UPDATED Aug 12th 2017:
Love the capacitive touch screen and size. Display is really nice compared to my older Nuvi 1450LMT which this new Garmin replaced. Everything is clear and easily readable, even from various angles. Unit is fast and responsive with no noticeable lag during various operation.
Voice command works good for basic commands, ok. It's hit and miss with street addresses however.
The per-installed American voices: American English Michelle & Samantha are lacking. Samanatha is the only option of the two that speaks "Garmin Real Directions". Her voice sounds odd and does not pronounce easy words correctly. Michelle sounds the best but only gives basic guiding like "Turn Left"...
Volume level is quite good and it does have an option for auto volume level to compensate for road noise. However, I have the auto volume level control enabled and it does not work. I hear no change in volume with windows open or closed, radio off or on.
Unit stays cool. No overheating issues. Would have preferred a magnetic mount for this rather than the round plastic snap-in type it comes with. The newer round type mount is annoying. Sometimes I actually end up pulling the mount off the ball when removing the unit.
Have only used Bluetooth connection with phone a few times just to test it out as I really don't need traffic info where I live. I do not use (or need) the Foursquare or the TripAdvisor apps.
I think I read on some forum that perhaps you can use a Garmin HD Charger/Traffic receiver with this and it works fine.
Unit has around 16GB of main memory. About half of that is available for personal use (after deleting unused voice files) and worry free map update sizes that will fit without the need for an SD card.
Wifi update works well. Updated Software and Maps fairly quick on a good network. A bug I found was the unit said (had the highlighted download arrow) I had an update available but when trying to update, it would then say "No updates Available"... I turned the wifi off the unit then back on and tried again, and it worked.
Make sure you turn off the wifi and/or Bluetooth when not in use because it consumes more power on battery use.
Unit will auto power off and on if your power plug/port powers on/off with vehicle.
You can put your saved points/addresses into categories which makes it easier to look for certain stored items without having to look through an entire combined list. One of the things that I do not like is the plain square flat greenish map symbols that have replaced the previous multicolored shaped ones. It would have been nice to see at least a better variety and color options.
Using Garmin Express to update features... there are no other American voices that speak "Real Directions" I did not see any male voices either. No other add-ons like Map Symbol Icons or ecoRoute like the Nuvi has.
One thing that puzzles me is that if you put in an SD card that you have your backed up gpx files on (stored points/addresses) it copies them into the main internal memory automatically. Remove the SD card and all that info is now available internally... So to me, whats the point of having an SD card if it just dumps everything into the internal memory anyways? Should at least have an option for this.
Garmin should make all its GPS's with the glass touch screen with capacitive touch. I probably would have bought the 51 LM if it had the glass screen as this one. The only other option is the more expensive Garmin DriveLuxe 51 NA LMT-S.
I don't really see a need for the FourSquare and TripAdvisor apps and I will never use them on a GPS.
The Alerts system I don't really care for in it's current state. You can turn on/off selected alerts, but it only turns off the audio tone. You still get an on screen alert via on orange bar at the top... I don't need to know I am about come to a railroad crossing. Some may need this depending on where you live and your ability to properly read road signs. I can stop right on an abandoned rail crossing from the 70's and it will either pop up with a warning window I have to manually close or say that it is still 20ft ahead...
This really needs to be fixed along with the accuracy. Speed signs are not as quick to update like on the Nuvi 1450...not sure of the reason why.
The routing algorithm it uses is ridiculous at times. I do not think they have improved much in this area... It still picks weird routes when you know the once you usually take is the better choice regardless of its settings of Shorter or Faster calculation.
Overall I am happy after using it for a few months. After taking it on several trips I have decided to keep it.
The animated split screen when a junction is coming up telling you which lane to be in or which lanes you can be in is... quite awesome.
I still think the price paid was a little on the high side. I have even plugged in the ol' Nuvi 1450lmt and used it at times.
If you want a really nice and easy to read 6 inch+ screen that offers easy input with capacitive touch, then this would be the unit to buy.
If not, I would consider another unit that's not quite as expensive but will still get the job done.
I purchased the Evecase Portable Case Bag Cover with Extra Front Pocket 5-Inch...It actually fits this unit well even though it says it is for a 5 inch GPS... Just about the same Internal dimensions as the 61 LMT-S.
I read multiple reviews trying to get a good idea about this item. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there writing FALSE REVIEWS that it makes it very difficult to depend on this system altogether. Many complained about the audio, saying it was impossible to understand. I served 30 years in the military and have significant hearing loss, but I can understand EVERYTHING that the GPS says, without exception. I have to believe that those complaining about the audio are FAKE, probably being paid by other companies to try and downgrade Garmin. The download of initial updates did take quite a while (11 hours on wifi), but it finished without a hitch, and the maps, directions, instructions etc. are absolute PERFECT. If you are looking for a quality, dependable GPS, I highly recommend this one.
Cool gps. I don't have to plug it to my pc or laptop for updates. Just connect it to the wifi.
Absolutely love this product. Have had numerous Garmins before and this is the best yet. I almost didn’t buy after reading other reviews - glad I decided to give it try.
Just travelled from California to the East coast (made a wide circle so I didn’t have to travel the same route back) and it worked great. The warning header that people had issues with did not bother me. The screen is so big that it didn’t interfere with the directions and views - just helped keep me more alert.
One review noted that you had to buy the traffic cord that goes to the Garmin for $50. Thanks to that, I purchased separately. Also, to use traffic alerts you need to download the app and pay a five dollar a month subscription fee. Not a big issue - I paid for two months while on cross country trip and then cancelled.
I found this product to be a good fit for what I was looking for. Very easy to use - I didn’t need directions. As I said, have had a few Garmins before and a little playing around with it and it set up nicely with no issues.
The size of this GPS is good, as we use it for travel in our motorhome (rather than the RV model). It is very clear and easy to see as colors are distinct. I like the warnings / notifications it gives for curves ahead, RR crossings, upcoming speed zones, etc. The volume is good and I have no issue with female voice assigned, as others have expressed. The only two irritants I have come across are 1) using voice command, which I really like, the GPS voice recognition has a lot of difficultly with certain words. Example: looking for Bandon, Oregon ends up somewhere in Florida??? This happened multiple times with different cities, so Garmin needs to do some work on voice recognition. 2) I'll be driving along and suddenly, the brightness of the unit decreases significantly. Checking brightness setting shows the unit at 70%, but in reality brightness is about half that. Often, turning the unit off, then back on will reset to original level of brightness. There must be a simple fix, but I have not stopped and taken the time to play around with the unit to figure out what is going on. Overall I am pleased with the unit. Big updates can take 3 - 5 hours, so need to plan ahead on doing this - not right before heading out the door. The wifi setup is simple and works well, depending on speed available to you. Overall, I think a person would be happy with this unit.
Feature Product
- Easy-to-use GPS navigator with connected Features and bright 6.95-Inch Capacitive touch display. The display resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels
- Detailed maps of North America with free lifetime updates. Battery : Rechargeable lithium-ion. Battery life is up to 1 hour
- Provides real-time services, such as Live traffic and select Live parking, when using free smartphone link app on your compatible smartphone
- Bluetooth calling, smart notifications and voice-activated navigation. This USB mass storage device is compatible with Windows XP or newer and Mac OS X 10.4 or later
- Built-in Wi-Fi for easy map and software updates
Description
Stay connected behind the wheel with Garmin DriveSmart, the navigator that features a collection of smart features in addition to helpful driver alerts and easy-to-follow directions. From hands-free calling and live traffic information to Built-in Wi-Fi and more -the future is on your Garmin. Just look ahead and drive.
This DriveSmart unit needs 12 DC to operate unlike previous units that operated from your computer. This item will do that job. "AC to DC Converter, Cooolbuy 8.5A 102W 110-220V to 12V Car Cigarette Lighter Socket AC/DC Power Supply Charging Adapter". This is available from Amazon for about $16.00. Without this you will not be able to update maps other than from your vehicle.
I have had several Garmin units but this one is the best by far. On a recent trip from San Diego to Phoenix it was extremely accurate even over dirt roads and the display is super bright. Directions are easy to follow and I had no problem giving verbal commands. I do not use a smart phone so I have the Garmin GTM 60 HD Digital Traffic Receiver which is an extra charge of about $60.00. The Traffic Receiver seemed to work well but I did not run into any traffic on my trip :(
I've used this GPS for a year now and it is much better than my old Navicon and TomTom units. However it is not perfect. In both Hawaii (Oahu) and Florida it occasionally wanted me to go off road. I'm also not sure the "Avoid Toll roads" option was always accurate in Florida (some areas were doing construction so perhaps the tolls were waived but I'll know in a few months if I get charges in the mail). Also it wanted me to jump over a traffic island after exiting from a highway to try and get to the left turn lane to go to the WDW Old Key West resort (had to drive several miles to get to the resort because the GPS tried to take me on an illegal route). I haven't figured out yet how to contact Garmin to make map corrections so others aren't lead astray (a future homework project). To be fair though the WDW Florida area is always growing and changing so it is probably hard for Garmin and other GPS manufacturers to keep up with the changes. Still it would be nice if they implemented some sort of voice command feature that would allow the driver to hands free make a note to Garmin that this spot on the route has a problem or needs updating.
I love the Voice Command feature! It really helps save a lot of typing! It usually finds what I'm looking for on the first try.
I've done firmware and map updates both over WiFi and connected to my laptop via USB. Both work reasonably well but Garmin could make this process better because it's a little slow and cumbersome. It would be nice if their software would give you a better feel on how long the updates will take and give you a real-time percentage of how much of the download/install process is complete.
I purchased an AC charger with the unit but was disappointed in that it doesn't charge the unit. I'm ordering a different AC charger to see if it will work. I like being able to fully charge my GPS at home before starting a vacation trip. The 12 volt car charger that came with the unit seems to work fine but Garmin needs to follow the Smartphone manufacturers and incorporate a better battery level display in their software so when you are driving down the road you can see what percentage of charge the battery has and if it is charging or not (most of the time I could not tell if the battery was charging or not).
I bought this to replace a smaller older model, and like it even better. The display is bigger, brighter, cleaner, and the navigation is excellent. I almost never get beyond its range of coverage, and I go to a lot of very remote places in the western US.
Soon after acquiring it I had to unexpectedly replace my truck, with a 2017 Ford F-150 that has built-in GPS. Halfway through a month-long driving trip I started using the Garmin again, and found that I prefer it to Ford's. The Garmin now sits atop a bean-bag mount in a depression on the dashboard. I use the Garmin for navigation and the built-in for all the infotainment applications.
A few interface quibbles -- I think it should be easier to mute the audible instructions, and to cancel the current destination.
My first Garmin, a Nuvi 1490LMT, lasted for 6 years, then decided to stop booting up. I tried some fixes I found on the web and got it running for a few days at a time, but it just kept dying. I gave up on it and ordered this one.
I had a little issue with the display on first unit and returned it. When I had an almost identical issue with the second unit, I was more than a little ticked. Then, I figured out it was my issue, not the Garmin's. This may help someone in the future who makes the same mistake.
I used an adapter to use the included car charger in the house so I could perform the software updates. The problem was that the output on my adapter was only 550-850 milliamps. This Garmin requires an input of at least 1 full amp; the included car charger's output is actually 2 amps. Anything lower and the display goes completely bonkers.
So, once I figured this out, the unit worked fine, phone syncs up, etc.
I had purchased the TomTom equivalent capability version and oh - my - gosh 😮, TomTom took a step into the past, also known as "backwards." It was very difficult to use and the screen features are too small, or just plain non-logical - SO I SENT IT BACK, BUT This Garmin system is an absolute home-run.
Nice large screen, voice command interaction (like using Alexa or Google Home Assistant). Easy touch-screen controls similar to the feel of a typical android tablet. Your incoming texts and emails are read out-loud for you at your prompting.
Excellent screen quality!! REAL picture of your exit ramps (unless a new building or bridge was just placed there)
I prefer my system mounted on my dash using the mounting disk. Some people refer the windshield or friction bag. If Amazon allows me to come back and edit, I will attach a pic of it installed.
Easily add a gas station or a specified drive break location detour without affecting your main trip route. ....Too much to praise and sing about in my opinion.
NO REGRETS. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.
Oh, watch out for the default settings that avoids toll roads. That could cost you a 1000 extra miles to your destination if traveling from the south-east US to the noth-east US. (...but I caught it in time (an extra 70 miles, as I worked my way back to the intended route)
0 comments:
Post a Comment