Garmin nuvi 310D GTM12 TMC problems

[swing]

I have to say, if when you first set off you get traffic data, then I'm not sure the suppressor would make that much difference - it's going to be more useful to those who never get traffic on their whole journey.

Having said that, there must be a reason why it drops off at that point - I suspect it is:

- an area of no signal at all (carrying the TM traffic)
or
- the old radio station signal drops off, and the unit struggles to retune

I do think that the permanent solution should help you *if* it's simply that the radio station signal is a bit lower than the Nuvi can currently cope with.

Remember the suppression kit is designed to try to minimise the impact of the dodgy car charger, whereas the real solution is to fix the charger. Do make sure you confirm to Garmin that it has not helped sufficiently to ensure you are on the list for a new car charger when available (no date from Garmin US when I checked today).

[lola]

1) Has anyone tried extending the aerial on the GTM 12.

What I am thinking is after the rectangular block on the GTM12 (module), extend the aerial like the GTM 11. I am thinking the signal to noise ratio is swapped by the power cable lacking supression. By increasing the aerial length I wonder if we can increase the signal. This should at least improve reception in poor signal areas.

2) I am intrigued by the Nuvi660 being supplied with the GTM21. Could the Nuvi310 be re-designed to use what I guess is a TMC designed upon the failure of the GTM12.

[cookie999]

Having had numerous problems picking up the traffic master data and having tried the supplied supressor from Garmin with no luck I am now picking up regular traffic updates.

Solution for me so far is changing the in-car charger to a Motorola charger and updating to the latest Garmin firmware on the Garmin website - 3.90. I also spoke to Garmin on Wednesday this week and I told them of the problems I had been having and they are now sending me out a replacement in-car charger so I will test that out when it arrives.

[swing]

[cookie999]

[swing]

Thanks - I've spoken to an independent shop wh ohave confirmed they cannot get hold of the right-angled connector charger. Nice to know the normal one can be "bent" into shape, and interesting to see the cheaper Phones4U works fine too.

I think you may be right, I've had more traffic than before this week since updating to the latest firmware, but my cigarette to USB adaptor is starting to fail (Nuvi looses external power), so I shall pick up a new car charger at some point whilst waiting for Garmin to ship out the new charger.

Glad you are getting more traffic information.

[DJ_T]

I thought i'd share my experience with you all. I live in north cumbria and travel the country on a regular basis. i get no traffic data at all until i get to around warrington area on the M6. it then loses traffic before therwell viaduct and doesn't return until i get north of oxford. I then have perfect traffic right down to london. The in-car charger has a red led on it. it is not a two colour led. My car is a citroen synergie and i have the gtm arial wire mounted to the windscreen. when i have had traffic data it has routed me round it fine. I just wish it would work around birmingham and further north! I think my problems are due to very poor signal. if more stations were transmitting the signal it may help.

[swing]

You may be still suffering from the effects of the "dodgy" car charger, which often makes it more difficult for the GTM12 to lock onto, or receive the traffic data. Although this is also partly caused by the weaker radio signals in the UK, I think your unit will do better than this when the new car chargers are made available.

[n4nick]

Hi

My understanding is that there are no trasmitters north of Leeds on the west coast, there are a couple around Bury which is about when you start getting TMC reports? There may be a gap in the service between Bury and Birmingham but after that there are plenty of transmitters covering the main routes. The fixed red LED lead is the original supplied with the Nuvi. Garmin kindly sent me one of the two tone cables (I never managed to get it to turn green with the Nuvi plugged in though, even when fully charged) and reception improved (but this could also have been a result of firmware updates) but was still not 100% reliable. Have you found any problems with the reliability of the messages when you have received them, ie. traffic hold ups not reported and vice versa?

Cheers - Nick

[Trafficman]

[n4nick]

Hi

There should be a transmitter on the North York Moors and ones close to Hull and Leeds, then they are regularly spaced down the M1. Further north there is a clump of three around Durham & Sunderland / Newcastle. I have asked Trafficmaster for a map showing how far these transmitters actually broadcast but no luck yet.

Nick

[banjo12]

This looks interesting ?
http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/mobile/090106.html

[JT-Mech]

The GTM21 looks interesting, is that a mini USB plug on the end? Wonder if it works on a 310/360?

[lola]

No - GTM21 does not work with Nuvi 3x0 - just Zumo etc.

Talked with Garmin last week about continuing saga with GTM12 and asked about this. Hence I am waiting on Nuvi 610 which should be around in October I think.

Note the Nuvi 660 with US mapping is on sale on Ebay.

[mwfox]

Just a reminder that you won't get reception of TMC (Trafficmaster) across the UK in all places even when the power supply issue is sorted. See coverage maps on link below - note only FM reception areas are relevant not digital:

http://www.gcapmedia.com/assets/dynamic/8/files/brand_portfolio_map_feb_2006.pdf

http://chrysalis.com/index.php?object=187

It looks like TMC(Itis) used on the Tomtom has the advantage of being national using Classic FM.

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