Not all car owners have a dedicated GPS navigator and a lot of these people have fewer reasons to own one. Many of today’s cars already have their own built-in GPS systems complete with onboard displays while other folks are completely contented with using their smartphones for navigational purposes. Smartphones may not be the best in the GPS hardware department but the number of first-party and third-party apps give these smartphones a unique advantage. GPS manufacturers have to innovate in order to thrive in this crowded market and for the most part they have. Magellan’s RoadMate brand is alive and well and the company has to give its thanks to devices like the Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM which try something different.
Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM
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About the Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM
The RoadMate 6220-LM is another member of Magellan’s well-established RoadMate lineup. RoadMate devices are popular for their low prices and like the other RoadMate siblings, the 6220-LM is priced under $200. Despite the head-scratching model number, the Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM is a GPS navigator outfitted with a 5-inch touchscreen making it look like the other RoadMate devices, at least from the front.
The purpose of the 6220-LM model name can be realized when you look at the rear of the navigator and notice a camera lens. Magellan isn’t touting megapixels here because the RoadMate 6220-LM is marketed as a dashcam. This is exclusive to all models in the 62XX series.
Even with the dashcam as the unique feature here, the Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM still manages to be priced at $179 so as expected, the navigational features of this dashcam are on the entry-level side of things. It is nice to see the package come with a 4 GB memory card and car mount so you can set up the dashcam navigator easily and have it all set for video recording.
Exclusive Features
The dashcam component of the RoadMate 6220-LM is equipped with CMOS sensor that is capable of recording 720p HD video. It also has a horizontal view angle of about 120 degrees which is sufficient for recording vital footage. The device itself has a dedicated physical button so you can easily begin recording without sifting through the menus. You can also configure the device to immediately start recording once you power on the device.
One of the main purposes of having a dashcam is to document a sudden accident and the Magellan made sure that the Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM fulfills that purpose by outfitting the navigator with a special impact sensor called the “G-Shock Sensor”. Since an accident involves some bumps and shakes, the sensor will detect that and immediately start recording video without user intervention. The recorded video will also be locked to ensure that future recordings to not overwrite the accident video once the memory card reaches full capacity.
Other Features
The rest of the features of the RoadMate 6220-LM mirror other basic RoadMate devices. It comes with free lifetime map updates allowing the device to remain useful several years from now as Magellan is committed to supplying their devices with fresh new maps several times a year. It also has the signature features you can find in virtually all RoadMate devices. This includes the OneTouch Favorites Menu which provides easy access to your favorite destinations and the QuickSpell with SmartCity Search feature which is an ingenious onscreen keyboard that makes short work in finding a new destination as you type. It also comes with landmark guidance so the navigator may occasionally tell you to make a turn at a specific landmark if you are not familiar with the street names. Unfortunately, it has some of the inconveniences that plague entry-level navigators like the resistive touchscreen which can be unresponsive at times especially if you are used to using a smartphone for navigation.
Conclusion
Pros:
• Dashcam capabilities are basic but very useful in case of a collision.
• Also works as a GPS navigator.
• Free lifetime maps included.
• Affordably priced.
• Includes 4 GB memory card.
Cons:
• Touchscreen can be unresponsive.
• GPS navigation performance isn’t the best in the entry-level class.
Verdict:
The Magellan RoadMate 6220-LM is a jack of all trades and master of none. If you buy a separate dashcam and a slightly higher-end GPS navigator, you will enjoy more features and better performance. However, the RoadMate 6220-LM is still a unique beast and it still has appeal because of that modest price tag and very simple installation.
