Garmin Nuvi - Dashcam - Initial thoughts

BAVC10 · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 20, 2005 Posts: 756

Took the plunge to get a Dashcam. Coming from a 3598 it's a big beast - the extra inch makes it huge ;-) Much heavier too but seems responsive.

Firstly, the unit comes with 16GB memory (finally) which means that all European maps, voices etc... sit on the unit with loads of memory to spare. There's also a 4GB SD Micro card used to record the dashcam info (I suspect some of this gets transferred to the Nuvi eventually) which I guess can be handed over to the authorities straight away in the event of an accident.

The RealVision is a nice touch as when you get close to your destination you see the actual view (as if in Dashcam mode) and it points you to address. You can turn this feature on and off as you can with the forward collision and lane departure warnings.

Downside is the GTM70 - no idea why Garmin couldn't include the traffic receiver in the unit as it is massive!!

Firmware version 2.20 with no updates on Express to this but there are text, keyboard, traffic and help updates available as well as to 2016.10 (2015.40 Foursquare installed). No 3D buildings view which is a shame as these were quite nice eye candy

Processing time is noticeably quicker than the 3598 as is the map refresh rate so a thumbs up for Garmin on this front.

On the menus you now get an explanation - eg 3598 would show Off Road on the calculation mode whereas the nuviCam shows Off Road - Shows a straight line to the destination! Tolls and Fees also has its own option now rather than being buried in the calculation menu. Traffic Trends is still an option but doesn't seem to have been updated :-(

When typing in address such as a Postcode the "null" combinations now don't display rather than being greyed out which is much better. Typing in the town name also now brings up options (as the Search Function used to do).

Icons are pretty much as for the 3598 so Garmin seem to have settled on this now.

Every tap results in a "click" rather than a Garmin "Beep" - prefer the latter personally but there is an option to turn this off now.

Overall the finish is nowhere near as nice as the 3598 - no aluminium back just the black plastic casing with the glass front (as per the 3598). For some reason, the micro USB is used at the bottom of the unit to connect to the PC and the normal USB for the GTM70
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DriveLuxe 51 LMT D - Firmware 6.80
Previously owned: DriveLuxe 50 LMT-D, NuviCam LMT-D, Nuvi 3598 LMT-D, Nuvi 3490LMT, 3790T, 1690, 765, 760, 660, 610, 360, 310, 300 and Streetpilot i3

Kremmen · Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 1:10 pm Post subject:

If it had the traffic receiver built in and therefore used one of the single TA cables then I'd have one as well.

What I don't want is a power cable and a separate aerial that you need to 'washing line' round the sunvisors.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

BAVC10 · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 20, 2005 Posts: 756

You're out of luck with the traffic receiver cable - no idea why Garmin can't fit that in the box - it's big enough!!!
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DriveLuxe 51 LMT D - Firmware 6.80
Previously owned: DriveLuxe 50 LMT-D, NuviCam LMT-D, Nuvi 3598 LMT-D, Nuvi 3490LMT, 3790T, 1690, 765, 760, 660, 610, 360, 310, 300 and Streetpilot i3

Kremmen · Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 5:01 am Post subject:

Exactly, good idea badly implemented for neatness.

As I said in another post, I've coiled my TA cable behind the dash, against the recommendation, but because I cable tied it to a metal plate dash support it seems to have increased reception via the metal dash plate which must be a suoer booster.

I'm getting 5/5 bars on traffic reception and I only have about 4" of cable showing from the A pillar and that is behind the unit.

If i could have just replaced the head unit leaving the power cable intact I'd be in.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

Flashyphotos · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 4:44 pm Post subject:

Just purchased a Nuvicam from Halfords

Really peeved it still has the stupid DAB Wire, they have managed to integrate it into the charger lead in other Garmin DAB Units so cannot understand the fly lead on this one

Makes it difficult to quicly and easily move between cars unless you stump up for another mount and charger.

Just installed in and have a Trip from home in the Midlands to North of inverness tonight. so will see how it performs traffic signal wise.

The Dashcam side of it seems a little under documented. Put a 32Gb MicroSD Card in it but no idea if its being used or just the internal memory. No documentation on how to transfer video files to PC etc.

So feel for themoney they could have been a little more generous with the information provided

Will give it a 1200 mile run over the next two days and how it performs.

xtraseller · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 5:33 pm Post subject:

There is a full manual online At garmin.com

There are 2 microsd card slots on the unit - one is pretty filled by garmin with a 4gb sd which is used for recording from the dash cam and the spare slot for maps etc

I think from memory it is set to record automatically - the dash am settings are in the setting menu otherwise where you simply tick which options you would like it to perform.
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TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

Flashyphotos · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 8:42 pm Post subject:

Kremmen · Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 5:36 am Post subject:

Shame Garmin don't have a feedback page where I could suggest they integrate the receiver so I could buy one and maybe would others.

A really good idea badly designed.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

Flashyphotos · Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 12:52 pm Post subject:

sussamb · Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 1:01 pm Post subject:

Kremmen · Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 5:59 pm Post subject:

Luvvly jubbly Very Happy

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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

michaelj2 · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 05, 2006 Posts: 157

Is the unit too heavy for the suction mounting? Am tempted but feel that maybe I should wait for a ligher unit to be launched.

xtraseller · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:25 pm Post subject:

Not just slighter, but with a smaller footprint (same size screen), and better mount (same mag mount) and improved camera positioning

They have released a product that is impractical to use for a large proportion of users in a large proportion of vehicles

Put it this way, my Nuvi 2798 7" is much easier to position than this crazy thing!
_________________
TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

Kremmen · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:34 pm Post subject:

I'm going to get that JimiLab JC600 device.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

xtraseller · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject:

Seen similar but nothing so advanced in the past

Be nice if the navigation software maps were fully downloadable and traffic a little more interactive - but I guess that will come

Let us all know what it functions like because obviously a great form factor and plenty of potential
_________________
TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

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