Smartphone Link for IOS got updates

Thank you!

The app screen display is fixed.

worked fine for me with iPhone 6 with iOs 9 paired with nuvi 2598

Finally, I complained to Garmin about this the day ios 9 came out. Not sure why they don't get ahead of the curve with developer builds (like other tech companies do) released from Apple to test instead of waiting until game time when customers complain. Now if only it would work properly with the Bluetooth connection. Glitchy at times - sometimes have to force close and restart Bluetooth on garmin.

Which Garmin model you are having issues with? It works fine with Nuvi 3597 but there are Bluetooth issues from day one with Nuvicam. Till date, they have not done anything to fix it. I call them every week about my case. BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) connection does not connect automatically with iphone 6 and Nuvicam. Looks like I have to live with it.

More of a problem with the phone then the Garmin?

I get a newsletter from idropnews.com about things they have found and how to fix them.

No, it is not a phone issue. It is Garmin issue. If it is a phone issue then it won't connect with my Nuvi 3597 either. It works fine with nuvi 3597.

Thanks, I will look into it tomorrow morning!

I got exactly the same setting, NuviCam and iPhone 6, and they connect automatically and work like a charm!
I used to have a hard time pairing them automatically in the past, but I guess I finally found the solution for this issue.

Here is how you can make your phone connect automatically to your Garmin GPS via bluetooth:

1- First thing: Updates:
A) Update your phone firmware to the latest version (through phone settings)
B) Update your Smart Link app to the latest version (through app store)
C) Update your GPS (through Garmin Express)
This step is important because I remember reading in the notes of either the latest Samrt Link or the GPS firmware that some major bluetooth connectivity issues have been solved.
(Make sure you connect to wifi before proceeding with step A & B since it will be about 300MB total of update files)

2- Go to your phone bluetooth settings page, If you have BT_XXX or BLE_XXX as saved devices, click on them then choose "Forget this device". This helps in establishing new connection protcols.

3- Go to your GPS bluetooth settings and click "Unpair" in order to delete any prior bluetooth connections files.

4- Now after you have updated your phone firmware, Garmin Smart Link app, Garmin GPS firmware and deleted all previous bluetooth connection files, start from your phone bluetooth settings and connect to the "BT_XXX" device that shows in the list of available devices that you can connect to.

5- After that, on your GPS bluetooth settings, make sure the phone calls feature is activated (even if you don't want to use it, it MUST be activated).

6- Go back to your phone bluetooth settings and try to connect to the "BLE_XXX" device.

7- Open Smart Link app, you should see a popup message saying "would you like to pair to Garmin XXX" click pair.
Once your device is paired to your GPS, the small icon on the upper left side will turn blue. Same icon will show up on the upper border of the GPS main page.
(Note: before you do this step, make sure to close the Smart Link app if it was already running on the background. I noticed that it doesn't respond and connect properly unless it was closed and lunched again)

8- Thats it! everything should work fine now!

** Note 1: IMPORTANT: Phone calls feature should be activated on your Garmin at ALL TIMES. Like it or hate it, If you deactivate the bluetooth phone calls feature, your phone will almost NEVER connect automatically to your Garmin.

** Note 2: You will have to close and reopen the Smart Link app every morning if it is still running on the background from last night. I usually do this while walking to my car at mornings and as soon as I turn my car on, the GPS and my phone connect immediately!

** Note 3: If you face a problem connecting to "BT" or "BLE" on steps 4 & 6, then start over again by "Forget this device" on your phone and "Unpair" on your gps, and start a new connection process by trying to connect to BLE then BT, I am not 100% positive at the time which one I start with, but I assume it is BT.

** Note 4: I successfully tested this method on iPhone 6, 6s, Android devices, and Garmin NuviCam GPS and it should work on all other similar devices.

If you are still facing difficulties after following these steps, let me know and I will try to make a video that explains the whole process.

Also, let me know if this solves your issue so I can repost these steps in a separate thread which can help other members facing the same problem.

Thanks and good luck!

Thanks Los.Angeles.1 for the detailed instructions. I could connect automatically via Bluetooth as well, if I keep phone call feature enabled. BUT this connection was not very stable. It may stay connected for four hours or may start disconnecting every five minutes or so.
If now after the last firmware 3.0 it is stable then I don't know?

Secondly, I use Blueant Commute in one car for phone calling and second car has builtin bluetooth. SO I cannot keep phone calling feature ON.

I think it is software design flaw in Nuvicam to auto connect BLE connection. I am calling Garmin every week for resolution and not giving up.

I am not sure which device your are referring to that got 3.0 firmware, but in general, I used to have connection issues until I updated phone, gps and smart link. I am 100% positive that the bluetooth issue have been finally solved because I had no issues at all since the last updates I did about 3 weeks ago. I am using the gps for an average of 6hrs a day.

I suggest you to request a replacement for your gps since it is still under the 1 year warranty and it might be a lemon. I called and complained about power and traffic reception issue and they offered me a replacement.

X

Sorry about the confusion. I was referring to Nuvicam firmware version 3.0. Actually, after reading you post I enabled Bluetooth phone calling feature again. First, it disconnected within one minute. But looks like it got connected back again. Since then it is very stable. As you are already testing for weeks and for me it did not disconnect for the last two days. So that is very good news.

Now, we have to wait for them to fix the BLE auto connect issue.

The above does work, but what still happens is the disconnect in the middle of the drive. Does that not happen to you?

If you enable Phone calling feature then it does not disconnect anymore after the software 3.0 update.

But if you disable phone calling feature then IOS service does not connect automatically. I hope they will fix it one day.

how does it compare to Android version? I don't have a iphone for now

Unfortunately, I don't have Android phone anymore. We have to ask someone who has Android phone and Nuvicam for an update.

Thanks for the update

The phone calling feature is enabled. This morning I closed the Smartphone Link app and reopened it, it connected beautifully on its own. Took a while. It wasn't immediate like it is with my 3597. It stayed connected, then half way to work it disconnected everything, the Smartphone Link and the Phone. When you say "the Phone calling feature", you mean the checkmark next to the Phone or something like that. I don't have the GPS in front of me.

Yes, the checkmark next to "Phone calling"..
You may test it by disabling/enabling the Bluetooth on NuviCam.
Once you disable Bluetooth on Nuvicam, you phone and app will disconnect but once you enable it by checking the box for Bluetooth, your Phone will connect automatically including IOS service. It is working quite nicely for me after software 3.0 update. It connects automatically 99% of the times. When it fails, I have go to Bluetooth under Settings on Nuvicam and do disable/enable to fix it.

Some times, it gives false message on Nuvi about IOS service disconnected but when I check it, it is still connected. Once connected, I am not losing connection anymore.

The only issue I have is that you have to keep phone calling enabled to make it work automatically all the times. I hope one day Garmin will fix it so that if you disable Phone calling, it still connect IOS service which is BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)connection to transfer data from your phone to Nuvi.

Generally the phone works based on what you said above. I had done all of that anyway, but what still happens is disconnection in the middle of the drive. First either the Phone then the iOS services or viceversa. It's a real peeve. I don't know why they don't just use the software in the 3597LMTHD which works beautifully.

I've used it extensively with my 2598 and it has not dropped connection at all. I've unchecked the box for phone calling.

I would suggest you to do reset on your Nuvicam which should clear all Bluetooth connections. After reset on Nuvi, please go to Bluetooth settings on your iphone and remove both entries for the Nuvicam connections. Turn Off bluetooth one time and then turn it ON and then turn ON bluetooth on Nuvicam and pair your Nuvicam with iphone. This should resolve your issue.

Finally they have fixed all Bluetooth issues in the latest software update 3.20. Now BT and BLE both can run separately. You can disable BT phone call and still keep the connection for traffic and weather etc. It works flawlessly now..