Thread: Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Alexa questions/issues

I got a new car that has Android Auto and frankly I hate it. So back to Garmin, I have an older model in my other car that works great.

Initial impressions, the screen is gorgeous. The touch screen is also excellent. The navigation sounds are clear and much better than my older Garmin.

First off why can't I charge this from a USB port in the house? It refuses to charge. It recognizes there is power and will run from it but won't charge. And my USB charger has plenty of amps, it's a 5 port model from Anker.

Alexa well I don't know. I am a Google Home person and so far Alexa refuses to output her voice on the Garmin, I have to switch inputs on the car to hear Alexa. I told the Alexa wizard that I do not play media on my phone to the car and it said Alexa would play on the Garmin which is does not. I went into the settings and it shows Garmin Device (device speaker or AUX) but that's not where it's going.

In the house when it's not connected to the car Alexa is speaking through my cell phone which I also don't want. There's got to be a way to keep all the audio on the Garmin.

I did update the DriveSmart to the latest firmware.

None of those articles are any help, I hear my Garmin fine via the Garmin speaker, it's just Alexa. Alexa is ignoring the setting.

I am using the USB cable that came with the Garmin. It powers up the Garmin (even when the battery is stone dead). But it refuses to charge it. I tried another USB power brick I have that delivers 3 amps and same issue. Plug it into the car adapter from the car and it charges.