First of all brings a Navi with a reasonable representation and good announcements to its destination. Only much cheaper devices can also do this, so why buy a falcon? Once purchased you with a free 2 year subscription to "current" map. About "currently" is debatable, in my experience, it is not better in others. The TMC provides significantly better Accuracy when congestion than the now conventional TMC and was working with me in various vehicles without the wire antenna. The Bluetooth support is working at least with some phones excellent. Many other things are gimmick or are still in their infancy.
As you will notice some of the following points, I can see the enthusiasm of some absolutely not understand.
Navigation:
The calculation of routes is fast, if desired you can choose between 3 routes. Only has to route calculation for years obviously nothing changed. A truly optimal route just in cities is not the FN10. Obviously Falk has given up the calculation to improve and invented the "smart" route. Thus therefore should customers find the optimum routes, drive and then transferred to Falk. A nice idea, only you have to order his transfer data or download current data. What's in it remains to be seen, so far I have found no improvement. And what about the Privacy Policy, who controls the smart route and it will not come to a huge mass of data, which no longer fits on Navi?
Per arrow display is one the next direction shown and an additional small arrow already shows the next but one direction, this is very useful, especially in cities, since there the announcements occasionally a little too late to come for a good time on the road classification.
For the good of sight announcements still to errors. Announcements concerning maneuvering missing some easy and you will more often to Autobahnauf - / - runs parallel to the road passed.
The route calculation time for the three routes is seriously flawed. The distances z (in compliance with the speed limits). B. are in 25 minutes to create, are shown with 45 min.
The real view of motorway junctions, etc. is no real view, since even the label often not true, but for ranking quite helpful.
Splitscreen:
I thought at first just in cities for a great new feature. In fact, only a useless reduced map is displayed, which also rotates, depending on the setting. Alternatively, an enlarged arrow display are selected, this is at least helpful for the visually impaired.
TMC / TMC:
Works for me even without wire antenna. TMCpro announcements are read, a delay time indicated and, if desired and available (!) Proposed alternative routes with time estimation. In approach very well! Only time estimates are flawed, and the above applies to navigation with the routes has already been stated, alternative routes are not always available and more and more drive these alternative routes. Especially with TMC warnings but now also at TMCpro more and more drivers trust your Navi, which is then available to the alternative route in the traffic jam. No problem of Falk but a fundamental problem TMC but that now no longer an argument for buying a (more expensive) TMCpro device.
Bluetooth:
Unfortunately, it fails to Falk to support all handsets reasonable. Some do nothing works, with some going only handsfree, some can transfer the phone book and some even receive SMS / email. Speakerphone worked for me very well through the internal speaker. Phone number of the U-900 has not been transmitted, the K850 already. But if you think now, it is stored and can then be used at the U-900 but is mistaken. Since the whole thing is not brand specific, so it's a matter of luck or one previously informed in the incomplete list at Falk.
FM transmitter:
The meaning reveals itself to me not really. So you can take the Navi speaker, receive and spend the whole over the radio. Only the reception strength is rather modest and I really want to listen to radio, what then - if you use the Navi - is no longer possible.
Speed warning:
At least acoustically unusable because many false data are included. On the indicated limit should be able to rely in no way!
Theft protection:
Sounds sensible, but is annoying over time, as the unit automatically turns on, inter alia, each time you turn on the ignition and requires the code.
Clickable POIs:
Falk offers free sg POIs such as hotels, gas stations, etc. on. When F12 these can be clicked in the 2D view and provide additional information. Only this additional info rations are merh as modest and can not keep up with a short Internet search completely. Although the whole to again advance the Falk customers through your cooperation, but who is actually willing to? The coming years will show it.
Voice input:
Basically, must first be activated with a single click. The voice recognition works very well, but is too cumbersome, because each an additional confirmation is required times. Correct annoying it is if you want to announce a telephone number, as this is possible with a maximum of 5 digits that still needs to be confirmed. It would make sense even if in the adoption of a call not the Navi should be tapped, but the voice control z. B would automatically switch to "Accept".
Battery / Charger / Accessories:
The disc holder with the suction is very good, the Navi itself is a magnetic clip also very well kept. Thus, it can be removed quickly. It is included only a car charger and USB cable, no charger! So if you like walks times with the device or riding a bicycle has to think, as he is charging it again. The battery lasts about 3 hours in operation, the stand-by only about 1 week. With an empty battery takes place as soon as he has power, a hard reset which will take 2-3 minutes. The same time you have to wait when you turn off the device securely with the too small geratenen main switch on the underside. Only a no touch of the switch at the top or the ignition is switched on is sufficient that unit on. The automatic shutdown is then only after 3 hours when the battery is empty. Incidentally, it was used to be a pen for navigation, this could sometimes be helpful.
Service / Software:
Falk has invented something quite clever. If you buy his top device, although you get a DVD and 2-year-card SUBSCRIPTION but not supplied the actual navigation software. This can not be downloaded. If the device thus has an error, the device must be sent to Falk and with luck you can get it for about 2 weeks. That's what happened to me after the card update caused an error and the Navi had no reception. In the warranty period, you pay the costs for sending to Falk himself. After that it will cost at least another 25 Euro "handling fee" and you have as I said two weeks no Navi.
Now you can, of course, appeals for such a case, by making a backup copy. Only the provided Navi Manger this can not and also in the manual is no description available! So you need some idea of computers and Internet research, how best to make such a backup. Of course, an optionally objectives go etc. that were entered after Bachup then lost.
Incidentally, I got to two-time e-mail request after 2 weeks an answer, I should call the hotline. Only I had written the emails after an inquiry hotline was estimated 10 times in vain.
Conclusion:
Whether I stay loyal Falk even after the expiry of the 2-year Kartenabos, probably depends a lot on the development of "smart" navigation and pricing policy. Particularly in view of the poor service I just happened often before in the other order.
