[Bubbalou]

Hi,
I just purchased a Garmin Nuvi 660 yesterday. Haven't received it as of yet and it will be my first. I just wanted to say hello and to state after mulling over everything I could read I chose this one for it's accuracy over the nuvi 750 and hopefully would be something my wife would not be as intimidated by using. I really liked the features of the 750 but new that everytime my wife went to use it that it might be hit and miss on lockon time among other things (to many features).
Anyway, just wanted to say hello and I hope I do not regret this decision.
It is coming with 2008 loaded. Eventually I may put 2009 update in.

[dav]

Welcome to the site, Bubbalou.

[Andy]

Bubbalou!

I have a 660 also. My Dad, who is electronic inept, can even use the 660. The simple interface really appeals to the masses of non-electronic folk.

[Bubbalou]

Thanks Andy and Dav.


Andy, How does the 660 work for you and your dad? Does it call turns nearly late as some say or does it respond with some time to spare? Do you use the waas feature? If so does it help? What is your take on this?


Also, Dav, how does the 750 work for you?
I came close to buying one of these except for the reported issue of long time to aquire signal.

[Andy]

I always have WAAS turn on. We use it in my work truck. I don't drive much over 65. On city streets I'm within 5 of whatever the speed limit is. It has always given me plenty of warning for turns. I've bought it just as they were released so I've used it for a few thousand miles easy. My Dad can program addresses and find POIs without trouble. He uses it in other vehicles when he travels too.

The one that that lacks in the 660 is you can't have routes. You pick a destination and can later add 1 POI to the trip, but there is no way of handling multiple stop routes. That is ok for my needs with my truck. I use my 76CSx for trip planning.

[dav]

I like my 750 just fine.

I believe the "long time to acquire signal" is a valid issue with the 750, but it does not bother me because I always need to get out of whatever neighborhood I am in before the GPS makes any sense anyway, so a few minutes makes no difference to me.

I also think it has "worse than average" ability to acquire satellite signals or to maintain contact once acquired.

While on a trip and stopping for lunch (for instance) it re-acquires its signal (whatever signal it has) immediately.

It is sometimes almost late giving verbal turn directions only because traffic volume is so bad here it is sometimes not possible to move into the required turn lane when prompted. But it has never suggested turning after the turn was passed.

And if you watch the "next turn" info in the green bar, you can be properly prepared.

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by Andy

I always have WAAS turn on. We use it in my work truck. I don't drive much over 65. On city streets I'm within 5 of whatever the speed limit is. It has always given me plenty of warning for turns. I've bought it just as they were released so I've used it for a few thousand miles easy. My Dad can program addresses and find POIs without trouble. He uses it in other vehicles when he travels too.

The one that that lacks in the 660 is you can't have routes. You pick a destination and can later add 1 POI to the trip, but there is no way of handling multiple stop routes. That is ok for my needs with my truck. I use my 76CSx for trip planning.

Thanks Andy, I feel much better about buying this one now.

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by dav

I like my 750 just fine.

I believe the "long time to acquire signal" is a valid issue with the 750, but it does not bother me because I always need to get out of whatever neighborhood I am in before the GPS makes any sense anyway, so a few minutes makes no difference to me.

I also think it has "worse than average" ability to acquire satellite signals or to maintain contact once acquired.

While on a trip and stopping for lunch (for instance) it re-acquires its signal (whatever signal it has) immediately.

It is sometimes almost late giving verbal turn directions only because traffic volume is so bad here it is sometimes not possible to move into the required turn lane when prompted. But it has never suggested turning after the turn was passed.

And if you watch the "next turn" info in the green bar, you can be properly prepared.

Dav, do you use it with an amplified external antenna? I saw a Glisson for $19-$29 with 32-58db gain for the 600 and 700 Garmin's.

[dav]

I do not, and as its performance is adequate for my needs, had actually forgotten that external antennas were an option.

And not really too expensive, I might just get one to see how much improvement it provides.

Thanks for reminding me about them!

[Bubbalou]

Tried my Nuvi 660 out for the first time today. I had to go from my home in one city to my dads in another then take him to Love Field In Dallas to catch a flight to Austin. I then told it to take me home. As I approached the point to get onto the Freeway there was stack of cars sitting at the light. The Nuvi routed me around it by taking a route I have never been before. It got me way ahead of the Game. If I chose to take a detour route on my own it would recalculate in 6 seconds and "Jill" would steer me to the nearest point to get me back on track. It spoke in plenty of time. There were a couple of glitches in directions but some may have been caused by increased traffic ahead that would start moving shortly later and It would redirect to stay the coarse. I was in literal awe of the power under this little 31/2 by 5 box.

[Andy]

That's a great way to start off! I have had my 660 warn of traffic and route around it, taking roads I never would have tried.

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by Andy

That's a great way to start off! I have had my 660 warn of traffic and route around it, taking roads I never would have tried.

Andy, is there something I have to turn on to get the traffic? Mine did seem to route around it but did not anounce traffic.

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by dav

I do not, and as its performance is adequate for my needs, had actually forgotten that external antennas were an option.

And not really too expensive, I might just get one to see how much improvement it provides.

Thanks for reminding me about them!

I bought a Gilsson amplified antenna from Fry's Electronics. I was told by Gilsson Tech Support that any Gilsson Antenna with an MMX connector would work on the Garmin Nuvi and it did. I need to do more tests with and without it to see if there is any difference in Aquistion times. The flip up antenna on the back of the 660 does well in open view of the sky (through car windshield). Only had a few minutes before I had to go to my second job. There are places on line, such as Amazon.com that sells them for $19. I paid $29 to get one off the shelf of Frys. This model is the MMX-B9P reported to have 32-58db gain.

[dav]

Thanks Bubbalou. Yeah, I went ahead and ordered one from Amazon (actually Navman, I think) a couple days ago. (Hasn't arrived yet).

I, too, wrote Gilsson and asked which one fit the 750, since they do not specifically mention it for any of their models. They gave me the same reply, any of them with the MCX connector.

I really thought about the 3 foot cord, but decided that although the 9 foot will mostly be in the way, there will be times when 3 foot would be inadequate.

I want to try this antenna hiking, since I keep the GPS tucked away most of the time. I want it to continue tracking and have an accurate display whenever I do pull it out; don't want to have to wait.

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by dav

Thanks Bubbalou. Yeah, I went ahead and ordered one from Amazon (actually Navman, I think) a couple days ago. (Hasn't arrived yet).

I, too, wrote Gilsson and asked which one fit the 750, since they do not specifically mention it for any of their models. They gave me the same reply, any of them with the MCX connector.

I really thought about the 3 foot cord, but decided that although the 9 foot will mostly be in the way, there will be times when 3 foot would be inadequate.

I want to try this antenna hiking, since I keep the GPS tucked away most of the time. I want it to continue tracking and have an accurate display whenever I do pull it out; don't want to have to wait.

Roll the unused footage in a loop the size of your palm and put in a small sandwich bag or whatever.

[dav]

bubbalou, Just got my antenna. I love it already.

I posted a new thread here: Gilsson External Antenna - very good

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by dav

bubbalou, Just got my antenna. I love it already.

I posted a new thread here: Gilsson External Antenna - very good

Glad you like it! Let me know how it works for you in a car (if you use it there).

Update:
The 660 went from 17-28ft accuracy to 14-17 ft accuracy using the Gilsson antenna. It showed almost twice the signal strength and picked up a few more satellites in the process. There should be a more dramatic difference when comparing the Nuvi 's with internal antenna's such as the 260W, 750, 760, 780 etc.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Bubbalou

Andy, is there something I have to turn on to get the traffic? Mine did seem to route around it but did not anounce traffic.

You need to make sure you're using the cig lighter power cord. If it's the same as mine, it's actually the FM traffic antenna receiver. Mine has a green power LED and a second LED which is either green, orange, or red depending on the traffic reception.

You have to go to Garmin's site and activate the traffic subscription. Did your 660 come with a free 3 month traffic trial? Mine annouces traffic 2 ways. If I have a route programed, it will say "in x miles ahead, there is a traffic delay on your route" or something similar. If I don't have a route, it will just say there is traffic ahead.

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by Andy

You need to make sure you're using the cig lighter power cord. If it's the same as mine, it's actually the FM traffic antenna receiver. Mine has a green power LED and a second LED which is either green, orange, or red depending on the traffic reception.

You have to go to Garmin's site and activate the traffic subscription. Did your 660 come with a free 3 month traffic trial? Mine annouces traffic 2 ways. If I have a route programed, it will say "in x miles ahead, there is a traffic delay on your route" or something similar. If I don't have a route, it will just say there is traffic ahead.

Andy, Since I posted my previous question I have talked to Garmin. What has happened is the place I bought it from stated it was new when in fact it was a refurb. Here is why I am not too upset and the way I found out. I went to register the unit and it said "Original purchase date September 5, 2007 from Costco. I purchased it on May 15, 2008 from TheNewConnection.com where they said it was new. Garmin said it was returned for a problem and refurbished to like new. I asked Garmin "So will you certify it as working properly as it should". They said "Absolutely, what we do basically is replace all of the inside components and the only thing original is the case. We then rebox it with a new 1 year warranty and send it out". I asked them about the traffic cable and they said If one light is green and the second is red or orange (not green also) then the 3 months was activated at the time the original buyer turned his unit on and is no longer valid as the 3 months has expired before I bought it. The reason I am not going to return the item is that it is working well, has the warranty, they allowed me to download 2009 North American map upgrade for free, I got a free nice bag to carry it in along with the cables etc. and the fact I feel being refurbished by Garmin and fully tested that they would test very thoroughly (most likely much better than from Factory in Taiwon) as they would not want it to return a second time.

BTW: my son likes it so well, he just ordered the Nuvi 680 (from a reputable place according to the 3 or 4 thousand reviews) and for less than I paid for the 660. It has MSN traffic so he can get gas prices, movie info, and weather also.

One last note: I did not realize the bad reviews for TheNewConnection.com until the unit was already on it's way. Had I have known I would have strayed far from it.

[Max]

Originally Posted by Bubbalou

BTW: my son likes it so well, he just ordered the Nuvi 680 (from a reputable place according to the 3 or 4 thousand reviews) and for less than I paid for the 660. It has MSN traffic so he can get gas prices, movie info, and weather also.

Hey Bubbalou, welcome to the site (a bit late, sorry )

I was just wondering, what did your son pay for the Nuvi 680? Just wondering as I bought one here a few months ago and just noticed them in my local costco for 349$ .

[Bubbalou]

Originally Posted by Max

Hey Bubbalou, welcome to the site (a bit late, sorry )

I was just wondering, what did your son pay for the Nuvi 680? Just wondering as I bought one here a few months ago and just noticed them in my local costco for 349$ .

$269. They say it is new but I can bet it is a refurb just like the "New" 660 I just bought for my wife at $299.
As long as it was refurbed by Garmin, I will be happy.