15. Configuring Avoidances

Figure 67: Avoidances

The nüvi 200 is factory set to avoid U-Turns and Traffic by default. You can adjust the avoidances via the Avoidances menu, shown above (Tools > Navigation > Avoidances).

16. GPS Sensitivity

Figure 68: Garmin nüvi 200 vs 205, GPS Signal Strength

The nüvi 200 is equipped with a high performance GPS receiver. Throughout my testing, the nüvi 200 had no trouble maintaining reception, even when driving in challenging conditions (i.e. in New York City behind tall buildings). However, initial acquisition times could be lengthy, sometimes taking as much as 10 minutes to acquire satellite signals from a cold start.

The newer, HotFix-equipped nüvi 205 acquired it's initial position much faster than the 200. The nüvi 205 typically acquired its position and was ready to navigate within a few seconds of powering on the device.

17. Screen Readability

Figure 69: Measuring Screen Readability

To test the nüvi 200's screen brightness, I used a Mastech Digital 4-range luxmeter (LX1330B), capable of accurately measuring from 0 up to 200,000 lux. A luxmeter is used for checking the level of illuminance, defined as: 'the density of the luminous flux incident on a surface'. It is the quotient of the luminous flux by the area of the surface when the latter is uniformly illuminated. - (E = df / dA). This luxmeter has a rated accuracy of ±3% ±10 digits.

The nüvi 200 was placed in a controlled lighting area, inside a light tent illuminated by daylight balanced (5500° K) fluorescent lamps (the lamps are positioned on both sides of the GPS, as well as directly above it.

The luxmeter's sensor was held 1-inch away from the LCD display, with the light sensor facing the nüvi's LCD screen. The GPS was set to the Main Menu during the light reading, and the screen brightness was set to 100%. Measurements were taken three times, and the average was used.

In order to accurately compare screen readability between models, I have established Garmin's nüvi 660 as the baseline reference model. At the time of its release, the nüvi 660 sold for around $1,000, and was Garmin's most expensive automotive GPS at that time. The nüvi 660's LCD display was generally considered to have the best display of any GPS at that the. Other GPS displays may have come close, but none were better. In fact, the 660 at the time of its release was as close to a spare-no-expense GPS as had been seen.

The nüvi 200's display measured almost identical brightness to the reference nüvi 660. The average reading for the nüvi 660 was 305, while the nüvi 200 scored 296 - a negligible difference that's within the margin of error for the luxmeter's rated accuracy.

In other words, the nüvi 200 has a bright, high contrast* display that's on par with the nüvi 660 reference display.

* The ability of a display designed into an electronic device to produce and maintain a viewable image with discernable differences between the lightest and darkest parts of the image when subjected to varying external and/or ambient lighting conditions.

18. Garmin's nüvi 200 vs. 205

Garmin's nüvi 205 replaces the nüvi 200. Garmin will likely discontinue the nüvi 200 in the near future.

Figure 70: nüvi 200 vs 205, front

Physically the nüvi 200 and 205 and the exact same size, weight, and shape. Both have the same 3.5-inch 320 x 240 QVGA touchscreen.

The only noticeable different between the two models is the darker color of the nüvi 205's plastic case.

Figure 71: nüvi 200 vs 205, Left Side

The nüvi 200 has an SD memory card slot, while the newer nüvi 205 uses the smaller microSD card type memory.

Note that no additional memory cards are needed to operate either the nüvi 200 or the 205, as both units come pre-loaded with maps of the U.S. (or one European region, if buying the European model). Additional maps can be purchased and installed via the memory card slot.

Map Screen Changes

Figure 72: Map Screen Changes Between the nüvi 200 and 205

The nüvi 205's map screen has several important new enhancements:

1. Upcoming turn arrow displays the distance and direction of the next turn. Tapping on this icon brings up a more detailed, 2-D view of the turn.
2. Speed limit information is now displayed on the map
3. Current speed is now displayed in the left data field on the information bar

The nüvi 205's addition of an upcoming turn arrow on the map screen fixes a major shortcoming of the nüvi 200, and almost justifies the upgrade from the 200 to the 205 by itself.

Figure 73: nüvi 200 vs 205 Address Confirmation Page

When entering an address, the nüvi 205 now displays the distance and approximate travel time on the confirmation screen. This is a nice enhancement that lets you quickly see how long the planned route will take.

Figure 74: nüvi 200 vs 205 Keyboard

The nüvi 205's on-screen keyboard has been slightly updated. The 205's rounded keys are a little smaller than the 200's square keys, and an icon for listing recently found entries (the folder icon in the upper-left corner) has been added to the 205's keyboard screen.

I actually found the nüvi 200's larger keys easier to use, and I made fewer typos on the nüvi 200 than on the 205's updated keyboard.

Figure 75: nüvi 200 vs 205 Time Settings

The nüvi 205 is equipped with an "Automatic Time Zone Transition", a feature that automatically determines the nüvi's position and figures out the correct time. So there's no need to manually set the time zone, as is required on the nüvi 200.

Figure 76: nüvi 200 vs 205 Main Menu

The Main Menu is functionally identical between both units, although the nüvi 205's icons have been updated.

Figure 77: nüvi 200 vs 205 Settings Menu

The nüvi 205's menu system has been updated, and replaces the text-based lists of the nüvi 200 with the more intuitive icons.

Figure 78: nüvi 205's Where Am I? Screen

The nüvi 205 includes a "Where Am I?" function not found on the nüvi 200. Tapping on the vehicle icon on the map brings up Garmin's updated "Where Am I" screen, shown above. This is a great feature that provides one-touch access to your current street address (or closest valid street address), nearest intersection, and exact coordinates, and makes it easy to save your current location into the address book.

This screen also provides one-touch access to find nearby hospitals, police stations, and gas stations.

Tapping Save Location Saving your current location adds the current position to the nüvi's Address Book, and allows you to assign a name to the location. Note that you can also save your current location on the nüvi 200 by tapping the vehicle icon, but the "Where Am I?" screen shown above is specific to the nüvi 205.

Other Differences Between the nüvi 200 and nüvi 205

Moving beyond surface design changes or user interface changes, there are some significant hardware and functionality changes between the nüvi 200 and the nüvi 205.

• HotFix - The nüvi 205 is quipped with HotFix technology, also known as Long Term Ephmeris Prediction. Basically, HotFix makes the nüvi 205 much faster at acquiring its position. In my testing, the nüvi 205 was sometimes more than twice as fast to get a position fix than the older nüvi 200
• Faster - The nüvi 205 has a faster, 333 Mhz processor that makes for smoother map drawing, and faster route calculation
• Photo Navigation - lets you upload geo-coded photos and navigate to them
• Support for MSN Direct - the nüvi 205 supports using an optional MSN Direct receiver
• FM Traffic Compatible - connect an optional FM Traffic receiver to the nüvi 205, and the GPS can receive real-time traffic alerts, and route around traffic jams. The nüvi 200 does not support FM Traffic or MSN Direct receivers
• Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Basemap - shows 3D shaded terrain features
• Increased Waypoints - the nüvi 200 can save up to 500 Waypoints/favorites/locations, while the nüvi 205 can store up to 1000

I also noticed significant routing engine differences between the nüvi 200 and the 205. Both test units had identical 2009 maps installed, yet the nüvi 205 exhibited more refined routing decisions when calculating the route.

Compared to the nüvi 200, the nüvi 205 adds an upcoming turn arrow to the map screen, displays speed limit information on the map, chooses better routes, finds satellites faster, has a more sensitive GPS, is faster, and can be upgraded to receive real-time traffic alerts by adding an optional FM Traffic or MSN Direct receiver.

HotFix technology dramatically reduces the time it takes the nüvi 200 to determine its position, and the nüvi 205's GPS chipset is more sensitive than the 200's.

Separated by less than $20 in price (approximately, as of this writing), there's little reason to buy the nüvi 200 over the much improved nüvi 205. With a street price currently well under $150, the nüvi 205 is an excellent GPS, and very likely the best GPS in its price class.