Comparison Navitel E707 Magnetic vs Navitel E500 Magnetic

Availability of life-long updating of maps in this model of the navigator.

When buying a navigator with this feature, the user also acquires a subscription to map updates supplied in the kit. Such a subscription, in fact, is perpetual: updates are available all the time while the navigator is generally working. Thus, this service allows you to always have the latest maps at your disposal. It is found mainly in automotive and motorcycle models: it is for these areas of application that regular updates are most relevant, since traffic conditions can change very quickly. However note that the cost of subscribing to updates is included in the price of the device and affects it, sometimes quite noticeably.

Special navigation functions provided in the device.

— Speed limit. A function that allows you to use the navigator to obtain information about the speed limit on a particular road. Most often, the speed limit is used in the operational prompt mode: the device warns the driver in advance about approaching a section of the road where the speed limit differs from the current one, and also issues a warning if the driver accelerates above the permissible limit. This can prevent not only an unpleasant conversation with the traffic police, but also a serious accident.

— Traffic jams in real time. A function that allows the driver to see real-time traffic data on the device screen. As a rule, models with a traffic monitoring function provide detailed information about the volume of traffic in general. Moreover, this information is monitored and updated constantly, in real time, and is immediately taken into account by the navigator - to the point that if difficulties arise on a pre-planned route, the device can automatically reroute it to avoid congestion. At the same time, it is worth considering that real-time traffic data is usually transmitted through the TMC network (see “TMC receiver”), and it is not available everywhere.

— GPS informant. A function to provide the driver with various useful information related to the current location. In acc...ordance with the name, the coordinates are determined using GPS. One of the most common ways to use an informant is to warn about approaching traffic cameras, stationary traffic police posts and speed control systems. In addition, other functions may be provided - for example, informing about entering a section of the road with a high accident rate or a separate large hole on the roadway. To operate the GPS informer, a database of relevant objects is entered into the device’s memory. When purchasing a navigator, it doesn’t hurt to clarify what exactly this database contains, how recent it is, and whether it can be updated.

— Lane selection. A function that provides the driver with hints regarding lane selection. Such tips make driving more convenient and safe: the navigator warns the driver in advance about the need to change lanes for a turn/turn (or vice versa, in order to drive straight past the turn). This allows you to avoid “misses” on the road and emergency lane changes, which often create emergency situations. This function is especially relevant for complex interchanges on multi-lane highways.

— Parking in real time. As its name suggests, this feature allows you to determine if there are nearby parking options for your vehicle. In addition, navigators that support the real-time parking function are also capable of displaying various auxiliary information, for example, type of parking, parking cost, payment methods, etc.

— The way back. The function of using a record of the distance traveled as a route to return from the finish point to the start point. Thanks to it, the customer can go back the same way he got to the current point. This opportunity is especially important in conditions of difficult terrain and the absence of roads - for example, during hiking trips or off-road jeep trips: returning along an already explored path is often easier and safer than looking for a new route. Actually, the opposite way is found mainly among universal pocket navigators (see “Scope of Application”), although there are exceptions - for example, the same car models.

- “Where am I?”. A function that helps the customer determine their current location. At the same time, we are talking not only about a point on the map and geographic coordinates - in addition to this data, the navigator, when you turn on the “Where am I?” function. displays various additional information: the address of the nearest building, information about the nearest intersection, nearby important objects (gas stations, hospitals, police stations, etc.).

— Prices at gas stations in real time. A function that provides information about current fuel prices at various gas stations along your travel route. It can be useful for drivers, as it allows them to find the most profitable or nearest gas stations to refuel and save money.

— Weather in real time. A feature that allows the navigator to receive real-time weather data. This can be either information about current weather conditions in a particular place on the map, or a forecast for a certain period. In addition to basic weather information (temperature, fit, wind, humidity, fog, etc.), this service can support advanced data such as storm warnings, flood or landslide reports. The necessary data can arrive in different ways - most often through a satellite or a special radio channel. These details should be clarified separately.

- Supervision of children. A function that allows the driver to use the navigator screen to observe the rear seat of the car without turning around and without being distracted from the road. Most often it is used to monitor a child who is in the back seat. Of course, to use the child monitoring function you will need not only a navigator, but also a camera compatible with it.

The number of communication channels supported by the navigator.

One communication channel allows the device to receive one operating frequency from one satellite. Without going into unnecessary details, we can say that the greater the number of channels, the more efficient the navigator works (including in dense urban areas and other adverse conditions) and the less time it takes for a “cold” start. On the other hand, numerous supported frequencies complicates the receiver and increases its cost.

As for the specific number, 12 channels are needed to work effectively with GPS, but today such receivers are considered obsolete and are almost never used. Most low-cost receivers support about 20 channels (there are also more modest solutions, at 16 or even 14 frequencies), mid-range solutions have about 30 – 40 channels, and in advanced models this number is most often 64 or 66 (although sometimes more) .

Parameters of the display installed in the navigator.

— Display diagonal. Size screen size in inches. The larger the screen, the more information can be displayed on it and the more detailed this information will be presented. On the other hand, the size of the display significantly affects the dimensions of the device, and large screens are more expensive.

— Display resolution. Display size in dots (pixels) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution (with the same diagonal), the more detailed and clear the image the screen can produce. In addition, on high-resolution displays, small details are better visible, which increases the comfort of viewing information. Too high a resolution is usually not required for GPS navigator displays: for example, 800x480 pixels, limited by the standards of smartphones or tablets, with a diagonal screen size of about 6” are considered quite sufficient even for an advanced device.

— Matrix type. This parameter is indicated mainly for tech cases when the screen uses a high-quality IPS type matrix. This technology provides high quality color rendering, good brightness and wide viewing angles; moreover, IPS screens are relatively inexpensive to produce.

- Touch. Screen support for touch control. You can give commands to the device by touching the icons on the display itself - similar to how this is done in smartphones and tablets. Touch control opens up...many more possibilities than classic controls and provides flexibility in working with the navigator. In particular, by touching the screen you can set points on the route, zoom in or out on the map, etc.

- Color. This parameter determines whether the screen is color or monochrome (black and white). Black and white displays are simple, inexpensive, consume little power, and are quite suitable for displaying basic navigation information. At the same time, color screens are more functional: maps often use different colors to highlight individual objects, which would not be possible on monochrome displays. As a result, black and white screens are quite rare among modern navigators - mainly among the most compact and inexpensive models.

— Backlight. The screen has its own backlight system. This function makes the device independent of external lighting: the illuminated image will be normally visible both at dusk and even in complete darkness. It is also worth noting that many LCD screens have a backlight by default; it is activated when the screen itself is turned on and works regardless of external lighting - without it, the image on the matrix would simply be impossible to see. In particular, this operating principle is used in IPS-type matrices, which have gained popularity in modern portable electronics (including navigators).

The amount of random access memory (RAM) installed in the navigator.

The amount of RAM is one of the key parameters of any computer system, directly affecting its performance and computing power. The more RAM installed on board, the better the device will cope with resource-intensive tasks and the more applications you can run on it without noticeable damage to the speed of operation.

Specifically in navigators, performance can be important, for example, when driving at high speed - the “braking” device may be late with a hint, which causes various unpleasant situations to arise. At the same time, paying attention to the amount of RAM only makes sense if an operating system like Android is installed on board.

This parameter directly determines the amount of energy that the battery can store; and the greater the energy reserve, the longer the device can work on one battery charge. However, this is in theory; in practice the situation is somewhat more complicated. Firstly, the actual autonomy of the navigator will also depend on the power consumption of the device - and it can vary greatly between different models. Secondly, milliamp-hours, in which capacity is indicated, is not a completely reliable unit: the physical features of such a designation are such that two batteries with the same capacity in mAh, but different nominal voltages, will also have different actual amounts of stored energy.

In light of all this, it is hardly worth assessing the autonomy of the navigator by the capacity of the included battery - it is better to look at the operating time directly stated by the manufacturer.