Garmin Zumo 660 - 4.4 in. GPS Receiver
- Form Factor: Fixed
- Map capabilities: Internal
- Screen Size: 4.4 in.
- GPS Type: Handheld (Outdoor)
- Input Method: Touch Screen
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Not perfect, but best MC GPS in current market
Pros
Fast search engine, BlueTooth and AutoCom support. Standard Garmin interface.
Cons
Single volume setting for directions and phone. Poor website design for updates.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The best MC GPS on the market, but expensive.
I purchased the Zumo 660 last Spring. Setup was simple, but the bolts provided would not allow me to install on my BMW1200C handlebars. A quick trip to the hardware store for some 1.5" bolts solved this problem. Attachment of cables to battery and AutoCom interface took 10 minutes. All in all, a much easier installation than expected.
My main reason for selecting the Zumo was the BlueTooth feature so that I could accept my wife's phone calls. (Spouses seem to believe 24/7 instant answer is in the marriage vows...)
To this I should add: To use a BlueTooth phone through AutoCom via the Nuvi requires that the phone have TWO connections: BlueTooth with the Zumo and the normal phone plug to the AutoCom! You will not get sound/microphone through the AutoCom via the Zumo; the Zumo provides only the notification/keypad interface in this design. (It took a very careful read of the schematics and specifications to deduce why I wasn't getting voice across the AutoCom.)
Updating the maps, however, was a tortuous task. First, I had difficulty getting the Garmin add-on to recognize the Zumo. After several attempts, they linked up. Then, the map upgrade was not available in my account, because the book instructed me to enter a 16-character code not present in the box. An email to support revealed the code was no longer necessary and the file should have been available. The help desk added the maps to my account.
Updating then proceeded uneventfully and took about 10 minutes.
4 months later I purchased the lifetime update program. The maps file takes 10 minutes to unpack, then it tells me it is corrupted. I'll wait for the next update and try again. This issue is with Garmin's cludgy website and not the Zumo itself. It must be a GPS thing, because the TomTom site is little better.
The Zumo interface is like any Nuvi. The search engine is impressively faster than my wife's TomTom.
The screen, as others mention, washes out in direct sunlight. It is still readable, with difficulty, with a tinted visor. There is no problem for me in my car, as the Zumo is not exposed to direct sunlight.
I particularly appreciated the separate options remembered for MC, Auto, and Walking. The Zumo recognizes the different states automatically; you do not need to change modes manually when you move the Zumo between your MC or auto.
Battery life is about six hours for me when walking. However, if I need to walk six hours, I should've taken the MC.
Directions and screen indicators are intuitive and easy to read.
There are very few user-configurable settings. For example, if you like to "tweak" your icon, there is a mechanism but few additional icons.
The BlueTooth setup is straightforward. While others have complained that the Zumo did not recognize their phone if the devices were not activated in proper order, I have not had this issue. It doesn't matter which device I start first - they pair automatically and disconnect automatically when one shuts off.
I like the cover for the Zumo's MC mount. Unfortunately, my daughter lost the cover just weeks after I opened the box.
A friend has the Zumo 550. The only real difference I see is a larger screen and the new MC keypad and keyboard. I find the MC keyboard a great improvement; I can actually use the GPS while riding. (No, I don't usually, but if a call comes in it is very easy to accept without distraction.)
My main reason for selecting the Zumo was the BlueTooth feature so that I could accept my wife's phone calls. (Spouses seem to believe 24/7 instant answer is in the marriage vows...)
To this I should add: To use a BlueTooth phone through AutoCom via the Nuvi requires that the phone have TWO connections: BlueTooth with the Zumo and the normal phone plug to the AutoCom! You will not get sound/microphone through the AutoCom via the Zumo; the Zumo provides only the notification/keypad interface in this design. (It took a very careful read of the schematics and specifications to deduce why I wasn't getting voice across the AutoCom.)
Updating the maps, however, was a tortuous task. First, I had difficulty getting the Garmin add-on to recognize the Zumo. After several attempts, they linked up. Then, the map upgrade was not available in my account, because the book instructed me to enter a 16-character code not present in the box. An email to support revealed the code was no longer necessary and the file should have been available. The help desk added the maps to my account.
Updating then proceeded uneventfully and took about 10 minutes.
4 months later I purchased the lifetime update program. The maps file takes 10 minutes to unpack, then it tells me it is corrupted. I'll wait for the next update and try again. This issue is with Garmin's cludgy website and not the Zumo itself. It must be a GPS thing, because the TomTom site is little better.
The Zumo interface is like any Nuvi. The search engine is impressively faster than my wife's TomTom.
The screen, as others mention, washes out in direct sunlight. It is still readable, with difficulty, with a tinted visor. There is no problem for me in my car, as the Zumo is not exposed to direct sunlight.
I particularly appreciated the separate options remembered for MC, Auto, and Walking. The Zumo recognizes the different states automatically; you do not need to change modes manually when you move the Zumo between your MC or auto.
Battery life is about six hours for me when walking. However, if I need to walk six hours, I should've taken the MC.
Directions and screen indicators are intuitive and easy to read.
There are very few user-configurable settings. For example, if you like to "tweak" your icon, there is a mechanism but few additional icons.
The BlueTooth setup is straightforward. While others have complained that the Zumo did not recognize their phone if the devices were not activated in proper order, I have not had this issue. It doesn't matter which device I start first - they pair automatically and disconnect automatically when one shuts off.
I like the cover for the Zumo's MC mount. Unfortunately, my daughter lost the cover just weeks after I opened the box.
A friend has the Zumo 550. The only real difference I see is a larger screen and the new MC keypad and keyboard. I find the MC keyboard a great improvement; I can actually use the GPS while riding. (No, I don't usually, but if a call comes in it is very easy to accept without distraction.)
