10. Using the FM Transmitter

Figure 115: Sound Settings

The sounds of the Magellan Maestro can be transmitted to the car stereo using the 4350's built-in FM transmitter. To switch audio output from the Maestro's internal speaker to your car's FM radio, tap Main Menu > Settings > Sound > FM Modulator.

Notice that this screen also allows you to customize the volume output levels for navigation announcements, and turn speed sensitive volume adjustment on or off (this feature automatically attempts to adjust the volume based on the speed of the car. So if you're going 60 MPH on the highway, this feature will automatically boost the volume to compensate. It's a nice idea, but doesn't work well in practice. Volume adjustments can be sudden and jarring).

Figure 116: Legal Warning

Accept the legal warning to turn on the radio transmitter.

Figure 117: Finding an Unused FM Frequency

Your car and the FM modulator need to be tuned to the same frequency in order to receive the Magellan Maestro's sounds in the car radio.

Tune your car's radio to an empty FM frequency (a frequency where no radio can be heard), and use the Up and Down arrows to step to the same frequency on the FM Modulator screen shown above.

The GPS can automatically search for an unused FM frequency by tapping the green Auto Tune button.

Once you find a frequency that works well for you, tap and hold one of the 5 memory buttons on the left of the FM Modulator screen until the selected frequency is displayed on the button. Later, you can quickly tune to this frequency by tapping the same button.

11. Keeping the Magellan Maestro 4350 Up-To-Date

As with any GPS, it's important to keep the software and maps up-to-date in order to ensure the best possible performance. Magellan recently released a free major software update to the Maestro 4350 that all owners should definitely install. The update improves routing, reliability, and adds some nice new features.

Here's the step-by-step instructions on how to update your Maestro 4350.

You should periodically connect the Maestro 4350 to a PC (sorry Macintosh users -- Magellan only releases updates for Windows machines) and check for any available updates.

Magellan has released desktop software that makes it easy to download and install the latest firmware and map updates. The "Content Manager" application is available for free via Magellan's website.

To check for available updates, open your web browser and go to www.magellangps.com, find your GPS model, and then click on Support.

Figure 118: Magellan's Website, Product Support Page

Magellan has released desktop software, cryptically called the "Content Manager Toolbox", that automatically checks the software version of your GPS, and downloads and installs any available updates.

In order to check for updates, you'll need to download and install Magellan's Content Manager Toolbox.

Thankfully Magellan doesn't require registration to download updates for the 4350 (you DO have to register and login to download updates for the 4250, however).

Figure 119: Download Content Manager Toolbox

Click on the download link and save the file to the desktop or somewhere where it will be easy to find.

Figure 120: Downloaded Software

Locate the program you downloaded in the previous step, and launch it.

Figure 121: Welcome to the Magellan Content Manager Setup

Click 'Next' to begin installing the Content Manager program on your PC.

Figure 122: Choose Install Location

Either accept the default location to install the program, or manually choose a different install path (unless you have a reason to change this, most people should just leave the default and click next".

Note: the path shown in the figure above includes "(x86)". This is because I installed the software on a PC running Windows Vista x64. 32-bit versions of Windows will not have the "(x86)" in the path.

Figure 123: Installing

Installing the software takes a minute or two...

Figure 124: Install Complete

Once Magellan's Content Manager finishes installing, click 'Finish'.

Connect the Maestro 4350 to the PC using the included USB cable, and wait for Windows to finish detecting the new USB device. Then launch Content Manager.

Figure 125: Connection Failed Error Message

If you see the "Connection failed" error message, shown above, then you may have launched the program before connecting the GPS to the PC, or before Windows has finished detecting it. Make sure you can see the GPS in "My Computer" (it should appear like any other USB storage device), and then launch Content Manager again.

Figure 126: New Profile

Content Manager prompts you to setup a profile for the new GPS. This only needs to be done once for each new GPS you connect to the software You don't need to change any values here. Just click 'OK' to continue..

Figure 127: Warning! Backup Needed

Magellan highly recommends creating a full backup of the GPS before installing any updates. I also highly recommend taking the 15 minutes or so required to make a full backup, as this provides a recovery option in case things go south during or after the update.

Seriously folks - I know many applications out there suggest you backup before proceeding, but this is one case where you really, really should do a backup. I've heard many tales of batteries dying during an update, or cables getting knocked lose, or any number of other things that can happen mid-update, rendering the GPS unusable. With a complete backup, you'll be able to restore easily without having to contact Magellan's infamously bad customer support, and possibly send in your GPS for repair.