Dual Electronics' XNAV43HD PND: first with real-time traffic via HD Radio

You may have never heard of Dual Electronics, but the firm is getting talked up today courtesy of Clear Channel Radio. You see, said outfit has launched the world's first personal navigation device to support real-time traffic via HD Radio. The XNAV43HD can pull down up to 500 messages per minute in over 50 markets in which the new service is live, and all of the information will be continuously monitored and updated by Clear Channel's staff. Specs on the PND itself are as follows: 4.3-inch touchscreen, text-to-speech and a multimedia player. The $279.99 price tag ain't half bad, but our interest lies in how quickly this service will get rolled out to other navigators, factory-supplied and otherwise.

[Image courtesy of MP3Car]

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2009 11:31PM]

What's with the road runner screenshot?

[misterdna Posted Jan 10th 2009 11:46PM]

Seems like about 7 years ago I read an article in Wired, saying HD Radio would be delivering all kinds of digital files to our homes and cars -- not just media, but other stuff too. Real-time traffic is all they've got to offer? I've been disappointed in the reality of HD Radio so far...

[TRAFFICBLOWS Posted Jan 11th 2009 8:49AM]

I concur! Why isn't Ibiquity more ubiquitous? Too high a cost of licensing? Utter rubbish we need to buy stupid add ons for what should be included in all devices by now.

[KurtHuber Posted Jan 10th 2009 11:48PM]

I've been very happy with my Dual, and while it isn't this model, let's hope that this continued technological lead will allow Dual to be sold in more places than Crutchfield and Walmart.

[CTTHosting Posted Jan 11th 2009 12:04AM]

I didn't know KTU (103.5) in New York had an HD channel. I knew Z100 (100.3) did.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 1:33AM]

Just another tool to make drivers less aware of what they're doing. Everyone was driving okay 30 years ago without GPS or any of this traffic stuff. Pretty soon we're all just gonna end up a bunch of betas like these guys

[tbonet Posted Jan 11th 2009 1:44AM]

I'm sure people just loved not knowing the highway they were about to get on had a major traffic jam.

[Raziel66 Posted Jan 11th 2009 2:53AM]

I usually find that the people who complain about these the most are people that have never used them.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 2:35AM]

if its the same dual electronics that makes car audio equipment expect this PND to break within 6 months, why do you think walmarts just about the only store that still carries the brand.

[r34p3r Posted Jan 11th 2009 4:45AM]

I'm pretty sure Best Buy carries their stuff. Well, at least they used to...

[r34p3r Posted Jan 11th 2009 4:44AM]

Dual? The same company that makes substandard head units and crappy speakers / subwoofers with "pretty lights"?

Or is this a different company?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 11:13AM]

one and the same. we call these "disposable radios" at work. we don's sell em but every day someone comes in wanting to know if we can repair 'em.

[nuttybars Posted Jan 11th 2009 7:08AM]

No radio reception where I live. :-( Therefore, no HD Radio reception. I'm 45 minutes out of NYC, but wedged between a few mountains in the NJ highlands. Satellite works for me, even 3G on my iPhone. The only reason I'd get HD Radio is for NPR, and I currently get this over my iPhone (one of the mountains has a big honkin' cell tower on it).

HD Radio needs some more nationally syndicated content so that it can be advertised consistently across markets.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 11:48AM]

Dual used to be a German turntable manufacturer, they started in 1927 actually. Until the 90s they made turntables, DVD players, VCRs, etc... Then in 2001 the parent company went bankrupt and the brand wound up under a Korean electronics company making most the junk you see today.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 2:35PM]

I believe they are still making turntables...including a fourth generation of the CS 505 and they still come with Ortofon cartridges.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 12:57PM]

As soon as I read the subject line, I wanted to leave a FIRST! comment...

I'm disappointed Kevin missed this opportunity.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2009 3:14PM]

Yay for LSX VOID