Garmin 396 LMT-S Review

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
In a couple of words "Frustrating piece of junk". First, Garmin Base Camp, welcome to the early 90's and how software looked and operated. I bought this to use as a GPS on my motorcycle instead of using my phone. After spending 2.7 hours (yes that's not an exaggeration) in BaseCamp, I was able to put together a route for a day trip. The road names are impossible to read and the road overlays are not transparent. The software isn't flexible enough to allow free form route creation. The way that it stores way points and routes is very confusing.

So, I uploaded the trip to the GPS (should be POS), attach it to my bike mount, get geared up, press all of the buttons to tell the GPS what route I want to use and then clicked "GO!". GPS politely says "You have arrived at your destination". What? Wait? Why is this telling me that I've arrived at my destination? Remove GPS from bike, boot up computer and wait for BaseCamp to open. I must have set the destination and return points backwards. Checked everything (I'm a computer engineer by trade) and the route in Basecamp is correct. Deleted the route from the device and re-add it from Basecamp. Start the device and tell it to used said route "You have arrived at your destination". Wasted a total of 5 hours of my life with this thing. If you're still convinced that you want to buy one of these, hit me up, I've got one real cheap. Has a few scratches, dents, some wires are hanging out and it smokes a little bit, but she's cherry! I just purchased a TomTom 550 to replace this steaming pile of ****.

In the end I grabbed my 7 year old cell phone and was able to get the same route without using a computer and/or a dedicated app and was ready to roll in 5 minutes. You would think that Garmin would be better, this is my first dedicated GPS, what a let down. Serious though let me know if you want to buy it. I didn't destroy it, was only joking above.
Yeah.PNGIs that 301..PNG
 
Last edited:

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
On another note, this thing is S....L......O..........W! Takes forever to recalculate a route. My phone is ten times faster and it's 7 years OLD! It's also slow to transfer a route from Basecamp. The hardward looks old judging from the USB port. Garmin should be embarrassed that a 7 year old cell phone outperforms one of their newest devices on the market.
 
Last edited:

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
Another thing I find very annoying is when you have a route on the map way to many of the other roads on the map simply disappear, who the heck ever came up with that idea ?
but it seems like all the GPS’s have Been doing this for years, I have no idea why they seem to think this is what any GPS owner would want.
 

gv550

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Messages
1,335
Location
Listowel, Ontario, Canada
I’ve been using Garmin Zumos for 15 years (550,660,395) and have never needed to plan a route on a computer, and wouldn’t even know how to do it. Just turn on the Zumo, where to, input a destination and waypoints and hit go.
 

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
I’ve been using Garmin Zumos for 15 years (550,660,395) and have never needed to plan a route on a computer, and wouldn’t even know how to do it. Just turn on the Zumo, where to, input a destination and waypoints and hit go.
How would you like to update your Zumo 395 to a Zumo 396? :)
 

Nikolajsen

"Keep it simple"
Joined
Jul 1, 2017
Messages
2,046
Location
Denmark
How would you like to update your Zumo 395 to a Zumo 396? :)
:) sounds like it isn't an "up" date:D:D:D.
Back to serious....I have been using both Garmin and Basecamp for many years...and before Basecamp it was Mapsource..
Basecamp took some time to getting used to, I will admit that, but now I have no trouble.
And I don't experince problem with the Zumo.
One thing that might give you a hard time, is that when startting the route on Zumo, I will ask for next point (I don't really understand why), but this can be the problem for you.
Because it is easy to choise the final destination, instead of the first. My guess is that is what happen for you...
 

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
:) sounds like it isn't an "up" date:D:D:D.
Back to serious....I have been using both Garmin and Basecamp for many years...and before Basecamp it was Mapsource..
Basecamp took some time to getting used to, I will admit that, but now I have no trouble.
And I don't experince problem with the Zumo.
One thing that might give you a hard time, is that when startting the route on Zumo, I will ask for next point (I don't really understand why), but this can be the problem for you.
Because it is easy to choise the final destination, instead of the first. My guess is that is what happen for you...
LOL, yeah, sounds like it would be a big down grade! :) Yup...completely understood about it asking for the next point and did select the next point, even had the points named "Point 1, Point 2, etc.." for that purpose as I found that in a Youtube video. But it just doesn't work. But that leads to another point on the negative review, If I say this route goes to these points in this order, and tell the system to use that route "why" does it ask me the first point? Just doesn't make sense. Another thing that I just noticed. I'm in my office on the computer working with the Garmin and it cannot acquire a SAT signal, my old phone right next to it doesn't have a problem acquiring the SAT signal. How bad is that?
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
I loathe Basecamp. No matter how many tutorials I watch where fans of it tout it as "really simple once you get through the learning curve", I've found it to be the clunkiest, most needlessly difficult piece of mapping software I've ever used. At least three times now I've sat down determined to learn it, spent hours messing with it, created routes that won't transfer accurately to the GPS unit, and given up in frustration. In contrast, Tyre was very intuitive;. after just a short time messing with it, it was simple to create complicated routes. Defenitely a sad day when the old Tyre disappeared. MyRoute is ok, but not nearly as useful as Tyre. I haven't tried the new Tyre yet, since it triggers a warning on my laptop when I try and install it.

I still use a Nuvi 2455 on the bike for navigation. It's been going strong for years now, but I imagine its replacement will be a Duraforce cell phone running Osmand.
 

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
Troya
, I have had several maps up at the same time trying to get around that fault. Google Maps and I pad maps. One road can have 3 routes numbers or names. Real pain in the ass when trying to duplicate a killer route you found. That’s why I route in the winter. Can take my time. When I get frustrated I put it down then pick back up later on when I am re inspired. Keep the task enjoyable. Unfortunately some times I am like a dog with a bone and can’t stop.
Good points, but I'm more of a spontaneous day tripper and big trip planner. I want to be able to map a route in minutes, not over a winter or even an hour. Google maps has it nailed. I wished they allowed you to export to gpx file like in the past, but that is long gone. I'm really leaning toward dumping the whole idea of a dedicated GPS and stick with my phone. Life is a lot easier, faster, and charmed, but I'm always worried about the vibration and rain getting to the phone that I've used for years and refuse to upgrade or replace.
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
That sounds like a great combo, although I'm not familiar with Osmand.
It's a mapping app for smart phones, using Open Street Maps. I have it on my Motorola z3 as a backup for the Nuvi. I've actually never used the phone itself to plan a route;. I just use MyRoute to plan the route, then upload the GPX file to Osmand on my phone. One huge advantage to Osmand is that it can read the GPX file for the MABDR right from the MABDR website, without any tedious editing. I spent a LOT of time creating a MABDR route that could be read by a Nuvi.
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
MyRoute also has a phone app. I imagine you could use it to quickly plan a route on your phone, upload the resulting GPX file to the cloud (or email it to yourself), then download the GPX file into Osmand and get turn my turn directions. For me, that would be easier than using Osmand itself to plan a route, since I'm really familiar with MyRoute.
 

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
Is there a mapping APP out there that works like Google Maps? I really don't want to spend time creating waypoints and favorites, blah, blah blah. I just want to put in a start and stop point then be able to drag the route to the different roads that I want to use.
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
MyRoute will do it. In fact, it uses Google maps. It's web based though, so you need to be able to get online to use it.
 

troya

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL.
I must be missing something, because I'm on the MyRoute site for the past 15 minutes trying to do that very thing and I can find a tool that allows me to adjust the route by dragging it. Any tips you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
You could also try Furkot. I've used it in the past, and you can drag routes on there as I recall


I've never tried using an unpaid version of MyRoute, so I'm pretty useless there. I bought a subscription to it.

If MyRoute isn't to your liking, try Tyre to Travel. I always used the free version, and it worked well. It's still free, but now you have to obtain an API key from Google to use it. I haven't tried that yet, since my computer doesn't like me trying to download it.
 

regder

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2017
Messages
466
Location
Toronno
I've been a Garmin GPS user on the bike for 10+ years (various old Streetpilot 2720/2820, now Zumo 595), Basecamp is and has always been a steaming pile of poop. I can at this point reasonably plot a route using it, only taking a bit longer than on Google Maps, but it's still a pain. I just can't understand how a company can design such an obviously poorly designed piece of software. It's workable, but I still can't use it without swearing at least once or twice.

There are ways to plot a route in Google Maps and convert it to gpx, but I have never found them reliable enough. Too many times doing it that way, the GPS will say to go off the main road onto a parallel road for 0.5km, then rejoin the main road. Slight differences in GPS co-ordinates between Google and Garmin create a headache when you're on the road.

Saying that, there are no good alternatives to a Garmin gps for me. Tried to use my iPhone on one trip, trying various recommended apps, ordered my Zumo 595 as soon as I got back.

Various features I use regularly on my 595, that I haven't found a direct replacement for on a phone in one package. As in one app, not having to flip through various apps on my phone.

- Live weather radar overlaid on my route, proved invaluable on a recent trip to Deals Gap, was chased by a massive storm cell the last 800km's, stayed right ahead of it with the radar. Also gives you a three hour weather report by location of where you'll be on your route.
- Live traffic. Greatly improved this year compared to last year. Amazing to get live traffic incidents allowing a detour instead of sitting in traffic.
- Detour by road. GPS has you plotted on a road that you want to avoid for whatever reason (construction, tolls, accident, etc)? Garmin allows you to avoid that specific road.
- Simple to add, remove, and reorder waypoints on your route while on the fly
- Can control my music library on my phone from the GPS. Also gives me album art on the screen
- Altitude forecast based on your route. Are you near the highest point of the mountain road you're on? You can see that
- Reconfigurable screen data displays. Very nice to configure the screen exactly to my liking
- Built in TPMS with the optional and expensive Garmin TPMS sensors
- Of course it's waterproof and compatible with all gloves. Software is designed to be used with gloves

It's far from perfect. There are numerous things that could be improved, such as the aforementioned Basecamp. As an overall package though it's indispensable for me
 

Ressie

New Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Messages
6
Location
South Yorkshire
Ive got a zumo 660 on the advice of one of the members on my riding group, he downloads gpx files to our facebook page where we can download them for when we are out on a group ride. When I go out by myself I use my phone and an app called calimoto.
Calimoto has a ton of features, one of which is the round route function where you can input the length of ride you want, how twisty or not you want and if you wish you can also specify in which greneral direction you'd like to head. I've found it really simple and its took me down some amazing roads that I didnt even realise were there.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
There is a learning curve for Basecamp. It's the gold standard for routing and planning out routes and tracks once you learn it. I will say it interfaces with my Mac a lot better than a Windows based computer.

I'm finding more and more that I'm enjoying my "routes" much better than simple tracks. With tracks you turn off all the maps and just follow the track. With routes I'm able to listen to the turn for turn without glancing down. It's very helpful when you are standing up off road.

Just focus on the features you need and use the most. You will then enjoy Basecamp a lot more. Phone based apps are horrible IMO. Very unreliable and signals drop off with no warning. Once you get used to the Garmin products there is no going back. It's simply the most reliable and solid choice of mapping out your travels. It's second only to paper maps and dead reckoning with landmarks and compass.

I have a few friends who still use Mapsource. If you shop around on Ebay you can still find it and download it for use. It lacks almost all the features of Basecamp. OTOH it's so simple, a child with third grade education can figure out how to use it.

I suggest you embrace and learn to use Basecamp. Garmin even has simple tutorials that can guide you through its use. I too was frustrated when I got it. Now it's just second nature for me to use. It even interfaces with Google Earth so you can see the terrain. I don't use Google Earth unless I'm doing an extreme event in the rocks or nasty single track. Those days are long gone.......
 
Top