Zumo 660 vs 350LM

[West Aussie Glen]

Just about to order a 660 when the local dealer say they and Garmin are out of stock and the feeling is the 350LM will replace the 660.
From what I have been able to find the major differences are:-
Free map updates on the 350 a +ve
Builtin battery on the 350 a -ve
Longer battery life on the 350 7hrs vs 5 hrs who cares?
No MP3 connection on the 350, who cares?
No Garmin Lock on the 350 a -ve
350 will store 100 routes vs 20 routes for 660 a +ve for the 350
350 about $160 more another -ve
Has anybody else looked at the comparison?

[Biggles]

I'd also check that Touratech or someone else makes a locking cradle for it, since I regard that as being an important security measure.

[DaleMcLean]

I also believe the 350 doesnt relay a phone either 

From all I can tell its just a GPS telling you where to go but dearer than the 660 that has "bells and whistles"

NOT HAPPY Garmin

[Brock]

Thats typical of Garmin though. In a few months the full featured version will come out at a huge price...

[Flip]

Hi ALL, 

I've got a GARMIN ZUMO 660 that I brought from an Australian dealer back in late 2011.
Registered it with Garmin on-line the day after it arrived.
It worked great - except the first time I tried to use it, kept trying to send me back to Fremantle when I wanted to go to a friend's place down at Port Kennedy. 
After re-starting it again in Rockingham, it worked perfectly from then on.

Went away for a year's holiday leave my ST and the Garmin at a friends house for safe keeping.

OK - got back just before Christmas. The last 3 weekends I've been going out on the usual Sunday rides with the Ulysses club, something weird started happening with the 660 unit.

Seems no matter where we went riding, as soon as the ST hits 90 - 100kph the projection of the roads and surrounding VANISH ! 
Leaving the lower 'bar' with only the heading, icon of motorbike and the GPS Accurary showing.
When stopped again the whole normal roads, surroundings, etc. comes back again after just a few moments. 
Everything continues to work perfectly until the St's speed reaches that 90 - 100kph speed again, then - blank screen again. 

I've tried the Garmin on-line site to see what could be found.   
After going forwards and backwards many times, trying everything short of buying a new map down-load, (Garmin says mine was current until May 2012)   Garmin comes back with the answer that the service I requested is " not currently available." Or my line speed might not be fast enough - ADSL2+   

The Garmin has never been dropped or damaged in any way that I know of.  No marks, scratches, or bents anywhere.
When it hasn't been on it's supplied mounting on the ST. it's been kept in its original box. Only being taken out and connected to the mount while the engine was being run for about 10 minutes each weekend.
It's battery is holding it's charge properly.

SO - not an inexpensive unit to buy. And now, not very happy or impressed at all !   

Anyone got any ideas ?  (short of buying a new map down load)

Thanks.   

[DaleMcLean]

Doesnt sound like amap problem Flip.

I'd be trying a reset, even remove batery fro 30 mins and reinsert see how it goes.

apart from that garmin service will likely fix/replace but maybe at a cost

[Biggles]

The first problem you had was because you had it set to "Go to Start Point Before Departing", and your start point might have been just around the corner that you didn't pass.

The display problem sounds like a setting regarding the display, although I can't say which.  I was caught out by the "Daylight" option by having it in "Automatic".  When the time ticked over to "Last Light" the display changed to a very difficult to read night time setting.  Selecting "Daylight" solved that.

Have you tried a Google search on the problem?  You could try a few phrases such as "Garmin display changes at 90 kph".  It's amazing how many others have the same problem, and have it solved in other forums.
 

[West Aussie Glen]

Flip have you tried the Zumo forum?

http://www.zumoforums.com/index.php?action=forum

[Biggles]

I was registered on the Zumo forum, but it won't recognise my login, won't send me an email to confirm my password and won't let me re-register.

Either the site is down or it's being a complete PITA.

[saaz]

Do the roads disappear all the time (ie when it is showing you a route and when it is just acting as a map)  Mine does go briefly 'blank' in map mode as it hits a set speed for auto zoom in or out (I forget what speed this is).

I am a member of the zumo forum so will log on to have a look.

[Flip]

Hi ALL again, 

Thanks for the advise / ideas about the problem with the ZUMO 660.   

#1 - Dale,  OK - have removed the battery from the 660 for an hour.  It's the second time I've tried this. The problem still re-occured the weekend ride after I'd already done this the first time, had the battery out for 20 - 25 minutes that time. So trying that again but for a full hour this time. Thanks. 

#2 - Biggles, -  SORRY ! Should have made it clearer how I use the 660 most of the time. Not really sure just how this "Go to Start Point Before Departing" works and don't think I've currently got one logged in anywhere in the 660's memory. But in most cases, would make any difference ? 
Most times, the 660 is used just to give me an idea of the roads ahead and where we are heading towards. (Club rides - follow my Leader sort of thing)
On those rides, it's always turned on before leaving home, no direction or 'go to point' added. Just turn on, acquire map and show home location and surrounding streets before moving off, then ride to where ever.
Whenever we stop for a rest, refreshments, lunch, etc. I always turn the 660 off at it's top built-in switch, remove it from it's mounting and either lock it in the Givi top box or put it into an inside pocket of my riding vest or leathers. (removing temptation from light fingered persons)
Starting off again, re-mount 660, turn on, wait to acquire current map, street location, then start riding again.

The 660 is first plugged into it's holder in my home driveway straight after the engine is started and before moving off. Haven't got a clue what, if any difference it makes, but if and when, it's used to direct me to a street or address, then those details are entered, the route to be taken checked on the screen, then off and riding. 
Followed your recommendation and set it permanently on 'Daylight'.  Magic !     That 'last light' setting sux.
Joined that 'zumoforum.com' as you and West Aussie Glen suggested, no problem with that at all.  Also having fun - NOT - GOOGLING up ' zumo 660 possible faults / problems and solutions'.       

#3 - West Aussie Glen - Thanks for you suggestion to join the 'zumoforums.com' site also. 

#4 - saaz - did you get the time and manage to locate anything like this on that forum ? I hate computers and they hate me back just as much so I usually get nowhere the first half dozen of so attempts to find anything on-line.   

One other headache came up. After chasing around that forum for a few nights, I logged into ZUMO AUSTRALIA' - when throught that for a while and finally plugged the 660 into my NEW HP g6 Laptop (6 week old) and entered - 'Fault Repair '. - 'BEEP from 660, nice little icons of computer and 660 joined together by a cable. Line under icons appeared going from left to right side of 660 screen. - - THEN, the bloody site comes up on my NEW laptop screen telling me here's a fault in the main drive !  AGGGGHHHHHH !      

Telephoned the shop this laptop came from, Hardly Normal, their techie guy said no problem. Just bring it in with the receipt and they'll send it off to HP Australia to be 'looked at'. Expected turn around time - 4 to 6 weeks !      

Currently the ST is stripped down of all it's plastic, welding painting and polishing while I can't put a helmet on for the next 2 weeks due to neck surgery. 
So, until the ST is back together and this laptop is checked over - a whole lost of nothing is happening.   
Going to look up one of my techie genius friends this week and get him to go over this laptop - see what the hell is going on.

THANKS again guys for all you're helpful ideas and suggestions.   

Stay safe and have great rides ! 

Flip. 




 
VAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONM ! (one day again soon hopefully !)

[Biggles]

Wow!  You've sure suffered, Flip.
The biz about wanting to "go home" occurs if you put in a route that includes a point somewhere near home.  As you depart, a dialogue will come up asking whether you want to go to the start point.  It's fatal to say "yes" because for the rest of the journey, it will try to take you back to the start point.  i made that mistake on my first time using the GPS.  If you select "no", it will go along with whatever you do, and try to get you onto the route at some point, in the attempt to get you to your destination.  Just turning it off won't fix the "return to start" problem unless you hit the "stop" icon on the home screen.  Then it will either run a "breadcrumb": trail or execute your "GoTo" if you enter one.  Your second paragraph is in that category.
As I mentioned to Westie Glen, if you're feeling wealthy, Touratech make a dedicated lockable cradle that is hardwired into the bike for power and coms/music.  Attaching that via a lockable RAM knob gives you some protection from a theft for a little while.  It's very easily released by key if you want to take the GPS with you.  Ideal for petrol station turn-arounds etc.

[Flip]

Hi Biggle's,   

SOMEONE up there has it in for me I suspect ! 
Anyhow - I've got about another 2 weeks to work it all out.            
So, not to worry - ONE day it will all work out.   
As far as locking cradles, etc. goes, - - -  well, you have to remember that the ST and all related goodies where purchased a long time BEFORE getting married last year.

Just hoping that day comes before the new wife finally puts her foot down and says " NO MORE MOTORBIKE ! YOU TOO OLD ! "   
She started dropping that 'hint' last year.   
Her idea - " Buy car !  BMW nice ! " My answer is of course - "Yes My DARLING." 

Thinks to self -  SURE ! This from a woman who happily rides though the middle of Sai Gon on her little Honda 150 Lite Blade with no protective clothing except a light weight re-enforced, plastic helmet. Yet totally HATES going into District 1, the center of Saigon in any car, even a taxi ! 

Slowly, very slowly, I'm persuading her that Oz is different and sometimes not such a bad placed to think of moving to live here all the time.    



 
VAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM !  (Every day is one less day to wait !  )