Barney Eaton Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Guess my Garmin may be 10 years old, it was a Father Day gift from my daughter. I prefer it to using my "smart" phone or the onboard navigation on the Enclave. It was working fine but the battery died (it worked when plugged in) so I replaced the battery. now it is frozen on the home page. Garmin says they no longer service this unit (same thing happened to me with Escort detector) I could drive and change the Garmin.........can't do that with the phone, too complicated. Do I just give up and become another warm body that is permently attached to my phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Is there a question in there somewhere🙂 From a purely economic standpoint using the phone makes the most sense. That said, I have two Garmins still in semi regular use. One is at least 15 years old and doesn't update any longer, but I keep it around for backup use. The other is newer, 4 years old I believe, and that one is in daily use because it also has a camera focused ahead and recording. It is usually on a secondary screen that shows latitude, longitude and altitude in addition to speed and direction. My phone could do all of those things too, maybe better, but not all integrated into a single screen or app. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 I still use a flip phone so a Garmin is very important to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 I'd try pulling the new battery, wait a bit, then reconnect with the negative lead last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 On my old one when it locked up there was a hole that you put a lead into and that would reset it. I would google it and I bet someone has a good answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmfconsult Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 If you're using a phone you are using your data continuously, which could be a problem/extra costs depending on your cell phone plan. A stand alone GPS unit uses satellite so there are no data/roaming charges. I have a TomTom that also has a traffic feature that tells me of problems or backups. Certain phone apps do that as well and so does the GPS in my truck, as long as I have a subscription to Sirius/XM radio (which I don't). We tend on using the TomTom when travelling or when I'm driving one of the old cars around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share Posted July 6, 2020 4 pm in Texas.... I opened it and pulled the new battery, inspected for any sign of damage. Installed OLD battery, walked out to the truck to test (old battery was dead) plugged in power source and the da** thing worked like new. Back inside, pulled the OLD battery, installed New battery, turned it on and it worked like new. Quickly, before any of the electronic gremlins awakened, I put the back cover on, installed the screws, put in in the truck with aux power and it is good as new. It did upload the latest maps last night, so I will not touch it for another year, or until I feel the need for a map upgrade. I'm really starting to love electronics....they are so predictable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmsue Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 What model is it? Does it take a super small SIM card or is the memory tucked away inside the device? I have connected a garmin to the computer and copied the software to another device before. It had to be the exact same device. I have 2 old garmins that I still use. I like the fact that I don't use data on my cell phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmsue Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Glad you got it working. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Been using a cell phone GPS since 2012. Have never exceeded 3GB. Current plan is 5GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y-JobFan Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Gave my Garmin away a good while ago. Use use my phone exclusively. I have unlimited data on my plan so that is never an issue and it pairs with my cars seamlessly so listen to it through the car speakers. I prefer Waze to the Garmin program or any other for that matter. Why have another device in the car to fool with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dship Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Bought my Tom Tom a few years ago with a lifetime update feature to use in my Reatta and Eldo. Last year they informed me that the device/software was now an "antique" and that they would no longer be able to send updates unless I upgrade to the "new" device/software. Instead, I loaded google MAPS on my IPhone and find it functions well enough for what I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) About a year ago, I turned my Garmin on and nothing. Luckily, Garmin HQ is in Olathe, KS, about 10 miles from me. I took it to tbem and found out that I had somehow done a "push to release" and my SIM card wasn't pushed in all tbe way. Every year I take it to them and have it updated. Use it on trips for kicks - accurate speedometer, ETA, clock, elevation, miles to destination, etc. We also use the search function for restaurants, fuel, museums, wineries, craft brew haus, parks, lodging, and a host of other things. The only thing it doesnt do that I'd like is to show weather radar. Another thing that I miss that my Tom-Tom had was the variety of voices. The one voice that I thought was unique was the air traffic controller. His instructions are spot on. The gal from Australia was a hoot. Edited July 7, 2020 by RivNut (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted July 8, 2020 Author Share Posted July 8, 2020 Drove the GMC to town yesterday (when I moved here we were "out of town") 23 years later it is still 9 miles to town but now there are 10 stop lights, the road went from 2 lanes to 5....and plenty of traffic. Anyway, the Garmin work fine. I need to test the maps on some new roads just to see that they are there. Georgetown is the county seat and was about 25K population when we moved here...today Georgetown is bumping 80K. PS, this county is larger than the state of Rhode Island......I need a map Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 My all time favorite mapping was Microsoft Streets and Trips installed on a laptop. Used in my Semi for cross country and then city streets. Truck friendly, I:E, low underpass, weight limits, etc. Miss that since they stopped updating. Never leave home without a Rand McNally. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRJBUICK Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 had a Tom-Tom for quite a few years thought it was great, loved the voices i had C3PO for the kids for fun, then Tom Tom told me that i was restricted to the Northeast maps because my memory is so small, and now my son now lives in Virginia and that is not part of the Northeast. used my phone for a few years, still do on local trips for traffic and such, but coming out of New Hampshire Speedway stuck in traffic a few years ago had no reception for my Droid phone or my daughters Iphone to map for us, could make calls but no working maps for about 5 miles. didnt like that decided then to buy a True GPS a Garmin at BJ's and am happy i went back to GPS for non local trips. both have their downfalls but this is how i roll at least for now Marty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Waze is the best phone app..........live traffic, construction, police traps, traffic accidents..........I can’t live without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 Do any of the phone apps give you the speed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmfconsult Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 I believe Waze does. I’m sure the others offer that option as well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Google maps shows mph but not very large. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 I use an app called "Here WeGo". It not only gives the speed in the corner of the screen, it also shows the current speed limit right beside it that turns red when you exceed the speed limit. You have the option of having it chime each time you exceed the speed limit to get your attention. The best part is it doesn't use any data. You download maps for one or more states when you are at home on WIFI so none of your data plan is used. Then it uses GPS combined with the maps you download to guide you with a map and a voice to your destination. Only drawback is it won't notify you of traffic problems and suggest a better route unless you allow it to connect to the internet which does use data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y-JobFan Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Waze gives you MPH with alerts if desired, plus gives you police locations, photo traffic light location, road hazards ahead, traffic alerts and reports, gas stations , and various voices and of course hooks into your cars bluetooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Y-JobFan said: Waze gives you MPH with alerts if desired, plus gives you police locations, photo traffic light location, road hazards ahead, traffic alerts and reports, gas stations , and various voices and of course hooks into your cars bluetooth. But it does use up data when you are driving right? Which is a problem if you don't have an unlimited data plan. How does it interface with bluetooth and for what purpose? Is so it can give driving directions to you through the car speakers? Edited July 10, 2020 by Ronnie (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y-JobFan Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Yes it uses data but I have unlimited so not an issue. I used to have one of the apps that you downloaded various states on your device but the amount of memory it sucks up is massive. especially if you travel much. I am able to listen through the car stereo system. It's especially nice in the Reatta's and even more so in the convertible with the top down, I can finally hear directions easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 I have never used more than 3GB/mo. even using the full Google Maps capability. I do usually select the route while still at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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