Magellan RoadMate 9400

Magellan RoadMate 9400-LM 7-Inch GPS Navigator Review

GPS
  • Price - 9.8/10
    9.8/10
  • Quality - 9.6/10
    9.6/10
  • Features - 9.2/10
    9.2/10
9.5/10

Summary

The Magellan RoadMate 9400-LM 7-Inch GPS Navigator is ideal for frequent drivers that want an affordable GPS device. It’s perfect for trucks and RVs.

Introduction

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These days, a lot of people get around using GPS. It’s a very convenient system that can be used from a wide range of devices. Some people use it rarely, just to find a newly opened shop, from their phones. Others use devices that are specifically made for planes or boats. But the most used dedicated GPS devices are the ones used by drivers, every day, all around the world.

Now, what exactly is GPS? The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system. It’s made out of at least 24 satellites and it can work under any weather condition, anywhere in the world. And the best part of it is that it’s all free. No subscription fees or setup charges are required.

The system is owned by the United States of America. The U.S. Department of Defense (USDOD) originally put up the satellites for military use. But in the 1980s, they were made available for civilian use as well.

A Satellite Navigation Device is also known as a GPS receiver, or simply as a GPS. These devices can receive information from the GNSS satellite and then calculate the device’s geographical position.

After determining your position, the GPS unit can calculate other information as well. You’ll be able to know the speed, track, bearing, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time, and more.

Thanks to their parallel multi-channel design, the new GPS receivers are extremely accurate. This way you’ll be able get to anywhere you want without any problems.

Most dedicated GPS devices that are specifically made for cars have been heavily tested by hundreds of real-life drivers. Thanks to them, you’ll be able to benefit from countless improvements.

Why do You Need a GPS Device?

A frequently asked question is “Why would I need a special GPS device when I already have a smartphone?”. And it’s a very good question. Recently developed phones are more and more capable. So why should you spend another hundred dollars, instead of using the free app from your phone?

Before getting into more details, you should know that these devices are specially dedicated to frequent drivers. So if you drive for a living or take a lot of road trips, then you should consider a GPS unit. You can also use these gadgets if you love camping in areas with no cell service. Just make sure to have a charging battery with you.

Using the GPS app requires a tremendous amount of battery power. A dedicated GPS unit, on the other hand, uses your car’s cigarette lighter outlet. This eliminates any battery draining issues. Some units come with a built-in battery that can last a few hours as well.

If you use your GPS app from your phone, you will need data. And if you need the app for a few hours a day, then you might end up with some expensive overage charges. However, GPS devices are 100% free of any subscription fee and charges. You can use it non-stop without paying a penny.

The GPS devices are based on satellites, not cell phone towers. This allows them to work perfectly even in areas without cell coverage. A smartphone, on the other hand, would immediately stop working. A GPS unit can also store all the needed maps and keep working even if a satellite system went down.

In this article, we’ll talk about the Magellan RoadMate9400-LM 7-Inch Navigator.

Description

Magellan RoadMate 9400 Features

The Magellan RoadMate 9400-LM 7-Inch Navigator features an extra-large, vibrant, display for clear visibility. It has a day and a night mode, to ensure your eyesight won’t get damaged. This unit is perfect for, generally, all cars, RVs, SUVs, and Trucks.

Magellan Navigation is an American manufacturer that focuses on both consumer and professional-grade GPS receivers. The company is named after the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe, Ferdinand Magellan.

Magellan has four current GPS lines, Maestro, RoadMate, Triton, and eXplorist. This makes them one of the best GPS manufacturers in the world. They are often put toes-to-toes against Garmin and other top companies.

Since cheap GPS devices with big displays are pretty popular, Magellan decided to offer their own version. Although it’s a perfect gadget for trucks and RVs, it lacks some of the best features Magellan’s other models have.

Its 7-inch display makes it look a lot like a budget tablet even though it’s naturally intended for a landscape view. This is so you can see a lot of details, as clear as possible, in the 3D view.

Thinking about the usual tablet standards, this unit’s 480 x 800 display resolution is pretty low. However, it doesn’t really matter as the device will be used to view maps not movies.

The maps look excellent and are very easy to read even when the GPS unit is under direct sunlight. This device also has an automatic adjuster that changes to Night View at the right time.

While this unit lacks features like Bluetooth and voice navigation, it’s still a great GPS device. The low price makes you forget about any of the missing features because GPS units that are this accurate can be very expensive.

Features

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Magellan RoadMate 9400 Review

Thanks to the Free Lifetime Map Updates, you’ll never have to worry about out-of-date maps again. Magellan RoadMate Navigator offers up to four updates every year. All you have to do is go on their website and download them for free. This way you can say goodbye to taking wrong turns because you’ve missed an update.

With Phantom ALERT’s Traffic Camera Alert, you have the chance to avoid costly traffic tickets. The GPS unit will offer visual and audible warnings every time it spots any red light camera and speed traps. And other important alerts are available as well, such as school zones, railroad crossings, dangerous curves, etc.

You also have the possibility to receive directions using landmarks with the Landmark Guidance feature. Gas stations and grocery stores can be used as your guide versus street names. This is a much easier and intuitive navigation way.

With the OneTouch Favorites Menu, you can personalize your travel experience. You can easily create icons for your favorite places and searches, such as coffee shops, restaurants, gas stations, or banks. When you need to get there, all you have to do is touch the OneTouch button on the upper right of the screen.

And even if your destination isn’t on OneTouch, you can still get directions very easily thanks to the QuickSpell feature. The device highlights certain letters as you type to make it less likely to misspell a destination. With the SmartCity Search, the suggested results are quickly generated after keying in a few letters.

Thanks to the Best Parking feature, you can find a parking spot in the city easier. It provides hours of operation and entrance addresses. Once you choose the open parking garage, you’ll be directed directly to the entrance.

Magellan RoadMate 9400 Pros

  • Easy to Install
  • Easy to Use
  • Accurate
  • Lifetime Map Updates
  • Best Parking Feature
  • OneTouch Favorite Menu
  • Landmark Guidance
  • Phantom ALERT Traffic Camera Alerts
  • Has a 7-inch Display
  • Very Affordable

Magellan RoadMate 9400 Cons

  • The volume isn’t loud enough to be clearly heard while driving.

Conclusion

The Magellan RoadMate 9400-LM 7-Inch Navigator is a decent GPS unit. It features one of the largest displays on the market and it provides accurate directions. However, if you’re driving through loud areas, you might not hear the device’s vocal directions. Over-All it’s a great GPS device at a very reasonable price.

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