Garmin GDB 50 MSN Direct Receiver

by Garmin

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 2.3 x 3.5 inches ; 10.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000MFINWA
• Item model number: 010-00583-00
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Notice: MSN Direct service will be available only until January 1, 2012. Activate a subscription between November 19, 2009, and March 31, 2010, and receive 9 months of MSN Direct service for free.

Receive real-time MSN Direct content--including local weather, traffic, movie times, and gas prices--with the MSN Direct Receiver/GDB 50. This integrated receiver and cigarette lighter adapter connects to your compatible Garmin device and conveniently plugs into your vehicle's power outlet (for use in the United States only).

Get MSN Direct
The MSN Direct receiver comes with 1-year of free service and sends traffic reports, weather, movie times, and gas prices to your compatible Garmin navigator via an FM signal. Now you can avoid traffic, save money at the pump, check the forecast, and find out what's playing as you move about town. You can count on your compatible Garmin navigator to route you to the theater, gas station, or destination of your choice with clear prompts while helping you avoid congestion and other traffic delays.

Activate and Navigate
The MSN Direct receiver is plug-and-play portable, making it easy to connect to your unit when on the go. No professional installation required. Simply activate your receiver following the instructions in the manual. After activation, plug the receiver into your compatible Garmin device, connect to your vehicle's power outlet, and you're ready to receive data.

Subscription Information
MSN Direct is available only in select cities where coverage exists. Visit MSN Direct to extend your current service, purchase a service plan for an additional area, or view coverage information. 

Compatibility
nüvi 5000, nüvi 680, nüvi 750, nüvi 755T, nüvi 760, nüvi 765T, nüvi 770, nüvi 775T, nüvi 780, nüvi 785T, nüvi 850, nüvi 855, nüvi 880, nüvi 885T, StreetPilot c580, zūmo 660

What's in the Box
MSN Direct receiver and owner's manual

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Problems with support, January 19, 2009

By 

Edward Orysiek (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Garmin GDB 50 MSN Direct Receiver (Electronics)

I purchased the GDB50 for my Nuvi 760 and it worked great for three weeks. It suddenly stopped working. I called MSN Direct and they referred me to Garmin. Garmin referred me back to MSN Direct. I still don't know if the issue is hardware or software, and nobody at either end seems to be able to assist me. I'm sorry I purchased this unit and the one year subscription.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It can be more useful, March 30, 2008

By 

Z. Cheng - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garmin GDB 50 MSN Direct Receiver (Electronics)

I had this receiver for almost a month now with my NUVI 760. It somewhat helps me through traffic jams but not very useful many times. Here are my complaints:

1. The FM signal coverage is usualy poor in areas that are not heavily populated. I live in a less populated area. I have to do long commute to work everyday. By the time I get strong enough signal for the traffic update, I can not change my route already. So make sure both your work place and home are covered with GOOD signal strength otherwise you will get nothing either coming out of work or home.
2. The live traffic is usually 20-30 minutes delayed. Unless the traffic jam is a real bad one that will last for more than an hour, otherwise you may get a warning of traffic jam that is not there any more or you may run into traffic jam without any warning.

To be fair with MSN direct, that TMC traffic report is also delayed usually. While MSN direct also have weather report, movie time, and nearby gas prices, TMC traffic only has traffic report, not to mention that TMC traffic cost $60 per year and MSN direct only cost $50 per year to maintain.

So it is useful to some extent, but definitely need more improvement, although I dont know if that is possible!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MSN Direct GDB 50, December 3, 2008

By 

Cory C. Brumleve "CBrum" (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garmin GDB 50 MSN Direct Receiver (Electronics)

Received the chord a couple days ago and I like it a lot. It takes a half hour or so to register the services online. So if you want to pick one up and hop on the road you may have to wait a little while.(On a nuvi 750)
Pros:
-Weather is Accurate
-Movies times and places are accurate
-Very accurate traffic
-Very good signal strength (Suburbs of Cincinnati)
-News is updated often and there is a lot of it (I believe from MSN's homepage)
-From my understanding, it will work without power for a day or two as long as it has been charged
-about 95% of gas prices were updated the day of by about 1pm. At 8AM about 1/4 of them were updated. Very accurate tool

Cons:
-Sometimes takes a little time loading things like events and movies
-Somewhat expensive for 8 features
-Chord is a little bulkier than regular power chord
-Traffic only for Highways and not regular roads

If you travel a fair amount especially on the highway this is a great thing to have. Traffic, Stocks, Weather, and Gas prices are worth it, however the events and movies aren't developed enough. If you are using it for solely those two, I would not suggest it. Great product, I would recommend it to a friend.