Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Installation:
I mounted the 350C on a ZTechnik Spider Mount.
I bolted the Lowrance plastic mount onto the ZTechnik plate after removing (severing) the flex arm using flathead countersunk machine screws. BIG MISTAKE. The unit would not stay powered for more than a couple of minutes, or the operating system would crash.
I actually took the unit back to the store and exchanged it. The second one did the same thing.
I figured out that the screws must have been ferrous or otherwise magnitized and was messing up the GPS.
The fix: I removed the screws and used velcro strips. I'm not entirely comfortable with that but it'll work for now until I decide on using plastic screws or maybe JB Weld on the mount.
For audio, I use my ear plugs direct to the device. The audible turn-by-turn instructions cut in while music is playing.
Performance:
About 1 minute to get 3D signal while not under a structure or otherwise being blocked.
I can operate the touch screen with heavy armored AlpineStar gloves although some of the detailed settings are more difficult to engage. That's OK, because of the monitor size, I don't expect to have more than the basic necessities while wearing gloves.
The screen is fully visible in all lights.
The audio comes over well and the controls are easy to use. You can even select music through a file manager while in the music player mode.
Music also comes thru while in map mode.
I am having difficulty trying to adjust the volume. Pushing the buttons doesn't seem to work. Maybe I should read the directions...NOPE, why start now?
The unit is small enough that it fits into the ferring compartment on my BMW R1150RT (I removed the stereo brackets so the remaining boot is approx. 12" deep x 8" W with an opening of 3.5" and an internal height of about 4.5". Anyway, I can throw the unit inside the locked compartment with lots of room to spare.
When you miss a turn, the device corrects for the best option and again, the audio kicks in and will tell you where to go in addition to screen overlay instructions and arrows.
Transferring data:
I upload .mp3's directly to a 1 GB SD card by inserting the card in a reader in my PC. But you have the option of tranfer via the included USB cable. It's faster if you don't go thru the unit and it won't cause extra drain on the battery.
You can upload any type of data to the card but the device will only read .MP3, OGG Vorbis and common image formats such as .jpg, .bmp.
Device updates:
An update is available for the 500C but not the 350C. Being a stoopid programmer and having a desire to break stuff, I installed the 500 updates and caused all manner of problems. Not to worry. I simply deleted the files from the SD card and it returned to normal. SO it appears that the critical system files are protected in ROM on a chip and there is a good chance that you will have to try harder than me to break it for good.
The 500 will let you modify the interface with "Skins". Just like your favorite PC media player. It is probably possible to hack your own code for the 350 but maybe you'd rather not violate the warranty, pay for repair, or throw $500 to the wind.
Battery:
I haven't ran it until it shut off but I've been using it for 2 hour stretches without external power while navigating and playing music. This is the 5th GPS that I have owned and anyone knows that a GPS will drain batteries easy.
The device is recharged vis DC input and I don't think that the USB cable will charge it since it is a mini USB interface and lacks the power lines.
You may have to drive coast to coast to recharge via the DC outlet on your car or bike. I use a cheap Radio Shack AC to DC outlet adapter and it works fine.
Best to just keep it DC powered by your car or bike while operating to keep the charge up.
Conclusion:
I am very satisfied. The device is truly portable. Just grab and go. Mney well spent.
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Product Description:
The compact, portable Lowrance iWay 350C GPS+WAAS navigator not only gets you where you need to go, but also lets you groove to your favorite tunes along the way. The system is structured around turn-by-turn GPS navigation, but also includes such multimedia extras as a stereo MP3 audio player, a wireless FM modulator, a picture viewer, and a built-in battery pack for portable power. As a result, the iWay 350C makes a great companion on everything from cross-country drives to wilderness hikes to city bus commutes.
3D display mode is easy to follow. View larger image.
Plays MP3 files through built-in FM transmitter. View larger image.
View JPEG digital photos on the 3.5-inch display. View larger image.
The Lowrance iWay 350C features a touchscreen, GPS navigation, MP3 player, photo viewer, and more in a single device. Simply pick a destination via the easy-to-use touchscreen display and you're on your way. Once programmed, the iWay 350C automatically calculates the best route and delivers turn-by-turn directions with audio and visual cues. It's more convenient than ever to view your route thanks to the three, selectable mapping displays--2D Track Up, 2D North Up, and Elevated 3D--and the sunlight-readable 3.5-inch TFT color display, whose 320 x 240 resolution is sharp and detailed. Once you approach your destination, the display's auto-zooming function kicks in to give you a more detailed look. And because the iWay 350C is WAAS-enabled, it's accurate to within 3 meters, giving you a leg up on your next Internet-based scavenger hunt.
The device isn't restricted to basic navigation, however, with such add-ons as street address searching and auto-routing functions that help you choose the most efficient route. Want to avoid toll roads on a long trip and stick to the interstate? Would you like to avoid taking left turns against busy traffic? Simply tell the iWay 350C and it will create a route that meets your requests. The unit even automatically recalculates the directions should you miss a turn.
The iWay 350C is equipped with a rugged 4 GB hard drive for high-detail mapping, along with a preloaded Navteq database with street-level maps for the continental U.S. and Canada. The database also includes more than five million points of interest, including gas stations, hotels, malls, restaurants, amusement parks, and tons more. And should the maps prove slightly out of date, you can update them via PC using the included USB cord. The iWay even goes a step further by making sure you never have to compromise on-road safety. In addition to its voice guidance function, the iWay 350C sports a Safety Passenger mode that allows a passenger to use the GPS features while the car is in motion.
The iWay 350C is also designed to help you enjoy your time on the road, even while you're in the midst of following directions. The unit accepts both MMC and SD digital memory cards, which can hold hundreds of compressed MP3 music files or JPEG photos. Even better, the iWay's built-in FM modulator plays the MP3s wirelessly through your car's stereo speakers, so you don't need to install an expensive new system to enjoy the tunes. Simply find an empty FM frequency on your radio dial and the iWay will wirelessly stream the music to the tuner. Once you're on the road, you can activate the browse, repeat, shuffle, or scan functions, or even adjust the equalizer for the best audio performance.
The iWay 350C, which runs for up to 15 hours per charge of the two internal lithium-ion batteries, comes with a 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter, a suction-cup mounting bracket, a USB cable, a protective cover, and a touchscreen cleaning cloth. The compact unit measures 4.52 by 3.54 by 2.55 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
iWay 350C, 12-volt cigarette lighter power cord, suction-cup mounting bracket, USB cable, protective cover, touchscreen cleaning cloth, user's manual.
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