a 3-axis tilt-compensated compass, a barometric altimeter and supports Custom Maps, BirdsEye Satellite imagery (subscription required) and photo navigation. Rugged and waterproof, GPSMAP 62s employs a quad helix antenna for unparalleled reception, has a high-speed USB connection, a sleek new design and connects wirelessly to compatible Garmin handhelds.

Explore GPSMAP 62s comes with built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief, so you can navigate anywhere with ease. With photo navigation, you can download pictures from Garmin Connect Photos and navigate to them.

Get Your Bearings GPSMAP 62s has a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows your heading even when you're standing still, without holding it level. Its barometric altimeter tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude, and you can even use it to plot barometric pressure over time, which can help you keep an eye on changing weather conditions.

Share Wirelessly With GPSMAP 62s you can share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with other compatible Garmin device users. So now your friends can also enjoy your favorite hike or cache--simply press "send" to transfer your information to similar units, and let the games begin.

Keep Your Fix With its quad helix antenna and high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction, GPSMAP 62s locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear--whether you're in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on GPSMAP 62s to help you find your way when you need it the most.

Add Maps Adding more maps is easy with Garmin's wide array of detailed topographic, marine and road maps. With 1.7G of onboard memory, you can conveniently download 24K and 100K topo maps and hit the trail, plug in BlueChart g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator NT map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads (see maps tab for compatible maps). GPSMAP 62s also supports BirdsEye Satellite Imagery (subscription required), that lets you download satellite images to your device and integrate them with your maps. In addition, the 62s is compatible with Custom Maps, free software that transforms paper and electronic maps into downloadable maps for your device.

Get Connected You've been busy exploring and now you want to store and analyze your activities. With a simple connection to your computer and to the Internet, you can get a detailed analysis of your activities and send tracks to your outdoor device using Garmin Connect. This one-stop site offers an activity table and allows you to view your activities on a map using Google Earth. Explore other routes uploaded by millions of Garmin Connect users and share your experiences on Twitter and Facebook. Getting started is easy, so get out there, explore, and share.

Find Fun GPSMAP 62s supports geocaching GPX files for downloading geocaches and details straight to your unit. By going paperless, you're not only helping the environment but also improving efficiency. GPSMAP 62s stores and displays key information, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and paper print outs! Simply upload the GPX file to your unit and start hunting for caches. Slim and lightweight, 62s is the perfect companion for all your outdoor pursuits.

What's in the Box GPSMAP 62s, Carabiner Clip, USB Cable, Quick Start Manual

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Garmin zumo 220 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Motorcycle GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Zumo is a great motorcycle GPS but it does have its flaws.
The first thing you'll notice is that the Zumo doesn't come with a printed users guide. Garmin expects you to download the PDF version. It was easy to find on-line and this approach is fine since we're all supposed to be going green. What ships in box is a quick start guide. The web site says "installation instructions" are included but this is not accurate. The only installation information is contained in the quick start guide. It's pretty basic but more than adequate unless you want to attempt installing the wiring harness. If you plan on using the wiring harness you need to know how to tap into the electrical on your bike and handle all of the cable routing yourself or take it to a pro for assistance. (One note on the wiring harness: the cable doesn't include anything to cover the USB/power connector so if you install the harness and don't have the GPS unit plugged in the end of the power adapter is fully exposed to the elements.)
The second thing you'll notice is the device doesn't come with a wall charger. There is the permanent wiring harness and a car charger but they didn't include a wall charger. With a battery life of almost 8 hours I planned on just charging the unit at night and skipping the wiring harness since nearly all of my rides are under 8 hours. For the cost of the unit I was disappointed that I had to scavenge to find a power charger.
The battery life provided on Garmin's website states "up to 8 hours". I think this is a bit of a stretch. If you turn the volume off, turn the screen brightness down to under 50% (the default), and turn off Bluetooth you can get close to 8 hours. When riding with voice prompts, screen brightness at 80 to 90 (on a sunny day) and Bluetooth enabled I was able to get just over 5 hours of battery life. Still very respectable and more than most motorcyclists need for a single day.
One of the nicest features of the Zumo 220 is the ability to plan your routes on your PC and load them on to the GPS unit using Garmin City Navigator. It's easy to install but the unlock code, which is needed to use the maps, comes on a non descript yellow sheet that looks like something you should simply ignore or throw away. You need this special yellow sheet so be careful or you'll be explaining to your wife why you're digging through the garbage! Once installed and unlocked City Navigator is great. It's easy to use and simple to transfer routes to and from the GPS unit.
The GPS unit itself is a nice size but a little thick. If you're thinking you'll just throw this unit into your back pocket you can but there are two issues. First the unit is thicker than you expect and you will be aware of the bulge in your back pocket - it's not a petite unit. Second there is no power lock and it's very easy to turn the unit on when inserting the unit into your pocket or when moving around. It would have been better to have some sort of power button lock. I've resorted to removing the battery from its waterproof compartment, which is easy and quick to do.
The user interface is very intuitive and most of the data fields presented on main page can be customized, even when in motion. The keyboard is easy to use and has two modes that basically change the size of the buttons on the screen to make it easier to use when wearing gloves.
One nice feature is the fuel tank alert. Just enter the total mileage you expect to get from a tank of fuel and how many miles before empty that you want warnings and the unit keeps track of everything. Interesting note: the unit has multiple modes like driving, motorcycling, scooter etc. The only mode that fuel tank alerts work is when in motorcycle mode.
Another solid feature of the unit is if you do switch between a motorcycle and a car the Zumo 220 remembers your preferences for the route types of each mode. This makes it nice not having to reprogram anything when going between modes.
I have encountered a few issues with custom voices downloaded from the Garmin Garage. On at least one of the custom voices the unit seems to get confused and reboots on occasion. Changing back to the preinstalled voices seems to have fixed this quirky problem.
I have a big v-twin and my bike has a healthy dose of vibrations, especially when accelerating or using engine braking. The Zumo 220 is rugged enough to handle the vibrations with ease and the RAM mounts that came with the unit work great. One note on the u-bar attachment for the handlebar: If you have larger handlebars than 1 inch you're going to need to run out to your local hardware store to get a larger u-bar. If you've got a 7/8" - 1", like most people, you'll be fine.
Overall the Zumo 220 is a high quality unit that's easy to use, rugged and ready to hit the road. Just plan on doing a little extra shopping for things that Garmin should have included, especially given the high price point of this unit.

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Get in touch with the open road — have zūmo 220 show you the way. The affordable, compact zūmo 220 motorcycle navigator mounts neatly, right up on your bars ready to guide your ride with spoken street names sent wirelessly to your Bluetooth-enabled helmet or headset. Designed By Bikers For Bikers The zūmo 220 has a bright, glove-friendly, color touchscreen display that gives you all the information you need in an easy-to-read format. It's easy on the eyes whether you're riding in the bright midday sun or a moonless night. And the intuitive interface makes entering information as easy as shifting gears. But make no mistake this is no car navigator posing as a biker. It's built tough. With its rugged waterproof case that resists fuel sprays and UV rays, zūmo 220 is built for life on the road. Go Your Own Way Pick your route and hit the streets. The zūmo 220 is ready to go, on or off road, right out of the box. It's preloaded with City Navigator NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs) that include motels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and more. It features voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination and displays the speed limits for most major roads. In addition, zūmo 220 offers lane assist to help guide you to the proper lane for complicated highway interchanges. The zūmo 220 also comes standard with a digital fuel gauge so you can keep track of how many miles you have left before it's time to get gas. And at the end of the ride, it slips comfortably into your jacket pocket. Move Between Modes Just because your bike's parked doesn't mean your day is done. The zūmo 220 can also pull double duty as a navigator in your car or truck when you're on four wheels instead of two. In addition to the included motorcycle mount, zūmo 220 also comes with a vehicle mount and power cable.Plan and Share Your Rides Searching for the perfect back road to share with your riding buddies? Or perhaps you're planning a cross-country trip and looking to avoid as much interstate as possible. With its powerful trip planning tools, zūmo 220 can help you create custom routes via computer and then transfer your saved route directly to your zūmo. Once home, you can review your rides in Google Earth. In addition, microSD card expansion makes it easy to share routes and add storage. Be sure to visit Garmin Connect — our online community of routes and riders. It's a great resource for finding new rides and planning trips.What's in The Boxzumo 220, preloaded City Navigator NT for North America, MapSource City Navigator North America NT DVD, Motorcycle mount with mounting hardware, power cable/bare wire, replaceable battery, automotive suction cup mount, automotive power cable, USB cable, dashboard disc, quick start manual, and installation instructions

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Garmin zumo 665 Widescreen Motorcyle Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)After riding on a 1000 mile trip this week, here is my review of my first use of the 665 on a road trip. I ride about 20,000 miles per year and have used the Zumo 550 (my previous Garmin) for 45,000 miles the past 3 years, hence my comparison of the 665 to the 550.
Cons:
Major problem with the unit is the XM features shutting down unexpectedly. One of the reviews here experienced similar problems and was told by Garmin that the antennal cable is faulty and a new cable is being designed. I do not think the cable hardware is the issue. I believe it is the software. I experienced the same problem once before I left on the trip and was told by Garmin Tech to perform a hard reset of the unit by holding your index finger on the lower right corner as you turn the unit on until you see the message that "a reset will erase your data". You have to select "yes" or "no". Yes does reset the XM but erased all of my favorites, routes and settings. The unit reverts to the settings as it comes from the factory. Also, sometimes during this trip, I had to turn off the XM and then back on in order to reacquire the XM programming. I have the XM subscriptons for XM radio, NavWeather and NavTraffic. When XM stops, all of those are lost until a hard reset. I had to do hard resets at least 10 times on this trip-very, very inconvenient when riding a motorcycle down the road. I had bought the Zumo 665 to replace my Zumo 550 since the 665 has the Nexrad Radar display...very, very helpful when riding in the elements. The radar works fine when XM is working. When removing the until from the motorcycle mount, be sure it is off. Otherwise, you will have to hard reset to regain the XM features the next time you restart it in the motorcycle mount. Changing stations on the XM radio also stopped the XM features twice. I quit using the XM radio to listen to after the second time this occurred. Garmin has not offered a fix for these problems as of yesterday.
The XM local weather stations are far apart. On the 550, the stations were the closest aviation reporting stations. Example is riding through Louisiana local stations were Shreveport or Baton Rouge. I was closer to both Monroe and Alexandria at different times with no report. The 550 had a weather map so one could look ahead at stations all over the USA, touch one and get the weather and forecast. But, again, the 550 had no weather radar.
The unit shut itself down twice with no input.
Pressing hard on the lower right corner shuts down the unit. This corner needs touching to scroll through points of interest among other pieces of info. A light touch is required to avoid this.
The volume is lower for the XM radio relative to the 550. I can barely hear the radio at 70 mph. The 550 works well at 70 mph. I have the XM and the media player set at 100% along with the master volume set at 100%.
The text and display graphics are smaller than the 550 even though the total screen size is slightly bigger. Some of this is attributed to the amount of info on the screen that I select. I have not tried selecting less screen info yet to see if that helps. I like the info I have displayed now and hate to reduce it.
Pros:
Big pro is the Nexrad Radar when XM is working.
Lots more information such as showing lanes ahead so you can plan sooner where you need to be at intersections, especially on the freeway. Also, shows what the major overhead intersection signs display before you can see them-nice feature.
Lighter than the 550 and the shape makes it less likely to fall from your grasp when transferring it to another vehicle.
Bluetooth for touch free cell phone use. I use in the auto but not the motorcycle.
Conclusion:
Overall this unit, pricy compared to auto-only units, but waterproof and vibration proof will be acceptable once the software fix for XM is ready for upload to make that part of the unit reliable. At that point I will be ready to give the unit a 5.Follow up on July 27, 2010
Here is a follow up as of July 27, 2010. I sent this 665 back to Garmin, who then returned another to me (different serial number). First problem was the off/on switch sticks, so difficult to shut it down. It would turn on fine, but the switch would stick down in the unit.
As far as the XM goes, it worked fine one day on a 200 mile ride. The next day, it quit again with the same message-check XM antenna.
As of today, I have another RMA to return this unit for another. I am still very frustrated with unit-problems still exist.As of October 3, 2010
Garmin finally sent me an entire new until including new XM receiver and all accessories. I changed out the XM receiver and either that or the last software update seems to have cured all my previous issues. The XM subscriptions come up very quickly now, with the weather taking the longest, but never more than a couple of minutes. I'd highly recommend this motorcycle unit if you wish to have weather radar as your cruise down the road.

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Take a ride on a new route and explore the open road with the zūmo 665, a motorcycle-friendly navigator with stereo Bluetooth, XM satellite radio, weather, and traffic. Whether you're on a weekday ride just across town or a weeklong trip to an annual rally with friends, the zūmo 665 is ready to show you the way. Plus, use the zūmo in your car and get double use out of it.

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