Garmin nüvi 1350/1350T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic

5 Responses to “Garmin nüvi 1350/1350T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic”

1. J. Wardlow
   December 13, 2009 at 11:20 pm

   In regards to mapping and all the GPS aspects of the Nuvi 1350T I have no complaints. I returned it for one reason – because it interferes with my aftermarket stereo remote control. I have a Pioneer aftermarket head unit in my car and it seems the FM receiver in the Nuvi 1350T powercord unit interferes with the stereo remote. The remote will work for a little while but eventually stops working at all. Disconnect the GPS and everything works fine. I am going to try the Nuvi 1350 (which does not come with the FM receiver). I would rather go without the traffic updates than my stereo remote.
   Rating: 3 / 5
2. avmanor
   December 14, 2009 at 12:37 am

   I really like this Garmin. My problem is that it comes with very few written instructions. I can’t figure out how to use the traffic feature or the blue tooth feature. But aside from that it is great.
   Rating: 4 / 5
3. Joe from LA
   December 14, 2009 at 2:20 am

   Received my unit yesterday, a Saturday, when technical support is unavailable. Initial charging took several hours (using a video camera USB cable since Garmin does not provide one with the 1350). As others have noted, there is no instruction manual provided either, apparently a cost-saving strategy for Garmin, but very inconvenient for the user. Having used a Street Pilot for many years, and following the logic of spelling out the name of a city, I was immediately stymied. Couldn’t enter the second letter. I also could not erase the letter entered. “Back” was my only option, which sometimes required that I go back several screens. I “played” with that issue for some time (much too much) before I discovered that you only enter the first letter of the city and hit “done” and a list appears. Now how in the world is one to know that since there is no mention of that “feature” in the (very) tiny “Quick Start Manual”–which is virtually useless? Strike virtually. And strike manual. I then returned to the “erase” problem. Spent much too much time trying to figure out why nothing happened when I tapped the eraser in the upper right corner of the screen to correct a typo. In addition, the back and forward arrows were not working properly. Checked the “Help” menu on the device and found the following entry regarding calibrating the screen: “1. Turn off your device. 2.Press and hold the power key for about 30 seconds until the calibration page appears. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions.” SORRY, that doesn’t work. The calibration page never appeared, despite (too) many attempts at bringing it up. Went to Garmin’s support page on the WEB, and found the following calibration instructions:
   
   1. Make sure the Device is turned off
   
   2. Press and hold the top left corner of the touchscreen
   
   3. Power the unit on whilst keeping hold of the top left corner
   
   4. Continue holding the top left of the screen, after 30 seconds, a small dot will appear
   
   5. Release the touchscreen and accurately touch the dots in turn as and when they appear
   
   6. Once complete a message will appear, `Calibration Complete’, Touch OK

   That worked. You might think that Garmin would have caught the misinformation on the device. Or better yet, how about a basic but useful instruction manual? Before discovering how to calibrate the screen, and out of utter frustration, I was very close to calling Amazon and sending the unit back, assuming that it was defective. What is defective is Garmin’s failure to provide easily accessible and accurate help information. Since I am in the complaint mode, it is also worth mentioning that getting back to the main screen (depending on where you are) can involve many taps on the screen. An inconvenience that should be able to be corrected easily.

   Leaving the above aside , I am pleased with the size and weight of the 1350. I know from years of experience with my Street Pilot that the inaccuracies of the software are many, and unavoidable: suggested turns onto streets that don’t exist, streets that end in fields (Arizona), streets that aren’t where the unit says they are (Sioux City), and being sent the long way around because the distance (undoubtedly as the crow flies) is shorter even though the drive time is substantially shorter if one gets on a major highway(Connecticut). Miss an exit from a highway, and instead of being instructed to turn around and go back a mile or so, one (me) can be told to go miles down a parallel road–which happened to be partially unpaved in my case (Idaho)! Conclusion: don’t expect miracles in terms of the directions. Sooner or later you are going to misinformed, but that appears to go with the territory. Don’t bother calling Garmin to complain about incorrect directions. Not only will you not get more consolation than what I have provided, you may well wait 30 or more minutes to speak to someone.

   In summary, I have spent too much time trying to figure out the intricacies of the 1350. I am reserving final judgment, however, until after using the unit in my car. More to follow.

   Chapter 2. First “road test.” I would give it a C- in terms of directions; an A in terms of start-up time, graphics (including lane assist), and sound. I just went to my local Trader Joe’s, taking a So Cal freeway. From the get-go, the unit wanted to take me to surface street that runs parallel to the second freeway that I normally take. I ignored the spoken directions and proceeded to exit to that freeway, knowing that it is significantly faster and easier. It took several hundred yards before the recalculation. Upon leaving the freeway, the unit instructed me to turn right at the light at the end of the exit, even though the shopping center where the TJ’s is located is straight ahead and across the street from the light. I like to think that had I turned right, I would have eventually made it to the store, but I have no idea how. After a subsequent stop at a local hardware store and heading for home, the unit wanted to take me to a main north-south street about a half-mile away even though there was a parallel one right in front of me. I turned on the closest one, and it was several hundred yards before the recalculation. From that point on, the directions were accurate. In fairness, the map clearly and accurately showed both streets to which I refer in the latter example, and it was obvious that I would quickly end up on that main north-south street that takes me home. Nevertheless. . . It may hard to visualize what I have described, but the point should be clear: GPS technology, while impressive, is far from perfect. I would still give the 1350 4 stars, and it is a significant improvement over my antique Street Pilot. I should add that while putting in my favorites, I found that I could spell out the name of the streets. Apparently my inability to do so before was related to screen calibration.

   Rating: 4 / 5
4. e. norton
   December 14, 2009 at 4:31 am

   After giving my son my GPS when he moved, I did a little research and purchased the 1350T. I hate this unit and I am disappointed that Garmin knew there was a problem when they released it.The manual warned about screen freezes and the unit certainly exceeds at that. Freezes about once every 4 hours. has to be unplugged for a minute or so to clear it and this happens at awful times. The pop-up hotel coupons work really well(not exactly a feature I value). At this point, Garmin,the “gold standard’ in GPS deserves it’s dwindeling market share.
   
   E. Norton
   Rating: 1 / 5
5. Michael J. Labarge
   December 14, 2009 at 5:01 am

   We have a GM factory nav system in a 2008 Buick. We bought the Garmin as a back-up for our other two vehicles. The Garmin is by far a better system than the GM and much easier to operate.
   Rating: 5 / 5