FineDrive GPS navigation has no clue where you are!
Jul 11, 2006 gps navigation, reviews
According to CNet at least. CNet just announced the worst technologies in second quarter of 2006 and FineDrive 400 GPS navigation system from FineDigital came in eigth in that list. CNet had a review of them back in June and they got a 3.7 out of 10.
Has anyone ever asked you for directions, and after you give them, you realize you may have messed up a step or two? And then you realize it would have been better just telling them, “I don’t know how to get there,” instead of giving bad directions, because now those people are really, really lost? Enter the FineDigital FineDrive GPS unit. Sometimes, it has no idea where you are. Other times, it gives you inaccurate directions. And although it has a built-in MP3 player, it can’t play tunes and give directions at the same time. But at least it’s a bargain at $700.
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January 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 am
I bought the FineDrive 400 at Staples for $299. It takes about 15 minutes to configure itself the first time you use it. I got pissed and actually turned around to return it (it thought I was in Arkansas (rather than PA)).
After about 15 minutes, it figured things out and has worked just fine.
It has never given me the wrong directions, and it has many great features (5x zoom, turn by turn voice, 3-d mapping, etc). I’ve used it in several states over the past four months, and it has been great.
It isn’t as precise when traveling quickly in the city (immediate turns can be missed when driving faster).
For the price, I would recommend it to anyone…
January 27th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Not only is this 400 unit slow to pick up satilites but [teck support] is the worst I have ever had to deal with.
June 29th, 2007 at 9:11 am
My Wife bought this unit for my Christmas present last December $237.00 (Amazon.com) We used it in our motor home & tow vehicle for a 3 month trip Washington Oregon Califorinia Arizona Nevada It works great loads up in less than 1 minute I think the ones that say it take 15 minutes must not have a clear view of the sky as it states in directions! What a bargin for Less than $250
August 29th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I purchased the 400 on line for $220 in October 2006. I have used it for trips up and down the East coast starting in Fl, as well as trips to the western part of NC, SC, TE and GA. It always knew where it was and gave accurate directions to my destination. I found it to be a excellent tool at a great price.
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Technical support is non-existant, they do not return emails or phone calls. I’ve only found one destination that was wrong on the last turn (my home address in fact) but other than that I’ve had no problems with the unit.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I puchased fine Drive 400 from Target online. I’ve used it to travel all over the country.It loads up pretty fast and gives fairly accurate directions except a few occasions when it just froze up. Another problem I noticed is that its too heavy and keep falling of my windshield. Not the best but the price was a no brainer.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I have been using the Finedrive 400 for about a year now and am delighted with it. I drive an 18 wheeler and use it in the truck. I keep in mind that some of the places it sends me won’t allow or be suitable for a big truck. It mostley is right on. It’s true that you can throw it a curve when on a new road, like 540 in N.C. or some other bypass it does not have in it’s system, but I have a Delphi and it reacts the same. I tried it. I prefer the Finedrive over the Delphi and my brother-in-laws Tom Tom. For what I paid for the 400, it was a deal. I’ve had to pick up and deliver in Canada a number of thimes and the 400 guided me in Montreal and Toronto without a hitch. It may not be as fancy as other GPS units but it is great I think for what I use it for. It worked well with the OEM antenna, but I now have a 55db gain Gillson antenna and it is reading at least 6 sats always. I’ve modified the mount so it can be mounted on the truck’s dash and it works well. Again I say it may not have the bells and whistles others have but for navigation it works for me, so well in fact I just purchased a second one for our family cars and sold the Delphi to my son, who likes it. Just thought I put in my findings. The only observation I will make that is not good is this. The maps on the SD card can get corupted. When I first got mine I copied the SD card onto my PC. Mine got messed up and I was upset. Then I remembered I had backed it onto my laptop as well which has a card r/w in it. I messed around for a couple of hours before I discovered that you can’t format the SD card in the computer and transfer the the mapping directory. The SD card has to be formated in a camera the you can copy the Finedrive directory to the SD card. You have to be careful to put the files and the single sub-directory back just the way it was. Since I’ve done this it works better than ever. The Finedrive I just purchased was not very old, but the owner was bent cause the SD card went bad. The replacement card or software from the company who handles theses units in the US wants $109.00. I got the unit cheap on ebay as a result and did the fix and it works great. Keeping a backup copy is not against the law as I purchased the use of it by buying the FD400 or the second one as well. Hope the helps.
June 28th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I am a trucker with a Delphi NAV200 and I very disappointed with the unit. The first problem I noticed was the world clock never works and says it needs a valid GPS signal. After that it gave me a few good directions and I was excited about it til i went home to Louisiana. I live on a main highway and had about ten more miles to go straight down it when the unit started telling me constantly to turn right. A few days I had deliveries in New Orleans and I got bad directions to each stop. I figured maybe its only bad in my home state til I went to Memphis and got bad directions. Another problem I have is several times the street im going to is not in the database. Finally I got thru to customer service and she had a terrible attitude. I have been trucking nearly nine years and I know a thing or two about maps and bad directions. This was a bad investment and im afraid to buy another one and have the same experience.
August 10th, 2008 at 6:29 am
The finedrive 400 was the worst GPS. As soon as I bought the device it suddenly lost maps…and I have never been able to use it. I tried callling tech support and it said that thier “mailbox was full” and to call back later. Which I tried numerous times and the same the same generic message was said. I recently tried again calling the toll free number and now it says the number has been changed or disconnected. The Fine Drive Company are is a huge SCAM Company
September 26th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
can you download maps please let me know at newjerseydevils71@hotmail.com i live in canada and the toll free number not available to me it lost its maps
September 27th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I have a Finedrives 400 which I seldom used. I think it is a year of 2006. I need someone to give me the website for a free download on latest map updates for my Finedrives 400. Please email me the website for the free download map updates at uts24@hotmail.com thanks.
May 20th, 2009 at 9:39 am
by far the worst gadget regarding nav units. It takes up to 90 min. to get satelite coverage ( no, I was on Alligator alley in florida, there are no none zip zero obstructions to the sky) Screens freezes at times ( right about the time you really need detailed guidance) I think I might try to fish with it!!!!!!!
DONT BUY THIS JUNK