Garmin C510 +TMC or C550?

malc77 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 27

Hi
-I am thinking of buying a Garmin C510 and a TMC receiver, or the C550- which includes a receiver, but seems more expensive. I don't need Bluetooth- which would be the better option?
Also can I download routes etc from the MapSource software I already have on my pc ?
Many thanks, Margaret.

DracUK · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 02, 2005 Posts: 133

If you dont need the bluetooth feature of the C550 buy the C510D (note the D) package from Halfords for £299 (about £50 more than the standard C510) also comes with maps of europe on a dvd.Quite a bargain really.

regards

DracUK · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 02, 2005 Posts: 133

Sorry forgot to mention NO you cannot download routes with Mapsource on these models

regards

DracUK

malc77 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 27

DracUK, -many thanks. I didn't realise the Halfords C510D includes the TMC receiver as well as the MapSource disc.- Anyway I've just bought one.
No doubt I shall be writing again when I get stuck!

Margaret.

Type23 · Lifetime Member Joined: Jul 31, 2006 Posts: 39

malc,
How are you getting on with c510D ? bought one Saturday but am unable to get TMC to work Crying or Very sad

Am wondering whether to return unit to Halfords ?

Rgds

malc77 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 27

Hi- very pleased with Garmin C510D. It is able to lock onto satellites - for position fix, even indoors, quite easily.
It is not quite so good at getting its TMC signal, but no real problems in the car or house if I position aerial wire behind a window. I did update software through Garmin's website as soon as I got the unit though, -which included a Firmware update for the TMC receiver. Suggest you try same if not done already. malc77

Type23 · Lifetime Member Joined: Jul 31, 2006 Posts: 39

Cheers Malc, did do an update as soon as I got it and also loaded safety camera database from poihandler.com

I think the TMC is working on and off now. What threw me is that when I go into settings-Traffic-Subscriptions it comes up with the message

A subscription has not been activated. Activation will occur automatically after your unit acquires GPS satellites while receiving a signal from the traffic provider. [OK]

but within that menu it also shows 2 lines one stating

RAC Live: Lifetime subscription

the other

V-Traffic : Not activated.

On the front screen (am actually playing around with Garmin indoors as we speak!) I have the double car icon next to the spanner icon and when I press this roads come up e,g M1, A14 with symbols e.g A1 with a red triangle and 2 cars inside, when you press this line even more detailed info is available e.g from/to/severity/description, I take it this is "TMC?" What I also don't understand is, is there any order to this ? Do you only get pertinent info to a planned route or is all / every TMC broadcast for every road /delay broadcast to your Garmin ? I live in East London and am getting info on M60 , M18 etc ?

Rgds

Richard

p. s Have you loaded camera database? Seems to work Ok and even has ability to "monitor" speed in speed restricted zones, constantly chiming! How can you acknowledge that your aware your in a speed restricted area and prevent C510D from driving you nuts pinging constantly. For areas like road works this is even more of a pain as worksite limits change and road works are sometimes not even current!

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