Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT

 

I was wywing up the Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT. Has anybody here tried one yet? I don't think that they have been available all that long.

Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT

I don't have a 70LMT, but, I have a 60LMT which I like very much. I have used it on a trip to La. and Houston. It navigated me through the Houston traffic real easy. I like the voice turn by turn. I will be taking it on a trip to Ga. this weekend. I have made a route using Shaping Point.

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3790LMT; 2595LMT; 3590LMT, 60LMTHD

Jan. 2016

Jim1348 wrote:

I was wywing up the Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT. Has anybody here tried one yet? I don't think that they have been available all that long.

Just as a point of reference, the DriveSmart 70 became available in Jan. 2016, so they have been around for about 8 months.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42240

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

I Bought a DriveSmart 60LMT

about 4 months ago. Absolutely love it. Loud enough, bright enough, and large enough for these old eyes and ears. Lots of built-in warnings, "Curve Ahead", "RR Crossing", and others, you can turn on and off. Still need to load the latest map and the large Junction View.

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"As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new - and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one a friend." - James Russell Lowell Garmin StreetPilot C330, Garmin NUVI 765T, Garmin DriveSmart 60LMT

Just

alleghany wrote:

Still need to load the latest map and the large Junction View.

Just for reference, the large Junction View file is actually a Large Full Screen Junction View file. Unless you want to have the whole screen display the junction view, covering up the map, and have the view disappear before you actually get to the maneuver being shown in the view, then your far better off just going with the Full Split Screen Junction View file that comes with the map update. Both the Large Full Screen and Large Split Screen JCV files display the same Junction Views.

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Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT

I did try one of the Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT units from Cabelas. I was hoping that it was basically a 7 inch version of the Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD. From my perspective, it is not. While I am not saying that it is a bad GPS, the little things just sort of disappointed me. For example, the Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD has a brushed metal case. The Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT seems to be much more "plasticky."

One of the other things that I noticed immediately is that the Garmin Nuvi 3597LMTHD displayed the temperature when getting HD Digital Traffic data, but I think that the Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT actually has an FM traffic receiver and only displays the surface air temperature if it is connected to the internet and is getting data.

Again, probably none of these are, or at least should be, deal breakers if you are looking for a 7 inch automobile navigator GPS. On the other hand, they did disappoint me. If the Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT had a brushed metal case AND received HD digital traffic data, I would probably be a bit more enthusiastic about it.

I would

I would think if the GPS was to have HD traffic it would have HD in the model name (i.e. 3597LMTHD or Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD).

On the other hand are you sure that it's the HD digital traffic that provides the temperature readout. I would have said it was coming from a Smartphone Link connection. I don't remember ever seeing a temperature readout on my 3597LMTHD, but I could be wrong.

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Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Smartphone link and temp

t923347 wrote:

I would think if the GPS was to have HD traffic it would have HD in the model name (i.e. 3597LMTHD or Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD).

On the other hand are you sure that it's the HD digital traffic that provides the temperature readout. I would have said it was coming from a Smartphone Link connection. I don't remember ever seeing a temperature readout on my 3597LMTHD, but I could be wrong.

My 3597 with an active Smartphone Link and no HD traffic available does show the current temperature (from whatever internet source it uses for weather) on the main menu page and of course, the App/Weather page, but doesn't show the temp when viewing the map or running a route.

Since I'm over 100 miles as the raven flies from a HD data source, I can't test the ability of the 3597 to show the current temp with HD data and no Smartphone Link app running.

temperature display with HD traffic on 3597

CraigW wrote:
t923347 wrote:

I would think if the GPS was to have HD traffic it would have HD in the model name (i.e. 3597LMTHD or Garmin DriveLuxe 50LMTHD).

On the other hand are you sure that it's the HD digital traffic that provides the temperature readout. I would have said it was coming from a Smartphone Link connection. I don't remember ever seeing a temperature readout on my 3597LMTHD, but I could be wrong.

My 3597 with an active Smartphone Link and no HD traffic available does show the current temperature (from whatever internet source it uses for weather) on the main menu page and of course, the App/Weather page, but doesn't show the temp when viewing the map or running a route.

Since I'm over 100 miles as the raven flies from a HD data source, I can't test the ability of the 3597 to show the current temp with HD data and no Smartphone Link app running.

The HD traffic here in the SF Bay Area dose show the temperature as dose the Smartphone Link with (at least) one caveat. Not all the HD stations broadcast the temperature information.

The strongest station at my home does not so the 3597 HD does not display temperature information in my routine usage.

I discovered accidentally it does have the temperature info, a couple of years back before I had the Smartphone link. I was in Sunnyvale one day and was surprised by the temperature displayed on the 3597 screen when I started my car with the 3697 plugged in.

Experimented with the HD Dashboard in the Developer's menu and manually set the stations confirmed that. My crude scan of the stations found that less that half of the stations do.

I use Smartphone Link nowadays and found that it is much more convenient.

Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT

Pillowcase wrote:

.....Experimented with the HD Dashboard in the Developer's menu and manually set the stations confirmed that. My crude scan of the stations found that less that half of the stations do.

I use Smartphone Link nowadays and found that it is much more convenient.

That us interesting. I may have to experiment with the HD Dashboard in the Developer's menu. I have always wondered which HD station(s) the Garmin Nuvi 3597 gets it data from and it sounds like that would help me determine that.

I like having the ability to get data either from the broadcasters or through the cell phone data connection.

Thank you for the post.

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Jim, I'm just curious why a "plasticky" vs "brushed metal" case matters for a device like this. For me, I stick the thing up in the dashboard and its "case" composition does not matter.

I could see it mattering for a a phone or something else that you would be handling and carrying with you all the time, but not for an auto GPS unit.

Again, just curious. Not bashing.

I just..

I just got a new 58lmt gps unit. Can't wait to use this feature as well.

Just picked up a 70LMT-D -

Just picked up a 70LMT-D - as a Linux user I had to use VirtualBox to run the map updater, but that's not a major challenge.

Compared with the old TravelPilot DX I've been using it's a revelation, but that doesn't help you lot who've been using sophisticated navis for years. I'm just glad still to be able to get something that doesn't require an internet connection - to me IoT means security nightmare.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Garmin DriveSmart 70LMT

Motorcycle Mama wrote:

Jim, I'm just curious why a "plasticky" vs "brushed metal" case matters for a device like this. For me, I stick the thing up in the dashboard and its "case" composition does not matter.

I could see it mattering for a a phone or something else that you would be handling and carrying with you all the time, but not for an auto GPS unit.

Again, just curious. Not bashing.

No offense taken and you make a good point.

That's

CraigW wrote:

Since I'm over 100 miles as the raven flies from a HD data source, I can't test the ability of the 3597 to show the current temp with HD data and no Smartphone Link app running.

That's my problem as well, a long way from an HD data source. Good thing is we leave for our winter home in Arizona in a couple of weeks so will be right in the middle of the Phoenix HD signal. neutral

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Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.