Nuvi Line Being Replaced

I prefer the Garmin in my car for the speed limit display. However, it seems the younger generation wants to use their phone for a GPS. The price of Garmin needs to be well under a $100 to remain competitive; otherwise, the phone GPS is going to win.

Cyclops can be updated as often as once a week, usually on Wednesdays. In realistic terms, I usually get 2 to 4 updates in an average month.

They don't notify you of updates, and they don't show up in Garmin Express. Updates are separate from map updates, so updates are downloaded through the mygarmin web page. This means you can do them anywhere and on any computer; GE is not required.

The reason I like Cyclops is that they don't use proximity points in a POI file like we are all used to here. Cyclops ONLY alerts on the actual street where the RLC or speed camera is mounted; it ignores the other streets if there is no camera facing your direction of travel. This seriously reduces false alerts.

Here in Winnipeg, the city has become drunk on speed camera revenue and we have more cameras - both intersection safety (red light, plus speed) cameras and mobile photo radar vehicles - per capita than any other location in North America.

Aside from the cost ($25 a year) the only downside is that it is not compatible with every model. Most Nuvis 2012 and older can accept Cyclops, plus the new Drive line.

Subscriptions are locked to the unit. I have two: Nuvi 40LM and Nuvi 3590LMT refurb.

Not seeing anything that's going to make me run out and buy a new one.

I see the Drive GPS is now showing up on Garmins FAQ. This one looks interesting. https://goo.gl/k3GNl4

What are Smart Notifications, and how do they work on my automotive device?

Smart Notifications are available on DriveAssist, DriveLuxe, and DriveSmart devices and will display notifications from your Android or iPhone device so that they can be read or heard safely without having to reach for your phone. The 25 most recent notifications from your phone will be stored on your Garmin device.

In order to connect to the Garmin device and use this feature, the phone must have the Smartphone Link app installed. For more information on system requirements for Smartphone Link, review the article "What is Smartphone Link and where is it available?"

To use this feature with Apple iOS:1
1.Close Smartphone Link on your phone (if already open) and set your phone to Find Me/Discoverable mode2
2.From the Garmin device, touch Settings
3.Touch Bluetooth◦If no check mark is present, check the box next to Bluetooth

4.Touch Search for Devices
5.Touch OK on the message that prompts you to set your phone to Find Me or Discoverable mode
6.Touch the name of the desired phone from the list of compatible Bluetooth devices in the area
7.Touch OK
8.Enter the passkey displayed or press Okay, if prompted
9.Open Smartphone Link on your phone (this must be done within 30 seconds of pairing)
10.Wait a few seconds for the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) passcode pop-up on the Garmin device. This will also cause your phone to prompt for the passcode.
11.On your phone, enter the BLE passcode to complete the pairing.

To use this feature with Android:
◦Pairing your phone1.Open Smartphone Link on your phone and set your phone to Find Me/Discoverable mode2
2.From the Garmin device, touch Settings
3.Touch Bluetooth◦If no check mark is present, check the box next to Bluetooth

4.Touch Search for Devices
5.Touch OK on the message that prompts you to set your phone to Find Me or Discoverable mode
6.Touch the name of the desired phone from the list of compatible Bluetooth devices in the area
7.Touch OK
8.Enter the passkey displayed or press Okay, if prompted

◦Enabling Smart Notifications within the Smartphone Link app1.Open Smartphone Link on your phone.
2.Touch the gear icon to open Settings
3.Check the box for Notifications > Smart Notifications◦Android will prompt you to grant notification access to Smartphone Link. Check the box for Smartphone Link and touch OK on the subsequent confirmation prompt (if any)

4.Touch Notifications > Settings, and configure the apps you’d like to be notified of on the Garmin device

You will now be able to view or listen to notifications from your phone on your Garmin device.

Not sure I really want all that crap going to my PND to be read out loud while it's trying to give traffic or directions.

We'll see how this works

After 10 plus years Garmin (like MicroSoft), figured it needed a new model line to entice customers to spend more $ money $ with them.

A company can only do so much selling a older continuous model with additional features until no more can be added... thus a completely new looking (and named) model line.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

I've tried to find it but haven't succeeded. Given Garmin's history of dropping various features with new models, I wonder if any of the Drive models will continue to have the DEM shaded relief map, also known as 3D Terrain. From the several display snapshot images shown for the Luxe model, the model most likely to offer the DEM

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/2016-...

I'm seeing no indication that a DEM map is offered with the DriveLuxe.

If the DEM is lost, that'd be another checkmark for me against the new models—along with my worry of the models' Messaging and the possibly too-annoying, too-frequent alerts for speed limit changes, RR crossing and animal crossings. The Wrong Way alert on One Way streets remains a great addition to the new series.

Not much appeals to me in this new line.

So what is the most advanced model in this 'Drive' series?

The DriveLuxe has the most, but not with a built in cam.

The backup camera option is good for a car which doesn't have it built-in.

I have a Nuvi 3597 which I like very much... I must admit the new Drive GPS systems that have the integrated function to add their wireless backup camera is a very attractive enhancement I may go for..

Dash panel space for optional displays is very limited in today's vehicles... and using the GPS as a double duty display makes a lot of sense..

One thing I haven't found in print yet is whether the new Drive units support Basecamp developed downloadable routes and waypoints.. That function is a must...

There's no reason to suspect they won't, Basecamp supports the current line of both auto and handheld GPS.

What is the difference between "Traffic Compatible" that you need a subscription and receiver for and "Lifetime Traffic"?

Since this thread is about the new Garmin Drive line of devices, I first looked at the various Garmin Drive specs. I'm thinking your question may instead refer to older models. In any case, here's some info.

To me, Traffic Compatible means the device has the ability to display traffic if a traffic receiver (often a GTM-xx power cord) is purchased and if the GTM doesn't included lifetime traffic, then buying a lifetime subscription is also needed. Lifetime Traffic (any device with the letters LT or LMT as part of the name) means that the device is purchased with a traffic receiver and that it has a lifetime subscription.

In looking at the new Garmin Drive models, I see that the DriveSmart, DriveAssist and DriveLuxe all include lifetime traffic while the lowest line, the Drive, has two of the five models with lifetime traffic and three models that have no traffic. As I read the specs for the three models without traffic, it also appears to me that traffic can not even be added. I'm basing this judgement on what I currently see in the various models' specs. The detailed owners manuals for these new Drive models may offer more info but currently the owners manuals are not available.

To me, the Garmin term Traffic Compatible was used with old models like the nuvi 7xx, 8xx and others where you needed to buy a traffic power cord, the GTM-20 in the case of the nuvi 7xx and 8xx models.

I hope I helped answer your question.

Regarding traffic with Garmin devices, the best traffic is obtained with the Garmin devices and Smartphones that can interact with the Garmin Smartphone Link app. The app is free but lifetime traffic is a $20 add-on, sometimes discounted. If this is what you want, be sure to buy a Garmin device that is compatible with the Smartphone Link. None of the basic Garmin Drive devices are compatible with the Smartphone Link app while the DriveSmart, DriveAssist and DriveLuxe devices are compatible with the app. More from Garmin:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={e63d0370-e830-11e4-c814-000000000000}

[/quote]
Regarding traffic with Garmin devices, the best traffic is obtained with the Garmin devices and Smartphones
[/quote]

Thanks CraigW for the helpful info.

I'm just trying to compare my Nuvi 2557 with the new Drive Models.

I'm looking to upgrade to one of these new models and I'm just a little confused about a few things. I want to make sure that I keep at least all the stuff I have on my current Nuvi 2557 and have been looking hard the DriveSmart 50LMT as a good choice?

Two questions, I don't have a smart phone so will the traffic still work the same as my 2557?

Second, in the "Driver Alerts" it appears that Red Light and Speed Cameras ( on this page http://explore.garmin.com/en-US/drive/) come standard with these new models?

I just want to make sure that I'm making a good choice as I don't need the "camera" model nor do I think that I need to upgrade to the "DriveLuxe" model to update my 2557 a little bit.

Here's a good site for comparison of the Nuvi's vs Drive's.

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/nuvi-comparison.htm

.

Interesting Chart Soberbyker. So I wonder if Garmin has finally given up on Traffic Trends and My Trends as these features are unchecked on the Drive Devices. It is about time, as the "Trends" features never were very useful.

I expect the traffic results will be the same.

It certainly looks like redlight and speed camera alerts are part of the DriveSmart 50LMT. I don't think anyone's reported yet if the redlight and speed alerts are Cyclops, and if they are, does the 50LMT include lifetime updates or will you need to pay for a subscription. Redlights and speed cameras come and go so without frequent updates, they will lose their value quickly.

The comparison link already posted in this thread shows the 50LMT offering so much more than your old 2557, but to be sure, you should look at the detailed Specs for each to make sure that if a 2557 feature is lost, it'll be a loss you can accept.

I just got an email promo from theGPSStore.com indicating that they have the Garmin DriveSmart 50LMT in stock. Their web site also shows the DriveSmart 70LMT and the Drive 50LM models in stock. Other Drive models are shown as "BackOrder" status.

It appears the new Drive line has been added to the compatible devices list for Cyclops safety Camera database, so I am predicting it is almost certain this is how the red light and speed camera subscriptions will be handled.

I have not seen anywhere that the Cyclops subscription will be free though. It will be interesting to hear a report from the first few users.

Cyclops is only $25 a year though, and I like it enough that I bought two subscriptions. It is updated regularly; usually every Wednesday.

Thanks for the info!

When using cyclops data, will the allerts only allert you to the camera for the proper direction of travel or will it allert you to a camera being somewhere in the proximity.

... when I used it only in the direction of travel.

That was in Europe though so whether the US data works the same I can't say.

What's going on here. Compare this site's prices with those on the Garmin website.

Have you converted from loonies to USD?

The gpscentral thing is a nice chart but as CraigW has pointed out we would like information on the 3D and DEM support.

A lot of members have asked for this feature in the past. Looks like the new models have it.

What is the Speed Limit Reduction alert and how does it work?
01/13/2016

The Speed Limit Reduction alert is a feature available on Drive series devices that notifies you if you are approaching an area where the speed limit has been reduced. If you are exceeding the posted speed limit, the current speed icon will be red1:

These alerts are present during general navigation, with an active route or otherwise. The feature should be available anywhere the posted speed limit changes.

To enable or disable Speed Limit Reduction alerts:
1.Touch Settings
2.Touch Map & Vehicle
3.Touch Audible Driver Alerts
4.Touch the box next to Speed Limit Reduction◦A checkmark indicates that the feature is enabled. Touching the box again to remove the checkmark will disable the feature.

5.Touch OK

Repeat the steps above to enable or disable the Speed Limit Reduction alert.

1Audible alerts for exceeding the posted speed limit can be enabled or disabled by following steps 1-3 above and touching the box next to Speed Limit Exceeded.

If you go to https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/search.htm click on the road then using side arrows find the new models.It will show a lot of FAQ for that model.

How is it that theGPSStore.com is the only one that has this in stock, even Garmin doesn't have these models to sell yet and everyone else is reporting that they won't be available until "early April".

That site likely doesn't have any and is actually pre-selling the device.

The site has a Canadian web address, so the prices on the chart are Canadian. I only posted the site as the best feature to feature comparision of the two lines that I have seen, it's not all inclusive as some have mentioned but pretty good nonetheless.

Y'all feel free to post a better link if y'all have one.

GPScity lists stock as coming in 1-15-16 (today) thegpsstore does list the item as in stock and you can put it in your cart with no notes telling you it's a pre-order. Of course I don't need one having just bought a Nuvi 2689 a couple months ago so I'm not going to check out to see if it really is but it sure looks like the 50 is now ready to ship.

Maybe one of our members will order one of these and let us know. It will also be interesting to see if any user reviews show up anywhere in the next week or so.

GPSCity.com is listing some of these same models with an estimated "in stock" date of Jan. 15.

Maybe one of our members will order one of these and let us know.

There's an echo in here lol

I somehow missed your post when I added the comment about gpsCity. Just consider it to be a compliment for your great research

It seems that Amazon is ignoring the new Garmin Drive models so far.

... happens a lot when posts are somewhat close in time, So often that sometimes I wonder if I am on an ignore list , I'm a slow two finger typer and I'll start to post something fresh only to see someone beat me to it by the time I click "post".

I was also incorrect about my Amazon comment ... they are there if you search specific models. I just searched for "Garmin Drive" and didn't see anything in the first few page listings. Didn't find any "in stock" models at Amazon tho.

My mistake, didn't notice the prices were in Canadian dollars. Boy the exchange rate sure has changed since I was last in Canada..

I'm a pushover for new gadgets, but nothing in the new line has me pondering an upgrade to the new line. The "draw" of features like lifetime traffic and map updates are getting long in the tooth...nothing new there and Garmin has shown it has no qualms about changing the game: such as reducing the number of lifetime map updates per yer or changing their traffic carriers. My extra cost traffic subscription vendor seems to have changed hands and now I effectively have one traffic vendor instead of the original two. (see below) My unit used to change between the carrier with the best service or signal in the area... now it lists two that have the same name and there are far fewer saved channels on the list. Caveat Emptor...

The advantage of Cyclops - and why I think it is worth the cost - is that it only alerts in the proper direction of travel. This lessens false alerts substantially.

The downside is that I haven't figured out how to integrate a wav file to warn me, but it does give a large indication right at the top of my Nuvis, unlike a regular POI red light camera warning.

They look pretty cool!

Until my 765T gives up the ghost, I am sticking with it. It works for me and I do not need to replace all my accessories!

+1

Before laying out another ~$250 to ~$350 for second Garmin, I'd like to hold the new ones in my hand and play with the functions and stuff.

So I guess it'll be a few more weeks before that could possibly happen. Another problem is, not all brick & mortar locations carry many of the models available.

Will not enjoy seeing the Nuvi line to be sunsetting.

What will happen to support for my NUVI 2460LMT and 3580LMT?

Well, the backup camera "might" induce me to upgrade from my old 750.

If they stop publishing the map update for the Nuvi, it is the real sign to update....

Thanks for sharing...