Ordered a Garmin DriveSmart 76

Give us a review once you've got it all configurated.

Phil

Overall, this is an excellent unit, but the price ($299.99 USD New) may make some go for a lower priced unit. Refurbished units run over $100.00 USD less.

The power adopter has 2 USB-A connectors and both are rated at 2.4 amps. There is also a 3.5-mm stereo audio output jack. One USB connector has a blue insert to identify that this is the port to connect the cable to the GPS. The other USB port (white insert) is for any other device. The supplied USB-A to USB-C cord has a right angle USB-C connector to connect to the GPS. Garmin has beefed-up the case around the connector on the GPS. The cord connecter does not wiggle at all when fully inserted. There is a small, dim blue LED on the side of the adapter to indicate power, but is hard to see in bright daylight. My GMC Sierra has an un-switched 12v (cigarette lighter) outlet and I don't completely remove the adapter to turn off the GPS.

This unit comes with a suction cup ball mount and an snap-ring adapter for the back of the GPS. I have a silicone no-slip dash mount and dismounting the GPS was very quick and easy. Mounting the unit to the stand is awkward since I pivot the stand low to get the most outside viewing area. The adapter has an alignment tab at the bottom that has to be inserted first before the mounting tab at the top will latch, so I can't hold it from the bottom and top to mount it unless I have the stand raised up. Guess I'll have to hold it from the sides. The USB-C connector plugs directly into the back of the GPS.

I had a problem with connecting the DriveSmart 76 to my PC (Win 10). It wouldn't recognize the GPS using the supplied power cord. After uninstalling the Garmin USB drivers and Garmin Express and then reinstalling, it still wouldn't connect. Using a standard USB-A to USB-C cable would connect though. After searching Garmin Help and elsewhere it was suggested to try another port and that resolved the problem. I have 2 USB connectors on the motherboard that connect to 4 USB ports on the front of the PC case. Microsoft also suggested trying another port. Garmin says to NOT go through a USB Hub, which I wasn't.

Traffic was slow to load and Weather was even slower when I was out in my pickup. But that was due to the poor connection my cell phone had to our router. Our garage doors are steel and block the signal some. Once I was clear of the doors Traffic and Weather loaded very fast. Loading for Traffic and Weather may vary due to the strength of the signal from the cell towers to your phone.

I was able to add POIs and transfer my "Saved Places" with no problems.

Something to note: When connected to my PC, the sounds from the unit came through the PC's speakers.

Alexa came with the unit and I don't know if I will ever use it.

It's a keeper.

Thanks for your review. Very informative. I will suggest it to my father who is looking for a newer unit.

The screen can be fixed most likely. I know someone that took a similar unit to UbreakiFix and the screen was replaced for $60. That was the actual display, not the glass portion.

Thanks for the review, metricman.

My two 3597's are still my favorites, so I am sorry to hear you lost one to a hardware failure. But time marches on, and your review of the DriveSmart 76 is very helpful for people wanting to buy their first Garmin or those replacing an older one. Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

I agree that the 3597's are very nice units, hence why I suggested the possible repair. I would even DIY the repair as it seems relatively simple to open and then check connections or replace the screen. Unfortunately the screen replacement part has two versions and either is scarce in the US. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oxpAdUGkqc for a well done video, especially the trick showing how to use the suction mount to remove the glass screen.