Garmin DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD

The DriveSmart will be quite a step up from the 855 Melaqueman! I loved my 855 and it was my daily driver for several years, but it doesn't compare to my newer devices. The only thing I miss on the 855 is the mp3 player for audio books. Enjoy your DriveSmart!

On the 855, did you check the internal fuse that is part of the power cord?

In the years before smartphones, the 855 was quite a versatile unit. In addition to the MP3 player, I also enjoyed the game packs available for the unit. They were a great way to kill time in traffic jams or waiting for the wife. I sold mine years ago when batteries became hard to find.

With it's larger screen and numerous new functions, the Drivesmart is definitely a step up!

Just saw on tracking that FedEx may deliver the Drive Smart today !

I actually also own a 2797 LMT with a 7" screen. It's great on loooooooong drives but to be honest in around town it's just a bit cumbersome.

When I'm in Mexico during the winter I may give the 855 to someone else and hope that it will still work.

John from PA,

there is nothing I had not tried over the years including the fuse. Strangely enough I had left the 855 plugged in to an AC adapter and all of a sudden it shows it's charging again But it has become somewhat unreliable over the last 2-3 years and it's time to retire it after many years. The problem seems to be more related to the cradle and it's connectors. Not worth spending money on though.

bdhfsz6,

I had never ever used the 855 for MP3 use. I can play MP3 music CD's in my car and achieve much better sound than the one tinny speaker of the 855 and .the same for audio books. Having said that, I pay close attention to traffic around me and had found long ago when I tried to listen to an audio bokk that for 10 - 15 minutes my attention was on traffic and I had no idea what went on in the audio book.

On the 855, when the battery becomes completely flat, it won't turn on even when plugged in. And since you can no longer buy new 8xx batteries, that can become a problem. However, the 855 will run with the battery removed when plugged in.

probably right alandb, but the biggest problem was/is that when unplugging it from 12 volts, the next time plugging in it did not show the charging symbol. If I plugged a USB cable in, it would.

But the darn thing has become so unreliable it's not worth my efforts any longer to keep as a back-up GPS. Too frustrating to monkey around with it. They shoot horses don't they?

FedEx lied, the new one did not get here yesterday, but today for sure !?????

I trashed my 855 and didn't know that can be done.

I think that is pretty good, especially since on Amazon it said as late as Oct 26.

Kept me busy yesterday afternoon and evening to add GPX files, routes and POI's I have in my 2797 LMT.

BaseCamp would move my "Temp" file with all way-points, but did not move 8 routes I have set up. Maybe I did something not right along the way.

So I set up my missing routes manually using the way-points and found that that was MUCH easier than in any other Garmin I have or ever had.

Found out that "Shaping" is done very differently from my 2797. You bring up the route map and then touch it with your finger to set up "Shaping" points.

The GPS seems to be using a plastic screen, I wonder how good that will be in the long run since it is a touch screen for zooming.

I downloaded a PDF manual, but I am one of these people who has better results muddling through and finding my own way. I remember that better than printed instructions, maybe it's just me?

The only complaint I have is the MINI USB port which is used for charging and data. Since there were files to update from Garmin which each required a reboot, I learned real quick to unplug on the computer end giving the same result but lessening the mini plug usage.

There seems to be a quirk in the battery charging icon, while it is plugged in it always looks like the battery is empty though it does show the lightning charging symbol. That does not change until the charging cable is disconnected when it will show a full battery.

But all-in-all I am quite happy with my purchase.

BTW: Just looked on the Amazon.ca webpage and the GPS is all sold out now.

Regarding your recent school zone findings on your other thread, this may be of some help:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42419

specifically the first paragraph:

Many Garmin automotive GPS devices now offer school zone alerts. These alerts are amazing in that they alert in various ways depending on day-of-week and time-of-day. My experiences with a nuvi 3597, a 2014 Garmin device, to date show that Garmin's factory-installed school zone alerts behave in this way: driving through one on a school day during school hours gives a visual and audio alert and the nuvi speed limit is lowered to the school zone speed limit; driving through one on a school day before or after school hours results in the same alerts but without the speed limit change; and on weekends, no alert occurs at all.

CraigW, I made it a point to drive by the same school areas today ( Monday ) during the afternoon and each resulted in visual and audio alerts. So my next test will be on a weekday outside school hours.

BTW: The included "Cyclops" RLC file sucks. Tells me there is a RLC coming up where there is none and never was. Seeing that it is only a free limited trial I am tempted to delete it.
POI factory RLC files are far more accurate.

Not sure why but I can't reply to your other thread, but saw your comment being offered 2 routes when you input a destination. You'll find you'll occasionally get 3 routes offered ... if there are 3 ways of routing you

.

From one of the two similar threads, I read a reply suggesting that the two be merged into one. I'm assuming the closed thread is a result of the merge.

Same here, I could edit the initial posting, but not add another post to it. I would think if there was a merge then that would be noted.
Another mystery ?

sussamb, as for 3 routings, I have not seen that yet and I have set up routes all over the eastern part of the USA into Mexico.
Maybe they show when I actually travel the route?

One thing I already found out is that I have to cheat a bit. I HATE toll roads in Canada and the USA but will take everyone I can in Mexico. So I tell the GPS to avoid toll roads and save the route. Then for Mexico I uncheck to avoid toll roads and plan my route.

The similar threads were merged.

~Angela