Does the Garmin 396 just suck?

[Lightcycle]

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Ok so I've been using the 396 on/off throughout the week and I do like having it available. I mainly keep the map on and use it to see street names and speed limits as I go. Also appreciate the notifications about upcoming speed changes and/or school zones. (And sometimes I just turn it off and explore areas old school.)

A few points:

- it still likes to lead me to a one-way street near my place and wants me to go the wrong way on it
- also seems to have no current info about any road closings, of which there are several in my area, being summertime, etc; I've made sure it's connected to my phone for traffic updates, doesn't seem to matter
- it sometimes just gets totally f'd up and just calls every street "road" (like it's exhausted/wasted and just can't be bothered to name anything )
- running audio through it, ie. my phone for music, and then to my in-ears, sounds god-awful and is completely unusable; it's a massive drop in sound quality and even has regular static/distortion, like it's clipping
- I think my main use for it will be the live map + speed limit info, along with occasional trip usage in adventure mode; if I'm listening to music I'll just run that straight from my phone and have no voice instructions from the 396, just use the screen info

Most of these problems sound like mapping issues rather than 396 issues. The same map on *any* GPS will yield the same results. Make sure all your maps are updated, and if that doesn't work, try aftermarket maps. The best are the OpenStreetMap based ones, like OpenChest.

For real-time traffic updates, I've found that Canada is very low-priority when it comes to feeding in data via the Garmin Connect.

I run a 396 on my dirtbike, along with a Zumo XT on my street rides. You are right, the audio quality on the 396 sucks balls. Sounds like AM radio.

Other than that, I see no other routing differences between the 396 and XT.

 

[83Virago]

Most of these problems sound like mapping issues rather than 396 issues. The same map on *any* GPS will yield the same results. Make sure all your maps are updated, and if that doesn't work, try aftermarket maps. The best are the OpenStreetMap based ones, like OpenChest.

Yes, the maps are updated. Thanks for the OpenStreetMap tip, will check that out!

 

[Brian P]

^ is a non GPS user except on trips to foreign lands. Google Maps (sometimes via Android Auto) mostly does what I need it to do.

Recent experience with a TomTom in the UK found it to be terrible at finding stuff except via postcode (which in the UK will get you within sight of your destination - a few tens of metres away at most).

Finding somewhere by name or address required using Google to find the address with postcode and entering that into the TomTom. There was once where this led me within sight of the entrance to a shopping plaza and I had to use Google Maps to find where it was within the plaza.

Had same type of experience with BMW navigation in Spain except without the postcode system. Had to fish lat and long out of Google. (Had to figure out how to do that!)

I'm not impressed.

 

[Max527]

This year I have switched to an Android Auto/Carplay screen purchased off Aliexpress. My favorite gadget purchase to date. Turn on bike, automatically connects to my Samsung and Google maps pops up. Live traffic and radio starts playing through my headset. Only $150.

 

[83Virago]

Ok, I've spent a few weeks with the 396 and now I actually love it.

It definitely has its quirks, but overall it's become an essential part of my riding setup. Love its small size too, it fits perfectly on my SCL500. Love its build quality as well, it's a tough, rugged little bugger. Has been in torrential downpours and not missed a beat.

 

[Gaoler]

My 396 has served me well.
I haven't experienced any of the issues OP has mentioned.
I often use Basecamp to create routes, and although kinda clumsy to navigate, it works.

I think were spoiled though... Does anyone remember the days all we had was a paper map you could never fold back up properly?

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