In a bid to make this GPS navigation device stand out against TomTom and Garmin rivals. MioNavman’s added a digital TV tuner to it’s latest satellite navigation system the V505 TV, and it’s older brother the 7in V735 TV. So, as well as ensuring you don’t get lost when driving in the UK and Europe, if you stop on route, you can kick back and watch a bit of Top Gear or the latest episode of Eastenders.
At 4.7inches, the 480×272 screen is a generous size, although the unit feels plasticky compared to the Garmin nuvi 1690 and Motorola TN765. There’s a slide on/off switch on top, and a touch-sensitive menu button, which is far too easy too accidentally brush and activate, especially if you’re using pedestrian mode.
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More on GPS
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With street address, keyword, postcode and ‘Find nearby’ options, route planning is very simple and quick. A neat tough is a thumbnail showing a map of the destination, with adjacent roads, so you can see before you commit to the route. The touchscreen can be a bit sluggish though, often requiring a few jabs before it responds.
Maps and features
The V505 comes with maps for the UK, Ireland and 22 European countries. With a white background and grey streets, maps are incredibly minimalist – a feature MioNavman calls TruMap, citing paper maps as an inspiration. It’s dull, although arguably less of a distraction then other sat navs. Voice instructions are very clear and easy to follow, with Text to Speech for road signs. Maps update quickly too and it reroutes very effortlessly. 3D Junction View replicates major road signs on the screen and Lane Guidance uses arrows to ensure you’re in the right lane; both are incredibly useful features when driving on the motorway. You get a generous lifetime of TMC traffic, along with a 12-month trial of safety camera information, rising to £35 a year after.
What makes the V505 so effective, is that despite being rich with navigation features, everything is accessible within a few taps, making it one of the simplest sat navs we’ve used. True, there’s not as much customization that rivals offer – like different voices or changeable car icon – but that’s not such a big loss. Surprisingly there’s no Bluetooth though.
TV on the go
What TV reception you get is going to depend on your location. Ranging in our tests from an impressive 39 channels, to a disappointing eight channels (inside our house). Channel selection is your typical digital TV fare, including: BBC One, Yesterday and Dave. If you get a decent signal, picture quality isn’t bad at all, yes the screen is small, but for the odd program it’s fine and the sound is surprisingly loud and clear enough for several people to watch at once. A seven-day EPG, with program information is a useful touch, and it’ll pick up a terrestrial signal throughout most of Europe – useful if your summer holiday ends up being washed out by rain and you have to retreat indoors. There’s no chance of driving and watching; a safety feature cuts off the TV if you go above 5Mph.
Stored on the device are Wcities Travel Book, they’re not amazingly detailed, but the London guide provides a useful quick reference to local attractions, dining and business. NavPix photo navigation lets you upload geo-tagged photos. It’s a nice idea, if a bit of a gimmick.
Thanks to a simple interface and exceptionally clear maps, the Mio Spirit V505 TV is one of the most user-friendly devices we’ve used, although the lack of Bluetooth means it’s best for casual use. We’re not convinced how useful a digital TV actually is, although if you’re partial to the odd caravan or camping holiday, or drive for a living, it’s definitely worth considering. At £190 it’s a steal too.
