Garmin finally announce Zumo 660

[Deleted account 220427002]

i can't see much point in the new one so far if they haven't added voice commands and the things padge has mentioned

 

[Fanum]

As for the unit and features..They havn't really bothered, have they?
They could have easily added some features mentioned on the Zumo Forum's wish list.. Favourites being:
Using the Bluetooth as a short distance walkie talkie (already done on Scala rider)
Send your location to someone's unit using a connected mobile (or live tracking with GPRS?)
Recieving Text messages (if only just to wind up the safety nazis)
And a radio would be nice..

Padge- MOst of these features are available on the Rino series

We use three of them on Moto Morocco trips.....high powered walkie talkies (forget the bluetooth radio thing, distance is too limited) and ability to use that to send text messages...we get 3 or 4 miles normally and have had up to 28 miles straight line comms.

They also transmit location to eachother and you can link up to 50 units....you can use this to track (and make tracklogs) of another unit or simply to send your own or recieve any other units location.

They're dead cheap as well....£200 ish with mapping.

The radio is illegal to use in the UK but the point it the features are already in a good Garmin unit......I'm really surprised more UK based riders don't use them TBH

 

[gasman]

I don't know why people bother with this. I had a Zumo 500 and sold it.

I replaced it with a HTC Touch Diamond on Orange contract. I stuck on Garmin XT (amazing) and Europe 10 for it. The software is expensive (unless you search isohunt )

Stick in a small otterbox and you've got a device that is fully waterproof, plays mp3's, built in GPS, 3mpx camera, 4gb storage, is far faster (550Mhz processor), handles the phone, not to mention WIFI and a superb VGA resolution screen. Link it to a Camos-BHS-300 and you've got a full bluetooth stereo into your helmet AND bluetooth communication to a PMR bluetooth radio. I operate mine with gloves and it's more sensitive/accurate than the Zumos screen.

Zumo = not fully waterproof
Zumo = no stereo bluetooth
Zumo = outdated interface

It's a no brainer when you consider you'd have to buy an autocom kit as well.

Here's the otterbox: http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod2829.html
Here's the phone: http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchdiamond/overview.html
Here's the software: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11413

Hi there !

1. How do you power it ? Battery life worries vs having a bulky transformer hanging somewhere ?

2. Does the touch screen really work thru the otter box ? The iPhone screen doesn't work with gloves on.

3. Does it do traffic warnings? If "garmin online" traffic service needs you to be online all the time, there seem to be significant restrictions on internet usage ("fair usage" policy), and possible extra charges..

CHeers

Gasman

Nokia 2630 owner - cost £50 to own, fits in my pocket easily and makes phone calls !

 

[DaveH]

My six penneth

Zumo 660 ? - could be tempted - like the A2DP additon BUT and it's a big but for me, CAN YOU TURN THE AUTO ROUTE RECALCULATION OFF ON THIS ONE!!!!

I like to go where I want to go, not where some unit thinks is best for me....so all my routing is done on PC and uploaded. (Longer/extended trips obviously)

On the subject of PDA's/Smartphones, have got both. My MDA Vario III has latest Garmin XT and CN Euro 2008 installed. I find the software lags a bit compared to TomTom Navigator and bespoke GPS units...it's a common problem if you Google it. Would not consider using it as a 'total solution' as the screen is on the small side and it is a faff switching between applications on the move

Use an otterbox, bike powered PDA as a music server (http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98354 |) and Nav 2 for Navigation. Still find this is the best compromise. Have jus invetsed in a cheapish Nav 3 but still don't know whether to keep it due to upgrading the software...see separate thread.

 

[Deleted account W]

CAN YOU TURN THE AUTO ROUTE RECALCULATION OFF ON THIS ONE!!!!

Well you you can on the old one. But you never know

 

[cookie]

Well you you can on the old one. But you never know

i think you're talking about two different things.


the zumo recalculates a route that is already set on a computer, unlike the old 2610, which didn't mess with precalculated routes.

 

[DaveH]

Well you you can on the old one. But you never know

Thanks for that....being trying to get a definitive answer to this question for some time. Was told that it was not possible on the Zumo and prefer to have autocalculation turned off so that the unit does not recalculate if you stray off route and destroy your lovingly crafted bike ride by sending you down roads you'd not intended.

How does the Zumo cope with off route issues then?? The 2610 puts a directional arrow on the screen showing you the way you need to go to get back on te route.

Dave H

 

[DaveH]

i think you're talking about two different things.


the zumo recalculates a route that is already set on a computer, unlike the old 2610, which didn't mess with precalculated routes.

This reply preceeded mine by a couple of minutes...looks like you can't then !!

 

[cookie]

This reply preceeded mine by a couple of minutes...looks like you can't then !!

a zumo will recalculate a route before you go off route. it does it when loading the route.

actually, it doesn't load a route at all, it loads the waypoints, then joins them up itself.

it's stupid and really fecking annoying IMO.

 

[DaveH]

a zumo will recalculate a route before you go off route. it does it when loading the route.

actually, it doesn't load a route at all, it loads the waypoints, then joins them up itself.

it's stupid and really fecking annoying IMO.

Yep....and exactly the reason I would't buy one...Garmin need to sort it out...can't be a difficult job surely ??

 

[Deleted account W]

a zumo will recalculate a route before you go off route. it does it when loading the route.

actually, it doesn't load a route at all, it loads the waypoints, then joins them up itself.

it's stupid and really fecking annoying IMO.

Thats not Auto Recalculation though, that's just the way it deals with route transfer. If you stray off a route while on it it can be set so it won't automatically recalculate it.

 

[cookie]

Thats not Auto Recalculation though, that's just the way it deals with route transfer. If you stray off a route while on it it can be set so it won't automatically recalculate it.

yes, that's why i thought you were talking at cross purposes.

TBH i'm still not sure

 

[John Armstrong]

TBH i'm still not sure

Ask Indecisive

 

[cookie]

Yep....and exactly the reason I would't buy one...Garmin need to sort it out...can't be a difficult job surely ??

it started with the 2720 and seems to be the case with all models since.

if i've spent time carefully sorting a route out on my computer, it seems absofcukinglutely obvious that i don't want the gps unit to muck around with it later, surely?

 

[Padge]

Why not just add more waypoints so the unit is forced to go your proposed route.
I had about 12-14 waypoints for each day on my spin around the Dolomites, about 250miles per day and no bother with going off course... Plus you can always tell it not to recalculate and just drive back on route again where It'll continue as it was.

Don't be it's bitch

 

[judge]

if i've spent time carefully sorting a route out on my computer, it seems absofcukinglutely obvious that i don't want the gps unit to muck around with it later, surely?

It all started when MBW removed the ability for you to turn the lights off on your bike, you bought into that nonsense therefore it follows it is your fault!

 

[judge]

Why not just add more waypoints so the unit is forced to go your proposed route.
I had about 12-14 waypoints for each day on my spin around the Dolomites, about 250miles per day and no bother with going off course... Plus you can always tell it not to recalculate and just drive back on route again where It'll continue as it was.

Don't be it's bitch

That's how I overcome it - a lot easier than letting it eat me up like some of the whingers and moaners

 

[judge]

Thats not Auto Recalculation though, that's just the way it deals with route transfer. If you stray off a route while on it it can be set so it won't automatically recalculate it.

That's true it is not Auto-Recalculation, it is auto ignore the route you planned and join the dots up the way Garmin's programmers think best and as has been said it is not a 'feature' therefore not something you can disable.

But what Padge does (and I do) does go a long way to overcome what could be construed as 'lazy route planning'

 

[Snoopy]

1. I took the circuit out of a £3 HTC car charger and fitted in inside the Aqua box. It cant be seen as I cut the form inside the aqua box to fit around it. This keeps the whole thing waterproof. The battery inside the HTC will last for 8hrs navigation.

2. Yes, I was suprised as well. You have to use the aqua form layers to get the HTC close to the screen then it's decent. It's not always perfect but I can navigate it with the BMW summer gloves ok for basic tasks. Other things like inserting postcodes are trickier but no more so than the Zumo.

3. Yes, it's part of Garmin XT. I dont have free internet allowance so haven't used it but the data sent to and from isn't going to be huge - I can't see it out doing the mobile broadband packages.

I'll try and get a mini review done, I'm waiting on a replacement aqua screen at the moment.

Hi there !

1. How do you power it ? Battery life worries vs having a bulky transformer hanging somewhere ?

2. Does the touch screen really work thru the otter box ? The iPhone screen doesn't work with gloves on.

3. Does it do traffic warnings? If "garmin online" traffic service needs you to be online all the time, there seem to be significant restrictions on internet usage ("fair usage" policy), and possible extra charges..

CHeers

Gasman

Nokia 2630 owner - cost £50 to own, fits in my pocket easily and makes phone calls !

 

[Snoopy]

Zumo 660 ? - could be tempted - like the A2DP additon BUT and it's a big but for me, CAN YOU TURN THE AUTO ROUTE RECALCULATION OFF ON THIS ONE!!!!

I like to go where I want to go, not where some unit thinks is best for me....so all my routing is done on PC and uploaded. (Longer/extended trips obviously)

On the subject of PDA's/Smartphones, have got both. My MDA Vario III has latest Garmin XT and CN Euro 2008 installed. I find the software lags a bit compared to TomTom Navigator and bespoke GPS units...it's a common problem if you Google it. Would not consider using it as a 'total solution' as the screen is on the small side and it is a faff switching between applications on the move

Use an otterbox, bike powered PDA as a music server (http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98354 |) and Nav 2 for Navigation. Still find this is the best compromise. Have jus invetsed in a cheapish Nav 3 but still don't know whether to keep it due to upgrading the software...see separate thread.

MDA Vario III = 400Mhz CPU
New HTC's = 550MHz CPU

You're right about XT being a lot slower than TomTom. I've tried all the GPS software's and XT is still far the best though.

For others, auto-route calculation can be turned of on Garmin XT.