Dash Express GPS - redefining "real-time" traffic

This has been an exciting year for personal navigation devices (PNDs), with a flood of new products pushing the boundaries for convenience and high-tech features. Among the trends has been a drop in prices, while features continue to improve and increase. Looking back at our tests from just a year ago, we see top-end products with prices at $800 that would compete with current models at about half that price. As we posted recently, the portable GPS market shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, the revolution continues, and a California-based startup has just fired the next salvo in this marketplace battle with the Dash Express.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Dash Express caught our interest with its innovative connectivity and traffic information. The Express gathers information through Wi-Fi and GPRS cellular service, enabling an on-the-go Internet connection to deliver current, localized information such as cheapest gas stations or best restaurants. The Web connection extends to the user's PC, from which addresses or business names can be highlighted and sent directly to the device for future route planning.

The more intriguing role of connectivity is in the traffic information. Dash has taken a multi-pronged approach to traffic, drawing upon historical data and traditional metropolitan information for predicting traffic flow and delivering roadway alerts. In addition, Dash collects data from each unit to monitor current, real-time traffic conditions, sharing the data with other units in the area.

This strategy holds much promise, enabling drivers to get current information on their roadway. Should there be congestion, the device can provide information on the traffic flow for secondary streets to aid in detouring. While there is a scalability question, with the information detail becoming richer as more units are put in service, Dash has a solid base level of information that should match or exceed current offerings.

Commuting just outside New York City, we can see much appeal in the promise of this "TruTraffic" service. Traditional traffic information on GPS units is hampered by the same time delays and spotty coverage as radio alerts. Even stations that provide updates every 10 minutes have relatively old information that is imprecise and worse, may not be for the road you are traveling. On the occasion of a road being shut down, often the common detours are slow-moving car conga-lines.

Ultimately, this information comes at a price. The unit itself costs $299 (updated 8/29/08), with three free months of service. The traffic service then costs $9.99-$12.99 per month, depending on the length of contract. This fee is in line with traffic services from other brands. There is no additional cost for the cellular service or Wi-Fi connectivity.

We are anxious to see if this much-hyped new product lives up to its billing. We have just bought units for testing. Our test engineers will put the devices through our traditional, exhaustive test process, as well as delve into the unique features.

Update 11/12/08: "Dash Navigation to cease GPS production"

—Jeff Bartlett

For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums. 

 

Comments

[Eddie]

I still don't care one bit about GPS systems. They are distracting, annoying, and worst of all, extremely popular. When you get lost, pull over and look at a map. Its that simple, don't risk the lives of everyone around you by fiddling with the microscopic buttons of your bargain basement touch screen nav system. Worse yet, is that every time these companies add a new fancy, complicated, virtually useless and potentially dangerous new feature to this things, Consumer Reports is there to tell us about it over and over again in their blogs. There HAS to be something more interesting going on in the automotive world right now than this. CR should take a stand and not buy into the hype of these little monster consoles. I feel they are more of a fashion trend than an actually useful device.

[Peter Shepherd]

I find the GPS technology to be very valuable in my work. I am a Respiratory Therapist in Ontario Canada and make home visits to people who are on home ventilators in Eastern Ontario. Got a TOMTOM One last fall as a present and find that it saves me a lot time and gasoline in navigating to addresses in the Eastern Ontario region.
It was particular valuable this winter with the many storms we had which caused snow to stick to highway and street signs making them unreadable. Have not needed to consult a map or stop to get directions in months! Would recommend a GPS to anyone who does similar work.