Garmin owners - some advice please

robatwork

I have just made the leap from Tomtom to Garmin, just got a Nuvi 2599.

I understand it needs a "special" mini USB cable to enable the digital traffic. There is one in the box that goes to the cigarette lighter. I intend to have it fitted into the dashboard directly, which will mean cutting off the cigarette adapter. The question is - is the bit that makes it traffic enabled in the adapter or in the wire itself? Would be grateful to hear from anyone who has had one wired into their car.

One of the reasons I jumped was lots of recommendations in this forum, but I have to say I am disappointed in the map so far. I have updated it with the Express program to the latest, but it still doesn't know about the new M1 jn10 configuration which happened months ago and which tomtom knew about months ago. Are Garmin maps always so far behind?

Moto2

If in doubt, leave it 'as is' and install a female cigarette lighter socket behind the dash somewhere

Are Garmin maps always so far behind?

They use the same map data as Tomtom so they must just be a bit tardy at updating

gibby9

The traffic aerial on my cable plugs into a small box which is around half way between the cigarette lighter and sat nav connection.

Before purchasing my Garmin I borrowed a Tom Tom which in my opinion provided better routes and a more accurate predicted time. My main reason for opting for the Garmin was the initial price and the lifetime map updates.

wongataa

robatwork wrote: »

One of the reasons I jumped was lots of recommendations in this forum, but I have to say I am disappointed in the map so far. I have updated it with the Express program to the latest, but it still doesn't know about the new M1 jn10 configuration which happened months ago and which tomtom knew about months ago. Are Garmin maps always so far behind?

Garmin maps are updated 4 times per year. You will just have to wait and see if the next update has the changes you spotted.

Iceweasel

Garmin maps far behind?

I don't think you can draw any conclusions from that one example.

When you get the next Garmin update then Garmin will be ahead of TomTom for a short while.

As said they all use the same mapping data-base so it's just a question of when was the last update?

The latest edition that you recently downloaded is likely to be the same age as mine which was installed in late June.

I'm expecting the next set of new maps and info any day now.

robatwork

Iceweasel wrote: »

The latest edition that you recently downloaded is likely to be the same age as mine which was installed in late June.

I'm expecting the next set of new maps and info any day now.

That makes sense.

A lot more sense than the reply I got direct from Garmin support who seemed to be replying to a question someone else asked. Perhaps it was their idea of that 2 Ronnies sketch.....

Iceweasel

I can easily post up when the next update comes out - but if you sign up to Garmin Express you'll be notified within minutes of them becoming available.

droopsnoot

robatwork wrote: »

I understand it needs a "special" mini USB cable to enable the digital traffic. There is one in the box that goes to the cigarette lighter. I intend to have it fitted into the dashboard directly, which will mean cutting off the cigarette adapter.

Going back to this for a minute, I can't say for Garmin but on some devices, the lighter plug is where the voltage is dropped from the 12v that the socket provides to the 5v that the USB connector wants. So you might be causing another issue if you just snip the connector off and hard-wire it. Safer to do what Moto2 suggested with the separate socket. It's possible this has changed since I last had one apart, of course, but the bottom of my TomTom says "5V DC 1A" on it.

robatwork

droopsnoot wrote: »

Going back to this for a minute, I can't say for Garmin but on some devices, the lighter plug is where the voltage is dropped from the 12v that the socket provides to the 5v that the USB connector wants. So you might be causing another issue if you just snip the connector off and hard-wire it. Safer to do what Moto2 suggested with the separate socket. It's possible this has changed since I last had one apart, of course, but the bottom of my TomTom says "5V DC 1A" on it.

I asked Garmin this question directly, so far they haven't responded.

As you say it's probably safer to go with the socket, thanks.

I also asked if this product https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/prod112879.html supported the traffic function. It does state "compatible" with my model but doesn't specifically mention the traffic. Simple question but so far no answer.

Not terribly impressed with them as a company so far.

Iceweasel

I asked a former student of mine who is now a Halfords manager about this.

The cigarette-lighter plug and cable is the receiver/aerial for the traffic news feature.

Connecting direct to 12v will therefore not give traffic news.

Connecting via a USB adapter instead of the supplied cigarette-lighter plug obviously won't work either.

He suggests a cigarette-lighter socket hidden behind the dash and plug the original cable into that - so he says not to snip off the cable that comes from the original cigarette-lighter plug.

My old Nuvi 765T uses a separate 2nd cable for the traffic news antenna - but still needs the original plug with extra LEDs on it to show that live traffic new is currently being received.

pompeyrich

Iceweasel wrote: »

He suggests a cigarette-lighter socket hidden behind the dash and plug the original cable into that - so he says not to snip off the cable that comes from the original cigarette-lighter plug.

You can get an extension lead that plugs into the original lighter socket and has 2 or more accessory outlets at the other end of the lead. Poundland do one with 2 cigarette style and 2 USB outlets, you cannot use a lighter in the extension just low current things like sat navs, dash cams, phone chargers etc. I've got one and it works really well, doesn't get hot or lose the connection.