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A high-end sat-nav device complete with voice control
Better known for its car stereo and speaker systems, Blaupunkt also has a range of sat-nav devices.
The Travelpilot Lucca 5.3 is its high-end model with maps covering western Europe.
Despite the ‘5.3’ in the product name, the stylish-looking device has a 4.3in widescreen display. There are just three physical buttons, with everything else controlled by finger on the touchscreen.
The screen isn’t as responsive as others we’ve seen and entering addresses and postcodes was tricky with the relatively small buttons. There are also separate keyboards for letters and numbers, so you have to switch between the two, which is time consuming.
We also had trouble getting the device to recognise a couple of postcodes; when entering the PCW office postcode of W1A 2HG it refused to let us go any further than 'W1’, leaving us to enter the road name instead.
The Travelpilot will also accept voice commands when specifying addresses. We were sceptical at first, but it actually worked extremely well. It’s a bit fiddly, since you have to go through the menus and find the voice button, but it managed to recognise most road names we gave it. A physical button linking directly to the voice input would be ideal.
The mapping doesn’t feature enhancements, such as 3D landmarks, but its simplicity aids navigation. Meanwhile, the audio commands during navigation have a very disjointed feel and aren’t as smooth as some competitors. The Travelpilot will also attempt to read out road names; it’s obviously not perfect, and the text-to-speech conversion results in an almost underwater-style voice, but it’s a useful feature.
Other features include Bluetooth for hands-free calls, TMC traffic updates
and speed camera warnings.
The Travelpilot has some interesting features, but it needs to have £50 knocked
off the price to make it a real contender.
Read more reviews
Pros: Clear maps; voice control; 4.3in widescreen display
Cons: Expensive; touch-screen is awkward to use
Overall: Some interesting features, but it’s too expensive
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The Blaupunkt Travelpilot Lucca 5.3 is far from perfect, be warned!
It'll get you were you want to go, that's the main thing. But so will a cheaper system. I've mine for six months now & I can't see where the extra cost has gone. I hate to say it but it's not worth it. I've totally lost voice control features, am unable to link the device to my computer, have no traffic camera warnings even though I've selected the option & the touch screen only works half the time in the top right of the screen. The software leads you round in circles until you're familiar with it. The voice directions & instructions are good enough, certainly amusing but sometimes confusing:- ie "Turn left onto the B one thousand one hundred & thirteen after one hundred & fifty yards" in one breath has you jamming your breaks on frowning at the screen. Save your money, get a TOMTOM!
Posted by Jay, 13 Jul 2008
Travelpilot Lucca 5.3 sat nav.
Fiddly when inputting destination. It even tried to take us up a road marked 'unsuitable for motor vehicles' - great in a motorhome. It did the same to friends attempting to achieve the same destination. Have little faith in its ability to send us down a sensible route - we added miles when trying to get thru Cheltenham and seems to want to direct you backwards on occasion. Not impressed - far prefer Tom Tom - clearer voices for a start. Shame it incorporates a reversing camera or it would have learnt to fly by now!
Posted by Ali Standring, 26 Jun 2009
ford focus sat nav
There is nothing wrong with the our new ford focus car but I feel we were sold an out of date sat nav with no way of updating it. We lived in kent and know that Sheppey bridge opened in July 2006. But when we bought the car last year the brand new sat nav did not show bridge, so it is 2010 and no update is yet planned Not good enough.
Posted by Mrs Pat Cunnington, 24 Mar 2010