Heat00

have a 255WT in the wifes car, works great. need one for my new car, was considering the 765T.

going to attempt to hard wire it somehow or at least run an extension wire extending the cigarette plug, and then run that to a fuse, that way the piece on the original wire will still be intact as I believe that has voltage output etc. and needs to stay.

question is: I think I saw that the piece that plugs into the cigarette lighter has to be exposed for traffic reception? The antenna for the traffic is in that plug? If so, and I run it under the dash with the extension to the fuse box, will I lose the traffic reception?

If this is true, seems kind of silly, why doesn't reception for the traffic come to the unit itself, eliminating the need to keep that plug in the cigarette lighter and exposed.

Any good work arounds for this problem?

Also, my 255WT works great, any reason to, or not to, get the 765T for myself?
I also notice that some plug into the cradle, i will not be using the suction because of where I'm going to mount it, I guess this doesn't matter and it can still be plugged right into the unit itself?

Any suggesstions are appreicated.

thanks.

Heat00

I just saw a review online and it said the wire must be plugged into the suction cradle?

Is this true?

I will most likely not be using the suction cradle, is this a problem?

HumVee

Heat00, the Garmin nüvi 765T comes with the GTM 20 traffic receiver. In case you're interested, GPS Magazine did an astoundingly detailed review on this unit when it came out. From reading that review, and knowing what I do about my own zumo 660, I will say that you can not use the GTM 20 without the cradle. The reason for this is simple - the power and data connector on the end of the traffic adapter has a corresponding socket on the the cradle. That socket is not present on the 765T itself.

Unfortunately, even though Garmin does make traffic receivers that utilize the USB mini-B connection such as found on the bottom of the 765T, Garmin does not show one of those models as being an accessory for the 765T - just the GTM 20 (NAVTEQ) and 21 (FM TMC). Both of those models have the connector designed to socket into the cradle. Personally, I wish Garmin would settle on one power & data connector (preferrably USB mini-B) for all of the traffic receivers, GPS units & cradles.

Garmin does make a couple of NAVTEQ Traffic receivers with USB mini-B connectors: The GTM 12 & GTM 25...in case you're willing to spend another $90 - $120 to avoid using the cradle mount. The GTM 12 is ideal for getting optimum radio reception, because it's an antenna that can be suction cup mounted to the windshield...but it doesn't provide power! You'd only be able to run your 765T for about 3 hours before needing to recharge it (assuming it would work with your 765T at all - see the next paragraph).

The GTM 25 provides power (by being plugged into the car accessory power socket), but doesn't have the "stick it to the windshield" antenna. However, it does look like the reception module is only a few inches from the nüvi, which means that you can make sure that it's above the dashboard in your mounting configuration. That one looks like your best bet, when it comes to not using the cradle, and trying to maximize traffic radio reception. But...the 765T is not listed as a compatible device (for either the GTM 25 or the GTM 12) - so I'd suggest you contact Garmin Support and make sure it is - or make sure that you buy it from some place with a good return policy.

If you're not looking to spend that kind of money (& who would blame you), you'll need to stick with your cradle, and then run a long enough extension for the car accessory power socket so you could mount the GTM 20 traffic receiver up high.



In answer to some of your other questions:

• Garmin doesn't integrate the traffic radio into the device, so that they can offer basically the same unit with different traffic subscription services (in fact, if you didn't care for NAVTEQ Traffic in your area, you could purchase an GTM 21 and try out the FM TMC service). And of course Garmin gets to make more money on expensive accessories.
• Why purchase a 765T (I wonder why they didn't call it an 765WT, since it's widescreen) over a 255WT? Bells and whistles. If you don't care for the integrated media player and other options, then there's no reason at all to get the 765T over the 255WT (although I only see $25 difference between them on Amazon). Read the review I linked above, and decide for yourself.
• Whatever you do - don't simply cut off the fat car adapter plug end of the power cord and wire the remaining cable directly into your car's 12 volt system! You will fry your GPS unit, which requires the power to be stepped down to about 5 volts (I'm assuming this last value, since that's USB accessory voltage). There are posts by forum members that did just that, and smoked their GPS units!

Heat00

thank you very much for the informative response. Some of this is confusing about the GTM whatever.

I have a 255wt in my wifes car and it works great. includes traffic too. I was thinking to buy a 765T for my self as it seems to have all the 255wt has plus lane assistance (although I could live without this), multi-routes, and it has traffic. I do want traffic without having to buy anything else, like I have in my 255WT.

The problem from what I understand you are telling me is this: I may not want to use the "cradle/suction" mount that comes with the 765T. If I do not use this, I think you are saying that I won't have the traffic function? If that is the case, it may be a problem. I won't know where or how I'm going to mount the unit until I get it but this could be a problem. I guess maybe I am better off with the 255WT as I might lose the traffic if not using the "cradle/suction" mount?

Also, I was hoping that I could get one of those extension wires, that has a female cigarette plug for the original Nuvi wire, plug it in and then run the rest of the wire, out of sight and to the fuse box. This should be fine as I've done it before but does that create a problem as if that piece is hidden, will it not get reception for the traffic?

I need to figure all this out in order to get the right unit, I don't want to lose traffic and I'm not sure if I can use the suction mount in my particular car.

If I had to chose based on what I know, it sounds like the 255WT is the clear winner as it can be mounted anywhere, with or without the oem suction/cradle?

any help again is appreciated.

Regards,

rugerkahr

Whatever you do, do NOT cut that cable. The traffic receiver is in the cigarette lighter plug, but the CABLE is the antenna. I found that out on another board where someone posted that straight from a Garmin rep's email response.

I noticed much better traffic reception when I unwrapped it from the bundle I had it in (zip tied) and stashed away.

HumVee

LOL! I'm sorry - I tend to be way too wordy and confusing. It's a fault of mine I readily acknowledge. I just want to be sooo helpful that tend to use the firehose approach!

Yes. The only reason that you'd lose traffic is because the power adapter / traffic receiver's other end has a connector that only plugs into the cradle. So if you don't use the cradle, you don't get traffic - but you also don't get power! You'd have to run your nuvi on battery power...or buy a power adapter that would plug straight into the nuvi (or a traffic receiver that plugs straight into the nuvi, like the GTM 25 I mentioned).

According to what rugerkahr says, the cable between the power plug and the nuvi is the antenna. With that being the case, perhaps you might figure a way to route that portion up and down the front windshield post or something. Yes, an additional "cigarette" plug or an extension should work fine for giving you additional options on where to place your nuvi.

If you're not planning on using the cradle with your nuvi, how were you planning on mounting it? With double-sided mounting tape or velcro? The solution I use for my truck is a weighted "donut" that the suction cup mount sticks to. It has a non-slip bottom (after you pull off the paper it ships with!) and stays in place amazingly well. When I'm planning on parking in a bad neighborhood, I pull it off my dashboard, slap some cling wrap on the bottom to keep it clean - and place it down on the floorboard. No suction cup marks on the windshield (although the really observant might notice my external antenna up on the roof).

I've been unsuccessful in finding a comprehensive review of the 255WT, so that I could get an idea of what accessories come with it. I also can't find it on the Garmin website! There's a link, but it's broken. I did find a YouTube video of someone unboxing an 255WT. It looks to me like the 255WT comes with a traffic receiver that uses the USB mini-B connection. If that's the case, then yes - you can use it without the cradle.

Heat00

thanks.

I have a 255 or 265 WT, not sure which one, it's in the wifes car and traffic works great all the time.

I understand what you're saying, the wire is the antenna. If the cradle isn't used, cant the usb be plugged in directly to the bottom of the unit itself? or are you saying the cradle MUST be used?

there are many ways to mount it without the suction cradle. In my last bmw, I used only the piece that has the arm that snaps into the back of the unit, and i drilled it to the removable ashtray. i have pictures somewhere... lol it was quite creative at least for my normal skillset lol.
There is no way I'm going to mount it to the window. I think I have a spot and will most likely use a mount from proclip. it connects to the car (not the window and pretty well out of site so no removal is necessary) and a second piece gets screwed onto the "mount" piece and the garmin snaps right into the 2nd piece as it has a ball/arm, just like the OEM cradle. but if I understand correctly, the 765 won't work with this as the cradle is needed.

if this is true, then I will probably buy the 255/265wt as it doesn't need the cradle/suction opening up a lot more options for mounting spots.

the website is here: www.proclipusa.com and will give you options based on teh vehicle and unit, pretty good stuff. I may just rig my own somehow, saving some $$.. I also may mount it using the sticky piece that the oem cradle suctions to as some of the surfaces won't hold the suction (non-window like flat on the dash).

i think i have pics of the old bmw mount i did.. let me see now, only problem is it was tooo low.

Heat00

here are some of the mounts it gives me for my particular car.

but again, these wont work with the 765 if the cradle is needed as it is removed with these options?????

Attached Thumbnails

       

HumVee

Heat00, in the simplest terms: the 765T doesn't come with a power adapter with the USB plug. It has a different plug, and won't directly plug in to the 765T - just the cradle. Is that clear enough?

You would have to buy a different traffic/power adapter to use the 765T without the cradle. I don't know how to say it more plainly than that. I suggest you buy a 255WT or 265WT.

rugerkahr

Well, he can make his own adapter then. Here's the pin layout for a Garmin Nüvi so it doesn't go into "computer" mode.

Garmin Nuvi GPS Power Connector pinout and wiring @ pinouts.ru

Heat00

I got that part, thank you.

What wasn't clear was more of the wiring and if it need to be exposed in order to receive traffic as I wanted to extend the cigarette lighter via extension, hide it, and wire the other end to the fuse box. Still not clear on if this will result in the loss of traffic as I understand the wire or plug itself, is the antenna?

HumVee

Heat00, the more of the wire (between the nuvi and the car accessory plug) that is burried, the less it is going to be able to pick up a signal. If you live in an area with a really strong signal, it may not matter. If you are concerned about reception, then perhaps you should run the wire up the door post and back down again. I bet you could do that and still have it hidden by plastic or rubber molding.

Heat00

cool, thanks for all of your help.

I'll post results once I have decided on a unit and have it installed