Garmin n vi 550 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator
The Garmin nuvi 550 will guide you while you drive, hike, bike or boat. Go sightseeing with geotagged images from Garmin Connect Photos or see your terrain with the digital elevation model basemap. The nuvi 550 comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator maps. The preloaded map data features millions of points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions. The map data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. Geocaching, including Wherigo Platform player Built-in DEM Basemap (Digital Elevation Model) 3.5 QVGA color antiglare TFT with white Backlight Touchscreen Display – 320 x 240 Pixels User replaceable lithium-ion battery – up to 8 hours depending on use Dimensions – Width 4.21 x Height 3.35 x Depth 0.9 (10.7×8.5×2.3cm) Weight – 7.6 ounces (215 grams)
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Important Things to Know about the Nuvi 550
I’m really pleased with the Garmin Nuvi 550. I bought it to be a portable unit for both car, boat, and hike. It’s quite easy to use, seems to have good battery life, and includes some pretty cool features that are accessible with a few presses of the touch screen.
My only beef with this unit has been the lack of clear information about a few things. After, some research, calls and emails to Garmin (helpful and responsive by email), and some communications with third-party vendors … I am all straight. Here are some things that I found out to save you some grief.
1)Charging … yes, you can charge this with most/any standard USB-to-computer cable OR a USB charger (i.e. for an MP3 player or cellphone). They all use the same, standardized amount of power … so you can save yourself some money (and simplify) with just what you already use with other devices.
2)BlueChart G2 MicroSD Vision maps for Marine use. Garmin (as of 4/25) is completely updating their Marine line and NO LONGER recommends G2 Vision (vs. G2). I was looking for the Chesapeake Bay for this model … and was pleased to find out through Garmin that they now sell the entire US (G2 version … not G2 Vision) for this model at half the price as previous cards. Go to Garmin, choose their map/chart selector, choose BlueChart g2 >> Regular >> US039R – US g2.
3)Hard to find MicroSD? – At least during this change-up with Garmin, Garmin and retailers seem like they don’t specify MicroSD … apparently, the Bluechart maps all come in MicroSD and include a standard SD adapter. So you don’t need to specify.
4)Taking off the battery cover for the first time. The first time you remove this, it is stuck on there pretty good. Pull the latch down, then stick something very fine (like a jewelers screwdriver) on the right side of the panel that says “Garmin” and gently pry up. After that it seems like you can get it off easily.
5)There are some descriptions on the internet for this device that mistakenly say that street names are audibly pronounced. This is not the case. The directions are “Turn left in .2 miles” are audible. This is probably for the better … for clarity sake … and for the simple fact that it would probably butcher proper names anyway and that would be overwhelming.
SUMMARY – Very nice, portable, compact GPS that includes a lot of features. I’m glad I bought it.
4 Stars Great Product: Instructions somewhat lacking
This purchase is my first GPS navigator. After doing a lot of research, and deciding exactly what I wanted, I chose the Garmin Nuvi 550. The features I wanted were accuracy, portability, and, to a certain degree, water resistant (for those rainy bike trips). The 550 has all that and more. The biggest issues I had with this first purchase are the lack of good owner’s manual. The quick start guide, at least for a first time buyer, will get you started just fine, but questions arise very quickly. I had to go to the Garmin site, and navigate to this model, then sift through the FAQ’s several times. Now that I have used it successfully for vehicle, biking, and hiking, most of the initial questions (and troubleshooting) have been answered. This is very good product, even for a newbie. The maps that I’d like to get are somewhat spendy, and proprietary, so those will be added as I can afford them. It also worked very well for my first geocaching experience. This was a good decision for me. And the price was right! Lack of a definitive owner’s manual with the product makes my rating a 4 out of 5 stars.
5 Stars Excellent GPS
I bought this GPS because I wanted it for hiking, biking, and it was rated very good for that function. Being waterproof was important. Also like that you can take out battery as that has been a problem with my other Garmin GPS’s when I had a problem or the battery went dead. Battery life is also better than most car GPS. So far it works very well with the only problem being GPS seemed to be confused when biking on a roundabout in Washington DC. When biking GPS can sit in pocket and gives voice instructions so you don’t have to watch GPS while biking through traffic. So far would recommend this GPS. Minor negatives is this does not come with a USB cable or AC adapter, only the car charger which is no good for someone not using a car. We use a USB cable to a laptop to charge.
1 Star Garmin Nuvi 550 Needs Repair
I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 550 for my son for Christmas in Dec 2008. In February, when I began travelling for my work, I purchased the same unit from Amazon for myself. I have carried it in my briefcase and use it in a rental car to assist with locating my client site. However, I pulled it out one day in June, some 4 months after purchase and found that it just turns on, and then shuts itself off. I emailed the tech support at Garmin and am still looking for assistance to resolve this. The unit has not been damaged, I have charged the battery in the car and through my computer, with no resolution. I have sent my Amazon receipt to Garmin so that they know this unit was purchased legitimately. However, still waiting (some 3 weeks now) for instructions on how to get this unit repaired or exchanged for one that works.
5 Stars excellent choice
we got this just before a 3,000 mile trip through 5 states. it paid for itself the first day of our trip. we were in towns we had not been in before and this gps found everything from gas to specialty stores and directed us easily to our destination with no problem.
it is very easy to use.
we also drove my inlaws vehicle which had a faulty instrument cluster, no speedometer. this gps also tells you speed limits on all roads and tells the speed you are going. we had no wories of speeding because of this unit.
we are so glad we got this and feel it is the best thing to travel with.
