nüvi 260W GPS Navigator - North America
Garmin
- 010-00656-30
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Reviews
(19)
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I had this unit for about a month. I returned it, after being frustrated with its slow ability to acquire a satellite signal. There where times when I would arrive at my destination before it even acquired a signal! Its great when it does find the signal. But don't purchase it unless you have lots of patience and time to wait for it to acquire a signal!!!
11 price(s)
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The Garmin Nuvi 260W is a great little GPS:
The text to speech is clear, the screen is more than bright enough, the maps are large on the 4.3 inch screen. Route calculation is fast.
I regularly use it on battery power which is long, 4 or 5 hours, even more if you turn down the screen brightness.
However, it seemed at first that satellite acquisition was very slow, sometimes as long as 12 minutes.
I think I found a way around that.
If I turned the GPS off at home, it located satellites within 30 seconds of being turned on again at the same location; if turned off before arriving home, which I was in the habit of doing, it took about 12 minutes to acquire the present location.
It seems it did not know where to look for the satellites, and took a lot of time finding them. A software fault probably, but workable.
After I discovered this, I left the unit on up to my destination and the problem was solved.
Something nobody seems to have mentioned; when a store or restaurant is located
The text to speech is clear, the screen is more than bright enough, the maps are large on the 4.3 inch screen. Route calculation is fast.
I regularly use it on battery power which is long, 4 or 5 hours, even more if you turn down the screen brightness.
However, it seemed at first that satellite acquisition was very slow, sometimes as long as 12 minutes.
I think I found a way around that.
If I turned the GPS off at home, it located satellites within 30 seconds of being turned on again at the same location; if turned off before arriving home, which I was in the habit of doing, it took about 12 minutes to acquire the present location.
It seems it did not know where to look for the satellites, and took a lot of time finding them. A software fault probably, but workable.
After I discovered this, I left the unit on up to my destination and the problem was solved.
Something nobody seems to have mentioned; when a store or restaurant is located
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I needed something for trips and unfamiliar territories. I didn't want to drop $4-500. I got this one one sale for about 270. No bells & whistles (bluetooth,mp3,etc) . It's not perfect, but it gets me where I need to go, and has gas stations/restaurants/etc already loaded in. I've used it in a few cities - and it's been great - helped me find my way around.
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The instruction manual does not point out if you want your streets and turns called out you have to set the language to "American TTS Jill" or "American TTS Jack". I couldn't get mine to talk and didn't know what TTS was...it is Text To Speech. Also, my Garmin is oblivious tp our nearest mall that has been around for 40 years. It shows up as a wide expanse of white. None of the stores show up when typed in...?? It claims my maps are up to date.
Otherwise, I love the wide screen. the slim body, the crisp graphics and clear audio. The window mount is easily operational and secure. It has a broad spectrum of options and Points of Interest. I only hope I can find things while I'm out of town and that things aren't omitted like our mall is!
By the way, if you have to call Garmin customer support, you will have to wait 1/2 hour or more. Call the direct number (not the toll free number) and tell the person who answers the phone that you are desperate and have been on hold for hours, day after
Otherwise, I love the wide screen. the slim body, the crisp graphics and clear audio. The window mount is easily operational and secure. It has a broad spectrum of options and Points of Interest. I only hope I can find things while I'm out of town and that things aren't omitted like our mall is!
By the way, if you have to call Garmin customer support, you will have to wait 1/2 hour or more. Call the direct number (not the toll free number) and tell the person who answers the phone that you are desperate and have been on hold for hours, day after
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Beware of the wrong item being shipped. I ordered the Garmin 260W and both time the box said 260W but the product inside is actually the 200W. It will not say the steet names which is the whole reason I upgraded to the 260 from the 200. If you decide to buy make sure they ship the right item. This will be my second return, hopefully they will ship the right thing next time.
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This is my first GPS and I am happy with it. I purchased it on Amazon in mid May and it came preloaded with the latest maps. That was a relief for me after all the mixed info I was reading about getting the latest updates. I have nothing to compare it to but the sound quality seems fine. I have noticed that sometimes it does have a little trouble finding the satellites. No big deal for me as it doesn't happen that often. I have also noticed that it has made some mistakes. I never intended to solely rely on the GPS, so that is not an issue either. Nothing is perfect. I like the extra room the wide screen offers, It was definitly worth the additional cost. I also purchased the garmin portable friction mount and the garmin leather case. Well worth the extra money. The case is advertised for the Nuvi 660 but it fits the Nuvi 260W perfectly. I know the garmin mount is more expensive, but it is much nicer than the other ones out there. It is also nice to be able to put everything out of sight
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I did my homework before buying my first GPS unit. I did not want nor need the top of line units with all the bells and whistles. I had rented a couple of cars with GPS units and found out what I liked and what I didn't like. First off, do not but any unit without the text to speech feature. Without this feature the unit will tell you that your turn is approaching but not the name of the street. The text to speech feature will speak the name of the street that you need to turn on. This feature is a must have. Without it you will staring at the screen waiting for the update to see if you are nearing your turn. With this feature you can listen without the need to be looking at the screen. The wide face is very easy to see. I knew that it did not come with a carrying case but since it never leaves my car that was no big deal. I also bought the bean bag holder and I have not even used the suction cup. I was warned that thieves may target cars with a suction cup ring on the windshield as they
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I've used Garmin GPS products for the past 10 years on my boat. I finally gave in to obtaining one for my car. I can't believe how easy it is to use and to set up. I simply plugged it in, followed the few prompts (country, time zone) and voila. It worked. I have not experienced any delays in acquiring satellites or understanding the audio as did others in the reviews mentioned here. My 85 year old uncle has one and also uses it with ease. This is a must-have product and while I'm sure other Garmin models are good, I can say that this one is fantastic.
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I've used this product for several trips and I've never used another GPS. I love the text-to-speech feature, which is very natural; the instructions are usually very clear, but it is worth glancing at the green bar at the top of the screen to see the full instruction. The map with the graphics can often clear up confusion. The other great thing about the map is it labels upcoming streets so you are not peering at street signs.
I purchased the friction mount, which is great because I can take it off my dash and put it under the seat very easily. Around here, there have been a lot of break ins of cars with suction marks on the windshield.
A couple of glitches so far:
1) I asked for instructions to a park. The Nuvi gave me a list of parks by that name. I picked the correct name, but it guided me to the wrong park. I didn't know the street address of the park or I could have immediately seen the error. Also, if I had the option to see the park on a map, I could have seen the error,
I purchased the friction mount, which is great because I can take it off my dash and put it under the seat very easily. Around here, there have been a lot of break ins of cars with suction marks on the windshield.
A couple of glitches so far:
1) I asked for instructions to a park. The Nuvi gave me a list of parks by that name. I picked the correct name, but it guided me to the wrong park. I didn't know the street address of the park or I could have immediately seen the error. Also, if I had the option to see the park on a map, I could have seen the error,
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I bought the nuvi 260W for my wife recently and decided to try it out during a roadtrip from Alabama to Kansas. I found nuvi to be simple and easy to use. My greatest complaint would have to be with the route selection. When you select an address, city, or point of interest to navigate to, the nuvi calculates a route and gives you directions. For example, I was leaving Alabama on my way to Kansas and the route it wanted me to take was via a smaller highway which I knew contained multiple red lights and train tracks. I wanted to take the interstate; I knew it was faster with less traffice. However, after a short distance, the nuvi did recalculate and go along with the route I already had in mind. Also when I came to a split in the interstate, it gave a direction to stay left or stay right, which would have been nice if I didn't know where I was going. The point of interest search was useful as well; one time I had to get off on an exit and I couldn't see a gas station, I searched for the
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Pro - Relatively easy to use. Has a good list of points of interest. Reacts quickly to a change in directions. Enjoy the 3D and 2D views. Having the GPS say the next turn is a useful reminder. Kids love to see "where" we are going.
Con - Sometimes takes a while to get a satellite link (in Smithtown, NY). I don't consider Smithtown to be a remote nor rural area, so surprised at times it takes up to a minute to get a satellite link. The point of interests are great, but not up to date. Some stores are not listed and/or some stores no longer exist (for more than a year).
Con - Sometimes takes a while to get a satellite link (in Smithtown, NY). I don't consider Smithtown to be a remote nor rural area, so surprised at times it takes up to a minute to get a satellite link. The point of interests are great, but not up to date. Some stores are not listed and/or some stores no longer exist (for more than a year).
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So many 5-star reviews give potential buyers a false sense of confidence. As a matter of fact, after you read those 5-star reviews, you realize those users also complained about the same flaws. I always think 5-star should reserve to a product near perfect or meet all of its stated specifications. NUVI 260W is very useful but with some flaws:
1. The sensitivity & time to acquire satellite signals are not good enough. While I was in San Jose airport, with same location in the waiting area, nuvi 260W never acquires the signal successfully. However, mio c310 easily got it. Also the time to sync the satellite signal is not preditable. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes or forever. Sometimes it takes only 10 seconds after turned off for a short period of time & turned on again. This inconsistency is really annoyed if you are in a hurry.
2. Every time the unit is turned on, it goes through the same time-consuming power up sequence. It should be designed to retain the condition just before
1. The sensitivity & time to acquire satellite signals are not good enough. While I was in San Jose airport, with same location in the waiting area, nuvi 260W never acquires the signal successfully. However, mio c310 easily got it. Also the time to sync the satellite signal is not preditable. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes or forever. Sometimes it takes only 10 seconds after turned off for a short period of time & turned on again. This inconsistency is really annoyed if you are in a hurry.
2. Every time the unit is turned on, it goes through the same time-consuming power up sequence. It should be designed to retain the condition just before
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Garmin is really getting it right. I first used good GPS in a Hertz rental car. I was so impressed, I tried to buy one. It was a very complex machine, cost well over $1,500. The Garmin Nuvi 260W is even better. It always pays to wait. I don't think they can get it much better than this. Really happy with this device. It is so accurate, it can tell if I pull into my neighbors driveway instead of my own.
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GARMIN nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS NavigatorThe product is very reliable and performs well. Easy to operate and announcing roads/stree names while getting directions make it beteer than other voice guided direction GPS without Texxt to Speach Capabiity.
Seems to be slow to respond in rural areas in Vermont. May be they do not have enough satellites. Similar problem is with using Cell Phones in Rural area. Also problem if it is a new development with new roads. Hope maps are updated as new info is available.
Seems to be slow to respond in rural areas in Vermont. May be they do not have enough satellites. Similar problem is with using Cell Phones in Rural area. Also problem if it is a new development with new roads. Hope maps are updated as new info is available.
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The voice prompts are great, instructions are given well in advance of turns, easy to operate. A great help in strange territory. Also, it will not yell at you if you make a wrong turn. The wide screen is nice. I also purchased the weighted dash mount, makes it easy to move to another vehicle.
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This is a great GPS unit. Just what I needed it to do without duplication of the MP3 and bluetooth that I have already. I downloaded a couple sports cars for fun... and I am on my way. Very easy to use and very easy to see. I purchased the friction mount as recommended by other reviewers - and most happy that I did. I have a large vehicle and was worried that the windshield mount would be too far away for convenience. It's nice to have the GPS so close - and it never slips. Plus, I have 4 cars and the dashboard mount makes it easy to switch vehicles. I am very happy I purchased this GPS and would recommend it to anyone!
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Over the years, I have gone through all the major providers of GPS-enabled mapping software. Eventually settled on Garmin maps as the most up-to-date, most frequently updated. Hating to carry lots of gadgets, though, I have for several years been using Garmin maps on my PDA (Treo 700w).
Worked OK, getting GPS coordinates from a Garmin 10 via blue tooth. But, often required resting reading glasses on the end of my nose so I could make sense of the information and imagines on the small screen. Not particularly safe way to drive, of course.
No need for glasses with the large display on the 260W. I am very glad I went with the wider screen. It's not so much that there is more to see on the map as it is the case that the device takes full advantage of the wider screen's capabilities for messages on what's coming up, icons and boxes that may need to be touched to move among screens, make adjustments. Easier to operate while driving (which, of course, none of us do).
I am also glad
Worked OK, getting GPS coordinates from a Garmin 10 via blue tooth. But, often required resting reading glasses on the end of my nose so I could make sense of the information and imagines on the small screen. Not particularly safe way to drive, of course.
No need for glasses with the large display on the 260W. I am very glad I went with the wider screen. It's not so much that there is more to see on the map as it is the case that the device takes full advantage of the wider screen's capabilities for messages on what's coming up, icons and boxes that may need to be touched to move among screens, make adjustments. Easier to operate while driving (which, of course, none of us do).
I am also glad
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I bought the GARMIN nüvi 260W to help with work and family travels. After extensive research with Magellan, Mio and Tom-Tom, I bought the Garmin for three reasons. 1) Ease of use. 2) Screen clarity. 3) Amazing accuracy. And no, despite where I live, I have no affiliation with Garmin. I don't even know anyone that works for them. I am in the architectural business.
I have tried several GPSs while traveling with business associates, friends or in rental cars. As such, I have seen them in real world action. All of the devices saved me time and most found the place I needed to be. I could used any of them and been somewhat satisfied.The problem: I am a perfectionist. As such, I want the unit to be the best. So, after using a text-to-speech Garmin GPS unit earlier this year, I knew that was one feature I could not live without when I pulled the trigger on a purchase. Text-to-speech is a must have on GPS. A MUST. If you have never used a GPS, trust me, you have to have text-to-speech. It eliminates
I have tried several GPSs while traveling with business associates, friends or in rental cars. As such, I have seen them in real world action. All of the devices saved me time and most found the place I needed to be. I could used any of them and been somewhat satisfied.The problem: I am a perfectionist. As such, I want the unit to be the best. So, after using a text-to-speech Garmin GPS unit earlier this year, I knew that was one feature I could not live without when I pulled the trigger on a purchase. Text-to-speech is a must have on GPS. A MUST. If you have never used a GPS, trust me, you have to have text-to-speech. It eliminates
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Beacause I do so much traveling this GPS offered ezactly what I was looking for. Portable GPS with voice directions and an easy to read screen. These feature work very well and it is very customizable.
PROS
Small device with Wide easy to see display
Voice directions are clear
Device automatically readjust directions if wrong turn is taken
Easy to use device no instructions needed
CONS
No travel case included
Extra parts will need to be purchased if you want system professionaly installed
Not much documentation
Device always poers on when car starts, this should be my decision but i can turn it off.
Maintains travel averages (speed with min. max.)
All in all I am very satisfied with my purchase. I would advise to shop for the best price before ourchasing.
PROS
Small device with Wide easy to see display
Voice directions are clear
Device automatically readjust directions if wrong turn is taken
Easy to use device no instructions needed
CONS
No travel case included
Extra parts will need to be purchased if you want system professionaly installed
Not much documentation
Device always poers on when car starts, this should be my decision but i can turn it off.
Maintains travel averages (speed with min. max.)
All in all I am very satisfied with my purchase. I would advise to shop for the best price before ourchasing.
