3. Powering on the StreetPilot c550 for the First Time

Figure 14: Garmin StreetPilot c550, First Use - Setting the Locale

The first time you power on the c550, you are asked to set your geographic region.

Figure 15: Garmin StreetPilot c550, First Use - Setting the Language

The c550 ships with the following languages available:

• English
• British English
• Cesky (I assume this is Czech, but I can't be sure since I speak zero Czech)
• Dansk (Danish?)
• Deutch (German)
• Ellinika (Greek)
• Espanol (Spanish)
• Francais (French)
• Hrvatski (your guess is as good as mine)
• Italiano (Italian)
• Magyar (??)
• Nederlands (Dutch)
• Norsk
• Polski (Polish)
• Portugues
• Slovencina
• Slovenscina
• Suomi
• Svenska
• Turkce

The c550 also includes a similar selection of male and female voices in the above languages. It's worth noting that if you select a computer generated voice (which still sounds pretty good, though not as good as on the TomTom GO 910), the voice will read aloud street names. If you select one of the pre-recorded voices, you will only get standard voice prompts, such as "turn left in 1.5 miles".

Figure 16: Garmin StreetPilot c550, First Use - Setting the Time Zone

Figure 17: Garmin StreetPilot c550, Main Menu

Here we see the standard menu that is displayed when the StreetPilot c550 is powered on. I personally like the simplicity of the c550: navigate somewhere, or view the map -- pretty straight forward.

Figure 18: Garmin StreetPilot c550 Map Screen

This is the standard "View map" screen, showing your location on the map, your heading and speed. The plus and minus icons in the top left and right of the screen are for zooming the map in and out.

4. Updating the Firmware

I noticed that my c550 shipped with firmware version 2.30 installed. Checking Garmin's website revealed that version 2.40 was available for download.

Figure 19: Viewing the currently installed firmware version and map information

You can check the installed software version by tapping on Options (the wrench icon) -> System -> About. Since I wanted to evaluate the StreetPilot c550 with the latest firmware version, I headed out to Garmin's website and downloaded the latest version (2.40 as of this writing). One thing you'll notice is that Garmin has two options for updating the StreetPilot c550: a traditional stand-alone update application, and a new universal updater called "WebUpdater". I chose the WebUpdader method. After downloading the application, it installed on my Windows XP Pro laptop without issue.

Figure: 20: Garmin StreetPilot and WebUpdater

After installing WebUpdater, I connected the StreetPilot c550 to the computer using the included USB cable. When I first tried to step through the WebUpdater application, i got an error saying it could not detect any GPS unit. I simply hadn't given Windows enough time to auto-detect the new hardware. Once I waited for the "Your new hardware is installed and ready to use" dialog box, WebUpdater found my GPS right away.

Figure 21: Garmin's WebUpdater application

The WebUpdater application quickly detected my StreetPilot c550. I clicked on Next.

Figure 22: WebUpdater's License Agreement

Agree to the boring license terms...blah blah blah...

Figure 23: WebUpdater - Downloading Update

WebUpdater begins downloading updated software from Garmin. Over my broadband, the download took about 3 minutes to complete.

Figure 24: WebUpdater - Installing Updated Firmware

WebUpdater begins installing the new version onto the StreetPilot c550.

Figure 25: The StreetPilot displays signs of activity as the update is being performed.

Figure 26: WebUpdater pauses while the c550 installs the update.

Figure 27: GPS Formware Update Complete

About a minute later, the StreetPilot c550 reports that the update was successful. I tap OK.

Figure 28: Checking the Installed Firmware Version

Tapping on Options -> System -> About, the c550 confirms that software version 2.40 is now installed.

Figure 29: WebUpdater - Additional Downloads Available

Now the WebUpdater tells me that there may be additional downloads available for my StreetPilot c550. Clicking Next reveals a few goodies available for download.

Figure 30: Viewing WebUpdater's Additional Available Downloads

Listed first is an update for the traffic receiver. Well, that sounds important so I check it. Then I also check all the additional vehicle icons available for download and click Next.

Figure 31: WebUpdater - Downloading Additional Vehicle Icons

Downloading each of these updates takes a little while. On my system it took about 5 minutes for all the updates to install.

Figure 32: Finsihing the Update Process with WebUpdater

Ahhh Microsoft... Next -> Agree -> Next -> Next -> Finish --- I love Windows applications!