Windows Phone Thoughts: A Truly Pocketable All-In-One Package - The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 (Part 1)

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Tuesday, May 2, 2006

A Truly Pocketable All-In-One Package - The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 (Part 1)

Posted by Don Tolson in "HARDWARE" @ 08:00 AM


Package Contents
As I mentioned, this is my first GPS unit, but I have to admit I was blown away by the content provided by Pharos with the Traveler 525. Not only do you get the Pocket PC, but you get almost all the accessories you’d ever need. The picture below shows all the stuff provided in the box;


Figure 1: The complete Pharos Traveler 525 GPS Package!

Whew, there’s a lot here! I’ll list the contents moving clockwise from the top left. In the box, you get:
  • The Ostia Navigation software CD (version 7.5);
  • One-page Quick Start Guide for the Traveler 525;
  • Ostia 7.5 User Manual;
  • Traveler 525 CD with Outlook 2002 and Activesync;
  • Traveler 525 User Guide and Hardware Quick Start;
  • USB-enabled SD Card reader (for copying map files off or to your PC);
  • Ear buds (stereo, with integrated volume control);
  • Power adapter, with mini-USB connector;
  • Additional stylus;
  • Car windshield mount;
  • Leather card wallet case;
  • USB to mini-USB interface cable for connecting the Traveler to your PC;
  • Car power adapter, with mini-USB connector and sleeve for larger cigarette lighter receptacles.
Not shown in the picture is a 512Mb SD memory card which in preloaded with maps for the customer’s area. (I got all of Canada!). For US customers, this means general maps covering the entire US, plus detailed maps for 50 of the major cities. (More details on this in Part 2…). About the only thing I missed was a cradle for docking the unit at my desk.

The best addition I found was the inclusion of the card-wallet leather case for the unit which is great for protecting the unit while it's in your pocket, attaché case or backpack. The unit fits very snugly in the leather and plastic holding area, which includes a top clip to keep it from sliding out if the case is opened upside down. Unfortunately, you can’t get to the stylus in the unit when it’s in the case, but Pharos very kindly provides a pocket in the case and an extra stylus for you in the package!


Figure 2: The Traveler 525 all snug in its case.

The opening on the front of the case is not quite large enough to expose the whole screen. Especially with scroll bars on the right side, I found I had to tilt the stylus to the left in order to reach under the case to get to the bars.

I was very pleased to see the inclusion of a windshield mobile mount for the unit in the package. I don’t know if other units provide this ‘out of the box’, but it was great to have it there for immediate use.

The car mount attaches to a convenient place in the centre of the front windshield via a 2 inch clear suction cup which has a ratchet pushbutton to apply the suction. Once it was attached, there was no moving it – the suction was solid. The mount itself provides a foam-lined cradle with adjustable arms, so it could probably accommodate many other units besides the Traveler 525. The bottom of the mount does not cover the entire bottom of the installed unit, so there was plenty of room to plug in the external power.


Figure 3: Empty view of mobile mount.


Figure 4: Mobile mount with the Traveler installed.

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