Garmin Street Pilot 2730 vs. 2610

[km5bh]

I bought a Garmin 2730 last week when the unit’s price dropped to $559 on Amazon. I have a 2610 that I’ve just sent to Garmin to get the screen replaced. It was starting to de-laminate.



I am finding that the screen is a lot less readable on the 2730 in daylight than the 2610 was.



It ranges from just about half as bright as the 2610 to totally unreadable if the sun is directly behind me. Has anyone noticed this with their 2730?



Another problem that really messes with me is FM transmitter. It doesn’t have a strong enough signal to overcome the electronic hash that the bike and other stations produce. The 2730 is replacing a Delphi SkyFi II as my XM receiver. The SkiFi has enough signal to produce a clean signal. I was really looking forward to getting rid of one piece of electronic gear adorning the shelf above my instrument cluster. I have all the volumes in the settings turned up to 100%. Anyone have any advice for me?



I have sent an email off to Garmin about the problems I am having, but this close to Christmas it may be a while before I hear from them so any comments will be appreciated.



Lewis

[messenger13]

I am finding that the screen is a lot less readable on the 2730 in daylight than the 2610 was.

It ranges from just about half as bright as the 2610 to totally unreadable if the sun is directly behind me. Has anyone noticed this with their 2730?Odd. I find that my 2720 is more readible during the day and/or night than my 2610 was. You do know that there is an auto/manual setting for the display's brightness, correct? Being the control freak that I am, I tend to keep my 2720 on manual, and just set the brightness as needed.

[wilbar00c]

I also note that the low sun angles of December make my 2730 unreadable with the sun to the rear. If my head blocks out the sun, then it is fine. I did not have a notable problem this past summer. I wonder if the light sensor is involved, but you would think it would kick up to full brightness from the panel glare.

I do not use the FM feature because in Conn we have wall to wall FM stations and my unused stations keep becoming active. I have the Baehr system and use the "Audio Out" port thru a Baehr cable. Then I play with the settings, General/Audio/Output/Jack/(headphones)or (Line out). The volume and noise can vary based on the setting I use. With ear plugs, max on the XM is much less than the bike radio or CD player volume available.
Tell us what setup you have to listen with?

[km5bh]

Odd. I find that my 2720 is more readible during the day and/or night than my 2610 was. You do know that there is an auto/manual setting for the display's brightness, correct? Being the control freak that I am, I tend to keep my 2720 on manual, and just set the brightness as needed.

There is an auto manual setting. I have it on manual and it is at 100%. When I switch it to Auto it dims by about 50%.

Lewis

[lord_helmet]

I also note that the low sun angles of December make my 2730 unreadable with the sun to the rear. If my head blocks out the sun, then it is fine. I did not have a notable problem this past summer. I wonder if the light sensor is involved, but you would think it would kick up to full brightness from the panel glare.


After a day's ride today in bright California sun I kinda agree with 'Barney', that the 2730 display is not quite as readable as the 2610 (even with 100% brightness in manual mode) when there is sun glare on the screen.
One reason maybe that the 2610 has both brightness and contrast adjustments whereas the 2730 only has brightness control. At 100% brightness the colors on the 2730 seem washed out making the screen less legible than the 2610's.

[BMWphreak]

I also note that the low sun angles of December make my 2730 unreadable with the sun to the rear. If my head blocks out the sun, then it is fine. I did not have a notable problem this past summer. I wonder if the light sensor is involved, but you would think it would kick up to full brightness from the panel glare.

I do not use the FM feature because in Conn we have wall to wall FM stations and my unused stations keep becoming active. I have the Baehr system and use the "Audio Out" port thru a Baehr cable. Then I play with the settings, General/Audio/Output/Jack/(headphones)or (Line out). The volume and noise can vary based on the setting I use. With ear plugs, max on the XM is much less than the bike radio or CD player volume available.
Tell us what setup you have to listen with?

I have had/got the same situation as Barnett and also went from a 2610 to a 2730. BTW, the 2nd week I had the 2730, I got the same "fog" build up in the middle of the screen as I occasionally got on the 2610. Using the 2730 in Phoenix for a month seems to have cured it!