Magellan RoadMate 2200T Review

Verdict: Good

What a year it's been for Magellan! Several months ago they released the RoadMate 3000T, 3050T, and 6000T, only to discontinue the 3000T a few months later, and replace it with the RoadMate 2000 and 2200T. Oh, and along the way Magellan was acquired by Shah Capital Partners (SCP). Magellan was once my undisputed favorite GPS manufacturer, and was responsible for some of the best navigation systems ever developed, including the legendary Hertz NeverLost system and the 750NAV. Over the years, however, Magellan had let their product line become stagnant, and the company was dying a slow, under-funded death. Around 9 months ago I was starting to worry that Magellan may have lost the secret sauce altogether and might cease to exist.

Now it looks like Magellan's new parent company, SCP, is injecting new life (and money) into their product line, and the good news is Magellan is finally releasing some good products again. Fresh on the heals of the RoadMate 2000, Magellan has released the 2200T. With a suggested retail price of $499, the 2200T is aimed squarely at competing with the TomTom ONE and Garmin's nuvi 350 and the Garmin StreetPilot c530. The 2200T improves slightly on the RoadMate 2000, offering text-to-speech, optional real-time traffic data, a longer battery life, more rugged (and water resistant) case, a photo viewer, and a music player.

1. Features

• Traffic upgradeable - Get LIVE traffic incident reports when you add the Magellan TrafficKit ($99, available later this month from Magellan. Requires service subscription after introductory 3-month period for $59/year)
• Turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance
• Waterproof to IPX-4
• Rechargeable battery - (battery lasts about 8 hours between charges)
• SirfstarIII 20-channel high performance GPS receiver
• Text-to-speech - Hear the street name of your next turn
• Multi-destination Routing - Select up to 20 destinations
• SmartDetour - Automatically routes you around sudden slow freeway traffic using your own custom settings
• Built-in maps - United States, Canada and Puerto Rico
• Bird's-eye 3D view
• SD card compatible - Insert outdoor maps, music and pictures
• Digital Music Player - Play music through the integrated speaker or your own headphones
• Photo Viewer
• Auto re-route - (automatically re-calculates the route if you miss a turn)
• Auto night view - Adjusts color and contrast for night viewing
• QuickSpell - Easily enter addresses with Magellan's efficient auto-complete feature
• 1.5 million points of interest (POI) - find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, airports, parks and more
• Interactive POI icons - Touch an onscreen icon for a nearby destination; see phone number and get an instant route
• 4 routing methods available - Shortest time, shortest distance, least use or most use of freeways, avoid toll roads
• Address Book and Favorites List - Create and store personal points of interest to route to places you go to often
• Instant locate - One touch shows your location; quickly advise roadside assistance or emergency services

2. Specifications

PHYSICAL

Case: High-impact plastic
Base Map: Pre-loaded - 50 United States, Canada and Puerto Rico
Size: 4.28" W x 3.15" H x 1.12" D (W 108.8 mm x H 88 mm x D 28.5 mm)
Weight: 7.8 oz / 221 g
Display: 3.5" color touch screen display, 2.11" x 2.81" (53.6mm x 71.5mm)
Data Storage: Secure Digital (SD) Card compatible
Antenna: Built-in multidirectional patch
Operating Range: 14 to 140°F (-10 to 60°C)

PERFORMANCE

Receiver: 20 channels, SirfstarIII
Acquisition Time: Hot: 1 second, Cold: 40 seconds, Initial: 5 minutes
Accuracy: 3 to 5 meters (10 - 16 feet) - WAAS/EGNOS, <>Languages: English

POWER

Source: Li-Ion rechargeable 1900mA, 12 V AC or 12 VDC vehicle adapter (sold separately)
Battery Life: Over 8 hours continuous use

More