Gone are the days of sitting precariously on the shoulder of the road shuffling around with paper, wondering where you are and where you need to go. Americans live in a high-tech world where all kinds of nifty electronic GPS gadgets make life simpler. GPS devices work by triangulating signals from Uncle Sam by Global satellites placed in geo-synchronous orbit. The devices can receive a signal from several satellites and make one simple finding, where the receiver is on the ground, plotted in latitude and longitude. The funny part comes when a GPS device can be connected where it shows on a map where everything else is on the planet and plot according to certain maps how to get from point A to point B. This is the genius of GPS. One exceptional offering that does just that and much more is the CoPilot Navigator 9 from ALK Technologies.
With computing power so readily available these days and electronic tablets, it’s no wonder GPS is so popular. High end cars often come with in-built systems for a price. It can be purchased as a maintenance tool with all the bells and whistles. CoPilot Navigator 9 is one of several GPS products ALK offers. What sets the Navigator 9 apart from most GPS devices, including those offered by ALK, is its price and flexibility. Navigator 9 is designed for peripherals rather than standalone systems. Coupled with a corporal adipiscing, it becomes one of the most powerful in the navigation market.
The Navigator 9 comes with two CD writers and a USB remote receiver. The receiver is a magnet and is happy to ride a vehicle with a cable running through the top of the gate. One CD is software programs, the other is a database file. Other databases are available, including, Europe and. Windows XP system requires 2k or greater, Gigahertz processor and at least 250 meg of disk space. The installation is standard, although it takes some time to download all the data from the world into the hard drive. The data can be accessed from a CD, but although the gig sucks up space, it is recommended to load the data into iron driver Once installed, users have a far more powerful map system available on their device than can be obtained from a web map.
Navigator 9 has two modes: Guidance and Advice. It is a guided mode that is used when the commentator sits on the throne to provide the driver with detailed navigation instructions. The planning method is used to plan the route. Almighty with both offerings. First, Home Mode has several drop-down menus in the normal Windows style. Below them is a row of button bars. There are lots of planning and routing options and all are linked to a detailed map database. Users can set up a route based on several factors, save it, change it and print it. The program allows for RV’s or cars. It gives three choices for stimulation: the fastest, the most direct, and the most dramatic. They are often designed in three ways according to their choice. The “RV” option keeps it difficult for coaches to maneuver on difficult roads. There is also an option to “avoid the toll road” and one that takes travelers to high mountains to restricted propane tunnels. Another nice feature of road planning is the cost calculation. Enter the vehicle’s mileage and gas price and the program will figure out how much the trip will cost.
It’s a design process that makes the program far more powerful than the average handheld GPS device. Users can spend some time working on an action plan that chooses the best route to prevent and decides on the best road closures. Routes and itineraries can be saved for later retrieval. They can also be imported. Frequent travelers or businesses that always have drivers on their route can easily develop a database of routes that could be uploaded to drivers when needed. To arrange a trip, select a ticket to purchase a trip. To enter or select locations, go to options to select the type of route, then select “run.” The program generates a route table and reverse instructions. A pop-up gives the starting point, number of stops, ending point, distance, estimated time, type of journey, fuel cost. Once the route is complete the entire route can be printed under the “Print TravPak” option. This option prints pictures and instructions that will be in use if the boxer battery or inverter power dies or computer crash< /a>.
In addition to roads, the database includes many thousands of properties, businesses, government offices and much more. When the “more detailed” option is selected, the maps are almost suffocated by the icons showing the locations. The program also allows the search for businesses, restaurants, churches or other places along the street or in specific areas. It is good that the program reports the terms from the list within the given route range. Users can enter custom locations as well. Finally, the program will automatically collect data from Microsoft Outlook and add it to local custom.
The program interface is simple and easy to use. His face is somewhat backward, a need rather than an idea. The control system, especially the buttons, menus and appearance is very old and simplistic. It’s intuitive that it works well, especially since the graphics and buttons are simple, easy to recognize and large enough to be taken under the gaze, all important considerations for using a destination interface while driving.
Navigator 9 steering mode allows the driver to choose from several different settings. Options include destination “where am I” then reverse, 3D view, route and Driver Safety. The most important option is Driver Safety. In Driver Safety mode, three custom lines are displayed that can be set to display ten different elements from current speed to elevation, local time, destination time, or even the nearest highway. It is a very handy option. The program can also be set to issue a warning when the speed of a certain drive is too high. The Driver Safety Mode screen shows three custom options and displays a small map when the turn is approached showing the turn. When stopped, such as at a traffic light, the display switches to full screen.
The Navigator 9 has a speech mode that alerts drivers when a turn is approaching. A driver can concentrate on the road and traffic rather than changing the view on the computer screen. Voice directions are general, “left” or “a mile ahead” rather than specific, “right”
ABC Road
. “The driver must be familiar enough with the route to know the correct turn or action. Part of the fun about Navigator 9’s voice guidance is that users can create their own voice commands rather than relying on the ones provided. Creating something can make programming very enjoyable!
Several menu options are not available on the standard 9 Navigator. “Live” mode is an optional upgrade that allows real-time communication between multiple passengers using the software and real-time traffic reporting. There is no information on the price or availability of the upgrade, only that the upgrade is available through the site. “Live” mode requires wireless network access via PC as well. Another “option” for the upgrade is voice command. The auxiliary software package describes the availability of a voice-command mode, where drivers can speak to the program and receive information. The non-functional buttons and open information about these “options” are clearly a way of encouraging an upgrade to a more expensive version of the software.
Upgrade ideas are nice, but probably not worth the time and money. Real-time communication between multiple vehicles is a fun idea, but only practical in business classes. In this case an upgrade could be claimed. For the greatest basketball player. Real-time traffic data is available from multiple sources, including online if a wireless connection is available. The voice commands sound nice but a microphone would be needed, and the computer would pick up the right commands from all the ambient sounds inside the cabin of the car along the way.
CoPilot Navigator 9 is not perfect. The program could use some improvement in several areas. Computer geeks probably means it needs a facelift. These things are cosmetic, but, nothing to function. More difficult is the occasional glitch and database activation that needs to be updated. The world of data that comes with the program is amazingly detailed. There are two elements in the data: tables and points of interest (POI). Points of Study can change faster than roads, but the construction is always quoted somewhere making sure the most recent map is out of date.
The over-all program has been verified very accurately according to the data in the database. A wise traveler should study the route before departing and compare what is outside the windshield to what the Copilot says. A change in a section or a new pass, for example, cannot make it into the database. Of course, maps suffer from the same problem. Common sense and a bit of precaution will overcome the occasional failure of database updates. The software allows users to report errors, which is a great idea. Database updates are available to users, according to the company, at appropriate frequency.
The casting is done by computer vision. Sometimes computers can be super stupid. Sometimes a program may offer unusual directions simply because of a different section or map that does not quite match the routing specification. All computer-generated mapping software can suffer this fate so Navigator 9 is not immune. Those who used Mapquest or Google Maps can also see news on the route. Again, route recognition and common sense are required to ensure that the CoPilot vision is accurate enough to compensate drivers on these few occasions.
Neither data errors nor streaming glitches should be a major concern or reason for not purchasing the software. The company claims that the maps are very accurate and quite accurate. Compared to online maps, the roads are more accurate, better defined, and easier to navigate. The database includes smaller roads and lanes missed by other programs and Navigator 9 makes full use of its extensive road data to better plot the road.
Navigator 9 is an end product offered by ALK Technologies. ALK lists hand-held GPS devices, phone systems, and special systems including one designed for truck drivers. Navigator 9 puts the power of GPS navigation in the hands of ordinary travelers. The price of the Navigator 9 varies depending on the retailer, but is available for less than 100 bucks. Very few systems are available at that price and even fewer offer the power of CoPilot Navigator 9.
From numbers, to ease of use, functionality and bang for the buck Nav’ 9 gets 9.5 out of ten. The database is excellent but a bit dated. gets mapped from 9.0; Take POI 8. The look of the program is pure Windows in home mode, a bit old and simple in guided mode, so to look 9 Nav’ 7.5.
CoPilot Navigator 9 is an excellent, affordable option for those who love to travel but are directionally challenged or road warriors on a budget who want GPS navigation but they can’t afford high dollar or fifty thousand dollar drones with built in GPS. It’s a double-duty design and a better deal for the browser than hand-held devices three or four times the price. With CoPilot Navigator 9, traveling can be fun again.
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- The company website is www.alk.com.
