Figure 8: Garmin nuvi 780 Windshield Suction-cup Mount

Garmin consistently does a better job with its mounting hardware than its competitors, and the nuvi 780 is no exception.

The nuvi 780 is mounted in the windshield using a suction-cup mount and quick-release cradle (shown below) that snaps onto the end of the mount, forming a joint that can be rotated into the desired viewing angle.

This ball-and-socket style mount has proven very effective for Garmin, and is used on all new nuvi and StreetPilot GPS units. Garmin's well designed mount is easy to use and holds the unit firmly in place while driving.

The suction mount is locked into place by lowering the lever on the mount.

Figure 9: nuvi 780's Cradle, Front

The cradle provides for quick docking/undocking of the nuvi from the windshield.

Figure 10: Nuvi's Powered Windshield Mount

Note that the 12v power cable connects to the cradle, the GPS directly, so there's no need to fumble with the cable when mounting or unmounting the GPS.

Figure 11: nuvi 780's Cradle, Left

The left side of the cradle has a microphone input jack. The nuvi 780 has an internal microphone, but the use of an optional external microphone can improve the hands-free speakerphone quality. When using the internal microphone, some callers reported hearing their own voice echo. Voice echo worsened when using the internal FM transmitter to pipe the audio through the car's stereo system. The echo was eliminated when using an external microphone instead of the GPS' internal mic. Garmin sells an external microphone for around $15.

Figure 12: nuvi 780's Cradle, Rear

The mount has a socket at the rear that snaps onto the ball of the suction mount. The button at the bottom of the mount releases the nuvi 780 from the cradle.

Figure 13: nuvi 780's Cradle, Right

The cigarette lighter power adapter connects to the right side of the cradle rather than the unit itself. So once the mount is in place, you don't have to worry about the power cable; just connect the nuvi to the mount and you're ready to go.

This is an improvement from older generation nuvis, which had the power connector located at the bottom of the cradle instead of the side. The new side-location of the power connector is easier to see. Also, the previous design was cumbersome for those using a friction mount, as there was barely enough clearance between the cradle and the dashboard.

Figure 14: nuvi 780's Windshield Mount and Cradle, Assembled

The beauty of Garmin's windshield mounting hardware is its simplicity. With almost no moving parts to break, this mount is economical, simple, small, and highly effective.

Connecting the cradle to the mount is simply a matter of pressing firmly on the mount until the ball snaps into the socket on the cradle.

Figure 15: Removing the nuvi's Cradle from the Mount

To remove the cradle, simply twist the cradle to the right or left until it snaps off the mount.

Figure 16: nuvi 780 Attached to the Windshield Mount

Garmin's mounting hardware outstanding; the windshield mount holds the nuvi firmly in place without any visible vibration when driving. The ball-and-socket style connector holds the unit just firmly enough to hold it in place, while still making it easy to adjust the nuvi's position if needed. Another advantage of this type of mount is that there are no screws to tighten/loosen when you want to adjust the position, making one-handed adjustments easy.

Good mounting hardware seems to elude most GPS manufacturers, so Garmin deserves high praise for consistently making excellent windshield mounting hardware.

Figure 17: MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable

The MSN Direct receiver is integrated into the included 12v power adapter, Garmin's GDB 50. Combining the MSN data receiver in the cigarette lighter power adapter is a nice design choice, as it allows the GPS unit itself to remain as slim as possible.

It's worth noting that the nuvi 750 and 760 are also compatible with the GDB 50 power adapter/MSN Direct receiver. So if you already own one of the other nuvi 700-series units and want to leverage the MSN Direct features, you can purchase this adapter separately for around $110.

Figure 18: GDB 50 vs GTM 20

Compared to the GTM 20 FM TMC traffic receiver that ships with the nuvi 660 and 760, the nuvi 780's L-shaped 12v adapter/MSN Direct receiver (GDB 50) is slightly shorter and protrudes less into the vehicle cabin.

Also, unlike the nuvi 760's TMC traffic receiver, the 780's MSN Direct enabled adapter has an internal rechargeable battery. So, in effect, the nuvi 780 actually has two rechargeable batteries: one inside the GPS itself, and another one inside the 12v adapter/MSN Direct receiver.

According to Garmin, the GDB 50 MSN Direct adapter can last several days between charges, which allows it to continue receiving local MSN Direct data even while the nuvi is turned off. That way, the data is immediately ready next time you power on the nuvi.

The GTM 20 relies on Clear Channel's TMC (Traffic Message Channel) to receive traffic using FM signals. The nuvi 780's GDB 50, however, makes use of Microsoft's Enhanced MSN Direct data to deliver real-time traffic information, weather, gas prices, movie listings, stock prices, news and local events. Both services require annual subscription fees of about $60/year.

So which one is better? Last year when I reviewed the nuvi 680, I found MSN Direct and Clear Channel's traffic information about equal, but MSN's coverage wasn't as solid. This year, however, I'm pleased to report that MSN Direct's coverage is now better than Clear Channel's. And considering that both services cost the same (about $60/year), and MSN Direct provides much more than just traffic information, it seems a no-brainer that MSN Direct is a better deal overall.

Figure 18: Connecting the Power Cable to the Cradle

The power cable connects to the right side of the cradle rather than the GPS unit itself -- a nice feature that makes docking and undocking the GPS from the dashboard quick and easy (you don't have to hook up any cables -- just snap the GPS into the cradle and you're ready to navigate).

Figure 19: Adhesive Mounting Disc

If you happen to live in an area where it's illegal to mount anything in the windshield, the included adhesive mounting disc can be used to attach the GPS to the dashboard instead (although a better option is to use a friction mount, as it's less permanent and can easily be concealed when leaving the car unattended).

Figure 20: USB Cable

A standard USB cable is included, and can be used for updating the GPS firmware or maps, transferring music and photos to the GPS, and charging the GPS.