I’m sticking with my 660

[glenn2926]

I’ll stick with my trusty old Garmin Zumo 660. I can plot routes in Basecamp very, very easily and also share them with other Garmin users.
I’ve tried plotting using other mapping systems but they either don’t let me use enough waypoints (google maps only let one use 10) or they are just not very user friendly. I have tried MRA but again it just feels too clunky and not as user friendly. Most of these also seem to use one’s phone as the screen which cannot be operated whilst wearing gloves. I’m sure I’ll end up having to replace the old Zumo but it’s likely to be another Garmin.
I have used Tom Tom in ambulances/fire trucks but again it’s nowhere near as user friendly as the Garmin units and doesn’t have a Basecamp type mapping option.

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Cut and moved.

Richard

 

[Big-G]

For the same reasons as Glenn I’m sticking with my BMW NAV 6 which I’ve not had any issues with and works fine for me and works with my wonder wheel

 

[glenn2926]

I’ve just purchased a Garmin Montana 750i, expensive but not bad. I say expensive, it’s not that much more than BMW charge for their ever failing Nav 6 which is just a rebranded Zumo model.

I don’t know why you say the Nav6 keeps failing, I’ve not known or heard of a Zumo failing. Perhaps it’s the wonder wheel?

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Nav 6 and Waze / Google did me well in Portugal Spain and France recently . GPX files loaded onto Nav 6 made finding the others at the end of the day easy

 

[Wapping]

I don’t know why you say the Nav6 keeps failing……. Perhaps it’s the wonder wheel?

Perhaps you live under a rock?

Garmin are now on their third iteration of the Navigator VI, the original and second version of the device having suffered from very well reported ‘ghosting’ and unstable screen problems. Anyone with a version one or two device, can have it exchanged by Garmin, free of cost. Do it before their largesse expires.

 

[casbar]

I don’t know why you say the Nav6 keeps failing, I’ve not known or heard of a Zumo failing. Perhaps it’s the wonder wheel?

The Nav 6 has been one of the most troublesome Garmin Nav's ever. You just need to do some searches, the screen is well known for ghosting. They have now sorted with the latest screens, but it has taken them probably 5 years or more to sort. Initially they did a replacement which cost the user £200 if out of warranty, just to get another upgraded model, which didn't work much better. Now they will replace with the latest upgraded model free and we are on our 3rd, which seems to be standing up. Garmin XTs have also had issues with failing screens.

 

[Arsey]

I’ll stick with my trusty old Garmin Zumo 660. I can plot routes in Basecamp very, very easily and also share them with other Garmin users.
I’ve tried plotting using other mapping systems but they either don’t let me use enough waypoints (google maps only let one use 10) or they are just not very user friendly. I have tried MRA but again it just feels too clunky and not as user friendly. Most of these also seem to use one’s phone as the screen which cannot be operated whilst wearing gloves. I’m sure I’ll end up having to replace the old Zumo but it’s likely to be another Garmin.
I have used Tom Tom in ambulances/fire trucks but again it’s nowhere near as user friendly as the Garmin units and doesn’t have a Basecamp type mapping option.

Interesting , as I always found Basecamp very clunky.
I’ve been using MRA for a few years and the latest updates with the Routeplanner on the app is the easiest nav tool I’ve ever used .

 

[Arsey]

For the same reasons as Glenn I’m sticking with my BMW NAV 6 which I’ve not had any issues with and works fine for me and works with my wonder wheel

The Chinese AIO5 also works with the wonder wheel and gives you access to CarPlay so you can use any nav app you like such as MRA/Google Maps/Waze etc

 

[glenn2926]

The Nav 6 has been one of the most troublesome Garmin Nav's ever. You just need to do some searches, the screen is well known for ghosting. They have now sorted with the latest screens, but it has taken them probably 5 years or more to sort. Initially they did a replacement which cost the user £200 if out of warranty, just to get another upgraded model, which didn't work much better. Now they will replace with the latest upgraded model free and we are on our 3rd, which seems to be standing up. Garmin XTs have also had issues with failing screens.

My Zumo 660 is around 12 years old and has never let me down. Two of my brothers also use the 660 and none of theirs has gone wrong either. One of these is the nav 6 as bmw call it. Quite a number of our group also use the Zumo 660 and I haven’t heard any of them having a problem.
Perhaps it is just bmw badged ones?
The first model XT wasn’t very good but the later XT2 and XT3 seem ok.
I don’t know what ghosting means but my Zumo has obviously never done it.
I seem to remember the bmw badged nav 6 did once fall out of the cradle. It still works fine but the bezel is missing.

 

[glenn2926]

Interesting , as I always found Basecamp very clunky.
I’ve been using MRA for a few years and the latest updates with the Routeplanner on the app is the easiest nav tool I’ve ever used .

That’s where I find Basecamp easier to use. None of this routeplanner and app business. Which I have absolutely no idea how to use.
Just open Basecamp and plot a route then send to device.

 

[Arsey]

That’s where I find Basecamp easier to use. None of this routeplanner and app business. Which I have absolutely no idea how to use.
Just open Basecamp and plot a route then send to device.

It’s as difficult as opening the app,clicking on Routeplanner and clicking on where you want to go.If that’s difficult …….

Obviously you can tweak it further by adding coloured waypoints, coffee stops, with time breaks etc, but the vid shows it at its simplest.

 

[glenn2926]

It’s as difficult as opening the app,clicking on Routeplanner and clicking on where you want to go.If that’s difficult …….

That’s all very well if you want the sat nav to plot your route. I don’t, I want to via the route I choose which is so easy on Basecamp. Just click start and end points then pick up the route and move it to which ever roads one wants to use. I tried this with MRA and could not just pick up the route which immediately ruled this system out for me. Plus I don’t have apps on my laptop.

 

[Arsey]

That’s all very well if you want the sat nav to plot your route. I don’t, I want to via the route I choose which is so easy on Basecamp. Just click start and end points then pick up the route and move it to which ever roads one wants to use. I tried this with MRA and could not just pick up the route which immediately ruled this system out for me. Plus I don’t have apps on my laptop.

Do you not own a phone or iPad etc ?

 

[glenn2926]

Do you not own a phone or iPad etc ?

Yeah both but it’s much easier with the much larger screen on the laptop, plus I have google maps open at the same time and hop from one to the other for street view of hotels, parking etc. I don’t have Basecamp on my iPad or phone. I don’t think it can be installed on them and I definitely cannot connect my sat nav to either the iPad or the iPhone to send the routes.

 

[casbar]

My Zumo 660 is around 12 years old and has never let me down. Two of my brothers also use the 660 and none of theirs has gone wrong either. One of these is the nav 6 as bmw call it. Quite a number of our group also use the Zumo 660 and I haven’t heard any of them having a problem.
Perhaps it is just bmw badged ones?
The first model XT wasn’t very good but the later XT2 and XT3 seem ok.
I don’t know what ghosting means but my Zumo has obviously never done it.
I seem to remember the bmw badged nav 6 did once fall out of the cradle. It still works fine but the bezel is missing.

Ok, so a quick overview. 660 is basically the same as the badged Nav 4, same internals and mounts. Nav V was an upgrade on the Nav 4. The badged Navs integrate with the wonder wheel etc and provide data from the bike on BMW bikes. The Nav 6 is the badged upgraded (larger screen, newer internals) and replaced the Nav 5s. They had issues with the Nav 6 screens from the off set. The screens seemed to start to move on their own, like someone else was making the inputs (hence ghosting). Garmin went through a few screen updates to try and sort over the next 5 years. Think they have finally sorted the issue with the latest versions, but time will tell. Personally I went through 2 Nav 6s with the same issue. The XT was a newer unbranded Garmin motorcycle system, so not BMW specific. As far as I know there is only the XT and XT2, both are still sold. Been some issues with the XT, although mine has been fine (fingers crossed)

 

[Arsey]

Yeah both but it’s much easier with the much larger screen on the laptop, plus I have google maps open at the same time and hop from one to the other for street view of hotels, parking etc. I don’t have Basecamp on my iPad or phone. I don’t think it can be installed on them and I definitely cannot connect my sat nav to either the iPad or the iPhone to send the routes.

Ok, fair enough.
I’ve planned routes on my phone on a coffee stop using MRA. An iPad screen is plenty big enough and if you plan a route on an iPad it’ll be synced straight to your phone .

 

[glenn2926]

Ok, so a quick overview. 660 is basically the same as the badged Nav 5, same internals and mounts. Nav 6 is the badged upgraded (larger screen, newer internals) and replaced the Nav 5s. They had issues with the Nav 6 screens from the off set. The screens seemed to start to move on their own, like someone else was making the inputs (hence ghosting). Garmin went through a few screen updates to try and sort over the next 5 years. Think they have finally sorted the issue with the latest versions, but time will tell. Personally I went through 2 Nav 6s with the same issue. The XT was a newer unbranded Garmin motorcycle system, so not BMW specific. As far as I know there is only the XT and XT2, both are still sold. Been some issues with the XT, although mine has been fine (fingers crossed)

Ahh, I was under the impression that the nav 6 was the same as the 660. It’s the nav 5 that’s the same.
It does seem to be a recurring theme that the new model has more problems than the one it replaces. I’ll hang on to my old 660 I think. It just works.

 

[glenn2926]

Ok, fair enough.
I’ve planned routes on my phone on a coffee stop using MRA. An iPad screen is plenty big enough and if you plan a route on an iPad it’ll be synced straight to your phone .

That’s great if you want to use your phone as a sat nav. I don’t. The screen doesn’t work with gloves on whereas my very old 660 the screen does work with gloves on. I have used the phone but having to stop and remove one’s gloves to operate it is a bit of a pain.

 

[Arsey]

That’s great if you want to use your phone as a sat nav. I don’t. The screen doesn’t work with gloves on whereas my very old 660 the screen does work with gloves on. I have used the phone but having to stop and remove one’s gloves to operate it is a bit of a pain.

I don’t use my phone , I use a Chigee AIO Play and is touch screen and even works with the BMW wonder wheel if you get the BMW version.

 

[casbar]

Ahh, I was under the impression that the nav 6 was the same as the 660. It’s the nav 5 that’s the same.
It does seem to be a recurring theme that the new model has more problems than the one it replaces. I’ll hang on to my old 660 I think. It just works.

I edited my post, the 660 is basically the same as the Nav 4, not 5. There is nothing wrong with the 660, had one years ago, but as my eyes got worse, larger screens and better displays worked for me. I ditched my Nav 6 for an XT.