TomTom Traffic Plus vs RDS Method confusion

RolyMoly · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 27, 2007 Posts: 8

Help
I am a new to the Sat Nav world and more specifically TomTom One XL.
One of the reasons for getting the unit was the ability to receive and act on traffic info in near realtime.

I dutifully subscribed to the TomTom Traffic Plus service with speed cameras, and then find this forum. I subscribe to the speed camera forum here and then see lots of posts on TMC and TomTom Traffic and numerous posts on the reliability of each.

So my questions are: "Are either methods reliable?" "Which one has greater coverage?" (ie more than major motorways and A roads), which one is more accurate? How are they getting their information?

Because I have to say when I have used the TomTom unit and it has routed around 3 major holdups on the motorways those incidents have been real. This has been backed up with people in the jam and also by me calling into the RAC Traffic service provided to O2 and imagine other UK mobile providers. In fact the RAC traffic service on 2 occasions failed to advise of the impending jam which TomTom had been reporting for 30mins until I was on top of the jam (i had used the option to type in the road i was on rather than it auto located). What method does the RAC use to sense jams and what is their coverage like?

Any insights would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks
R

mikealder · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject:

GPRS reception coverage in the UK is considerably better than the RDS-TMC, you receive the same data on both services, however the GPRS will give you full UK TMC information whereas the RDS version will give you regional information, it should re-tune as you journey takes you up or down the country. The regional coverage is in fairly large bands of area coverage but don't expect to see London based information when in Glasgow, as you get nearer London you will pick up more localised information. As you have GPRS based information I would stick with that as the RDS-TMC is simply too problematic in the UK -Mike

RolyMoly · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 27, 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks Mike
So in terms of source of traffic info it is no different on either TMC or GPRS they are both delivering the same traffic information but just using different delivery methods to the unit?
Thanks
R

londongaz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 13, 2007 Posts: 20

Darren · Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

fitton2002 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2004 Posts: 8

Another newbie here - (1st post).

Whats the mobile costs of using GPRS does it connect all the journey
of just on and off.

Darren · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject:

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