Becker Traffic Assist 7926 Review

The Becker company was founded in Germany over 60 years ago and is one of the leading manufacturers of car audio equipment. German engineering can always be called upon to deliver excellence - how do they fare in the Sat Nav arena?

With several model of GPS in their arsenal, the Becker Traffic Assist 7926 is one of the newest and a mid range option when it comes to features and functions.

The housing is robust and finished with a brushed aluminum front panel and the whole unit is slim and light. Only 174 grams and less than 2 cm thick, it is definitely a portable piece of equipment. There are options available to use this device for pedestrians and cyclists, so it is evident that the size matters here.

Unlike other competitors in the price range, this unit only has a 3.5 inch screen. Having said that, the touchscreen menu and commands are so straightforward and the maps so well designed that the reduced size screen is not as much a drawback as one might expect.

Data entry is via an alpha-numeric screen and the auto-complete facility means that you do not have to type in the whole word. Start typing and it will come up with the 'best fit' options then you can scroll through to get your precise point of interest or destination. Special destinations such as airports, hotels or hospitals are included and the next point of interest can be automatically selected so you will be directed to the nearest petrol station or rest stop along your route.

You can opt to view only those routes without toll roads or only those with motorways or even only those without ferries, and you can then choose what type of route you would like - fastest, shortest, most scenic or 'best' route as determined by Becker. There is even a lane assist facility which gives you information on which lane of the motorway is you best option for the route you are taking.

Maps are supplied by NAVTEQ and are updated regularly, and the chipset is the state of the art SiRF star III GPS receiver.

The display can be shown in 2D, 3D or zoom mode and POIs are shown as icons on the screen. The screen itself is in full colour and with a day/night optimization for best visibility in the available lighting.

Connections, available in the package, include a headphone jack for the MP3 player, a power connection cable for a cigarette lighter socket (12V/24V) and a 2GB SD card slot. As well as the MP3 player, the unit can be used as a picture viewer for jpg images.

All in all, this system packs a lot into its slim casing, but without Bluetooth connectivity or TMC functionality, it is only a GPS with a high price tag. Value for money wise it leaves something to be desired.