Michael Fereday takes a satnav for a drive around his neighbourhood
Providing navigational aids is the designated task of the Garmin Nüvi 65 LM satnav. This product comes with free UK and Ireland maps for the lifetime of the device. Supplied with the satnav are a vehicle suction cup mount, a power cable for use with the car’s cigarette lighter socket and a standard-to-mini-USB lead.
Featuring a 6" touchscreen, the Nüvi 65 LM has dimensions of 170 x 95 x 20mm (W x H x D). Located at the rear of the unit are a circular area for attaching the windscreen mounting module, mini USB port for linking to a computer, speaker outlet and a slot for inserting a micro-SD card. Positioned on the topleft corner of the satnav is a recessed power button. This button can power up the device away from the car, with power being provided by the internal battery, which can give up to two hours of use.
In order to gain the full benefit of updated maps, you'll need to download the free Garmin Express software, which is available for Windows and Mac platforms. This utility will check for updates and download those you select onto the device via a USB connection to a computer. In the case of map updates, these downloads can be large and rather time consuming, so they need to be conducted when time is not an issue.
Initially setting up this satnav is best carried out away from your car, when you can give it your full attention. Following a couple of introductory and warning screens regarding the safe use of the device, you're presented with options entitled Where To? and View Map plus Apps, Volume and Settings features. When entering destination and home details, you can use postcodes or town and street details, plus opt for a search facility that uses categories such as Restaurants, Shopping and Petrol Stations. The Nüvi 65 LM can also offer assistance when searching for locations that include Fitness & Gym establishments, Places of Worship and Schools.
Maps can be displayed on the screen in either 2D or 3D mode. The currently displayed area will be overlaid with speed and direction details. Plus and minus signs can be used for zooming in and out of the current map view. There is also an option for an Up Ahead feature that indicates establishments such as food outlets and petrol stations that you might like to visit on the route ahead.
When delivering navigation instructions, the Nüvi 65 LM gives you a choice of three British voices identified as Kate, Serena or James. You can adjust the volume level for your chosen navigator, especially useful if, like me, you like to listen to music while travelling. The instructions are clear and precise, with street names being used to reduce confusion when making turns. You're also not overburdened with repeated instructions for events some way ahead during motorway travel.
If route alterations are required for any reason, such as the driver opting for a favourite shortcut rather than the suggested route, then they're carried out quickly, and I was not once requested to make a U-turn due to my ignoring an instruction. As well as spoken instructions, there are also options to receive audible warnings of speed cameras and any instances of breaking the speed limit.
As you'd expect from a satnav specialist such as Garmin, it does everything that's required of it, and it does it with aplomb. Michael Fereday
A handy device with precise and clear navigation instructions.