MP3 vs traffic camera alert

 

I was listening to MP3 music from my Nuvi 660 over the fm output. When I approached a red light camera intersection, I didn't get the audible alert and the song started over. Not sure what happened there. Do you lose alerts when playing MP3's?

MP3s

The same thing occurs on my 650. either the song starts over or goes to the next one. I called Garmin support about it & they claimed to never have heard of it, but would look into it and get back to me (haven't heard a word in 2 months). I saw it posted on this forum before I experienced it, so now I know it happens on at least 3 units.

It happened on my Nuvi 350 and Nuvi 360 after the software

ralphy1 wrote:

The same thing occurs on my 650. either the song starts over or goes to the next one. I called Garmin support about it & they claimed to never have heard of it, but would look into it and get back to me (haven't heard a word in 2 months). I saw it posted on this forum before I experienced it, so now I know it happens on at least 3 units.

It happened on my Nuvi 350 and Nuvi 360 after the software update. I too called them after the update but never heard of them again. I wish I had not updated the software because I too listen mp3 with my nuvi. Hope more people call them again so they can fix this.

That never happened on my

That never happened on my nuvi350, I just updated yesterday so I will test that out. I don't often listen to my mp3s.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

This can be fixed

I had the same problem with my Nuvi 660. I researched the problem over this site and other sites and I found that the problem is a bug in the new firmware 4.2. I remeber reading at that time that Garmin knows the problem and they are working on a solution. So, I wonder how they told you that they are not familiar with this problem.

Anyway, you can get the older firmware version from here

arrow http://gpsinformation.org/perry/nuvi/

Just, connect your unit to the PC and run the firmwar file.

After I did this, I'm getting alerts while mp3's are playing without track skipping.

Another work around for MAC users without changing the firmware version could be found here
arrow http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=103249

Rolling back firmware isn't an ideal solution

Hopefully Garmin will update again to fix the error. Sounds like it may be a problem with multi-channel audio processing and output.

It's pretty dumb to have to take out a firmware update that should give more reliability and function to your device because it cripples another aspect.

MP3

I just called Garmin again and talked to a Joe, He said that this is the first he has heard of it, and would check into it and get back to me(I'm holding my breath)

OK, I tried it this morning

OK, I tried it this morning and yes, it is screwed up on my nuvi 350 as well. I am on the latest firmware update. When I was playing my mp3s, it didn't sound the alert mp3 and it started over my mp3 that I was listening too.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

They're an odd bunch..

ralphy1 wrote:

I just called Garmin again and talked to a Joe, He said that this is the first he has heard of it

...but it was reported as a fault on the Nüvi 6xx series, before they introduced the same fault to the 310/360 and now the 350!! (That's three totally independent sets of firmware)

...I wonder what the actual code change was supposed to do?

--
------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ----------------------               http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy           »      

Downgrade?

asianfire wrote:

OK, I tried it this morning and yes, it is screwed up on my nuvi 350 as well. I am on the latest firmware update. When I was playing my mp3s, it didn't sound the alert mp3 and it started over my mp3 that I was listening too.

I, too, did some checking and found that the default bong on my 660 didn't mess up my podcast playing, but an alarm mp3 I had used as a speed alert played and stopped my podcast back at 00 time. I thought this was at least the safest form of "failure", since the alert sounded, but if it is erratic, and your result would indicate it might be (or fails differently on different models), we now have a false sense of security. Are you going to downgrade your s/w?

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

Nope, I don't listen to mp3s

Nope, I don't listen to mp3s often on the nuvi, so I really don't care.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

just for the heck of it

I tried listening to a mp3 and put in a route and I did not have any problems with the Nuvi, and it is all updated with the latest.

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Jerry...Jacksonville,Fl Nüvi1450,Nuvi650,Nuvi 2495 and Mapsource.

That works fine, the problem

That works fine, the problem isn't with the voice prompts for directions, it is the actually mp3 of a speed/redlight cam alert.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

I was just about to install

I was just about to install the 4.30 update, is it recommended that I for get it and stay with 4.20?

Depends

gerrydrake wrote:

I was just about to install the 4.30 update, is it recommended that I for get it and stay with 4.20?

If you like to listen to mp3 music/podcasts/books AND you have mp3 alerts set for your POI's, I'd hold off. Otherwise, there is no problem.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

MP3 Interrruption

I have the same problem with my nuvi 660. Regardless whether it is a redlight camera or any other custom POI, when the alert sounds, what ever is playing on my mp3 goes back to the begining.

The problem got so annoying, I put my custom POI files on one SD card and my MP3 selection on a different one.

gwr50

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Oldrivers http://www.oldrivers.blogspot.com

MP3 interruption

Does anyone know if the new 4.3 firmware released last week to see if it helps this problem??

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nuvi-660 & e-trex-legend

Ditto problem with TourGuide POIs

Just to add to the thread, any POI with TourGuide text in the name has the same problem

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New Nuvi 350 owner, Feb 2008

No

philosopher wrote:

Does anyone know if the new 4.3 firmware released last week to see if it helps this problem??

It reportedly does nothing to help.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

GPS having music issues, hmmm...

I really don't want to sound like a curmudgeon but this problem would not exist if Garmin made a GPS to be just that... a GPS... 98% of motorists have a some sort of system to play music. If Garmin wanted to make it multi functional, keep it automotive...incorporate a radar detector. The bluetooth is an excellent feature...some might say safety feature.

I did not purchase a GPS with the intention to look at photos or double as my walkman.

GPS's should stay in their lane and get better at being a GPS... PERIOD (faster pick up of sats and locking onto them, breadcrumbs, user adjustable routing...you know, GPS stuff!)

I know, I know...I am ranting! No harm intended to anyone that frequents this great forum.

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My Toys: MacBook Pro Unibody, Nuvi 2589

Hey Curmudgeon, You know, if

Hey Curmudgeon,
You know, if all you've ever thought of doing with your mp3 player is to use it for music, you are really missing the boat. There are books on CD/DVD, old radio shows, new NPR-type radio, recorded sports shows. There are many things that don't cost a penny that you can use to pass the time of a long journey, and with the mp3 player, you don't miss anything when the gps announcements come on. Given a choice between bread crumbs and mp3, I'm gonna vote for mp3.

I get the feeling you think these features cost you extra money, when in fact they cost next to nothing to implement -- everything is already there. Would you give up all these capabilities if it lowered the cost by 25 cents (the cost of perhaps writing the software to include all these things)?

We do agree on one thing -- this is a great forum.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

680 has this problem too

When I am playing MP3s and there is an alert like a POI ahead, it begins playing a few seconds of the song and then jumps along to the next song for a few seconds, and so on, until past the POI or alert. I have the latest updates installed. This is frustrating, and did not notice it happening until recently.

Did you change something?

garyrc wrote:

This is frustrating, and did not notice it happening until recently.

Well, I tried to see if the 680 ever shipped with a firmware version prior to 4.20, but the 680 isn't even listed among "All Updates and Downloads".

The popular belief is that the problem only occurred after updating to 4.20, but there is no indication that an upgrade has ever been offered for the 680. Could it be that you only recently change from using the built-in tone alerts to mp3 alerts -- the problem is, I believe, only with mp3 alerts AND mp3 "music" trying to play at the same time.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

Add 750 to the list

I noticed it the last time I used the mp3 player. A rare occasion.

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nüvi 750 & 760

Get Bent...er ...I mean Hey Bent

bentbiker wrote:

Hey Curmudgeon,
You know, if all you've ever thought of doing with your mp3 player is to use it for music, you are really missing the boat. There are books on CD/DVD, old radio shows, new NPR-type radio, recorded sports shows. There are many things that don't cost a penny that you can use to pass the time of a long journey, and with the mp3 player, you don't miss anything when the gps announcements come on. Given a choice between bread crumbs and mp3, I'm gonna vote for mp3.

I get the feeling you think these features cost you extra money, when in fact they cost next to nothing to implement -- everything is already there. Would you give up all these capabilities if it lowered the cost by 25 cents (the cost of perhaps writing the software to include all these things)?

We do agree on one thing -- this is a great forum.

Hey Bent,
We agree on a few things! This is a great site and its true, you can pass the time of a long journey listening to podcasts and e books and the like... but that can be done via any dedicated mp3 player.
I would like a Garmin to include/improve the features related the unit itself. Rather than trying to be a "B" grade GPS, a "C" grade photo viewer and mp3 player that clearly is causing issues with alerts, why not focus on the GPS related functions and create an "A" grade GPS?. Now the techs at Garmin have to resolve this issue.

Garmin's new 5000 series GPS adds a useful video input that can be used to incorporate a back up camera device. but if people start using that input for dvd watching, that unit will become illegal in most states. (New York already has a law against TV sets in view of the operator of the vehicle.)
I am not against features...if they make sense for the device.
Your feeling is wrong however regarding my assessment of the feature/cost issue. I know those features are there and no I do not want .25 back from Garmin!! lol I want to pay my money for a GPS and get a GPS, it can be feature laden... just make those features relevant to what the device is.

As I stated earlier, my views regarding this topic are not meant to flame or insult anyone. I enjoy my nuvi 360, and possibly will upgrade to a new Garmin unit should the need arise. Hopefully by then Garmin will be a GPS company and not a SONY knock off.

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My Toys: MacBook Pro Unibody, Nuvi 2589

The Flip Side

RhythmTip wrote:

... but that can be done via any dedicated mp3 player.
I would like a Garmin to include/improve the features related the unit itself. Rather than trying to be a "B" grade GPS, a "C" grade photo viewer and mp3 player that clearly is causing issues with alerts, why not focus on the GPS related functions and create an "A" grade GPS?. Now the techs at Garmin have to resolve this issue.

Garmin's new 5000 series GPS adds a useful video input that can be used to incorporate a back up camera device. but if people start using that input for dvd watching, that unit will become illegal in most states. (New York already has a law against TV sets in view of the operator of the vehicle.)
I am not against features...if they make sense for the device.
Your feeling is wrong however regarding my assessment of the feature/cost issue. I know those features are there and no I do not want .25 back from Garmin!! lol I want to pay my money for a GPS and get a GPS, it can be feature laden... just make those features relevant to what the device is.

As I stated earlier, my views regarding this topic are not meant to flame or insult anyone.

I certainly didn't take your opinions as insulting or inflamatory -- I think we just want different things, but I don't agree your preferred options are the obvious choice for everybody.

You suggest any dedicated mp3 player would be better than including it with the GPS, but you are ignoring two important points:
1.) No dedicated MP3 player will know to pause when the GPS gives routing instructions, and it is difficult/dangerous to be constantly trying to backup a recording to catch a missed portion.
2.) The cost of a dedicated mp3 player is 500 times that of adding the feature to the GPS.

You suggest that the addition of video camera viewing could make the 5000 illegal in many states. However, you previously suggested the addition of a radar detector, but that would also make that unit illegal in many states.

You say you want the features you pay for to be relevant to what the device is [a GPS], but again I point out that a radar detector has nothing to do with GPS functionality -- it just happens to be something you'd like. Just as I appreciate an integrated mp3 player.

You point to this thread as evidence that of the mistake of including the mp3 player. You say the it creates problems with alerts, but it really only causes problems with custom mp3 alerts. You are correct that the problem wouldn't exist without it, but then neither would the feature, the custom mp3 alerts. And the percentage of Garmin users who utilize both custom alerts AND the player must be less than 1% -- no big deal to drop the alerts for me. But to infer that the fix of this bug will detract from the developers from giving you bread crumbs is probably not realistic. More features are consistent with higher priced units. Do I wish the 660 had "routes" capability? Absolutely, but I don't think the lack of that feature makes my unit a B-class unit.

All of this simply demonstrates why there is more than one model, of one brand of GPS -- people have different opinions of what is important -- on many subjects.

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Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

mp3 alert issue

Does anyone know if Garmin has addresses the firmware mp3 alert issue?

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nüvi 660 & 670 - Hello I'm a Mac :))

My Nuvi 750 while listening

My Nuvi 750 while listening to my Mp3 will sound the Red Light Camera alert but does not pause the music as it once did. Ugh. Software Version 3.00

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nüvi 3590LMT "always backup your files"

Easy Fix

bentbiker wrote:
gerrydrake wrote:

I was just about to install the 4.30 update, is it recommended that I for get it and stay with 4.20?

If you like to listen to mp3 music/podcasts/books AND you have mp3 alerts set for your POI's, I'd hold off. Otherwise, there is no problem.

Easy fix that I found, Make all your alert sounds wavs... it does not affect a playing mp3 song.

Make WAV Files

That's what I did - convert all my mp3 alert files to mono wav files.

Several of us here have reported this problem to Garmin. They know about it. I think 2 firmware releases have come out for my 660 since it was first reported to them. Other problems have been fixed in these updates if you read the release history on their website, but not this one.

I think this is very low priority for them. I would not be surprised if they never address this problem (IMHO) especially since there is a workaround with the wav files.

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold

680 with latest firmware same problem here

There's so many redlight cameras in this area, that I've skipped to the end of an "album" in a matter of a few miles.

I'll try the .wav trick.

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Galaxy NoteII, nüvi® 680