5 year old Garmin RV 780 giving me fits

[bcoldpro]

I have a 5 year old Garmin RV 780 that all of a sudden has started to become unreliable. I update it every time I am about to take a long road trip over the last two trips. Once, it totally stopped allowing me to enter my next destination at Gold Beach Oregon for an intended route to Bend Oregon and further east to Yellowstone. Along that line it worked at times, at other times not.

Most recent trip from San Diego home base to Bishop California it would not take the initial route north. The unit worked again from Bishop to South Lake Tahoe. Upon leaving South Lake Tahoe it would not show me the same return route. Only a more difficult route out back to 395.

Is my unit just getting to old and outdated? Am I missing something about it's function? Luckily I had just upgraded to a new iPhone and was able to back up my route using the mapping on my iPhone for directions.

Time for a new unit?

 

[Eagle5]

Are you on the latest version of Garmin Express? For my Window 7 PC, I am on version 7.18.4.0. I wonder if somehow software updates are not being installed on your RV 780

 

[Pointyears]

Are you on the latest version of Garmin Express? For my Window 7 PC, I am on version 7.18.4.0. I wonder if somehow software updates are not being installed on your RV 780

I can't help commenting on the irony of you giving software advice when you're using a version of Windows that went end of life last decade....

 

[OnTheGo]

I can't help commenting on the irony of you giving software advice when you're using a version of Windows that went end of life last decade....

I use Windows 11 and Mac Sequoia for most of my computing needs. OTOH, I still have Windows 7 on an an old computer and use it for Garmin and nothing else. It was the last effective (for me, anyway) and user-friendly software to program Garmin navigators.

 

[OnTheGo]

I have a 5 year old Garmin RV 780 that all of a sudden has started to become unreliable. I update it every time I am about to take a long road trip over the last two trips. Once, it totally stopped allowing me to enter my next destination at Gold Beach Oregon for an intended route to Bend Oregon and further east to Yellowstone. Along that line it worked at times, at other times not.

Most recent trip from San Diego home base to Bishop California it would not take the initial route north. The unit worked again from Bishop to South Lake Tahoe. Upon leaving South Lake Tahoe it would not show me the same return route. Only a more difficult route out back to 395.

Is my unit just getting to old and outdated? Am I missing something about it's function? Luckily I had just upgraded to a new iPhone and was able to back up my route using the mapping on my iPhone for directions.

Time for a new unit?

It could be your navigator, but more likely the software running it. Try re-setting it, and if that doesn't work call Garmin CS. I use a nuvi version that is at least 15 years old because my newer DriveSmart version doesn't function as well.

I have always planned my trips on BaseCamp and uploaded it to a navigator. The old navigators used the route turn-by-turn. The DriveSmart will accept the uploaded route, and then try and take me a different way.
I've worked with Garmin technical support and they tell me it will function as it once did, but they can't tell me how to do it.

This is an observation and not a "swipe" at Garmin: I don't think Garmin puts as much into their navigators as they once did. I think they lost too many users to mobile phones. Bottom Line: you have to use obsolete hardware and software, if you have it, to accomplish setting and following personally created routes.

 

[Eagle5]

I can't help commenting on the irony of you giving software advice when you're using a version of Windows that went end of life last decade....

But Microsoft still supports Windows 7 with updates.
I guess I shouldn't tell you I'm using a 15 year old computer, and the browser upon which I am typing this message is SeaMonkey, which is the old Netscape browser.
P.S. I also use a flip-phone!
P.P.S. When I learned to program, it was on Punch-cards, and we used Fortran 1966

 

[Pointyears]

What does it mean if Windows isn't supported? - Microsoft Support

Learn what it means if you have an older version of Windows that's no longer supported.

support.microsoft.com

 

[Eagle5]

What does it mean if Windows isn't supported? - Microsoft Support

Learn what it means if you have an older version of Windows that's no longer supported.

support.microsoft.com

I have a friend (much younger than me) who currently works for Microsoft. They are still providing critical security updates for Windows 7, and I still receive those updates.
It is more important to watch what people do, rather than what they say.
Eagle5

 

[bcoldpro]

Are you on the latest version of Garmin Express? For my Window 7 PC, I am on version 7.18.4.0. I wonder if somehow software updates are not being installed on your RV 780

I see that connecting my device for updates it's recommended to connect it wirelessly vs. plugging it into my computer. I'll have to explore that more as I am not familiar how to do that, so far I've only completed my updates by plugging my RV 780 into my computer for that process. I have noted that if my Garmin RV 780 is not fully charged, the updates don't seem to take.

 

[Eagle5]

I believe plugging your Garmin into your computer is the best way to make updates. Another thing is to not physically move your your Garmin during the update, in case your cable connection is possibly getting loose. After five years, it is possible that the receptacle on the 780 itself is getting a little worn.
When running Garmin Express, it should tell you when software updates are available, which should only take a minute to execute when needed.
What version of Garmin Express do you have?
<Settings/About>

 

[bcoldpro]

I believe plugging your Garmin into your computer is the best way to make updates. Another thing is to not physically move your your Garmin during the update, in case your cable connection is possibly getting loose. After five years, it is possible that the receptacle on the 780 itself is getting a little worn.
When running Garmin Express, it should tell you when software updates are available, which should only take a minute to execute when needed.
What version of Garmin Express do you have?
<Settings/About>

Heck if I know.10.2.0?

 

[dkoldman]

I have had a RV890 for five years, I believe at the beginning I had to use a desktop to update but it always update while in the RV via wifi. I try so hard to like my Garmin but hate it. It does some good stuff when it works but it too unreliable for my needs. My vitriol is around Garmin Drive. After 5 years of same problem and 100s of updates, I am tired of it randoning connecting and disconnecting. Worse, it knows it is not connected so it gives you message to connect to your phone also knowing that you are driving. But let say you stop or try to fiddle with it, there is no way to connect Garmin Drive You either have the app running or you don't. So basically, you just have to wait for it randomly reconnect itself. I have newest phones, bluetooth and WiFi. Gramin knows of these issues, but apparently can't fix. I will never buy another one.

But if you ask Garmin, all they say is the below.

Troubleshooting:

• Ensure your Garmin device is connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth and that the Garmin Drive app or Smartphone Link app is properly configured.
  
  
• Make sure your phone has a stable internet connection and that your device is within the coverage area.
  
  
• If you experience issues, try restarting your phone and Garmin device, closing unnecessary apps, or checking for software updates.
  
  
• You can also consult the Garmin support website or user manuals for troubleshooting tips.

 

[RVSpirit26T]

I had a similar issue with the Garmin RV 785 starting to not work like it used to after a couple of years.
For me it started to have a difficult time finding satellites and showing current location on the map.

After speaking with Garmin, they advised a hard reset to clear the cache, memory and anything that might be corrupted. If that doesn't work you can do a factory reset, but it will delete your personal information.
I have never connected it to a computer, use the wifi to do all the updates after the reset.

The Garmin has been working like new ever since do the hard reset, without needing a factory reset.

 

[Morich]

Any of the newer items involving machine thinking tend to be pushed out to market way too soon and they use us as test subjects!
I loved the first GPS I got but it had lots of bugs and very limited as it had a tiny screen. I swapped it out as soon as I saw a larger screen and it was a Garmin and I do still stick with the Garmin line as it is what I know.
But now, I see Garmin updates as very slow and often too late getting new maps before I have already been there!
So my current thinking is leading me toward going Android Auto for the more frequent, almost instant, info it provides.
Waze, I could do without!

But that also is still evolving and has many things I will no longer be considering after my last trip and trying to use it instead of the Garmin.
One of the first things I noticed was it got new features and updates much quicker. That sounds good for simple maps but not good at all if I find I have to learn a different method to get that info every time they change their mind!
Then it also tends to be full of garbage features that I will never use, much like new PC.

They know that they have us cornered and if we want to use their product, we have to put up with what they sell us!

 

[OnTheGo]

Remember GIGO? It was the term used frequently back in the days when we were getting adjusted to having computers as part of daily life. In the above post, Morich uses the word "garbage". GIGO is more appropriate now than it ever has been.

 

[Romer1]

Try Tom Tom Go. Been using it for years. Found it more accurate years ago than Garmin .

GO Expert App | TomTom

GPS app, a route planner with live traffic & speed camera alerts. Turn your phone into a TomTom device.

www.tomtom.com

 

[bcoldpro]

Try Tom Tom Go. Been using it for years. Found it more accurate years ago than Garmin .

GO Expert App | TomTom

GPS app, a route planner with live traffic & speed camera alerts. Turn your phone into a TomTom device.

www.tomtom.com

Does th Tom Tom Go allow you to put in your rig size and type like Garmin for best routing?

 

[Romer1]

Yes, if you upgrade to the Truck app. Think it adds about $20 a year.

 

[SocioSam]

I have a 5 year old Garmin RV 780 that all of a sudden has started to become unreliable. I update it every time I am about to take a long road trip over the last two trips. Once, it totally stopped allowing me to enter my next destination at Gold Beach Oregon for an intended route to Bend Oregon and further east to Yellowstone. Along that line it worked at times, at other times not.

Most recent trip from San Diego home base to Bishop California it would not take the initial route north. The unit worked again from Bishop to South Lake Tahoe. Upon leaving South Lake Tahoe it would not show me the same return route. Only a more difficult route out back to 395.

Is my unit just getting to old and outdated? Am I missing something about it's function? Luckily I had just upgraded to a new iPhone and was able to back up my route using the mapping on my iPhone for directions.

Time for a new unit?

Same problem for us. Ours has a chip that downloads new maps. They no longer download maps. The unit is built into our dash. Probably expensive to install a new one.

 

[Pointyears]

Does th Tom Tom Go allow you to put in your rig size and type like Garmin for best routing?

Might I point out that RVLife Pro, the peeps who make this site possible, does exactly that? And fully Apple CarPlay/Android auto capable.