DriveSmart 76 user review
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    15 years
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I thought I would repost this in a separate post, as it is buried in another post and I have updated the review. See: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/52192
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 DriveSmart 76 has an "Owner's Manual" under "Apps". It is not as extensive as the downloadable online manual, but it can be of some help while on the road. The online manual is downloadable at:
https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?partNumber=010-02470-00&ta...
The DriveSmart 76 has 16 Gb of internal "storage".
The 12v 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 power 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 (flat) USB-C connector to connect to the GPS. Garmin has beefed-up the case around the connector on the GPS and 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 with a red LED. I partially remove the adapter to turn off the GPS as the cigarette lighter socket is "Unswitched". There is an unknown rectangular device on the power cable and I couldn’t find it referenced in the online manual.
The unit comes with a suction cup ball mount and a snap-ring ball 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. Note: VA doesn't want anything on the dash to be "above the hood line", so I keep it as low as possible. 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 miss the magnetic built-in connector that the 3597 has, as there is no need to unplug a cable when dismounting.
The EULA agreement kept popping up when turned on, but has stopped now (I hope). If you click on "Disagree", you will go no further.
When the GPS is connected to a PC and after it powers up, a prompt will appear at the bottom of the GPS screen prompting you to tap the message to connect to your PC, as it does not automatically connect like my Nüvi 660 or my 3597. There is an "X" to the right of the message to cancel. The prompt will disappear after a while on its own. You have the option to connect to the computer after the prompt disappears by selecting “Settings > Tap to Connect to Computer”.
Garmin Express did not automatically start when "connected" to PC. Garmin Express did show the DriveSmart 76 as connected when it was manually started.
The map perspective initially was set to 3D. Go to “Settings > Map & Vehicle > Driving Map View” to change. The choices are: Track Up (2-D), North Up (north always at top), 3-D (three dimensions).
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 with the supplied cable. 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. Also, this unit does not show up in the PC Taskbar under "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon when clicked. It does show up in "Devices and Printers", but no way shown to "Safely Remove" the DriveSmart. I will have to rectify this, as the online manual says to use "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media". This may also be why Garmin Express does nt start automatically.
At first, when I connected the DriveSmart 76 to my PC, the sounds from the unit came through the PC's speakers. Apparently, I've changed something and I don't know what it was, but now the GPS sounds come from the GPS, not the PC.
Selecting the 3 horizontal bars in the lower right corner of the map view opens a menu with the following selections:
Stop (stops navigation)
Edit Route (see online manual)
Mute Navigation (mutes audible directions)
Cities Ahead
Up Ahead (Gas stations, banks & ATMs, restaurants)
Music Player (see online manual)
Trip Data (see online manual)
Turns (lists upcoming turns)
Weather (current location weather for next 3 hours [tap to see forecast for next 5 days] and radar)
Report Safety Cameras (see online manual)
Photo Live (see online manual)
Phone (see online manual)
Traffic and Weather are available through your smartphone using the Garmin Drive app. Traffic is displayed on your route and nearby roads. Traffic was slow to load and Weather was even slower when I was out in my pickup in front of the garage. But that was due to the poor connection my cell phone had to our router (1 or 2 bars for cell tower connection). I park outside in front of the steel garage doors and they block the router 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 when not connected to a router.
I was able to add POIs and transfer my "Saved Places" with no problems.
When powered from my pickup using the supplied adaptor, sound from the GPS is very low even though the volume is at Max. Another setting that I changed; I am assuming.
The screen reduces brightness when not connected to a power source. It will automatically turn off if disconnected from a power source, which can be cancelled. The unit also will automatically go into “Sleep Mode” after about 5 minutes when there has been no activity and it is not "connected" to the PC in "Transfer" mode.
Alexa software came with the unit and I don't know if I will ever use it.
It's a keeper.
Thanks!
Nice review metricman! Thanks for taking the time to write it up. It will be helpful to those considering purchase of a new Garmin.
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
Thanks
Nice review metricman! Thanks for taking the time to write it up. It will be helpful to those considering purchase of a new Garmin.
Thanks, It's unfortunate, that I'm still somewhat hunkered down and can't use it much at all.
Metricman DriveSmart 76 Williamsburg, VA
A Fine Review
Very nice review, well worthy of its COW award.
Have you determined what features if any require Alexa? I wouldn't allow an Alexa-type device in my home due to privacy concens, so I really shouldn't want it in my vehicle either. OTOH voice recognition is nice to have in a GPS if it works well as it can allow you to safely change or add a destination while driving and otherwise change the screen to use another GPS feature, like weather, on the fly. (Does the DriveSmart 76 display weather radar? Being able to use voice to bring up the weather radar on the GPS screen could be useful if you were driving towards a storm and wanted to know how big it was.) But if Alexa's enabled, Amazon would be listening in, and with a connection between a GPS and one's cellphone, well, yikes, it's a little invasive for me.
Can you set the GPS to play sound over the vehicle sound system, or the smartphone? If you can, then the soft volume on the GPS speaker wouldn't be so important.
When you get a chance to get out and do some traveling, i hope you'll update your review with ease of entering destinations and how good it is at finding distant or out-of-state locations, and navigating to them, especially compared to your previous 3597 and 660. I've been disappointed in this element after updating to a Drive 50. The Drive 50 is very finicky in my opinion about how you enter destinations when you're typing them in on the onscreen keyboard, often struggling to find attractions that aren't nearby unless you can give it a street address which better be in the format it knows. Destination entry is not as easy as a smartphone or as my older Garmins. With the smartphone connection, though, you should be able to use the phone to relay the destination to the GPS.
"141 could draw faster than he, but Irving was looking for 143..."
If you have an interest in
If you have an interest in this unit, I suggest you download the User Manual at
https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?partNumber=010-02470-00&ta...
It is almost complete, but the DriveSmart units have a few more features than are described in the manual.
Alexa should not be an issue because "OK Garmin" does everything needed for the GPS. Alexa just has a few added features. I don't ever use it on my DS-86.
I really like the sound coming from my car stereo for both GPS and hands off phone service.
wil01
Thanks
Thanks for the detailed information.
I don't talk to rocks or silicon chips. Maybe broccoli
I don't talk to rocks or silicon chips. Perhaps someone will find this of interest:
https://slashdot.org/story/22/04/29/202219/researchers-find-...