Tiger GPS is bringing Garmin and Beacon Wireless together to feature the FleetMaster System for vehicle tracking, remote monitoring, and of course, GPS navigation. Link a compatible Garmin StreetPilot, nuvi, or zumo with Beacon Wireless FleetMaster for the complete solution! FleetMaster with a Garmin system lets you:
- Track vehicles - even set up alerts if the driver leaves a designated area
- Contact drivers - send text messages to the GPS receiver or a cell phone
- Give directions - calculated in the car or in the office
- Maximize efficiency - save time, money, and fuel by optimizing drivers' routes; figure out who should go where and when, then put it into effect with the click of a button
This bundle combines the power of Beacon Wireless with the affordability and ease-of-use of the Garmin nuvi 350.
Ever wish that you had a tour guide that spoke nine languages, gave driving directions, played music, read books, showed pictures, was pre-loaded with maps for all of North America, served as your travel guide in Europe, and fit in the palm of your hand? Your wishes have been granted with the introduction of the Garmin nuvi.
The Garmin nuvi 350 is a portable GPS navigator, traveler's reference, and digital entertainment system, all in one. Combined with detailed maps, the nuvi provides automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, and finger-touchscreen control-making it easy to find your way anywhere. The unique "text-to-speech" feature calls out turns by street name. This versatile travel assistant is approximately the size of a deck of playing cards, meaning you can slip it in your pocket and take it anywhere! The nuvi 350 also comes with approximately 700 MBs of internal memory for storage of supplemental maps, MP3s, and audio books.
Installing the Beacon Wireless software adds a "dispatch" button to your Garmin interface. A driver can touch this to see his itinerary or messages, or just to get directions and use any of the other features of the unit.
Back at the office, the Beacon software allows the user to view all the company's vehicles on a map. The software will show location, speed, and where each vehicle is headed. The dispatcher can control each driver's itinerary and send messages through their phones or Garmin units. The Beacon software will even alert the dispatcher if an engine is turned off, or if the vehicle goes off-route or leaves a certain area ("geofencing"). Advanced setup will even allow the controller to turn off devices in the vehicle. No longer can a driver miss a call because his radio or GPS MP3 player is too loud!
Garmin & Beacon Wireless make for an eminently affordable solution. After purchasing and installing the hardware, there's a one-time activation fee of $25 per unit; after that, the dataset and interface fees run only $44.98/month per vehicle. Factor in the thousands of dollars earned with an electronically integrated fleet, and FleetMaster is an outstanding bang for the buck.
nuvi Features:
- High-sensitivity integrated GPS receiver by SiRF
- WAAS enabled; flip-up antenna - includes MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection
- Preloaded with City Navigator NT v.8 - includes detailed maps of U.S., Canada & Puerto Rico (no downloading required)
- Travel Kit includes Language Guide, MP3 player, audible book player, picture viewer, world clock, currency and measurement converters, and calculator
- SD memory card expansion slot
- Powerful built-in speaker
- Traffic alerts with optional GTM 10 FM TMC traffic receiver
- Text-to-Speech - unit prompts you to "Turn right on Main St" instead of "Turn right in 500 feet"
- Audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings
- Offers a three dimensional mapping perspective, or 2-D overhead view
- Display: 2.8" W x 2.1" H (3.5" diag.), 320 x 240 pixels; bright, TFT display, 64K colors, with white backlight and touch screen
- Unit dimensions: 3.87" W x 2.91" H x 0.87" D (98.3 mm x 73.9 mm x 22.1 mm) - fits easily in a pocket or purse
- Weight: 5.1 ounces (144.6 grams)
- Built-in lithium ion battery
- Between 4-8 hours of battery life, depending on use
- Includes 12-volt power adapter cable for external power while in your vehicle
- Includes suction cup mount that allows for easy adjustment and quick release
- Simplified PC connectivity, similar to a digital camera, using USB Mass Storage with access to either the SD card slot or to the unit's internal memory directly from your PC desktop.
- With the POI loader program users can set up proximity alerts for school zones, safety cameras, and more.
Fleetmaster provides the following:
- Real time tracking, positioning, alarm information, and sensor data
- Immediate notification of events by email, voice call, fax, text message
- High quality interactive mapping
- Suggested route, closest to an address calculation
- Simple, user friendly, web based interface
- Pinpoint a specific vehicle or view the whole fleet
- "Bread crumb" trail and complete message history
- GPRS technology for maximum performance and minimum cost
Combine in-vehicle navigation for the driver with Vehicle Tracking and Remote Monitoring for Dispatch and the Head Office. FleetMaster allows you to completely control your entire fleet from any PC on the Internet, via your own secure user account, providing:
- Position data, speed and direction
- Number of stops and running time
- Motor status
- Battery levels
- Temperature
- Panic button
- Intrusion
- Micro and macro geofence
- AC power
- Your choice of auxiliary sensors
- With the ability to set alarm thresholds for all sensors, and remotely turn on/off devices on-board your vehicles.
Garmin StreetPilot & nuvi:
- Will make your drivers' lives easy and stress free; clear, concise, simple-to-use in car navigation with turn-by-turn voice instructions
- Save time and fuel: the StreetPilot and nuvi lead your drivers to where they need to go, destination after destination
- Pre-loaded maps with street level data for entire zone (North America)
- Display traffic and congested areas, automatically re-route vehicles using a GTM FM TMC receiver
- Proximity alerts for police radars (with speed limit reminders) and for custom points of interest
- Estimated time of arrival with automatic re-calculation of route and ETA if you miss a turn
No more paper maps, no more hassle; happy, stress-free drivers that get to your customers on time... time and time again.
Complete Internet integration for easy control and fleet management
Get instant access to real-time information on your fleet from anywhere via secure web-based interface
Beacon FleetMaster:
- View position information, sensor data, alarm information, vehicle trace
- Complete history of all vehicles' activities and downloadable monthly reports showing running time, stops and distance travelled
- Panic alarm, geofence alarms, speed alarms, sensor alarms such as battery levels, temperature, AC power-loss and open door
- Program email, fax, voice call or SMS message notifications for event or alarm conditions
- Choice of high quality interactive mapping services
- Remote commands allow you to request immediate information and initiate actions (such as immobilize vehicle) or remotely configure unit
- GPRS for low cost, high performance communications
Save time, fuel and stay in control with complete visibility and management of the entire fleet at your fingertips.
Boost performance, cut costs, improve work environment and enhance visibility
StreetPilot and FleetMaster: The Missing Link
- By linking the two systems, you increase ease of use, reliability and security for drivers, and gain increased management control for the office
- Send next destination addresses directly to the unit from the office; take the responsibility and hassle of entering address away from the driver
- Text messaging between office and driver, and an assistance/alarm button in vehicle, provide better communication and increased security for drivers
- Possibilty of custom applications including cameras for increased security/surveillance or printers for customs forms/work orders
- Perfect for dispatch, deliveries, hauling, sales, buses, taxis, ambulances; for fleets of all kinds and any size, from one vehicle to several thousand
Garmin nuvi FAQs
Q: What are the differences between the nuvi 350, nuvi 360 and nuvi 660?
A: The nuvi 350 is the base model, with a 3.5" diagonal touch-screen, pre-loaded maps, SD card expanability, and all the travel and multimedia features. The nuvi 360 adds Bluetooth support for hands-free calls, dial-a-POI, and more. The nuvi 660 features an extra-wide 4.3" diagonal touch-screen, Bluetooth support, FM Transmitter and includes a GTM 20 traffic receiver. The traffic receiver must be purchased separately for the nuvi 350 and 360.
Q: What are the differences between the nuvis and StreetPilot c550?
A: The Garmin nuvi and StreetPilot c550 are both part of Garmin's "compact and simple" line. While both the nuvi and c550 are automotive units, the nuvi is designed to be pocket-friendly as well, which is reflected in the shape and feel. The nuvis only will take the Language Guide, audible book player, picture viewer, world clock, currency converter, measurement converter, and a calculator. The nuvi also has a screen where you can view and enter in lat/long coordinates. Otherwise, the navigation detail is the same: the nuvi and c550 will provide the same routes, with the same abilities to detour and add a single stop on the way. The c550 also has Bluetooth like the nuvi 360 and 660 and includes the traffic receiver, same as the nuvi 660.
Q: What is the difference between the nuvi and the StreetPilot 27x0/2820?
A: The StreetPilot 2720/2730/2820 are larger, bulkier units than the nuvi, and are not designed to be used out of the car (although you can easily switch them from one vehicle to another). The 27x0/2820 have larger screens than the nuvi 350/360 and are less susceptible to glare in bright sunlight. The 27x0/2820 also allow detailed PC planning of a route, and have the ability to plot over 250 stops per route, making it a better choice for drivers with multiple places to visit. The interface isn't as user-friendly as that of the nuvi, however, and the nuvi is pocket-friendly and takes extra software such as Language Guide, Travel Guide and Savers Guide.
Q: What "extra software" is available for the nuvi for North America?
A: For North America, there's the Savers Guide and Travel Guide. The Savers Guide includes an FV Entertainment card and shows you onscreen where you can use it to get discounts. The Travel Guide contains Fodor's information, such as restaurant and hotel ratings, so that when you look up a Point-of-Interest, you'll get a detailed description and rating of it, not just an address and phone number.
Q: What "extra software" is available for the nuvi for Europe?
A: First off, you'll need City Navigator Europe for detailed street maps. This is available on DVD-ROM, on a pre-programmed card with all of Europe, or on pre-programmed regional cards. You can put the DVD-ROM data on the nuvi's free memory or on a blank SD card. Then you can add Travel Guide (contains no maps), with information provided by Marco Polo such as restaurant and hotel ratings, so that when you look up a Point-of-Interest, you'll get a detailed description and rating of it, not just an address and phone number. There's also Language Guide software, which turns your nuvi into a pocket translator in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. To use all of them, your best bet is to transfer the Language Guide and Travel Guide to the nuvi's internal memory (there's plenty of room for that) and then to pop in an SD card with the City Navigator Europe maps (there's not as much room for that).
Q: The nuvi is handheld - can I go hiking or camping with it? How about boating?
A: Nu! Despite its convenient size, the nuvi is not rugged, waterproof, or capable of taking topographical or marine software. The trip computer is for automotive routes only, and pedestrian routes on streets. For a Garmin unit that can do both, try a Quest or Quest 2, GPSMAP 276C, or see the Tiger GPS Handheld GPS section.
Q: Is there a monthly fee for using the nuvi?
A: GPS Navigation is always free of monthly charges. The live traffic, however, is a subscription service, and you must purchase it separately after an initial trial period. After the trial, subscription costs will be roughly $5 per month.
Q: Can I mount the nuvi on top of my dash, instead of with the windshield suction mount?
A: The nuvi box contains an adhesive disk, which sticks on to your dashboard and lets you turn the suction cup on its head. There's also the Dash Mount for nuvi 350/360 and Dash Mount for nuvi 660. These are sturdier solutions due to their design, and are also adhesive. If you don't want to clean up your mount, you can snap the dash mounts to the Portable Bean Bag Mount, which features a rubberized flexible base that keeps your unit secure on the dash without pasting anything down.
Garmin Fleet Management Interface FAQ
What devices are supported?
The list is long and still growing. It includes the StreetPilot models 7200/7500, 2720, 2820, c550, c530 and c340; the nuvi models 350, 360, 370, 650, 660, 670 and 680; and the zumo 550 and 450.
Does Garmin offer tracking modules for use with the supported devices?
The current approach is to offer the Fleet Management Interface support for compatibility with third party tracking solutions. It's possible that Garmin themselves will offer such devices in the future, but the current approach allows them to continue to focus on the design of the types of navigation products that have made them world leaders in GPS navigation technology.
What does Garmin provide in a typical Fleet Management System?
Garmin provides the navigation technology and the user interface to the system. From a hardware perspective, that means that Garmin provides one of the supported devices listed above. Garmin also provides an interface cable that makes the physical connection to the GPS receiver and offers bare wires for connection to the rest of the tracking system. From a software perspective, Garmin provides the integration of the Fleet Management features into their user interface. Garmin also provides a simple communications interface which allows third party developers easy access to the Fleet Management Interface features.
What third party tracking solutions are currently supported?
Please follow this link to see the list of third party fleet management partners.
Will Garmin develop interfaces to other companies' tracking solutions?
Garmin plans to offer support for other tracking solutions through the existing Fleet Management Interface. This interface is described in the Fleet Management Interface Control Specification.
Where can I get a copy of the Fleet Management Interface Control Specification?
You can download a copy of the most current version of that specification as a part of the Garmin Interface Developer Kit here.
Will Garmin add new features that are required by my dispatch management system?
Although they cannot promise to add all requested features, Garmin is always willing to consider adding improvements to the existing Fleet Management Interface.
How often are vehicles' positions updated for the dispatch fleet manager?
This depends on the design of the third party system. Garmin's Fleet Management Interface can provide a new position once a second, but a typical system allows you to adjust the position report rate from about once every 15 seconds to once every 15 minutes.
What happens if the driver enters an area that is not covered by GPS signals?
Again, this depends on the design of the third party system. Garmin's GPS receivers will produce position reports only for as long as there is a valid position fix, but typical systems will retain the last known position and report it as the current position for as long as the GPS receiver remains in an area that is not covered by GPS signals. Some systems may also report how old the most current position report is.
How long does it take for a text message sent by a dispatch fleet manager to reach a driver?
This depends on the design of the third party system, but typical text messaging transit times are well under one minute and are often on the order of just a few seconds.
