3. What's in the Box (Unboxing)

Figure 1: Navigon 7100, Retail Box

The Navigon 7100 ships with the following items included:

• NAVIGON 7100 GPS Navigator
• SD card preloaded with software and maps of US, Canada and Puerto Rico
• Rechargeable 1150 mAH lithium ion battery (rated for up to 4.5 hours)
• Integrated traffic receiver with free Lifetime Traffic updates
• AC Adapter
• Car Charger
• Carrying case
• USB Cable
• Stylus and Car Mount
• Quickstart Guide and User Manual (on CD)
• Limited Warranty
  

Figure 2: Navigon 7100 Retail Box, Opened

Figure 3: What's in the Box?

Here you see everything included in the Navigon 7100 box:

• NAVIGON 7100 GPS Navigator
• SD card preloaded with software and maps of US, Canada and Puerto Rico
• Rechargeable 1150 mAH lithium ion battery (rated for up to 4.5 hours)
• Integrated traffic receiver with free Lifetime Traffic updates
• AC Adapter
• Car Charger
• Carrying case
• USB Cable
• Stylus and Car Mount
• Quickstart Guide and User Manual (on CD)
• Limited Warranty

Figure 4: Included Leather Carrying Case

The inclusion of a leather carrying case is a nice touch. However, the case Navigon ships in the box offers virtually no padding or shock protection from drops. It's adequate for protecting the screen from getting scratched, but that's about all.

Figure 5: Navigon 7100, Front

The Navigon 7100 measures 5.2 by 3.7 by 0.9 inches and weighs 7.8 ounces. That puts the 7100 at about 20% heavier and 20% larger than Garmin's nuvi 600-series, and about the same size/weight as Magellan's Maestro 4000-series units.

Overall the Navigon 7100 is a decent, if uninspired, looking GPS. The finishing touches make the unit look expensive. However, the black plastic frame around the LCD display is a little larger than I'd like to see, measuring just over half an inch in thickness all around the border.

There's room for streamlining the Navigon 7100's size -- especially when you consider the unit measures almost 6-inches diagonally, yet the LCD display is only 4.3-inch (diagonally) in size.

Figure 6: Navigon 7100, Left Side

The left side of the Navigon 7100 has no ports or connectors; only the rubber caps that protect the case screws are visible.

Figure 7: Navigon 7100, Back

One look at the rear of the Navigon 7100 and it's clear the unit has an unusual mounting system. Well discuss the mounting system in more detail in a moment.

There's also an external GPS antenna port on the rear of the 7100, though most users won't need it thanks to Navigon's use of SiRF's high performance indoor StarIII receiver.

Figure 8: Navigon 7100, Right

The right side of the Navigon 7100 is home to the On/Off/Standby switch.

To power on the 7100, press and hold the power button for at least 6 seconds. Pressing the standby (lower portion) of the On/Off/Standby rocker-switch puts the 7100 into standby mode - a low power consumption sleep mode that draws very little power but keeps the GPS ready to use.

To completely power down the 7100, press and hold the power switch for 6 seconds.

Figure 9: Navigon 7100, Bottom

The bottom of the 7100 is home to the following, from left to right:

1. Reset
2. Traffic Antenna/Headset Socket
3. LED
4. Power connector/USB Data port

The Navigon 7100's USB port provides power to the unit, recharges the battery, and is used to connect the GPS to a computer.

Figure 10: Navigon 7100, Top

The Navigon 7100 stores its maps and navigation software on the included SD memory card. Saved destinations, routes, and logbook entries are also stored on the SD card.

The SD memory card slot is located on the top of the 7100, as shown above in figure 10.

Figure 11: SD Memory Card Slot

When fully inserted, the SD card sits recessed about 1/8th of an inch below the surface of the GPS, making it virtually impossible to release the SD card without using a tool (paperclip, pen, knife, etc.). It's also hard to get the SD card back into the unit, since the SD card needs to be inserted fairly far below the surface of the GPS, and doesn't sit flush with the case.

It's not a huge issue, since you won't often need to remove the SD card, but it's still something Navigon should consider improving.

Figure 12: Navigon's Windshield Mount

The Navigon 7100 includes one of the most unusual windshield mounts I've ever seen. For starters, it's HUGE. End-to-end the mount is almost 10-inches long.

The mount is designed to be aesthetically pleasing, and provide a quick-release dock for the GPS itself. Let's take a closer look at the mounting system.

Figure 13: Navigon's Mounting System

The GPS-facing end of the windshield mount consists of a threaded coupling that lines up with the back of the 7100 GPS unit. This connection functions in a similar way to attaching a lens to a camera; you twist the GPS onto the mount until it snaps into the locked position, and press the release button on the mount to detach the GPS.

Figure 14: Attaching and Removing the Windshield Mount

The windshield mount is secured to the glass by sliding the lever from left to right, shown above in figure 14, until it locks into position.

To remove the mount, turn the locking lever counter-clockwise and pull the mount off the windshield.

Figure 15: Navigon 7100, Connected to the Windshield Mount

The Navigon 7100 attached to the windshield mount.

To my surprise the Navigon and its unusual mount are quote handsome once installed in the car. Its high quality construction and design almost makes it look factory installed.

Figure 16: Windshield Mount Release Button

To remove the 7100 from the mount, press the release button on the mount and turn the GPS counter-clockwise until it separates from the mount.

One problem with Navigon's stylish mount is that the release button is difficult to see once the GPS is mounted in the car, and even more difficult to operate. You have to grope behind the GPS and feel for the button, which is too narrow and too close to the body of the GPS to press easily. Then you have to twist the GPS until it separates from the mount - a process that means you'll have to re-adjust the unit into the desired position again next time you attach it.

Figure 17: Included 12v Power Adapter

The 710 includes a 12v cigarette lighter power adapter. The 7100 uses the same USB port for power/charging as well as data transfer.

Figure 18: External TMC Antenna

The Navigon 7100 actually has a built-in traffic receiver, but for optimal performance the company recommends using the included external TMC antenna, shown above. In my testing I almost always needed to use the external antenna to receive traffic data, even when I was in major metropolitan areas like New York City or downtown Boston.

For all practical purposes, the internal traffic receiver isn't going to cut it, so you'll need to use the external antenna. I wish Navigon had integrated the antenna into the 12v adapter or windshield mount rather than using an unsightly additional antenna that clutters up the windshield. Both Garmin and Magellan hide the traffic antenna in the 12v adapter or windshield mount, and it makes for a much less cluttered dashboard.

Figure 19: USB Cable

A standard USB data cable is included for connecting the 7100 to a PC.

Figure 20: Included AC Adapter

Navigon includes a 12v AC adapter for charging the GPS outside of the car.