We got the C520 just in time for LP's weekend role as a support driver for a sponsored hike across Herts and Essex, so the C520 was attached to the support car using the very secure sucker system supplied as part of the pack. The mount is very simple to use and easy to mount and release the unit from the holder with a single leaver. Many other manufacturers could learn from Mio in the way that the cradle is very adjustable and yet stays secure without adjusting 13 different friction knobs.

With the unit now in place on the centre of the windscreen we decided to pre programme the Mio with all the planned stops where we were to meet the walkers en route. To do this we opted for addresses and also map co-ordinates rather than postcodes (which are supported). data entry is quite good although the on screen keys are a tad on the small side for our chubby fingers, entering an address starts at country level because the C520 is a fully enabled European mapping system. Then you drill down through town and street and the choices narrow down as you put in more info until you can see your road on the list. We did this for all but one of our stops, the last one we opted for a map reference (lat/long) which is rare to be able to input on a GPS system as a destination reference.

We noted that the larger 4.3" screen had lots of satellites locked on within 30 seconds of power up (even the first one from cold) the C520 uses the latest SiRF Start III chipset which not only makes TTF (time to fix) very quick but helps it cope in built up areas and tree lined roads.

So with destinations set in and our job about to start it was off to the first point in Harlow and our first chance to be guided by the C520.  The bright screen is very good to use and uses a split screen method where the map is left clear on the left hand side and the right hand side has a data panel which we'll talk more about later. The Widescreen lends itself well to this split of tasks on screen and you don't feel that you are being short changed of map space, the map can be made to be 2D, 3D or a simplified view all of which work well. We stuck with the default screen which showed all the usual time to destination info and current time etc on the right and our route on a 3D map on the left. As we pulled away a shock, it was in French! a quick trip through the menus and we found the cock up caused by LP and quickly set it back to English when a loud but polite mans voice started to guide us left and right.

Mio have opted for a "bong" that precedes each spoken announcement to get your attention which while we thought would be annoying actually proved quiet useful and soon became just a background thing. The volume level is more than sufficient for an average car or van and is also quiet clear for such a slim unit, we did fear that the size of the Mio would mean a poor sound but this was unfounded. You can also switch on a speed sensitive volume feature which adjusts the loudness of instruction in line with the speed as displayed on the GPS system, this is similar to many car radios.

We soon made it to Harlow and it was simple and effective route for the Mio and top marks for both the on screen info and the audio guidance. After a stop to get the hikers under way we were soon off to Roydon our next stop but we used the opportunity to try out the co-ordinates navigation inputting the x / y rather than a postcode or address.  The Mio C520 took them easily and produced a very accurate view of our destination far better than a postcode would have achieved.

The sun was now out and blazing through the side window, the 4.3" screen coped very well and on full brightness was easily readable despite the best effort of the UK weather. The mount is very simple but also highly adjustable which meant we could change the angle a bit during the first leg in order to get it just right so both driver and passenger could see.

Mio have opted for a split screen view with the C520 where by the left hand side is a traditional map view, 2D or 3D and the right side is an info bar. The info can be changed from top level status like time to destination / speed / distance etc to show some other data sets like "nearest" where you can have it list the nearest 5 petrol stations which is a very handy feature you can then touch one of them (listed by name) and navigate there.

Our next leg heading fro Broxbourne took in some very small back rounds with what can only be described as a limited view of the sky as the overhanging tress made it dark and most GPS systems would struggle. The Mio uses the latest SiRF Star III chipset which boasts not only high accuracy but also tenacious GPS holding abilities, so subsequently even though we were down to the minimum 3 satellites it held on and managed to stay alive and updating the map for the whole leg, which was very impressive. The antenna is mounted in the top and rear of the unit so there is also no unsightly flap sticking out as you get with some units, should you have a headset screen there is also an external GPS antenna to get round that problem.

Although we were wending our way through Herts and Essex it is worth pointing out that the Mio unit comes with maps of 22 European countries and it also has an SD/MMC slot for expanding the devices memory further, perhaps to view photos or even play MP3's.

As we worked our way through each pre stored stop we got the chance to take a few impromptu turns and see how the C520 coped with getting back on track. We were pleased to see that after a few moments thought not only did it recalculate the route but it also looked for sensible ways not just turning your around back onto the road you missed.

Priced at £289 with the TMC traffic module the Mio C520 is a very capable European mapping system and a very worth GPS SatNav unit. We love the slim size and easy to use mount in fact the only negative is the size of some of the on screen text and buttons, as a navigation aid Mio have got this just right.

Published - 01/07/2007

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