I just ordered the Garmin RV760LMT. It is the 7" RV friendly Garmin unit. SPECS say it will accept a camera input. Looks like it will also overlay weather via a smartphone. If I like the unit, I'll probably get a new rear view camera for bright new color images of the Jeep and surroundings (I hope).
I remain pleased with the Nuvi 465, to which I added lifetime maps. I plan to continue using it for the cars. I update about four times a year. Update is 2GB. That's not a big problem now, but I expect to go on a metered Internet plan next year. We may be updating on somebody's DSL line or WiFi POP. :P
Initial peek - looks like the Dezl 760 with some tweaks to the vehicle settings menu, additional camping POI database, and Garmin's Basecamp route planning software.
Yup! Looks like Garmin probably substituted the camping database for the trucking database. I already have Basecamp and never use it. I generally plan with Google Maps.
Reviews for the Smart Link to put weather, traffic cams, and traffic reports on the display indicate that it is pretty lame. I downloaded it, and found that the traffic cams are not available in many of the states in which we travel. The weather overlay is probably worth $5/year - if it works. I'm expecting the RM760LMT to arrive in a couple of weeks. It will probably be November before I can provide more than a preliminary report.
It would be cool of the HUD would work with the "real" Garmin devices to augment the display.
Would't you know it I just bought the dezl 760. Oh well this is my first gps so still have to learn how to use it. I think it will do fine for us.
Ron,
Since Basecamp is available for free on Garmin's site, the primary "RV-specificness" of the new RV760 is the America's RV Parks and Services Directory - basically a different set of POI's than the Trucking services one that comes with the Dezl.
I just sent the following to Garmin via their Customer Support "contact us".
We have a Dezl 760LMT which we purchased 2 months ago. At the time, it was Garmin's recommended RV GPS.
Given that the new RV760LMT unit is extremely similar to the Dezl and that many RVers have purchased the Dezl rather than a competitor's RV-specific GPS, we strongly encourage Garmin to make the America's RV Parks and Services Directory available to registered Dezl owners. It would acknowledge customer loyalty to the Garmin brand during the absence of an RV-specific GPS from the product lineup.
Michelle
Thanks and hope that it will get some good results
Michelle,
The Garmin world headquarters is about 25 miles from my house. Would you like me to stop in and see if they are working on your idea? Who knows, if enough people let them know they might just do something.
Larry
Great idea Larry, especially since they requested I encourage others to ask as well. Here's the response I just received from Customer Support:
Thank you for contacting Garmin International.
Thank you for this, I've submitted your full message as a feature suggestion for the dezl 760LMT. I've created a ticket number as a reference, which is 2257590. While you won't necessarily being contacted back, this is a reference for your suggestion. If you know other people that feel this feature is important for this model, they can let our innovation experts know at the following link:
http://www.garmin.com/ideas (http://www.garmin.com/ideas)
Please reply to this email if you need any further assistance.
With Best Regards,
Nick Mo.
Product Support Specialist
2nd Shift Automotive Team
Garmin International
913-397-8200
800-800-1020
913-440-8280 (fax) Att: Nick Mo., Associate #6035
http://www.garmin.com (http://www.garmin.com)
;D My desire would be for listings of Wally World & Flying J stops with out the digging thru the many choices, as for me campground listings are not a biggie.
DSDF
You can always submit that to Garmin as a feature request just as I did the RV database ;)
POI Factory | new & interesting places for your GPS (http://www.poi-factory.com) is a good place to find custom POI (Point of Interest) files for the Garmin and other GPS devices. I added NPR stations, campgrounds, rest areas, and enforcement zones (a.k.a. speed traps) to the Nuvi several years ago. I use the NPR station finder often. I don't use the others much since I started using Allstays Camp and RV | RV Parks Campgrounds (http://www.allstays.com/apps/camprv.htm) on the iPhone. The custom POIs can be set to provide visible and aural alerts when the unit is within a chosen range of the POI.
The custom POIs are a bit deeper in the menu level than standard POIs, but I have found them useful. They can be built or modified with a spreadsheet program and some conversion programs. It will be interesting to see if voice commands work with custom POIs. My expectations regarding voice commands are low.
Our RV760LMT has been shipped. I expect it to arrive next week (while I am out of town for a week long class). Our first opportunity to use it for a brief trip will be in early August. We plan to go to erniesremodelingandrepair : Ernie Ekberg's Floor covering (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erniesremodelingandrepair/) in Weatherford, TX, to replace the OEM carpet with a new vinyl tile floor.
I just sent a request to Garmin in regards to the RV760LMT, so will see what the outcome is
We recently took a small trip of about 560 miles with our new Garmin RV760LMT. I'm pleased with the device. I consider it to be a big improvement over the Nuvi 765 that we have been using. Features and improvements that I like include:
Polarization - The screen is easy to read with polarized sunglasses on your face
7" Screen - Easier to see and shows more information than the 5" screen on the Nuvi; I like the size; Bigger might be too big; Shows road you are on and the next road; Shows map and "lane assist" at the same time
Touch Screen - Screen is very responsive to touch; The Nuvi was more of a "press screen"
Migration of Favorites - The "favorites" transferred easily from the Nuvi to the RV760
Voice Command - Neat and effective! I was able to adjust routes, volume, and displays with voice commands while rolling at 65 mph
Internet Access - It integrates well with the iPhone for hands free phone calls, weather information, contacts, traffic cams; Some information requires additional subscriptions
Audio - Better than the Nuvi
RV Parameters - Put in length, width, height, and weight; It tries to route you according to your size; It seems to work pretty well; It will take multiple vehicle profiles; You can choose some route preferences; It also operates in automobile mode
Alerts - Provides visible and audible alerts for "Risk of grounding," "Lateral wind," "Narrow road," "Sharp curve," "Steep hill," "Tree overhang," "State and Country Borders," "Speed limit changes"
Where did you mount it? How is the reception in cities with tall buildings? Does it have variable dimming for night use? How far ahead does it notify of freeway off ramps?
Pierce
I have the weighted mount that sits on the dash. I put it on the dashboard to the right of the instrument panel. It is in reach of driver.
Don't know. Haven't tried it specifically in any "lands of giants." The Nuvi has been good in the Texas Medical Center and in downtown Houston. I would expect the RV760 to work well, also.
It switches to a reverse video mode at sundown. At night it shows roads as light colored lines against a dark background. The "Brightness" can be controlled by keypad or voice command. At sunrise, it switches to "normal" video with roads shown as dark lines against a light background. One can choose the mode manually or allow the RV760 to switch at sunset/sunrise. It knows when the sun rises at sets at your current location.
It gives a visual cue of the next "change" miles ahead. (IIRC) It starts giving voice notices a mile ahead, then gives notices of turns in plenty of time. It also gives visual clues on about the same schedule. The "lane assist" on freeways is great! It guided us across the southern part of the DFW area with plenty of notice of the proper lane. Sometimes construction zones modified the lanes a bit, but I found using the RM760 much easier than trying to decipher the highways signs.
one semi negative comment on amazon, quote"I purchased the Garmin RV 760 LMT for several features: 1. Ability to input RV dimensions (height, length, width and weight). The RV 760 supposedly selects appropriate routes based on RV dimensions. I have not had an opportunity to road test this feature. My RV "rig" is a tow vehicle and a fifth wheel trailer. The RV 760 allows you to define more than one vehicle - in my case, the tow vehicle, solo, and the "full rig". 2. "Voice Commands" - this feature works quite well. 3. The Garmin ecoRoute HD Accessory: this is a separate device that connects to your vehicle OBD II port and wirelessly transmits data to the RV 760; on the ecoRoute screen, you can view a several of engine parameters as well as diagnostic codes.
The problem with the RV 760, I discovered after several hours with the Garmin tech support folks, is that the RV 760 has two modes: "RV" and "Automotive". The ecoRoute system functions only in the "Automotive" mode; the "Voice Command" feature functions only in the "RV" mode. " end of quote
John H
I just tested "Voice Command" in "Automobile Mode." It works just fine.
I did not add ecoRoute.
Good JD, as you see I was just taking this info from the amazon site and have no experience with it as I have the Nuvi 465. I just did an update and boy did it take a long time. 2 hrs from start to finish then it tells me there is not enough room to have all updates for complete coverage installed so just did the ones I need for this trip. I will get a SM card to go in it to carry the rest of memory .
Getting tired of all this electric stuff to find your way and am thinking of putting a seat on the roof for co/pilot to sit on and shout down directions (can see further ahead from on top!!) I can just see Ruth with goggles and leather hat on just like the pilots from olde.
One thing that about that is if she suddenly goes quite I will know the last bridge was pretty low!!!
John H
With tablet popularity and accompanying GPS apps soaring in popularity today, GPS manufacturers are increasingly under pressure to sell their stand alone units. Garmin has excellent support either online or phone and complaints as found on Amazon.com should be addressed quickly in their future firmware updates and the noted problems addressed. And I'm not pushing Garmin products as our stand alone GPS receivers are TomToms.
One drawback is that stand alone GPS firmware is much more difficult for the average person to update than tablet software. When an iPad or Android tablet owner goes online at a fast connection, either at home or even someplace like Starbucks, the operation is almost automatic even for a new user. Another drawback to a stand alone is that the new tablets are able to do a many other tasks aside from navigating. While a 10 inch table may be too large for a purse or car dashboard, the 7 inch models are a pretty good compromise between a regular smart phone and a full sized tablet.
Pierce
Thanks for the info-- I sent a request to Garmin concerning this matter
Terry