Garmin smart link

I can't offer much help with IOS and the 2xxx Garmin devices, but what I can say is that I have been surprised how well my nuvi 3597 with Smartphone Link cooperates with the built in bluetooth and/or Android Auto functions in my Kia Optima. I will say that sometimes I have trouble with pairing, and now and then have to reboot the phone to get everything paired and working, but once everything is up and running, it is pretty solid. I turned off the hands free phone functions on the 3597 and let the Kia services handle phone calls/texts. That way I can use the microphone and buttons on the steering wheel to handle phone calls instead of the nuvi microphone and controls which I always thought were awkward at best. But the smartphone Link traffic and weather cooperates quite will with this.

One side note is that when I use Android Auto for phone/media streaming, that uses the wired USB connection and that is even more reliable than using the Kia Bluetooth infotainment functions for phone calls. But in general, I have been pleased and surprised that all these services (after pairing quirks) work together as well as they do.

You might be asking why I am using the nuvi with smartphone link when I have Google navigation with Android Auto. I have discussed this in other posts, but for me the nuvi has so many advantages over Google navigation that there is no comparison. If I had to give up one or the other, Android Auto would be the first to go.

I, too, experience Smart Link and Android Bluetooth issues with my Nuvi 3597 and my 2015 Toyota RAV4 or 2017 Toyota Corolla.

The easiest way for me to connect my Nuvi to my phone via Smart Link while allowing the RAV or Corolla to handle phone calls and texts is to allow the phone to connect to the car, then turn on the Nuvi and start the Smart Link app on the Nuvi, and then start the Smart Link connection on the phone.

The first device that connects to my phone keeps control of the calls.

I’ve actually seen GPS and Ford fight over control of
iPhones. No matter who claimed what first. That’s why I end up turning off Bluetooth on 2689LMT GPS. Ford does do Hands Free iPhone answering and dialing from list via voice fairly reliably.
The 2011 Ford Escape has early version of SYNC and i did two Firmware updates, last being sometime in 2015.The last time I was allowed access to the firmware list (Ford no longer accepts login of my account or VIN due to year of car —Extended Warranty expired) I had Latest firmware at that time. Ford had come out with a newer version of SYNC for their cars than my 2011 Escape. GPS and Smart Link is current firmware/software

I’ve noticed that when you turn Bluetooth on on GPS it has to reboot GPS in order to connect with iPhone.

A new question on Smart Link:
I used it this morning... again turning on Bluetooth on GPS and reboot in order for iPhone Smart Link to connect and upload the destination, then turned Bluetooth back off again on GPS, as usual.

So now I have the destination in GPS and route has started on GPS.

Is there a way to SAVE this route in GPS (it is saved in Smart Link software in iPhone) once it is uploaded and route started??? I realized I want to keep this destination, but was unable to determine how to do it.
??

I have issues with my android phone also. the phone calls link up to the GPS when I want them through my care system.

@JanJ ... There are a couple of ways to do this. While driving an active route, access the trip planner app, and your active route should be the first one displayed. It will be called something like "Unsaved trip". Select it and save it.

The other way to save is you should find your current destination in the "recent" list when you click on Where To. You can then select and save it as a saved place (favorite).

On your 3597, you can disable hands free calling, but leave the Bluetooth connection active for Smartphone Link traffic. Go to Apps, Smartphone Link, select your phone Bluetooth connection and uncheck "Hands Free Calling". That should leave your Bluetooth connection active for traffic, weather and FourSquare, but allow your car to pair with the phone for phone calls.

Would that work on a 2689LMT?

I’m sitting in Escape 2689 LMT on, Bluetooth enabled on GPS. Smart Link on.
Looking in apps on either iPhone or GPS, and don’t find a setting for Hands Free to disable in either IPhone Smart Link App, or Smartphone app in GPS. I even looked into Smart Link Settings within App.
We’re what you commenting an android setting?

So to do a complete test, with Smart Link running on iPhone. And GPS on with Bluetooth, and car on, using Ford Sync called wife’s cell.
On GPS Display says calling Eileen Cell with phone with donot slash across it. Call went correctly and end of call closed th GPS Window as well.
Past attempts have had fight at the point of the call and audio bounced back and forth between GPS and Escape. Last time I tried it was a year ago. Could be something got fixed since then???

Will leave Bluetooth on and see what happens!!

So I’m learning as much as I can about Garmin Smart Link, And I found a problem!!! But it’s an Apple Problem!

Do you remember me commenting a couple years ago about the road that we live on that Garmin says exists but it doesn’t??
It took posts from me and others to “here” and it took a year or more to get corrected—and it has been, but apparently the update didn’t make it to Garmin Smart Link. !!
The map that Smart Link uses must be at least 2 years old, as it plainly shows Crystal Tree Drive going over the creek, back to Ned’s Cove Road, and that bridge has been gone since before 1998, and road ends in the creek!!
Problem is The map Apple is using in iPhone.
The coordinates of where the road ends is approximately N35.57504 83 W83.05980. I got this from Smart Link App.

In lower left of map in Smart Link is a legal text. It gives many map companies.
In iPhone Map app it shows the same thing. Road crosses creek. Not unless you are in an Army Tank!!
Will this mapping bug ever go away???

Same for my DS61, I do it all the time in my work truck because it's too noisy to hear the phone via the GPS.

I have never had much luck trying to use SmartLink.

I’ve alerted Apple to the map error.

This idea was simple, wireless earbuds. Then everyone found a way to make this or that device connect to another via bluetooth. Some play well with each other, but often I have to intervene and force things to forget their connections to keep the peace before everything in the car turns into a party line. I've not tried to connect my iPhone to the Ford via bluetooth, they're happy with the lighting to USB connection while the phone chats with the nuvi over the bluetooth link. Since the wife and grandkids headphones have never paired to the car or my phone, life's challenges are not piling on.

Haven't noticed that issue....yet

Alanb:
Getting back to you.....
I waited until I got there, and then saved the coordinates as a named destination.
But I will remember your suggestions too!

From page 11 of the 2689 manual:

While the device is connected to the phone and receiving Garmin Live Services, you can disable hands-free calling

1. Select Settings > Bluetooth
2. Select your phone
3. Clear the Phone calls check box.

Thank you WASSup for that information.

Today Apple fixed their maps on the issue stated above., and experienced in MAPS on iPhone.
It was discussed at another site’s Apple thread as well as here.
Be aware that in that thread (elsewhere) that it was discovered that WAZE and Android phones also showed this error and others are trying to alert them of it.

Had no idea that there were so many different mapping options out there!!!

Help! I have a Nuvi 2495lmt and I need help with the smartlink. I downloaded the app on my phone and connected my gps Bluetooth to my phone and the app won't recognize the gps. In the help on the gps, it just says that I need a software update to connect to smartphone link on the Garmin website, but the site no longer exists. How can I fix this?

If your Nuvi needs a software update, it should be offered in Garmin Express. What site are they trying to link you to that no longer exists?

It appears that the nuvi 2495 had Smartphone Link app compatibility starting in software version 4.40, and later updates improved the link's use with the 2495. The current software version is 8.30 offered on Oct 2016:

https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=5337

I'm seeing mixed answers to whether the nuvi 2495 can work with the Smartphone Link App (the smartphone app used by the likes of the nuvi 3597 and other models). The App store shows the Garmin device compatibility with the app as the following:

• Garmin Drive™, Garmin DriveSmart™, Garmin DriveAssist™, Garmin DriveLuxe™ automotive navigators
• Garmin RV and Camper navigators
• zūmo motorcycle navigators
• dēzl truck navigators
• some nüvi automotive navigators (3597/3598/2x17/2x18/2x97/2x98/2x67/2x68/2577)

From the nuvi line above that I 'bolded,' the nuvi 2x95 series is not listed as compatible devices:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.garmin.and...

The listing for the 2495 does state it being compatible with the app so I'm confused.

The smartphone link app for Android does require Android 4.4 and higher.

There's also a newer Garmin App used by some of the newest Garmin devices but that won't apply here.

The Old Garmin Dashboard