Garmin RV 890 Review and how I include WAZE

[Jim]

Just to clarify WAZE does the up ahead notifications. Think that’s a default.

I understand. But I was just trying to get an understanding on how the app worked and what benefit it provided.

 

[Neal]

Okay, just making sure you weren't expecting this from the Garmin. With the waze app running and either bluetooth connected to your dash radio or via carplay/android auto, it should be announcing any alerts up ahead. This is probably going to occur more on highways as I think truckers are using this intensely in place of CB radios. You may have been in a situation with low activity, keeping in mind the activity comes from other user reports within the app as it's a crowd sourced (social) run system.

 

[Jim]

Okay, just making sure you weren't expecting this from the Garmin. With the waze app running and either bluetooth connected to your dash radio or via carplay/android auto, it should be announcing any alerts up ahead. This is probably going to occur more on highways as I think truckers are using this intensely in place of CB radios. You may have been in a situation with low activity, keeping in mind the activity comes from other user reports within the app as it's a crowd sourced (social) run system.

Yep, we use WAZE in the car via carplay. But this RV doesn't support it so we would have to run it on Trish's (or mine) cell phone. But we didn't as we were wanting to see how the Garmin "Drive" app worked.

But as I said, I guess I"m not using it correctly. For instance, when you activate the app, after you make an account, the app asks you "Where To?". That was a tad bit confusing as we already had a 550 mile trip programmed into the Garmin 890.

It would seem reasonable that the app would have known that we have programmed in a destination. So that's why I'm saying that apparently I'm not using the app right.

 

[Neal]

First thing, I remember a friend used waze and thought it wasn't working to later realize they didn't turn the volume up. After opening waze make sure the volume is full up on the phone.

I don't enter any address in waze, it knows where I am and the road I'm on and the direction of travel and from that gave me up ahead warnings.

 

[AbdRahim]

I've been using the included window suction mount for the first two days but that presented a problem. As I open the window it would hit the USB plug on the left side and would bend it. I imagine I could flip the device over, not sure if orientation is important, haven't tried. But I prefer to use a RAM mount on the dash using an adhesive ball as I used with the Garmin 770. I used the RAM Mount from my iPad Mini (X-Grip large or whatever it is) but discovered a problem with the Garmin RV 890. If you don't use the included mount (magnetic) it knows this and will sleep the device after a period of time if you don't interact with the screen. You can find this setting in the Display / Sleep area. I set it to 30 minutes. Due to my Garmin Drive app forwarding device notifications I will typically have interacted with the screen but twice it went to sleep on me. You have to press the button on the side to wake it again and then it has to recalc the trip, etc. I really would have hoped Garmin would have put a "never" option in this menu. I'm plugged in via USB so it's charging but regardless, if no magnetic mount it will sleep on you.

I called Garmin about the sleep issue. They said you must use the Garmin USB cord to avoid this.

 

[Neal]

I called Garmin about the sleep issue. They said you must use the Garmin USB cord to avoid this.

Incorrect, you must use the magnetic mount as indicated on the sleep screen. With that said, I did not use their USB cable as the one from the 12V will not go into the device as it's a different connector. USB Mini B from 12V to magnetic mount and USB Micro B from mount to device. I used a 12V to USB adapter and ran a cable direct to device. Again, the note on the sleep screen clearly identifies the magnetic mount as the requirement.

Ref USB and USB Micro/Mini Cable Connector Guide | C2G to figure out all the friggin USB fittings

 

[AbdRahim]

Incorrect, you must use the magnetic mount as indicated on the sleep screen. With that said, I did not use their USB cable as the one from the 12V will not go into the device as it's a different connector. USB Mini B from 12V to magnetic mount and USB Micro B from mount to device. I used a 12V to USB adapter and ran a cable direct to device. Again, the note on the sleep screen clearly identifies the magnetic mount as the requirement.

Ref USB and USB Micro/Mini Cable Connector Guide | C2G to figure out all the friggin USB fittings

Yes. I have the 780 and switched to the magnetic mount that came with it.

Yup., things USB have gone nuts.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Hey... @Neal ... guess what?

Garmin RV 1090 | RV GPS Navigator

Garmin RV 1090, is the largest addition to the GPS navigator series with a large 10" display.

buy.garmin.com

You’re no longer current!

Ya gotta love technology. It’s the one thing I can count on being right, 100% of the time by saying “The moment you buy ‘state of the art’, its outdated!”

 

[Neal]

Hey... @Neal ... guess what?

Garmin RV 1090 | RV GPS Navigator

Garmin RV 1090, is the largest addition to the GPS navigator series with a large 10" display.

buy.garmin.com

You’re no longer current!

Ya gotta love technology. It’s the one thing I can count on being right, 100% of the time by saying “The moment you buy ‘state of the art’, its outdated!”

You're fired!

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I believe the RV 890 remains a current product; it was not replaced the RV 1090. Thus, no clearance of old inventory.

The big difference seems to be the 10" screen vs 8" on the RV 890. While nice, there comes a point where the unit becomes too large to comfortably be used in other than a built-in application.

We're still quite satisfied with our RV 890 and have no interest in upgrading to a larger unit. YMMV

TJ

 

[CaptainGizmo]

You're fired!

Dang. Didn’t know I was working...for free, no less! Guess ya get what ya didn’t pay for!
?

 

[Neal]

Today driving on I-10 west about an hour west of Kerrville the 890 got stuck in "Acquiring Satellites". Android was also offering a message to kill the app but I waited a few minutes. It never restored and the unit became unresponsive. I had to hold the left side power button and power off the unit, power it back on again (reboot) and that resolved it. It restored to the route underway.

 

[Neal]

Today another lockup. Left Tucson KOA for a short drive to get an oil change. I had no sound I realized so I tried to change the volume from the controls on the back and got a not responding message shortly thereafter realizing the display was frozen. I asked Siri for directions and CarPlay navigation took over. The device had to be rebooted again. I'll reach out to Garmin. I think their choice of Android 6 was a terrible mistake. Pretty old operating system (they're on 11 now) and far less stable. Android has never been as stable as iOS but newer is always better.

 

[Neal]

I called Garmin, they said replace the unit as I have time with Amazon returns or they could replace it. Says "not normal" but who knows.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

FWIW @Neal, I agree about the Android-based Garamond. I’ve owned or tested them all and, even with all the “benefits” of an OS, the crappy platform of an old Android system is horrible.
And the WORST thing is that ALL Android integrated devices will always be behind the upgrade curve. This fact comes straight from Google, who says they will always give priority to their own licensed devices.

Glad to have Apple in all other things!

 

[Neal]

Leaving this morning the no audio issue occurred again requiring a power cycle. New unit arrives tomorrow. Hope it resolves the issues I've observed.

 

[Neal]

Forgot to follow up on the new RV 890 replacement.

The first leg out the exact same problem occurred, no audio, had to reboot. I think the cause if the smart notifications, just too much noise coming from the iPhone via bluetooth or maybe something with the bluetooth in the iPhone 12 (v5?). There have since been two firmware updates and as such I have NOT had the issue again after the firmware updates. Several legs driven, working great, no audio issues.

I did have the situation again where I lost satellites and had to reboot the system, again not sure if smart notifications caused a problem. Hoping that is a rare situation.

So far the unit is working well, I really don't think the prior unit was defective but obviously in need of firmware tweaks.

One other thing I'd like to share that I really like with the RV 890. In the past I'd get off the interstate to go get gas and then the Garmin would try all kinds of crazy reroutes instead of taking me back to the interstate. This is where you had to use your judgment to get back on course and ignore the garmin and let it recalc when you hit the Interstate again. With the RV 890 and the ability to configure the Up Ahead searches of which I set Truck Stops as my top option I can now search for truck stops along my route such as finding T/A for the best TSD discounts. I then tap the GO option and then I'm asked where to put it in the route and I tell Garmin Add as Next Stop. This puts it up next with my destination after. This then routes me to the gas station then back on course without barking at me for deviating. Today however that caused a problem where I had to use judgment to override as when I arrived at the T/A in Boise it didn't agree I was there so upon leaving it was trying to give me weird routing to take me to that same waypoint for T/A. I knew where I needed to go so I got on I-84W and then stopped the route, went to recent, and selected the campground and let it take me there.

In the end I do like the RV 890 better than the 770. It is a welcome improvement in many ways from traffic integration and the up ahead features. Just some glitches to overcome. Garmin has been putting out both firmware and map updates far more frequently with the RV 890 than the 770. Another map update today.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Neal,

good info. I kind of suspected these results but didn’t want to say anything since you have already initiated a return.

Glad it working better after the updates.

I’d like to suggest you that you give all your feedback to Garmin. As a beta-tester, I can tell you that It helps them refine their firmware and touting algorithms.

thanks!

 

[Neal]

Remember that I spoke with Garmin and they told me it was defective and to replace it. I did describe the issues and of course my concern with Android 6. If anything new pops up I'll reach out to them but they really couldn't offer much the first go'round.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Remember that I spoke with Garmin and they told me it was defective and to replace it. I did describe the issues and of course my concern with Android 6. If anything new pops up I'll reach out to them but they really couldn't offer much the first go'round.

Oh yeah. That’s right. Sorry. Covid Brain Fog here. ?