Key Features:

• Sophisticated system primarily for professional drivers
• Designed for lorries, coaches and MPV's
• large 7-inch touch-screen
• optional traffic information via FM TMC traffic receiver
• MP3 player and audio books to provide entertainment on long journeys
• Optimised routes calculated
• Multiple stops can be optimised - great for users who have to make a number of stops and wish to know the best order in which to visit them
• Spoken street names - no more incorrect turns!
• Dead-reckoning - no more problems when satellite reception is temporarily lost
• Touch-screen menu or infra-red remote control
• Points of Interest database
• Add additional POI databases using the POI Loader software from Garmin

Garmin StreetPilot 7500

The Garmin StreetPilot 7500 is a satellite navigation system designed primarily for use in lorries, coaches and MPV's. The 7000 series is a premium range offering navigation solutions for professional drivers.

The StreetPilot 7500 has a large 7-inch touch-screen display - ideal for large cabs and vehicles. The system comes pre-programmed with City Navigator NT software for Europe.

The user can monitor traffic delays with the addition of the optional FM TMC traffic receiver. By adding the receiver to the StreetPilot 7500, the user can be notified of delays caused by road accidents, roadwork's and weather-related problems. This information is invaluable to the professional driver, allowing them to instantaneously instruct the StreetPilot 7500 to calculate a new route around the potential hold-up ahead of them.

Entertainment is also important on those long journeys. The StreetPilot 7500 has an internal MP3 player and can also play audio books (available separately).

MP3 files can be stored on SD cards (available separately) and the user can browse their selection by artist, album, song or genre. All music and audio books can be broadcast over the vehicles existing sound system through the systems built-in FM wireless transmitter. The sound from this system is muted when the StreetPilot 7500 is issuing navigational instructions.

The navigation element of the StreetPilot 7500 contains all the features you would expect from a top-of-the-range system like this one. The system automatically calculates optimum routes, provides turn-by-turn voice instructions, displays progress with the use of 2D or 3D maps and also recalculates the optimum route should the driver stray from the pre-planned course.

Spoken Street Names aid Navigation

The unit also speaks street names - no more "turn left in 200 metres" - it is now "turn left into Charles Street" - a great feature of this system over other systems available in the market.

Multiple-stop Route Optimisation

Another key benefit of the StreetPilot 7500 is that is can optimise a number of destinations. The optimum route can be planned taking account of these multiple stops - ideal for couriers and delivery drivers. The savings alone from this benefit would cover the cost of this system in no time at all.

The system can also be modified with the addition of Points of Interest (POI's) - these can be added to the system using the POI Loader software, available from the Garmin site. Points of Interest databases contain details of hotels, restaurants, cashpoints, shops, post offices, hospitals etc all of which the user may wish to divert to whilst driving - need petrol - no problem - with a few taps on the touch-screen menu, the system will navigate you to the nearest petrol station - this feature is used more often than you may think!

Dead-Reckoning - losing satellite signals is not a problem!

One of the main concerns many users have about purchasing a satellite navigation system is just how accurate are they? Others have heard about problems with systems if the reception of satellites is lost temporarily. The StreetPilot 7500 has built-in dead reckoning sensors. This enables the system to continue navigating when the satellite signal is temporarily lost - a great feature of the 7500.

Operating the StreetPilot 7500 is done via the touch-screen menu system. A wireless infra-red remote control also comes as part of the package.

The side and back of the unit contain the integrated speaker, mini USB port for connecting the system to a PC, an AV input, the SD memory card slot and a 3.5 mm audio jack for optional headphones or line-out to the vehicles audio system.

In review, this is a fantastic system, designed with the professional driver in mind and represents a good investment for those who drive a lot on a regular basis.

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