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Features
Inputs and Outputs
Features
Product Overview: The PMD-B200
Blackbird is a portable GPS navigator and digital entertainment system. Combined with detailed maps, the Blackbird provides automatic routing,
turn-by-turn voice directions, and touch screen control. The unit also includes a
built-in traffic receiver (subscription needed) and plays MP3 and WMA files.
When used with the Alpine IVA-W205 DVD receiver (item number 500IVAW205), the
PMD-B200 can be docked inside the Double Din head unit and display route map and
information on the IVA-W205's 6.5" LCD.
SD/MMC Card Slot: The Blackbird
can play back MP3 and WMA audio files from an optional SD memory card or
Multimedia Card. The audio player allows you to repeat the songs in the current
folder, or play the songs in random order.
Map Software:
The Blackbird comes loaded with detailed maps of the United States (including
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) and Canada.
The maps feature approximately 6-million points of interest (POIs), such as
hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions.
Display: The unit
features a bright, 4" (diagonal) LCD with touch screen controls. The display
has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels.
Display Modes: The display contains the
following information: current position icon, current street name, next street
name, distance to destination, direction to destination, estimated time
remaining/estimated time of arrival, distance to next maneuver, next maneuver
arrow, map orientation, map scale, and GPS status bar. You have three display
mode options:
- Map: displays a full screen map of
the area while providing turn-by-turn guidance prompts
- Arrow: displays three
successive arrow maneuvers all the way to your destination while providing
turn-by-turn guidance prompts
- Split: displays
a large arrow and larger next-street-name font along side a map screen while
providing turn-by-turn guidance prompts
Main Menu:
- Destination:
input destination
- Home:
set, route to, or view map of home location
- Route:
see a list of turns (with distances) along the current route, change route
- Mobile Phone:
access cell phone via Bluetooth connection
- Information:
view navigation and system information
- Edit:
edit address book, including home address
- Entertainment:
play music
- Setup:
customize system
Destination Input: The
Destination Menu gives you many different ways to choose your destination:
- Address: input
your destination's address by street and city
- Point of Interest: you can
enter a Point of Interest by name or category
- Address Book: up to 500
location can be saved in your address book, you can
then recall the location as a destination
- Recent
Destinations: choose your destination from a list of
recent destinations
- Coordinates: enter latitude and longitude
coordinates
- Intersection:
enter a street name and choose from the intersecting streets
- Home: if you have
entered a home address, you can select it as your destination from the main
menu
Points of Interest (POIs):
The map database includes approximately 6 million POIs in 37 categories;
Restaurants, Hotels, Gas Stations, Museums, Places of Worship, etc. You can
search by name or category. If searching by category, further narrow your by
location; near current position, near destination, in a specific city.
Spelling: As
you type names of streets, cities, or POIs, the
PMD-B200 dims out those letters that that are not
available as the next character, eliminating the possibility of a misspelling a
word or looking for a city or street that is not in the loaded database. When
there are only a few possibilities, they are listed on the display.
Waypoints: You can set up to 10
waypoints between your current location and destination.
POI Icons: The navigation
system can display POI icons onscreen for six often used categories;
Restaurants, Gas Stations, ATMs/Banks, Grocery Stores, Hotels, and Parking. Each
category is individually set to display (or not display).
Route Calculation Method: You may want to alter the way the system
calculates a route; choose from the following
methods:
- Maximize Freeways:
calculates the quickest route, maximizing use of freeways
- Minimize Freeways:
calculates the quickest route, minimizing use of freeways
- Shortest: calculates the
shortest route to your destination
- Toll Roads:
calculates a route with or without toll roads
- Ferry:
calculates a route with or without ferries
Detour Function: If, during a
route you require the system to detour around an obstacle, use the
Detour button to automatically recalculate a new route. You can detour from the
current street, around traffic, or remove a specific street from the route.
Trail Feature: The Trail
feature allows you to turn on and off trail dots that appear wherever the
vehicle icon traverses. This is especially helpful for off-road enthusiasts.
Simulating Navigation:
When indoors, you can activate the built-in simulator and practice using the
unit. This turns off the GPS receiver so it's not searching for satellites.
Trip Information: The Blackbird
keeps track of the following trip information:
- Driving Average: average
speed while driving
- Overall Average: average
speed overall (driving and idle time)
- Maximum Speed: maximum
speed reached on current trip
- Driving Time: time vehicle
has been moving since the trip was reset
- Idle Time: time vehicle
has been stopped since the trip was reset
- Total Time: total elapsed
time on the trip (driving time plus idle time)
GPS Status: You can view the
dynamic location information received from satellite such as signal strength,
compass (direction information), latitude/longitude, approximate altitude, and
speed.
Map Screen Orientation: You can
select one of the following map screen orientations:
- North Up: the map display
is positioned so that north is always at the top of the screen, the Present
Vehicle Position icon will rotate on the map
- Heading Up: the Present
Vehicle Position icon can be positioned so that its current direction is
always pointing to the top of the screen, the icon remains
frozen in the center of the display while the map rotates with each turn
- 3D:
the display shows a view from the driver's perspective, looking at the
horizon
Estimated Time Display: When
the system calculates a route, it also estimates the travel time. It will display this estimate as the arrival time, or the
time remaining to reach the destination.
Screen Color Mode: You can
select one of three color modes for the display screen:
- Day: has a lighter,
brighter background
- Night: has a darker
background, outputs less light at night
- Auto: display
automatically switches between Day and Night at sunrise and sunset
FM Transmitter:
When the built-in FM transmitter is active, it broadcasts music and voice
prompts to an available frequency on your FM car radio. The FM transmitter can
be set to one of the following frequencies: 88.1, 88.3, 88.5, 88.7, 88.9, 106.7,
106.9, 107.1, 107.3, 107.5, 107.7, or 107.9 MHz.
Built-In Traffic Receiver:
The Blackbird features a built-in
traffic receiver that supports the optional NAVTEQ Traffic RDS service with a
subscription which displays real roadway information in real time from multiple
sources on the Blackbird's screen. NAVTEQ Traffic RDS includes traffic
information from top local sources, including police, video cameras and
departments of transportation. This information is continuously updated,
processed and delivered wirelessly, instantly to the Alpine Blackbird. NAVTEQ
Traffic RDS even features color-coded roadways to illustrate the average speed
of traffic for the road you are traveling and unique icons to indicate
accidents, stalled vehicles, road construction and road closures. The Alpine
Blackbird can use this traffic information to create a smarter and quicker route
to your destination. NAVTEQ Traffic RDS map coverage currently covers 49 major
cities in the United States plus Toronto, Canada.
Note: Currently the
Blackbird comes with a Free 90 day trial of NAVTEQ Traffic RDS right out of
the box. Upon conclusion of the 90 day trial period, the NAVTEQ Traffic RDS
service is available through NAVTEQ for a standard annual fee of $60.00. The
Traffic feature is only available when the Blackbird is placed in the cradle
or optional docking station.
Bluetooth: The
PMD-B200 is equipped with Bluetooth
technology, enabling you to make and receive calls hands free using the included
microphone and built-in speakers. Calls can be placed using the numeric keypad,
the phonebook, previously dialed numbers, missed calls, or received calls.
Incoming calls will show the caller ID information on screen (when available)
and give you the option of answering or ignoring the call.
Optional Wireless Remote Control:
The Blackbird can be controlled by the optional Alpine RUE-4140 wireless remote.
Power Requirements: The Blackbird
operates on your vehicle's battery using the included 12-volt cigarette lighter
power adapter, the Lithium-polymer battery, or household current using
the supplied AC adapter. Stored data, such as waypoints or unit settings, are not lost when
the unit is disconnected from a power source.
Antenna: There is a GPS antenna built-in
and jack for the included external antenna.
Mounting Options: The unit
should be securely installed when used in a vehicle. The unit comes with a
suction cup mounting arm that attaches to the cradle. The suction cup can be used to
mount the unit to the windshield or to the dash (using the included plastic mounting
disk). Once the Blackbird is mounted, it can be adjusted horizontally and
vertically for best visibility.
Note: If you're not
using a remote antenna, the unit must be installed where it has a
relatively unobstructed view of the sky.
Pro.Fit Bracket Compatibility:
The Blackbird is compatible with the Pro.Fit Legend series Vehicle Specific
Mounts (VSM). The Blackbird can also be used with the regular Pro.Fit VSMs when
combined with the EZ-1026 easy swivel adapter.
Interface Capability: This unit
can be connected to a PC via the supplied USB cable. This interface allows you
to download additional map information to the unit's memory.
Inputs and Outputs
Top Panel of Blackbird:
- Headphones: mini-jack
headphone output
Bottom Panel
of Blackbird:
- USB: USB Mini-B Type 2.0
that allows you to connect the Blackbird to a computer using the supplied
USB cable
- Antenna: MCX-type
connector that allows you to connect an external GPS antenna
- Cradle Connector:
proprietary port that interfaces with the supplied cradle or AC power adapter
Back Panel
of Cradle:
- Antenna: SMA-type
connector that allows you to connect the included external GPS antenna
- Microphone:
3.5mm mini-jack to connect the included Bluetooth microphone