Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony NVU94T 4.8-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic and Text-to-Speech

Was amazed by the beauty and added features of the NVU94T at a Radio Shack store that I decided to not go for the highly recommended Garmin and give Sony a chance. Taking it out of the box and playing with it for the first 20 minutes was fun but then one problem after another...
Well, I tried to imagine that I was lucky to get this [...] GPS unit for only [...] but there is a reason for this cheap price...go to the Sony website and try to buy a Sony GPS there- all "not available" or "out of stock" meaning there is something fishy going on...I began having trouble with my device as it froze and rebooted so I went to the Sony support webpage for this model and guess what?
[...]
The device has been affected by a virus and so they urge you to call them - yeah, thanks Sony! But luckily mine was fine and the computer was not damaged.
I DO NOT recommend this device because although it is beautiful and has great features that Garmin should imitate, it is slow and has VERY OLD MAPS...it did not have streets and businesses that have been in my city 5 years and there is no option to update maps (even with money). This deal is no deal at all!!!

EDIT: WARNING-forgot to mention in my original review-before hooking this unit to your computer, visit Sony Support site and make sure yours is not within the serial# range of units that "may contain a virus".
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?news_id=308&mdl=NVU94T

EDIT #2 Another software update needed-no way to manually enter phone book info into GPS?
I just got a TracFone Motorola W376g-Bluetooth hooks up with NV-U94T fine, can make calls etc, and found the GPS has the option of transferring your phone book from your cell phone via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, TracFone? has disabled some Bluetooth file transfer functions-apparently the phone book transfer is one of them! That being the case, I figured I'd just enter the phone book info into the GPS manually, but I can find no way of doing so. Got a second e-mail into Sony support, but don't expect much-got a canned answer with the first e-mail (the troubleshooter was way behind me on the problem). How tough can it be to answer the question "is there any way to manually enter phone book information into the GPS?"
BTW-I knew the W376g had some file transfer functions disabled-didn't think I'd need `em (and really like the phone), but wasn't aware of the phone book transfer function until I stumbled on it.
TracFone (and NET10) also sell the LG600G, which I understand has no Bluetooth transfer functions disabled-I may end up with an LG phone just for the phone book Bluetooth transfer function.

EDIT #3 After Sony phone support taking me around in circles, we ended up back at my original problem-there is NO way to manually add phone numbers/addresses to your phone book. You can add 'em to your address book, but your address book is divorced from your phone book. She said she was taking notes-needs a software update so you can dial out from contacts you enter into your address book. You can dial out if you locate a POI etc using the phone number that pops up when you locate the business etc you're looking for-it needs to have the same capability if you bring up a contact in your address book!
'Course, if you can transfer your phone book via Bluetooth to the GPS (TracFone crippled my Bluetooth file transfer functions) this won't be as big a problem.

ORIGINAL REVIEW
Haven't had this unit long, so I'll just give a few quick impressions-you can read what others say `bout the actual navigation since I haven't had long enough to really test, but I don't know that you're going to find any of `em that don't have quirks AFA routing. I often hear Garmin is best in this regard, but I've also heard folks gripe `bout routes picked by their Garmins, so there ya go?!

Note I'm not a newbie to GPS-I've got a factory unit in an '04 Cherokee (made by Alpine) and have been using the Alpine Blackbird for the last few years in my other vehicles. One reason I originally chose the Blackbird was I was already familiar with Alpine's interface, and liked it better than anything I'd played with.

Got your ears on Sony?

PROS
Love the 2 dedicated buttons-I played with a Garmin and had to keep hitting back, back, back (well, you get the idea) to get where I wanted to go.
Also like the "Gesture Command" feature-basically gives you a number of dedicated buttons instead of having to scroll through numerous screens.

Love the 3D-have mine set to the most "elongated" 3D view (2 3D choices available) and you can see a looong way down the road, with what appears to be a sliding map scale-the closer you get to your destination the more closely to scale the view becomes. It's great for getting an idea what's around you and where both you and your destination are in relation to your overall route. I'm coming from using a bird's eye view in both my Jeep OEM and Blackbirds, and the 3D is a big improvement.
Fer instance-I had mine set to the 1000 ft scale, but while traveling down the highway I could "see" `bout 15 to 20 miles down the road. As I got closer to my destination, the actual screen shot gets closer to scale. Sure beats the heck out of the old bird's eye views units, which just give you a small view of the overall picture.
Note that I've not updated my Blackbirds with the newest software-I understand it gives you 3D views, but I just bought the Sony rather than pay for the software update.

Like the side by side pop up window that gives detailed view of your turns as you get close, with the countdown scale-my `04 Jeep's factory Alpine has this-surprisingly (and I let `em know) the Blackbirds don't!

Ring around your vehicle-it has a second arrow which always shows in which direction your destination is-just a nice little feature to help you understand where you are in relation to your destination! In the picture, note the small yellow triangle at the edge of the ring-it's constantly changing to let you know the direction of your destination.

Really like the lane designation feature in the pop-up side-by-side screen!

CONS
Could put a few more small buttons on the map screen (right side)-I like the small GPS status button on my Blackbird-it has an ascending bar graph to let you know how good a satellite signal you're receiving, and by hitting the button you go instantly to the SAT screen which gives you your GPS coordinates. Would be nice if Sony would give you the option of using GPS coordinates a little more easily-I often find coordinates in my MS Streets and Trips, and it would be nice to enter `em manually instead of relying on addresses so much.
Fer example-going to an air show? I have the coordinates to the main gate, instead of the GPS simply guiding you to the base property-you're still a looooong way from the gate/entrance when many GPS units announce you're at your destination! On my Blackbird, I can input GPS coordinates directly into the unit-still playing with the Sony, but so far the only way I see to do so is with the Nav-U-Tool software you install on your computer?
Also, the SAT screen on the Blackbird is much nicer/easier to read than the Sony's-Alpine uses 12 bar graphs (1 for each satellite) with the bar lengths & colors changing as SAT strength increases-much easier to assess SAT status at a quick glance than the Sony SAT screen!

On a related note-Sony uses the triangle (representing your vehicle) colors to signify
SAT signal strength, but darn if they didn't get the colors wrong? Yellow shows temporary loss of signal (OK) but when you have a strong signal, the triangle turns red. Personally, I'd like to see the triangle turn green when all is OK-green across the board is kinda a universal "everything OK" color scheme, is it not? I'd make the triangle red when you have NO signal, green when you do, and yellow ain't bad for temporary loss of signal.
Also note in the picture the square box with your direction is red-I'd make it green also, in keeping with the "green across the board" theme?
I also see on the map your destination is represented by a red flag-I'd like to see this replaced with a checkered flag. Recent destintations (in My Places) use a checkered flag icon-why not the same on the map? A checkered flag is universally understood as "the finish" or "the end", and I think it would show up better on the screen. It would also help remove more uneeded red from the screen-still keeping with the "green across the board" theme?

Another color change I'd recommend-besides having a more difficult SAT status screen to read (as opposed to Alpine's Blackbird), I'd change the colors of the balls representing SAT signal strength from the colors Sony uses to green for strong signal, maybe yellow for weaker, and red for none. This would again keep with the green across the board display (when everything's OK) as opposed to the colors Sony uses. While not as good/quickly readable as bar graphs, you could assess SAT signal status with a much quicker glance than you now can. Presently, the colors are so close and follow no universal pattern that if you tried to interpret the colors/signals while driving (not that you really need to), you'd be in a ditch!
I'll have to go back and look, but darn if I don't think the color scheme used with the balls representing SAT signals does NOT match the color scheme used by the triangle (your vehicle) to signify signal strength!

It would also be nice to have a map scale screen always on the map instead of having to hit the Options button to see what scale you're using (again, see a Blackbird).

A problem using the Nav-U-Tool software-if you input GPS coordinates into the software (for something the GPS can't find, but you have the coordinates), then download into your unit, you can change the icon to whatever's in the unit. If you put an address directly into your GPS (if it's something the GPS doesn't know is there-say a Dunkin Donuts) you're locked out of the icon screen (can't add/change an icon for the saved address)!
Also note if you enter the GPS coordinates using the software on your `puter, you're locked out of the address box-you can enter GPS coordinates, rename location, add phone number, but can't put the address in!
SO....you have one of 2 choices:
1. Enter the GPS coordinates on your `puter and transfer to the Sony-you can then change the icon, but have no address!
2. Enter the address directly into the Sony-if you do, you'll have an address but can't assign an icon to it in your address book!
I've already mentioned this to Sony's tech support-hopefully they'll fix this with a software update?

No owner manual!? Think they include all paperwork from Sony's site (Quick Start Guide, etc) except the actual owner manual-I had to download, print, and put in a ½" binder-`bout 80 pages long.
Would really be nice if they'd include an actual owner manual!

Will edit my review as I play with the unit.

I read the reviews and saw that some people were having trouble with the gps signal but i bought it anyways. either it was just a luck of the draw thing or sony fixed the problem. This thing is very fast. It locks on immediately. I love the freeway 3D it never puts you in the wrong lane and you will never take the wrong exit again. Living in the same town my whole life i know my way around, and the one problem is this has you take many side streets. But other than that, its been great. The touch screen is also very intuitive and user friendly. BUY THIS over tomtom and Garmin, you wont be disappointed

As many have already said, the display is beautiful - and large. The blue tooth worked well and picked up my phone easily, as well as imported the phone book. But the routing was poor and convoluted. It was so lovely to look at, I really wanted to make it work out, but I'm sorry I've had to return it and go with a Garmin.

I thought this nav unit was a bargin at it's present reduced price of $199 on Amazon, especially with the 4.8" screen size, so I bought it. I have been very impressed with the look and organization of the display and the Bluetooth has performed flawlessly. Additionally, the mounting system is the best I've seen in a portable nav unit. The main problem I have had with the product is that the battery life is so short that it is just not acceptable. It is almost necessary to keep it plugged in at all times, that may or may not be a problem for everyone, but it is annoying to me!

The maps have proven to be accurate, but the routing is terrible. The unit will often take a route that is much more lengthy than the most direct route, it's hard to figure out at times. Overall, I would say a good purchase at the reduced price, but don't buy it at the list price of $399.