860T RoadMate First Impressions

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Just received an 860T.

Similarity to 800 is high, as expected. Some menu changes, some obvious to
cover the 60 and T mods. Others seem to be minor refinements.

Two ³issues² for which I¹m awaiting an answer from the Magellanic Cloud:
* Software tools CD was labeled for the 3000T, whereas the documentation CD
was labeled 860T as expected. It actually seems reasonable that the
software would be the same, but I¹m not taking the chance. Interestingly,
there are only English and French PDF documentation files on the document
CD.
* Flip up antenna is Œsloppy¹. There¹s plenty of friction to hold it in
place, but there¹s Œplay¹ both along and across the hinge axis. It works,
so perhaps this is a non-issue. I¹m only concerned about possible future
warranty issues. Got it from Tiger GPS, and an extended warranty wasn¹t
offered (as far as I could tell ... will pursue further).

The 860T cradle is substantially different from the 800 cradle, and is now
called the ŒEnhanced Cradle¹. It¹s obviously part of the Traffic package.
Before I get to the details of the traffic package, it¹s interesting to note
that there is a coupling antenna for a remote antenna system. The built-in
flip up antenna still has the connection for an external antenna just like
the 800. However, the cradle also has a connector for an external antenna,
and the instructions say to leave the RM860 built-in antenna in the down and
locked position. That way, when it¹s in the cradle, there is obviously a
coupling antenna to make the transition from remote antenna to the RM8XX.
Perhaps this solves either/both a multi-path and installation problem. At
least it should look cleaner. I wonder if the 860T has a unique remote
antenna with a bit more gain in order to overcome the coupling loss; TBD.

The ³Traffic Module² consists of a wire harness with a relatively small lump
in it. Apparently it contains a radio receiver capable of covering all or
part of the FM broadcast band. There¹s an FM antenna that plugs into the
³Traffic Module² that is yet another thing to deal with in an installation.
It¹s a length of wire with small suction cup to stick to the windshield
(ostensibly). The wire is fairly long, and interestingly has a stereo mini
plug (1/8th inch?) connector. Hopefully no harm will be done if someone
accidentally plugs it into the RM860T¹s headphone jack. A stereo mini plug
seems an odd choice for an antenna connector, but perhaps there¹s a reason.
There are three wires attached to the ³Traffic Module²: Œpower in¹ (from the
normal car, or I suppose also the AC, power adapter); Œpower out¹ which goes
to the cradle, Œdata cable¹ which plugs into the cradle. The socket for the
FM antenna is in the lump on the ³Traffic Module². The cradle has a
connector in the bottom that the RM860T plugs into. This is apparently the
ultimate purpose of the accessory connector on the bottom of the RM800 what
was heretofore unused, even when in the cradle. Power and data obviously
pass through it (and audio, see later paragraph). The data connector on the
cradle is one of the tiny 4-pin camera USB/Firewire connectors. I haven¹t
found whether it would also take the USB connection to a PC, and don¹t care
to experiment (yet another question for Magellan). Bottom line is that the
traffic module accessory, when offered for the RM800, will probably consist
of the ³Traffic Module², a new cradle, and the FM antenna.

The Enhanced Cradle also has an audio (³line² or headphone, unknown?)
output, which I don¹t recall being part of the RM800 cradle. The manual
says that both the audio jack on the RM860T and the one on the cradle CANNOT
be used at the same time.

I noticed that the maps SEEM to have been updated. It appears that some of
the old Tiger database has been reincorporated. I don¹t have the RM800
anymore to compare with it, so I could be all wet in that regard. Happily,
it includes a lot of the National Forest roads I use, BUT some of the NFS
Œmain drags¹ remain unlabelled ... odd.

Can¹t report on the street name pronunciation yet. If it works well, I
won¹t bother with a follow-up note. If it doesn¹t, or has significant
quirks, ³I¹ll be back².

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Similarity to 800 is high, as expected.  Some menu changes, some obvio=
us to cover the 60 and T mods. &nbsp;Others seem to be minor refinements.<BR=
Two &#8220;issues&#8221; for which I&#8217;m awaiting an answer from the Ma=
cumentation CD was labeled 860T as expected. &nbsp;It actually seems reasona=
ble that the software would be the same, but I&#8217;m not taking the chance=
. &nbsp;Interestingly, there are only English and French PDF documentation f=
iles on the document CD.
enty of friction to hold it in place, but there&#8217;s &#8216;play&#8217; b=
oth along and across the hinge axis. &nbsp;It works, so perhaps this is a no=
n-issue. &nbsp;I&#8217;m only concerned about possible future warranty issue=
s. &nbsp;Got it from Tiger GPS, and an extended warranty wasn&#8217;t offere=
The 860T cradle is substantially different from the 800 cradle, and is now =
called the &#8216;Enhanced Cradle&#8217;. &nbsp;It&#8217;s obviously part of=
the Traffic package. &nbsp;Before I get to the details of the traffic packa=
ge, it&#8217;s interesting to note that there is a coupling antenna for a re=
mote antenna system. &nbsp;The built-in flip up antenna still has the connec=
tion for an external antenna just like the 800. &nbsp;However, the cradle al=
so has a connector for an external antenna, and the instructions say to leav=
e the RM860 built-in antenna in the down and locked position. &nbsp;That way=
, when it&#8217;s in the cradle, there is obviously a coupling antenna to ma=
ke the transition from remote antenna to the RM8XX. &nbsp;Perhaps this solve=
s either/both a multi-path and installation problem. &nbsp;At least it shoul=
d look cleaner. &nbsp;I wonder if the 860T has a unique remote antenna with =
The &#8220;Traffic Module&#8221; consists of a wire harness with a relative=
ly small lump in it. &nbsp;Apparently it contains a radio receiver capable o=
f covering all or part of the FM broadcast band. &nbsp;There&#8217;s an FM a=
ntenna that plugs into the &#8220;Traffic Module&#8221; that is yet another =
thing to deal with in an installation. &nbsp;It&#8217;s a length of wire wit=
h small suction cup to stick to the windshield (ostensibly). &nbsp;The wire =
is fairly long, and interestingly has a stereo mini plug (1/8th inch?) conne=
ctor. &nbsp;Hopefully no harm will be done if someone accidentally plugs it =
into the RM860T&#8217;s headphone jack. &nbsp;A stereo mini plug seems an od=
d choice for an antenna connector, but perhaps there&#8217;s a reason. &nbsp=
;There are three wires attached to the &#8220;Traffic Module&#8221;: &#8216;=
power in&#8217; (from the normal car, or I suppose also the AC, power adapte=
r); &#8216;power out&#8217; which goes to the cradle, &#8216;data cable&#821=
7; which plugs into the cradle. &nbsp;The socket for the FM antenna is in th=
e lump on the &#8220;Traffic Module&#8221;. &nbsp;The cradle has a connector=
in the bottom that the RM860T plugs into. &nbsp;This is apparently the ulti=
mate purpose of the accessory connector on the bottom of the RM800 what was =
heretofore unused, even when in the cradle. &nbsp;Power and data obviously p=
ass through it (and audio, see later paragraph). &nbsp;The data connector on=
the cradle is one of the tiny 4-pin camera USB/Firewire connectors. &nbsp;I=
haven&#8217;t found whether it would also take the USB connection to a PC, =
and don&#8217;t care to experiment (yet another question for Magellan). &nbs=
p;Bottom line is that the traffic module accessory, when offered for the RM8=
00, will probably consist of the &#8220;Traffic Module&#8221;, a new cradle,=
The Enhanced Cradle also has an audio (&#8220;line&#8221; or headphone, unk=
nown?) output, which I don&#8217;t recall being part of the RM800 cradle. &n=
bsp;The manual says that both the audio jack on the RM860T and the one on th=
I noticed that the maps SEEM to have been updated. &nbsp;It appears that so=
me of the old Tiger database has been reincorporated. &nbsp;I don&#8217;t ha=
ve the RM800 anymore to compare with it, so I could be all wet in that regar=
d. &nbsp;Happily, it includes a lot of the National Forest roads I use, BUT =
Can&#8217;t report on the street name pronunciation yet. &nbsp;If it works =
well, I won&#8217;t bother with a follow-up note. &nbsp;If it doesn&#8217;t,=


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Update:

Even though the Tools CD was labeled for the 3000T, according to the support
line (I called the San Dimas area code 909 number, and got an immediate
answer; however, the responder sounded Scandinavian), the same software is
used for all of the RoadMates. I ran it, and indeed there was nothing that
seemed to make it specifically for the 3000T. I did not try actually
uploading anything. I¹ll try to find time to upload some stuff, but it¹s
not a priority for me. Again, no news will be good news.

On close inspection of the data connector, it is NOT the miniature
USB/Firewire connector that is used on cameras. Perhaps it¹s something
unique to Magellan. The connector on the RoadMate has the USB symbol
adjacent to it, and it does connect to a USB port. The connector on the new
cradle has no symbol, so there¹s no way to be sure it¹s a USB connection.
I¹ll add that to my list of questions for Magellan.

I did connect the Traffic Module, and it worked like a champ. It accepts
power from both the car and AC power adaptors, which makes sense. It SEEMS
that there is an undocumented feature, namely the color of the road in an
affected area SEEMS to be different. After some driving around I¹ll know
better if this is true. I¹ll also reread the manual to see if I just missed
that feature.

I really like the new cradle compared to the original RM800 cradle which was
kind of bizarre. Even with the Traffic Module octopus (not required to use
the cradle), it makes routing of wires to the RoadMate much cleaner. Once
the cradle is set up in the car, you just insert/remove the RM860T. There
is no plugging and unplugging of cables. Why they waited to do this is a
mystery.

I ordered the external antenna, so as soon as that arrives I¹ll be able to
test how well the coupling antenna in the cradle works. Since the GPS
status provides signal strength (C/No) measurements, it will be easy to
compare. Already looked at signal strength, and inside the house I got
about what I¹d expect: from high 30¹s to mid 40¹s dBHz.

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Even though the Tools CD was labeled for the 3000T, according to the suppor=
t line (I called the San Dimas area code 909 number, and got an immediate an=
swer; however, the responder sounded Scandinavian), the same software is use=
d for all of the RoadMates. &nbsp;I ran it, and indeed there was nothing tha=
t seemed to make it specifically for the 3000T. &nbsp;I did not try actually=
uploading anything. &nbsp;I&#8217;ll try to find time to upload some stuff,=
but it&#8217;s not a priority for me. &nbsp;Again, no news will be good new=
On close inspection of the data connector, it is NOT the miniature USB/Fire=
wire connector that is used on cameras. &nbsp;Perhaps it&#8217;s something u=
nique to Magellan. &nbsp;The connector on the RoadMate has the USB symbol ad=
jacent to it, and it does connect to a USB port. &nbsp;The connector on the =
new cradle has no symbol, so there&#8217;s no way to be sure it&#8217;s a US=
B connection. &nbsp;I&#8217;ll add that to my list of questions for Magellan=
I did connect the Traffic Module, and it worked like a champ. &nbsp;It acce=
pts power from both the car and AC power adaptors, which makes sense. &nbsp;=
It SEEMS that there is an undocumented feature, namely the color of the road=
in an affected area SEEMS to be different. &nbsp;After some driving around =
I&#8217;ll know better if this is true. &nbsp;I&#8217;ll also reread the man=
I really like the new cradle compared to the original RM800 cradle which wa=
s kind of bizarre. &nbsp;Even with the Traffic Module octopus (not required =
to use the cradle), it makes routing of wires to the RoadMate much cleaner. =
&nbsp;Once the cradle is set up in the car, you just insert/remove the RM860=
T. &nbsp;There is no plugging and unplugging of cables. &nbsp;Why they waite=
I ordered the external antenna, so as soon as that arrives I&#8217;ll be ab=
le to test how well the coupling antenna in the cradle works. &nbsp;Since th=
e GPS status provides signal strength (C/No) measurements, it will be easy t=
o compare. &nbsp;Already looked at signal strength, and inside the house I g=
ot about what I&#8217;d expect: from high 30&#8217;s to mid 40&#8217;s dBHz.=


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One quick note regarding the pronunciation of street names. It appears that
when the name is non-English, the voice switches character to simulate
native pronunciation. This is based solely on the plethora of Hispanic
origin street names in Southern California. The difference is notable
enough perhaps to be a distraction. Thank goodness there¹s a way to have it
quickly repeat a direction. I know some areas with Scandinavian root names,
so if I get a chance, I¹ll see if it does it with other than just Hispanic
origin names.

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uick note regarding the pronunciation of street names. &nbsp;It appears that=
when the name is non-English, the voice switches character to simulate nati=
ve pronunciation. &nbsp;This is based solely on the plethora of Hispanic ori=
gin street names in Southern California. &nbsp;The difference is notable eno=
ugh perhaps to be a distraction. &nbsp;Thank goodness there&#8217;s a way to=
have it quickly repeat a direction. &nbsp;I know some areas with Scandinavi=
an root names, so if I get a chance, I&#8217;ll see if it does it with other=


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