Garmin Drivesmart and Entune

hi,
I am thinking of getting a Garmin DriveSmart 60-LMT. I have Entune "connected" in my Taco.
The connected Scout app is far short of acceptable.

With Bluetooth I am able to hear my paired iPhone when using Google Maps but ONLY if
I have the iPhone selected as the source. The Google maps notifications do not seem to interrupt
the other sources (like FM/CD etc) to hear the turn notifications on the car speakers.
That sucks. But maybe it is a limitation of the Bluetooth protocol my old iPhone 4S is using.

Does anyone have experience with Garmin DrivesSmart bluetooth and can they get it to deliver its turn notifications thru the Enturne car speakers INTERRUPTING THE SOURCE, whatever it may be.
It is useless having to select the iPhone source to hear Garmin notifications (like my iPhone requires when using Google maps).

Thanks...phil
PS. I have searched and saw some talk of Entune not supporting the interruption of sources but
I am not sure I understand or if the posters really understood.

 

by default garmin outputs sound thru the unit speaker not thru BT. I have never seen an option to output via BT.

 

the only thing you can adjust volume wise is the level for navigation, prompts or phone calls. no option to redirect the output to a different transport medium.

 

thanks for the replies. sucks that garmin bluetooth is only useful for phone. i have entune for phone thru the car speakers.
drivesmart series gets you voice recognition and bluetooth. since bluetooth is useless, voice recognition is not worth double the price of the drive series.
i'll go cheap with drive series and throw it away if a better option presents itself (more likely use it in my camping van).

btw: Ebay seller Buydig (new jersey) $109.99 "buy it now" a NEW Garmin Drive Series (no bluetooth or voice recog) 60-LMT (6" screen with junction view and lifetime free US maps with lifetime free traffic receiver).
traffic does not need a phone which is where Garmin is going with new models. get it while you can.

offloading everything onto the phone/data plan is getting pretty cheezy. ie. scout, garmin traffic.

 

the only issue is that if the person selling is not an authorized dealer, warranty work is null and void, hence the cheap price. personally I am looking for a drivesmart but I want the BT aspect as I use the live track for when I go on long trips so the wife can track so see if I arrive at my destination (winter roads are brutal here in ND). mom tracks us when we go visit so they know about when we arrive (we live about 1700 miles away).

I use the garmin smartlink app on my phone to transfer live info the garmin unit.

I also use voice commands while driving especially during big city traffic so I can keep attention on my situational awareness.

 

after rummaging around i decided to go for the Garmin DriveSmart 61 NA LMT-S. $135 7" screen and bluetooth and voice recog. its a refurb though.
turns out there are 3 traffic options (the options are ridiculous from garmin - need a phd to figure it all out).
1. smartlink app for the best traffic as you mentioned. (free phone app - i think there are subscriptions required but there may be a freebie by default - not sure)
2. HD traffic with the appropriate antenna/power cord (GTM 60) expensive accessory (rcvr built in)
3. traffic with the appropriate antenna/power cord (GTM 36) expensive accessory (rcvr built in)
freaky i can type those options from memory - really had to study up on this before i pulled the trigger.

this is also sold by same outfit in NJ (BUYDIG). i have talked to them and they are top rate.

i disagree about warranty. 1 yr manufacturer warranty on manufacturer refurb. normally refurbs scare me but over 400 happy purchasers and only one unhappy
and i am sure BUYDIG will make it good for him.

i only want simple traffic and would rather not use phone app so i will look for antenna/rcvr but if you are happy with phone app then you will be good to go.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-DriveSmart-61-NA-LMT-S-GPS-w-Smart-Features/312152033550?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160727114228&meid=7b7da8c943f14ace8c7e8ab85fec4258&pid=100290&rk=2&rkt=4&mehot=pp&sd=331773530838&itm=312152033550&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

lol turning into a garmin/ebay thread.

edit: i will post when it arrives and eat my words or gloat

 

I've bought a couple things on eBay from Buydig and happy with what I received but never had a need to use the warranty.

 

Use the Life360 app. My wife uses it to track me when I ride mountain bikes. I'm getting old.

 

I used glympse (android app) until I got the livetrack feature on garmin.