PND with a taste
- Published: 30/04/2010 at 10:10 AM
- Online news: Auto Scoop
GPS (Global Positioning System) or Satellite Navigation System are abundantly found in product lineups with a plethora of brand names and price ranges.
The Kamaz 520 TV and 5-inch monitor.
Applications of GPS vary from maritime, aeronautics, jungle trekking, and travelling on land by automobiles.
Designing GPS also depends on the objective and functionality.
This week’s highlight is the GPS Kamaz NAAV 520 TV which is the latest product being sold by Sonic Vision.
It is a PND (Personal Navigation Device) that can be installed easily by the user and comes with a kit that can be installed on the front windshield. The mount is vacuum type and does not shake from road vibrations.
Lithium-ion batteries supply power to the PND and can be charged via thecigarette lighter in the car. Once the battery is full, you can still charge the PND for unlimited time without having to remove the charge plug. This is probably why this new Kamaz model is one of the most popular PNDs in the market. You can use it in a car and carry it as a mobile.
The Kamaz NAAV 520 TV uses the Speede Navy SQ map software. Details include the following:
The design is slim and has round edges which give it a high class look when compared to conventional PNDs in the market. On the top left is a TV/radio antennae which slides in to be kept hidden away from the naked eye. Once you chuck the antennae out, it measures about four inches and can be angled for visual clarity. On the bottom right side is a stylus (a pen orpointer used for a touch-screen display) which also is hidden neatly away. There is no place for an exterior satellite antennae.
Touch screen monitor is five inches and answers all the functional needs in navigation and watching TV.
The TV Tuner function allows you to watch free TV and the clarity is on par with a conventional TV built for use in cars. The antennae used works best when the car is stationary. If the car is moving, the picture quality drops immediately. You can take the PND out of the car and not have to bother with the mount. Speaking of the vacuumtype mount, you can install it on most smooth surfaces, mirrors and watch TV as if it is a ceiling type monitor.
The @AROI function by McDang spices up the PND with the introduction of tasty recipes offered by restaurants all over Thailand. You can choose menus based on the province you are travelling to, or food categories.
Using this PND as a navigator works well for cars that do not have tinted windows. I’ve tested many models and rarely had problems with signal reception. But after testing the Honda CR-V with Lamina tinted windows, every PND tested had problems with finding the satellite reception. You can’t find the signal and will have to position the PND outside of the car by holding it out of the window.
However, the Kamaz 520 TV surprised me. It was able to guide me from Bangkok to Koh Chang without any problems. Its ability to receive satellite reception is excellent.
However if you turn it in the car, it tends to lose reception in the beginning. The audio guide or voice over of the PND is a tad too soft despite adjusting volume to the highest level.
This system is widely available at various audio shops with prices set at around B14,000-16,000.
Translated by Alfred Tha Hla
About the author
- Writer: Pichet Wongnak
- Position: Reporter
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