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LorenC
- 5 reviews
- DriveSmart 61 LMT-S
- Verified purchase
Garmin Drive 61 at least works - unlike the Navman My690 which didn't
My previous Garmin Nuvi lasted for many years without issues so I'm hoping this model is as good. No problems at all with charging, as opposed to the Navman which kept losing charge and refusing to turn on for no explicable reason (even though it was always connected to the car's charger). It's too soon to give a detailed review of the Garmin Drive but so far so good.
Purchased in November 2021 at JB Hifi Home for A$149.00.
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jb4105Downer 2602, ACT
- 15 reviews
- 3 likes
in Hindsight Not my best purchase
First problem I noticed the 12v lighter plug means I can have no other device in use at the same time. So cannot charge my phone if required. I could use the USB plug provided with my two plug port but the cord is too short.
The maps have taken me in the wrong direction and also wanted me to make a right turn onto a road with only a left turn. The pronunciation of street names and suburbs needs a big improvement. Yesterday it told me I was going the wrong way in a one way street I drive down every week. Also every time I drive I have to agree to drive safely.
Purchased in May 2021 at JB Hi-Fi for A$200.00.
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Unable to load pois, for campsites, giving it untill next, if it cant be sorted then its on ebay
Can not load pois, have tried every way to do it poi loaders club loaders file transfer you name it I have tried. Unfortunately garmin accept no responsibility. It mostly crashes on no usb connection, yet have tried all sub modes in catorgaries
Purchased in June 2021 at JB Hifi Home for A$239.00.
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Peter b7Perth, WA
- 2 reviews
Very good except it keeps rebooting continuously at startup & sometimes when driving.
I discovered if you disconnect the vehicle power after use & then when needed start Garmin on it's internal battery by pressing the back power button & then connect vehicle power to the Garmin it works fine & does not continually reboot itself.
Purchased in February 2021 at eBay.
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GeorgePerth, WA
- 20 reviews
Great GPS especially for overseas
I’ve been using Garmin GPSes since 2008 and have used them here in Perth as well as across the US, Canada and the UK. Each time the unit has unerringly guided me to my destination. With my current DriveSmart 61, I am using it in Los Angeles to guide me around the maze of streets and interstate highways. I especially like the lane guidance feature here in LA as some highways are 7 or more lanes wide and you have to be in a specific (sometimes the middle) lane to exit. The unit shows the lane you have to be in and also speaks it i.e. “Be in the l...Read more
eft four lanes”. Great when you are driving in peak hour on an 8 lane highway and need to know NOW which lane is your exit. I wouldn’t even attempt to drive in the US without this device navigating for me. The interface is intuitive, with only two selections from the main screen “Where To” and “Show Map”. The voice is clear and understandable, although pronunciation can occasionally be weird. I tried the voice commands initially but found them too troublesome to use and just use the touch interface. Unlike other reviewers, I find the touch screen quite responsive. I’ve had no issues searching for petrol stations or locations by name, it has found them every time. I like the free Lifetime Maps and wireless updating, although previously I have used the Garmin Express app without any issues. The only criticism about maps is you have to purchase overseas maps and they are tied to only one GPS, you cannot move them to another GPS, they just don’t appear. I purchased the lower 49 US States map and installed it on a micro SD card for about A$89. You cannot update these purchased maps, they must be re-purchased again if you want to update them. To me this isn’t an issue as I only travel every couple of years and the roads don’t change much where I drive. The screen can be a little too reflective at times, according to the time of day and this can be distracting when trying to navigate, but I’ve since got used to it. Battery life is fair, only lasting about an hour unplugged and slowly gets worse over time, but as I hardly ever use it out of the car, this is not an issue for me. Overall, a very useful device, especially overseas where I don’t have data on my phone making Google Maps useless. The Garmin is a life-saver in this instance. Highly recommendedPurchased in November 2021 at Johnny Appleseed GPS Online store for A$329.00.
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Col W.Torrens 2607, ACT
Miner problems
Overall the product is very good but I do have some issues or corrections (which I will also raise with Garmin), after a 3000km trip in country and outback areas.
*A caravan park I was looking for was not listed.
*Petrol pump icon is used for Truck Stops and Rest areas where there is NO petrol. If you search for the nearest petrol it will also list these places as the nearest location.
*Entrance to a caravan park 500m in the wrong place which you could miss subsequently forcing a u turn on a busy road.
*Plotted a 229km route in the outback when the shortest distance was 129km.
Otherwise it worked well everywhere on my trip.
Purchased in April 2021 at Johnny Appleseed GPS Online store for A$600.00.
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RuthieHolt 2615, ACT
saving my history
I have had previous Navman GPS and have been able to go into my past history of the last few months. This one doesnt seem to have the facility for this. I need this service and use it constantly
Purchased in January 2021 for A$300.00.
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John DVictoria, 3585
- 6 reviews
- 3 likes
Really like it.
I have had this GPS for a year now. I changed over from the Tom Tom as it has a larger screen.
So I am always comparing it to the Tom Tom.
First of the complaints is there is no short cut icon on the side for things like screen dimming, create favorite instantly, turn of sound etc.
So when the Garmin is to bright and it still thinks it's daytime it is so bright I have to go to settings to try and dim it. If my son is asleep and the voice suddenly goes to loud, I have to go to settings to silence it.
It tells me there are fuel stations in t...Read more
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SteveSydney
- 4 reviews
- 3 likes
- DriveSmart 61 LMT-S
- Verified purchase
Ok, but I had to return it
It’s a good basic GPS, but I had to return as one basic feature missing surprisingly. You can’t turn off voice directions and still hear notifications of going over speed limit or upcoming, strange as I had this on a Tom Tom 10 years ago, even the free Waze has this, It’s all audio on or all off, just not useable for my needs.
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Gaela RussellCentral Highlands and Goldfields, VIC
- 32 reviews
So good we bought 2
Mapping has proven accurate thus far (albeit with limited use). We have both the 6" and 7" models as the windscreen is further away in one car and they replace a Navman S80 that is going to the 3rd vehicle and a Tom Tom GO 720 that got drowned.
The navigation menus are somewhat easier to use than either of those, the turn by turn function is handy and the large displays make reading at a glance easy.
The mounts look solid (especially compared to the Tom Tom) and seem to hold better even in hot weather.
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PeterWA, 6169
- 7 reviews
- 3 likes
- DriveSmart 61 LMT-S
- Verified purchase
Reliable Garmin model but read carefully extra features
As all my previous Garmin models this one is the same. Simple presentation and reading on screen, no problems with GPS signal even on rainy days, faster response compared to my old model and maps as good as all Garmin maps. The touch screen is the same old mat low sensitivity screen you have to press it more than even a cheapest mobile phone. Then again it is not used as often as mobile (to touch) so it is not a big deal.
This model is definitely better featured than the basic models. It has so many features I was impressed. It can even sugges...Read more
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Chris
- 3 reviews
- 7 likes
A great GPS for the price.
We have a 2008 Lexus RX 350 and the maps can’t be updated at this time. We have had 2 previous Garmin in the past and liked their ease of use and the lifetime maps update. So we wanted something familiar. When you’re in your 40’s (late 40’s) a 7 inch screen is a plus. This is primarily why we bought it. It looks, feels and works like a Garmin. I’m not tech savvy and read the reviews that voice activation is a little clunky. We have saved all our searches/addresses and we find using the voice activation great. I have managed to pair my phone and...Read more
that also works. If you want a tech write up, I’m sorry I’m not your reviewer. But as someone who is a little tech challenged (That’s why we have teenagers!) I have found the Garmin to do what it’s supposed to do. Large screen, easy to use, more features than I’ll ever (or know how to) use.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Hans Ignals
- 10 reviews
Overall, pretty good, but POI data inaccurate
Maps are fine, although they cannot be completely up to date every time there’s an update.
Easy to install, bought a reversing camera to go with it, which is pretty useful. However the warning message at the bottom of the screen obscures the view of my tow ball which is handy when connecting a trailer. The warning should be at the top of the screen out of the way.
Much of the POI data is wrong. Schools showing up that were closed down many years ago. Petrol stations listed at private home addresses, in newsagents, rest areas, and places where there are no petrol stations. Railroad crossings show up even though the railway was dismantled and no longer operational.
Quality of sound when using Bluetooth phone connection is mediocre.
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Angela KPerth
- 26 reviews
- 25 likes
This is great
Bought this to take on holiday in our hire car and now we have put it in my husbands car and so far it has been amazing, better than the in built navigation system in my car.
Very impressed so far and would buy another of this brand if we ever needed one.
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Kev HSouth East Queensland, QLD
- 31 reviews
- 1 like
- DriveSmart 61 LMT-S
- Verified purchase
Good Value
Recently took my Kia Sportage in for service & asked for my Satnav maps to be updated (I was told that I would get 3 years of free map updates, when I bought the car). I was informed that Kia has changed suppliers of the satnav & that It would cost me just under $300 to have my unit updated! I thought that for under $300 I could get a stand alone Satnav with lifetime map updates, so I did my usual research & decided to buy the Garmin Drivesmart 61 LMT-S.
I have had Garmin Satnavs in the past, so knew that the quality & reliability is good &...Read more
that map updates are easily downloaded & installed. The satellite tracking sensitivity seems good, only loosing tracking in tunnels & underground car parks. I bought a Garmin Dash top friction mount as I hate suction mounts, which consistently fall off the windscreen. The friction mount is very stable & can be simply lifted off the dashboard when not needed. The latest software & maps are easy to download & install from the Garmin website, using my laptop. I really like the voice operation, although the unit is easily confused, if the radio is playing or other people are talking while you try to 'talk' to the satnav. It is much 'safer' to talk to the satnav, than trying to look at & touch the menu buttons on the screen, while driving. Map accuracy is as about average, but they are all out of date when you install them. Guidance suffers from the usual satnav problems, occasionally getting 'lost' or taking circuitous routes. These hiccups are, unfortunately, common to all satnavs & can be very frustrating. When this happens, it is useful to have Google Maps on your mobile phone, as a backup. The reason that I don't use Google Maps as my primary Satnav, is that in my experience it suffers from 'lag' & the guidance can be up to 50 metres behind your actual position. Of course, this means that it is easy to miss turns etc. very dangerous indeed. I would reccommend this unit, if you are looking for a satnav at a reasonable price.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
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Garmin excellence again
Also fitted to Range Rover. Excellent for long trip planning due to large number of waypoints that can be stored. LR unit only stores 5 waypoints. Maps great but off road coverage is poor to hopeless.
Voice command is average. Overall though is great GPS and is my fourth Garmin unit. I think off-road maps can be purchased from Garmin.
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NotocaPerth, WA
- 8 reviews
So Far So Good
Just purchased this unit 1 week ago (June 2018) for a sale price of $227. I love the large 7" screen and the map detail, Have been driving around Perth and the Perth Hills testing it. Its been very accurate and the alerts are very helpful. Voice activation unfortunately is very frustrating, The unit does not understand the Australian accent. Either I can't pronounciate properly or this unit just guesses at what you are saying. And the guesses are not anywhere near the words you spoke. It can take up to 10 or more attempts before it gets it righ...Read more
t. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do a road trip and test it properly out of the city. I no longer need my HUD as all the info is on the Garmin. Updates and help files have been straightforward so far, It has lifetime maps. So far maps are accurate and reliable, Signal strength is good. Extremely easy to install and the windscreen bracket is great. Easy to remove the unit when not driving. Definitely way better than google maps. Hopefully, I'll be able to add more info at a later date after I've had it for a while and done some country trips to truly test its metal. Can't wait to see if it has good coverage of unsealed roads in the country and outback areas.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
wedgetailClunes
- 2 reviews
- DriveSmart 61 LMT-S
- Verified purchase
Ideal for what I need
Updated to the Garmin Drive smart 61 LMT-6 Got it at a competitive price from Harvey Normans. Good quick response when activated, nice large easily readable screen, clear voice command, easy to install very pleased with the devise. Following needs improvement, the supposed gas stations are invariably non existent, the speed zones are often incorrect. Apparently this is common in most name gps`s as they install the same map apps, despite these " issues " I am happy with the overall performance of the device. Word of warning device is NOT compatible with (hard wiring) direct to battery, causes malfunction !!!
Regards Wedge Tail
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john wilsonGold Coast
- 12 reviews
- 2 likes
A really great product
I purchased this unit for my wife's Range Rover after being lead on a 15klm. trip around the outskirts of Bundaberg instead of 4klms through the center of town by the inbuilt unit.This isn't the first time that this has happened. My wife who is technology challenged fitted the unit and programed it, while I was away for a week, it's that easy, her own words. She has been for several fact finding trips with this unit, she couldn't be happier it does everything she has asked of it, I am looking forward to using it myself.
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BazForrestfield
- 2 reviews
A big disappointment.
The find gas station feature is a joke. Crossing the nullarbor where fuel is only avail every 300 kms or so the garmin keeps telling me fuel is avail at truck stops. These are usually a small gravel parking are with a rubbish bin. When I tried to put in Nundroo where fuel is available it could not find it. Tried Nullarbor roadhouse which was about 60 k ahead and was told it was 500 plus k behind me. No where near as good as my old tomtom. Could lead inexperienced travelers into big trouble.
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Questions & Answers
Bruceasked
I belong to the CMCA and need to download their poi's. We have tried and tried to no avail.
How do you do it, Just about to give up on my $200 garmin.
1 answer
I really have no idea what to do to get your poi's. I am totally frustrated with my Garmin, tries to take me the wrong way on one way streets, tells me to turn at 3 not sure what that means, and also 'right turn ahead on to' with no indication of street names. its a total lemon
Rowdieasked
I have just purchased my Garman. On its first try out I noticed that it was NOT warning me when I was close to a red light camera or a fixed speed camera .
I believed that this feature was part of the deal and was not able to be altered eg; turned off ? can you advise ?
No answers
Alistair Toopasked
Hi does this model cover off road / dirt roads?
Thanks Alistair
No answers
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Col W.
I should add that Garmin support is pretty mediocre, and it seems impossible to contact them by email to offer any suggestions that could I prove the product. It seems the only way to contact them is by phone.