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Magellan has introduced a back-up camera kit for its RoadMate 9055 and RoadMate 1700 GPS navigators, adding a welcomed new safety feature for these large-screen devices. Available now, the kit includes a license-plate-mountable camera, transmitter, wireless receiver, vehicle power adapter, and installation hardware for $150.
Both compatible devices are massive, 7-inch navigators best suited for large trucks and RVs--the same vehicles that could most benefit from the added visibility when backing up. (See our RoadMate 9055 preview and see our test results.) The system is activated when the vehicle is put into Reverse, switching the GPS display from map to camera mode.
The camera itself is waterproof with a 120-degree viewing area. Its video feed is transmitted wirelessly to the dashtop device. This could be handy for connecting a trailer and parking, plus it brings the added safety benefit of potentially revealing children, pets, or objects behind the vehicle. Every year, children are injured and killed because drivers (in 70 percent of cases, parents and relatives) don't see them while backing up.
This is another example of how portable navigation devices can add modern functionality to an older car, such as Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 playback, and even a rearview camera.
Learn more about blind zones.
—Jeff Bartlett
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