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Perfect for crossing over the threshold from city to backcountry, the Garmin nüvi 500 provides a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with turn-by-turn navigation in a ruggedized, waterproof exterior that you can use while hiking, biking, or boating. With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction, nüvi 500 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons--whether in the city or out in the wilds. And it easily switches modes (driving, walking, biking and boating) to navigate through your active lifestyle depending on your activity. Other features include a 3.5-inch touchscreen, microSD memory expansion, geocaching GPX file capabilities for complete cache descriptions and hints, and Garmin Connect Photos--enabling you to associate your favorite images with saved locations. 
The waterproof nüvi 500 guides you while you drive, hike, bike or boat. | The nüvi 500 comes preloaded with the highly detailed City Navigator North America NT maps for the lower 48 states, which also includes topographic maps for a better perspective of your elevation. The map data, provided by NAVTEQ, features over six million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions. 
The DEM basemap (above) provides shaded contours, and the nüvi also includes a digital compass. |  | Weighing 7.6 ounces and measuring less than an inch thin, the nüvi 500 fits easily in a purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. The 3.5-inch color touchscreen display (with 320 x 240-pixel resolution) is easy to read even in direct sunlight, and the nüvi's easy-to-use interface means you'll spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time searching for information. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate. Its digital elevation model (DEM) mapping shows you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. In addition, the nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. Garmin's HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your nüvi 500 remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off. Conveniently plug in optional preloaded microSD memory cards for all your outdoor activities on land or water. Just insert an optional Garmin MapSource card with detailed street maps (such as for locales outside the United States), and the nüvi 500 provides turn-by-turn directions to your destination. And with optional BlueChart g2 Vision maps, you'll get everything you need for a great day on the water including depth contours, navaids and harbors. Plus, a user-replaceable lithium-ion battery will give you up to eight hours of battery life (depending on use).
Specifications
- User modes: Driving, Boating, Bicycling and Walking
- Expansion: microSD card slot for optional mapping and data storage
- Wherigo player
- Geocahing: Supports Geocahing.com GPX files for complete cache descriptions and hints
- Dimensions: 4.21 x 3.35 x 0.9 inches (WxHxD)
- Display size: 3.5-inch QVGA color antiglare TFT screen (320 x 240-pixel resolution) with white backlight touchscreen
- Weight: 7.6 ounces
- Battery type: user replaceable lithium-ion
- Battery life: up to 8 hours depending on use
- Waterproof standard: IEC 60529 IPX7
Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos
| Using Garmin's Connect Photos Web site, you can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google's Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
- Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
- Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
- Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
- Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
- View photos in Google Earth.
- Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.
| Play Wherigo Wherever You Go
This nüvi GPS device is compatible with Wherigo, the latest GPS-based activity from geocaching pioneers Groundspeak. Wherigo (pronounced "where I go") is a toolset for creating and playing location-based multimedia experiences in the real world. Using the Wherigo platform, Wherigo authors can build exciting adventure games, historical tours or other innovative activities. 3D Terrain Maps
Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view.
What's in the Box
Garmin nüvi 500, preloaded City Navigator North America NT Lower 48 U.S. states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico plus topographic maps, lithium-ion battery, vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disc, quick start manual Which nüvi is Best for You? Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations. | Device | Screen Size inches (W x H) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) | Multi-Point Routing | Battery life (hours) | | Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico | AK and Canada | Europe | | nüvi 500 | 2.8 x 2.1 | |
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| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 8 | | nüvi 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 | |
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| MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 205w | 3.81 x 2.25 | |
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| MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 255w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
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| Photos |
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| up to 5 | | nüvi 265T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 265WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 275T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 285WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 465T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
| | up to 4 | | nüvi 755T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) |
| Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nüvi 765T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 775T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | | nüvi 785T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 855 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 885T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | | nüvi 1200 | 2.8 x 2.1 | |
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| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1260T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1300 | 3.81 x 2.25 | |
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| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1350 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1350T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) |
| Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1370T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1390T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
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| up to 4 | | nüvi 1490T | 4.4 x 2.5 | | |
| | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos |
| | up to 4 | | nüvi 1690 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | |
| | NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service) | | Photos |
| | up to 4 |
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 Amazing Crossover Device |
| Review Date: November 5, 2008 |
| Reviewer: KC, Lansing, MI USA |
| Alright, so it could've had save-able tracks and it is NOT an Oregon for off-road but it is an amazing crossover system. I have uploaded 500 geocaches using the premium member feature from Geocaching.com: Pocket Queries. I set a point in a field behind my house using Google earth and then sent the coordinates via USB cable to the Nuvi 500. It got me within 20 feet. Not too bad, I would say. Even tiny family owned local stores show up on the Nuvi 500 maps. Its super easy to switch between road maps and the topo map feature, just click off of the road map to switch to touch navigated topo maps. The more you zoom in, the more POI's show up. As far as i can tell Garmin loaded every POI my hometown has to offer and if it isn't on the map, chances are you can search for it on the Nuvi 500 and find it. It's perfect for me, a young driver, going off to college with big interests in being out of doors and also wanting turn-by-turn directions to get where im going. I'm a new Geocahcer and the dedicated Geocaching feature seems flawless. At time the Nuvi 500 seems a little bogged down with processing information but settings of detail levels can help speed up the process. The compass feature seems to work decently, however i rarely us it, relying instead, on zooming in on the topo map as i get closer to a geocache to find my way. The Nuvi 500 hooks up to my Mac, is quickly recognized and then opens as a removable mass-storage device with just under 1GB of free space. (500 .GPX files takes up only 5-600Kb). There is a picture viewer, you can send addresses and coordinates from google maps straight to the device and the street level mapping even in large cities seems flawless. No new maps or major firmware updates are available yet. Overall, it is an amazing system and worth every 385$ i spent on it. (much cheaper than 500$ at best buy). |
Garmin 500 - Very Nice
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| Review Date: December 18, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Larry D. Draper, Folsom, CA USA |
| The Nuvi 500 hundred works very well in the car and on the trail. The "Where Am I" function is very useful for saving the current location or for finding near by intersections and emergency services. The included topo maps are great for hiking and driving. I bought the Nuvi 500 because I like to hike and sometimes I need to drive to a coordinate instead of an address (rural locations or geocaching). The detail is amazing. If you need a multifunction GPS, I would give the Nuvi 500 a try. |
The neat Garmin Nuvi 500
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| Review Date: April 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Raymond Gilmore, |
| The Nuvi 500 is exactly what I thought it would be. I hike the hills alot and the topo maps are okay. My friend bought the extra maps for Colorado and Utah and there IS a big difference in quality. Had to download the, "Speaks street names" because it was not in the Nuvi 500. The battery does not last 8 hours as indicated in the specs so I bought another one for the trails. |
Great crossover
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| Review Date: February 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Rappold, NE Wisconsin |
This is my third NUVI but my first with real offroad capablity. I have used a number of regular handhelds for outdoor recreation and geocaching for years. So, I was concerned that this was just a road GPS with fancy maps. I have now used it mounted to my snowmobile to track the trails covered and have loaded waypoints saved from previous trips. I must say if your off road adventures have you wishing you had resonable topo maps with all roads and most trails, then you are going to love this unit and its big display. With the whole US TOPO preloaded and all the POI's from the NUVI experts this unit it is just as comfortable on the road, finding the closeset gas or simple distance to looks. It also worked quite acceptable for some geocaching. If your use is mostly walkabout use you might find the form factor not workable. It doesn't fit the hand well for a carry around unit. If managing multiple tracks, waypoints, and precision nav then this unit would be a bit difficult to use. I'd suggest users get comfortable with Garmin's POI loader and using Mapsource Map software allows saving tracks and waypoints easier.
Overall very satisfied. |
GREAT CONVERTIBLE GPS!
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| Review Date: January 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Travelin' Terri, Northern Kentucky, USA |
| This is the BEST GPS out there for the price. I bought this for my husband and we use it all the time. We love to take little weekend stints and hikes. I was looking for a GPS that would satisfy road, trails and water and found it in the Nuvi 500! And despite the fact that all the reviews at the time said it didn't talk to you, my husband registered it online, downloaded updated software and it does talk to you...but you can't talk to it. No biggie for us. We haven't used it on the water yet, but it does a great job on trails and roads. We also can upload our OWN pictures of our favorite sites, upload them to the Nuvi site (as well as keep them on your own GPS), and record the coordinates for others to check out some our favorite hiding places too! There's so much more too. I highly recommend it, especially if you are looking for one that converts easily from road to trail. This turned out to be an EXCELLENT investment. I really was pleased not only with the price, but the ease of use and available options! I am a Garmin customer for life! Thanks for putting out the perfect product for us! |
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