Erm, it just connects via your phone, and I've usually got my phone near me. WiFi will affect battery. I like my Explore 1 but battery life isn't fabulous and mine goes flat over two weeks if not used as it seems to wake up even after being shut down. But, I can live with that, I have a backup battery pack, and it's easy to see the screen, and Navigation has been really good. I leave re-routing off, so I just go and get back on course, even off road.
I could be tempted with an Explore 3 at some point though.
Thanks. Not as problematic as some reviews make out. Tempted as I just cannot get on with my 530. If you do not use it regularly the lack of any useful UI indicating what button to press make ls it daunting yet again
And the last time I tried it the tracking was all over the place.