Averatec Voya 320 review
Dec 3, 2006 gps navigation, reviews
Averatec’s Voya 320 just got reviewed and got 3.5 points out of 5. The reviewers liked the buttons on the new Voya 320 better than Voya 350, as well as the menu system.
We were not aware of this but apparently SiRF Star III has a more sensitive ’second generation’ version and that’s what’s on the Voya 320. The only weakness is about multimedia capabilities.
The Voya 320 also now boasts three multimedia players. There’s a picture viewer (JPG), and players for music (MP3 and WMA) and video (AVI, DIVX, MP4, and WMV). It’s important to note that all of the map data for the 50 U.S. states and the entire Points of Interest (POI) database is stored on a 1GB SD card. Only about 60MB is available for your multimedia files. If you plan to view or listen to your files, you must either copy the contents of the 1GB card onto a larger card, or remove the card containing the program and map data and use your own multimedia card. Of course, you’ll lose the mapping capability if you choose the latter option.
Voya 320 is not yet for sale but you can pick up a Voya 350 for $333 from Amazon.
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December 4th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
I bought it on Black Friday of 2006 for $225.00, and I just couldn’t wait to write a review on this product.
Pros:
Very easy setup and navigation right out of the box. Easy mount on windshield, easy to detach. Backlit buttons is convenient for night time driving. Excellent for city navigation. Can play music files, so it’s good for a walk.
Cons:
1. Took GPS on a long distance trip, GPS avoided interstate highways, taking us along local roads through cities. We got lost, got directions from gas station attendant to reconnect with interstate. There’s no setting on GPS to avoid local roads. We ignored GPS thereafter, until destination city where GPS became useful in getting us to our host.
2. Battery life too short, manual says 2 hours, but unit drains very quickly even when turned off. Takes too long to recharge, and then it drains too quickly.
3. GPS requires frequent reset, losing your local settings.
4. Clock setting is not steady, always defaults back to 12.01 am, or something like that.
5. Regional setting always defaults back to Pacific Time. It refuses to set at my local time zone – Eastern.
6. GPS setting would not remain steady at Georgia, it always defaults back to Oregon when unit is turned on. It also does not remember my home address.
7. When I tried to calibrate, it goes into a loop. Had to reboot to get out of loop.
So today I took it back to store for a refund, just over a week since I bought it. On a final check I found that I still had my music files stored. I looked for an on-screen delete feature, found none. Could not find a hard reset button either. The only way to delete is to reconnect back to computer. Got no time to play with it anymore, so I left my music files in there for the next owner. Received full refund, will add maybe a couple of hundred dollars for a Garmin or something of that sort.
I’m sure Averatec will do better next time.
December 4th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Thanks for informative review. I’m sure other users will find this very useful.
January 30th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I too have picked up a Voya 320 during the black friday. I have been happy with the performance so far. Yes, the battery gets discharged even if it is kept idle. But overall, I am happy with it. Contrary to the preveous reply, there is an option to avoid / include interstate highways. In terms of navigation, I find the machine pretty comfortable. Occassionally while driving in interstate it gave me warning to “get into the nearest road and proceed” warning though. The battery stays for close to two hours after a full charge, so if one wants to take it while biking or walking, it would do the job.
I would have been happy, if there was a tripmeter, and trip average funtion, was available.
January 31st, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Hi All
I too acquired the Averatec Voya 320 on black friday 2006 for under $230. Purchased as a gift for my wife it has been used on a few trips in her car so far. The maps are brand new at least at the moment and are much more aware of our home address and her parents than the $2000 GPS unit in my 06 Dodge Magnum. The Magnum claims it can’t give turn by turn guidance for both locations while The Averatec 320 had no problems. Our unit has no problem with interstate versus city routing and is adjustable to your preferences. I don’t need the picture/music/video capabilities but it is interesting that they are there any way. I would highly recommend this GPS unit to anyone.
June 21st, 2007 at 4:59 am
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! mojrjooheq
September 14th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I purchased this unit on e-bay for $175 and have been happy with it, until now. It has only been 5 weeks and now the battery is dead and will not recharge with the car charger. I tried an AC charger and the unit came on, although it is not the right type to keep it plugged in to recharge the unit. I called Averatec and they do not even have a replacement battery number for the Voya 320, just the 350 model (which is different). I need a battery for this thing as I am planning a trip for next week. HELP!!
February 19th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I bought a VOYA 350 from REFURB. the battery went dead after two hours and will not hold a charge since. I have asked for a battery replacement ,even if I have to pay for the battery. AVERATEC has not found a battery nor will they acknowlege a problem with the battery . Here hopping that others may be aware of problems with the unit and the company that makes them .
May 6th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Avoid sticking this to your windshield. Will not last on there very long and when it comes down, you will have some nasty black residue.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
will “flwind” or any other person who owns a voya 320 please email me @ alfu@msn.com , i deleted some of the files on the actual gps disk and need to recover these files. if anyone can copy them and put them in a zip or rar file and email me to them it would be great. Thanx a miliion.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I love the navigation. The screen is a little small. It helps out when finding customers who need a windshield replacement in Phoenix Arizona.