DriveSmart 51LMT-D EU question

[marksfish]

I have seen a DriveSmart 51LMT-D EU on sale for a good price. The D I always thought stood for Digital, as in via the traffic lead. There is a post here https://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=98546 which states the traffic is only via a smartphone. I also see there is a 51LMT-S, does this not denote the smartphone version?

Just checking in case I make an expensive mistake.

Mark
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[pcaouolte]

Garmin specs here: https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/552177 state digital traffic via DAB so you should be ok. With Garmins the D in the LMT-D denotes digital traffic.
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Paul

[Kremmen]

Yep

Your D and S assumptions are correct.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[marksfish]

Thanks for the replies. Always best to check before buying
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[Kremmen]

It may have changed but years ago the S traffic came from viaMichelin and was dreadful.

They were good at adding new traffic but old traffic (roadworks and the like) stayed on their database for many months after completion. I remember the M4 near me having barrier repairs that lasted 3 days but were still in their database 6 or 7 months later.

In my area, London, that resulted in hundreds of roadworks being shown that filled the units buffer.
That meant that real traffic, red and yellow bars, wasn't showing. When I went into the Garmin traffic 2D map feature, with list, all it showed was about 200 roadworks and no 'real' traffic.

I did report it here many years ago with examples of D v S.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[marksfish]

I have seen some reviews on Amazon for the "S" traffic and the reviews don't make for good reading. I tried the phone traffic on my current unit when I was having DAB reception problems and it wasn't very good at all. "D" is the way to go
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[plusmore]

So, would you expect it to be better to stop using the Smartlink connection to get traffic info? How often is the data sent via DAB updated - I had just assumed that the Smartlink option would be more real-time. I have had suspicions as the onboard SatNav on my VW seems to have different (and often more accurate) traffic conditions it gets via an internet link than the Garmin.

[Privateer]

[marksfish]

After my first 1500 miles driven, I am not sure if there are many improvements from my old Nuvi, it appears to be basically the same unit.

I have noticed (to my detriment), it seems to get the traffic a bit quicker though. On my fisrt day, my trip was to Skelmersdale and my usual route would have been out to the A421, M1, M6. The Garmin wanted me to go up the A1, so I ignored. All the way along the A1 it wanted me to turn around to the A1 and I ignored it. I got to the M1 and it wanted me to go up to the M62, I ignored it. I got to the M6 J3 and stopped for about 40 minutes, then got up to about J15 for another 30 minutes or so My older unit would route the fastest route, then when traffic kicked in it would re- repute after asking. Because traffic kicked in almost immediately, I didn't get the fastest route, then re- route option.

Another day, I travelled about 30 miles up the M6 with no traffic info at all.

Voice search could be improved, but is usable at the moment if you are specific and use the phonetic alphabet. Still has the "dodgy" Garmin routing, i.e. Today it routed me through Bicester, not telling me of the closed road and missing the bypass which would have been quicker either way.

Still better than a TomTom though
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[DennisN]

I went through Bicester myself yesterday, both directions to and from Milton Keynes, and didn't see any closed road or traffic problems.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[marksfish]

Launton Road. Apparently is dug up on a regular basis, seems to be the local council's sport
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

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