Product Type - GPS
Built-in patch antenna, MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection.
Preloaded with detailed U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico maps - no downloading required.
SD memory card expansion slot for use with other MapSource street-mapping products.
Traffic alerts with optional GTM 10 FM TMC traffic receiver.
This review is from: Garmin StreetPilot c340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS NavigatorPros: Easy to use, sharp screen, clear voice instructions and less expensive than other GPS units with comparable featuresCons: Needs more dynamic search capabilities for POI (its a little too simple which is good and bad)The Garmin C340 is a wonderful unit, I've tested several other units such as the Navmans & Magellans, but the Garmin was the hands down winner.It has built in street level maps for both US and Canada - so there is no need to download detailed maps from your computer. In addition, the interface is a breeze to use - w/o even reading the manual I was able to get it up and running. The screen is razor sharp and the navigation controls are intuitive. Another bonus is that it has a built in rechargable battery, so you can walk around with it for a while or even program your next destination while you're away from the car.I recommend this unit very highly - especially after reviewing the alternatives at this price point.---------Update--------------Just an update because I've taken my Garmin C340 to: 1) Toronto, Canada 2) Omaha, NE 3) Salt Lake City, UT 4) Denver, CO and 5) Seattle, WA. I have to say it worked wonderfully. It NEVER led me astray and got me to my destinations without any problems. This is a definite must have because it's so compact and easy to program that it makes exploring new cities a breeze. Who needs to rent an expensive GPS unit from a rental car agency when you have the Garmin C340 with you!...
This review is from: Garmin StreetPilot c340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS NavigatorI was originally going to get the C320 but the text-to-speech feature made me decide to get the C340 instead. Overall, after having owned this unit for approx. 2 years, I am pleased with it. When I first got it, to build my faith in the product, I used it for a week just entering the places I normally go to see how the unit performed. First I tried to enter a restuarant I have been going to for years. Route planning was very fast - the only problem is that the route took me 6 miles away from the restuarant into a residential neighborhood. The destination was someone's house in this neighborhood! To retest, I chose the restuarant address from the built in POI listing instead of typing it in...and the result was the same. It had me going into a subdivision and to someone's house. My second test was entering my work address. This worked fairly well except that a 2-year old change in the road was not registered on the map. So the unit got really confused when I was driving through what looked like a lake on the screen. Recalculation can be irritating as the unit repeatedly tries to force you to do U-Turns to get back on what it thinks is the best route. I'm sure this is region specific. Bottom line here...don't rely on the restuarant listings. My next test was a little longer - it was a 25 mile drive to my mother's house. Again, route planning was very fast (3-4 seconds). The route was very accurate to her house but the route seemed to favor toll roads and highways. The result was the same when I modified the preferences to prefer "back roads" and avoid highways. About 7 miles into the trip to mom's house, the C340 locked up completely. I reset it and reprogrammed the route (you have to stop the car to do this safely). Then, 5 miles down the road it locked up again. I checked for later firmware when I got home and there was none, but an email to customer support was all it took to get a firmware update that resolved this issue.So with various other tests, I give it a ~90% chance of picking the correct route to wherever you are going (at least in my area)...but often times it does get you where you intend to go but takes you far out of the way. A few major highways are missing from the basemap in my area, which were corrected when I paid $75 for the 2006 map update. Common sense and a backup map are sometimes necessary.Ok, about the unit itself...the text to speech is worth the extra money of you are considering buying it for that reason. Text to Speech pronunciation has been corrected with several firmware revisions. I have not had any major issues with the text-to-speech pronunciation since these firmware updates were applied.The screen is bright and the whole thing is smaller than I expected - but there really is no excuse for being upset about the size when you can go to Best Buy or Circuit City and see it for yourself. So:Pros - bright screen, doesn't wash out too bad (I have deeply tinted windows) and speech volume is appropriate. Planning ...
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