How do I get traffic working?

theopental · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2007 Posts: 15

Im depressed at the thought of probably knowing the answer to this after a thorough trawl of the forum....

...... however...

I bought a 660FM at Halfords today pricipally for the traffic function.
The salesman and the box confirmed it has lifetimes traffic alerts enabled and that the bits of the UK I need were covered with good reception.

Ive fiddled and fiddled
Ive updated the firmware
Ive updated everything else I can think of in fact

I find the 'traffic' icon in the menus

I hit the 'search' button

It finds naff all

I live in the middle of the UK's 4 th biggest city
I have no probs with TV, radio or satellite reception

1) Should I just bin it and get a refund as TMC seems totally unreliable and it ws pretty much the sole motivation for my purchase?

2) Am I unlucky and shall I talk to Garmin and/or Halfords?

3) The unit will not find the traffic feed I have allegedly paid for during the life of my unit on 'search' but the web updater happily tries to sell me Trafficmaster for 60 Euros a year - is this any better?

Thanks for your patience

Theo

PS/Edit

The green lights on the receiver lead suggest reception is fine and dandy

captureboy · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 70

Where do you live/travel?

The map showing TMC is not detailed enough to show specific areas of bad reception. Some areas have better coverage that others, this is a problem with the TMC broadcasters and not the units makers so taking it back and buying a different make may not help you.

When it works, it is a benefit.
_________________
Garmin Nuvi 660 FM
Software Version 4.80
Audio Version 1.90
GPS SW Version 3.00
Bluetooth SW Version 3.40
GTM SW Version 4.80
Map Info CN Europe NT 2010.30

theopental · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2007 Posts: 15

I am in the middle of Sheffield

When I go to the traffic menu I have 2 options:
Auto or search
When I hit search it finds nothing

There is no live subscription, Im guessing as I have no or poor TMC reception here.

If its an FM signal and I cant get it here what chance of getting it out on the open road?

Theo

PS I have an old car with a conventional windscreen

philpugh · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: How do I get traffic working?

captureboy · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 70

Sheffield is built on a series of hills, I should know,try walking up Langsett Avenue from the bottom!

If you live in a valley take the unit to the top of a hill and see what sort of reception you get, you may have to be patient as the TMC will not immediatly lock on.
_________________
Garmin Nuvi 660 FM
Software Version 4.80
Audio Version 1.90
GPS SW Version 3.00
Bluetooth SW Version 3.40
GTM SW Version 4.80
Map Info CN Europe NT 2010.30

philpugh · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

bradders2 · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:14 am Post subject:

Just a couple of questions on TMC reception: Confused

When driving, the status light on the GTM21 often shows steady green, but I don't appear to be getting traffic data. I assumed no problems in my area. Previous posts have mentioned "live subscription". I've gone through all the menus on my nuvi760, but can't find reference to that or any traffic info. The manual states touch Tools - Traffic, but that is not an option on the menu. (I have only looked for this indoors without the TMC Rx connected.)

I understand from what Phil said that the lifetime subscription only commenced on first receiving TMC data. If the status light shows steady green, indicating reception, does this mean that TMC data is present or capable of being received?

Also, I have had the wire areial mounted vertically on the screen. Is this the correct orientation? The Garmin Owner's Manual does not give a preferred orientation. (I have asked this question in another thread, but had no reply yet.) I have seen posts on external antenna mounting, but would like to check out reception from windscreen mount before resorting to external.

Thanks in advance. Smile

Chris B
_________________
Chris B

Garmin nuvi 2595LMT
Garmin nuvi 760T
Memory Map Adventurer 2800

philpugh · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

The green light implies that it is 'locked' to a TrafficMaster TMC RDC transmission. I would be very suprised if after 5 mins of this if you didn't have some warnings. Unless you travel about at 2am! I travel in the South North West Confused

/ North Midlands (North Cheshire/Leeds/Derbyshire) mainly at present and I often get information about delays in the London area showing first then the more local information.

The only caveat about the statement above is that GARMIN did let firmware out that locked to iTis information on Classic FM - you got the green light and no data. Check what s/w version you are running on your system. The problem occured about 12 months ago. Latest firmware shouldn't have this problem though.

I think you need to be connected to the GTM21 to get all the options displayed. What stanav model is it?

Aerial orientation, if just using the "piece of string", seems to be different for everyone - experiment as to what gives the best result. For the few weeks I did this I found vertical gave better results. Connecting to an external aerial gives better results.
_________________
Phil

bradders2 · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks Phil.

My Sat Nav is a nuvi 760 with latest s/w v 2.5 installed. GPS s/w is v 3.00s. Not sure what the TMC firmware version was, but have now updated to v 4.70. (untried as yet.)

My Sat Nav useage so far has been from Fylde Coast to South Lakes; to Preston, Leyland, Wigan, Manchester type of journeys. I will be going a lot further afield in the coming weeks, so will see what TMC data I get.

Thanks again

Chris B
_________________
Chris B

Garmin nuvi 2595LMT
Garmin nuvi 760T
Memory Map Adventurer 2800

inspiredron · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: How do I get traffic working?

theopental · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2007 Posts: 15

Hello again

Its working now !

My problem may have been due to the fact that although I am near the Tapton Tx I am over the brow of a hill.

To be honest Im suprised, but hey maybe the transmitter does pump out milliwatts.......

Would you mind another question please Smile

When I set a route I get a few traffic alerts to scan through and am asked if I want to divert or not - this is fine.

If an incident occurs after I have set off will the unit tell me or does it only scan once per route just as you program it?

Cheers

Theo

theopental · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2007 Posts: 15

Me again!!!

Sorry fellas but Im worried Im doing something wrong.

Ive just sat in the car and plotted a route from Sheffield to Manchester.

The Snake Road has been closed for days but I am being navigated over it.

The unit happily tells me that there is a road closed near Bristol though.

Shold it tell me the Snake is shut????

Theo

philpugh · Last edited by philpugh on Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:53 am; edited 1 time in total

inspiredron · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Phil - that's useful and gives me the heart to upgrade!

I'll let you know of developments.

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