Sony NVU50TG.EUR Portable GPS Navigation System

What’s in the box – the sav-nav unit, the cradle which houses the TMC unit, a TMC FM ariel, a car charger (which can be used whilst in car operation), a mains charger, carry case for the unit when removed from car, a PC connectivity CD, USB/mini USB connection cable, basic manual.

Useful stuff they don’t always tell you:- unit battery lasts about 4 hours, but as is always plugged into car charger that’s a little superfluous. The NV-50T comes complete with Navteq maps of UK preloaded onto its internal 512mb flash memory (note no SD removeable SD cards on these units). The UK maps fill about 188mb of the memory so there is spare capacity to add additional maps should you wish. The European DVD map disk can be purchased from Sony separately. Alternatively buy the NV-U70T which comes compete with 1mb internal memory and the European map disk.
TMC works well (no subscription required) and is primarily for use on major roads i.e. motorways dual carriageways etc and offers integrated re-routing options should your route ahead be problematic.
The unit has a single voice (which can be muted) and is a nice posh UK lady.
Connecting the unit to the PC enables the sat nav’s map to be backed up onto your PC (in the event of some unforeseen problem). I subsequently burnt the map off the PC onto CD – just to be sure. Connectivity to the PC also allows you to download software (firmware) updates to the unit from the Sony site. This is recommended as while the unit has only been out a couple of months, there are two firmware updates available already.
Navteq mapping software is very accurate, not had any problems or wrong direction, or ‘turn left into brick wall’ stuff so far. No freezing of the unit problems either, or bits falling off.
Points of Interest works well for; car parks, fuel stations, restaurants etc, but doesn’t have the location of fixed safety cameras (this is available for the TomTom’s however).

Room for improvement stuff – You can only plan your route from the sat nav unit, it is not possible to plan the route from the PC and then download onto the unit (like some other units). Also, it is not possible to tell the unit to save the specific route that you have just driven (i.e. a tracker option). Only 4 digit postcode search is possible, then you have to use street name. This works well actually, and isn’t the problem I thought it was going to be. That’s about it.

I assume that as the unit uses Navteq maps, it will be possible to buy updates maps in the future?
If you are considering other units, the fruits of my research pointed at the Garmin c310 streetpilot as another near contender (not sure if it offers TMC). TomToms were OK but didn’t seem to have TMC (only ‘traffic’ option which links your mobile phone GPRS through a Bluetooth connection – subscription required).

Hope this ramble has helped, all-in-all I am very pleased with the unit and have no regrets.


Not good when compared with the competition   July 3, 2006
M. Adamou (UK)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful

I bought this item six months ago, as a second GPS. I had a Tom Tom GO 300 which was appropriated by my wife so I thought to by this Sony because of the TMC. I must say, the experience of using this Sat Nav is not very good. The normal route selection is usually bizarre. I used it many times in London and it will find the longest most complicated way to take you were you want to go. As for the TMC, it is does not always come on. I found myself many times stuck in traffic, because the TMC had no reception (yes, the aerial was installed appropriately). Another point is that it does take a while to enter the destination because the menu is not intuitive at all. It is a bit of a job initially to navigate around the menu until you can get going. And it doesn't have the option to install the safety cameras as in the Tom Tom. I am sorry to be so negative but if I knew what I know now I would not have bought this item.


Mind the Gap!   July 8, 2006
G. R. Chapman (Boston, Lincolnshire)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

I have used the unit for three months and in the main it is reliable with clear visual and vocal directions.The touch screen is good with user friendly command screens and directions.
However,I chose this unit for two main reasons:
1.The Traffic Message Channel
2.Sony relability and attention to detail.
I have been disappointed in the TMC in that it doesn't always operate in all areas. e.g. In Greater London where there are bound to be traffic issues - I have yet to see it give any information until I am heading North near Stevenage on the A1 (I visit London at least once a week).
The battery,if not connected to the charging unit, runs down quickly and doesn't always last the 4hrs it states on the tin!
The maps themselves are also not up there with the best. There are some pretty outdated areas such as the A1/M62 junction, the Syston bypass in Leicester (completed almost 2 years ago!) You can find yourself 'floating'in the gap between the old and the new junctions which for an unit such as this is poor. DVD map updates will not be available to purchase until at least the end of 2006. Software updates (we are on version 3) are downloaded from the Sony website and it is always worth checking.
In summary good - but certainly not the best!!! Come on Sony keep up!


Overall, quite good value for money   April 6, 2006
Theo Ansong (Molesey, United Kingdom)
11 out of 14 found this review helpful

I've been using the Sony NV-U50T for the last month and I think its quite good. I am not able to make a direct comparison with other products as this is my first SATNAV, but from what I read it doesn't have problems of wrong routes etc.
One issue though: the carry case included is an apology!! In fact, for a sophisticated product such as comes from Sony, it is an insult. I can only describe it as a knapsack made of some dull velvety material! Anyone wishing for beter protection may purchase a suitable camera carry case from Dixons etc; which is what I did.


Sony Nav -50T   September 29, 2006
Ani-Mate
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I can't compare this to other produts but I have to say that I'm not impressed. Firstly the map (certainly for the area I live )is about 3 years out of date! A lot of the adresses that I try to visit don't show up - when I speak to my clients it turns out that their homes were built within the last 3-4 years. Sony say that they may be up-dating the maps by the end of the year. Also, due to the fact that it doesn't recognise the last 2 characters of the post code it is quite often difficult to input an address. Obviously the beginning of a post code can cover a large area so you have 4 or 5 sections with the same post code and if you select the wrong one then you can't find the road! (You have to select the post code and then it gives a list of roads in that post code.) My own address shows up as being in a nearby town not the village that I live in (despite living slap bang in the middle of the village). I tend to use a map book rather than my sat nav now as it is quicker and easier. For the adresses it does find it is very good and the directions are very easy to follow but it only finds about 30% of addresses.