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RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy
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zYx
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PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2009 11:44 am    Post subject: RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy Reply with quote

Hello everyone.

I am considering purchase of RDS-TMC USB version receiver for tomtom go 520. Is it worth buying? I don't drive for living, but it would be nice to know of any roads blockages..

Thanks in advance.
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Gee-Pee
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PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2009 2:57 pm    Post subject: Re: RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy Reply with quote

zYx wrote:
Hello everyone.

I am considering purchase of RDS-TMC USB version receiver for tomtom go 520. Is it worth buying? I don't drive for living, but it would be nice to know of any roads blockages..

Thanks in advance.


Ask yourself, "How often do I get held up by traffic holdups?" And, "Does it really matter if I get held in a traffic jam for half an hour + or - ?" The answers should give you an indication of how necessary a TMC unit would be.
Personally, I have one because I drive long distances on the continent and it can be useful to avoid big jams - I still ignore the smaller ones where I only have to wait a shortish time. Great gimmick, though Wink
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zYx
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PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does it actually change your route

I think I just want a new gadget, but I do drive long distances in europe indeed :]

I will get one anyway, £28 ish on amazon ;)

Thanks
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spannersatcx
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PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2009 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

it offers you a shorter route timewise based on the delay's being reported. I used it recently on the a trip from London to Manchester, took me off the M5 at Birmingham and around town then rejoined M6 above spaghetti junction, brilliant.
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gareth71
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PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If it were me, I'd be questioning why it had taken me from London to Manchester via the M5 in the first place! ;)
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JimmyTheHand
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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:21 am    Post subject: Re: RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy Reply with quote

zYx wrote:
I am considering purchase of RDS-TMC USB version receiver for tomtom go 520. Is it worth buying? I don't drive for living, but it would be nice to know of any roads blockages..


It would be nice - however I find the TMC accuracy leaves so much to be desired - even if there is a blockage you won't be told - or you'll be sailing past what you are told is stationary queue of traffic
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zYx
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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:27 pm    Post subject: Re: RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy Reply with quote

JimmyTheHand wrote:
zYx wrote:
I am considering purchase of RDS-TMC USB version receiver for tomtom go 520. Is it worth buying? I don't drive for living, but it would be nice to know of any roads blockages..


It would be nice - however I find the TMC accuracy leaves so much to be desired - even if there is a blockage you won't be told - or you'll be sailing past what you are told is stationary queue of traffic


Do you think it is worth buying?
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JimmyTheHand
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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:20 pm    Post subject: Re: RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy Reply with quote

zYx wrote:
Do you think it is worth buying?

for the £22 pounds Amazon has them - I'd be willing to experiment to see whether it helped on the daily commute/long runs (on main roads/motorways) as it wouldn't need to save much to seem worthwhile - and if using on Continent might be more worthwhile
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spannersatcx
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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gareth71 wrote:
If it were me, I'd be questioning why it had taken me from London to Manchester via the M5 in the first place! ;)


(Heathrow)M4-M25-M40 then delays on M42 (avoided) I think there was a vehicle fire or something, so stay on M40 to M5 then up to M6, (don't pay for toll road) it was a typical Friday afternoon jam. Very Happy
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JaguarV12e
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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I find TMC to be really quite good in France on the Autoroutes, with delay indications 90% accurate. It is hit or miss in the UK. It has saved me from a couple of bad delays on the M11, but doesn't seem to bother with general delays on the M25.
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zYx
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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you guys for all opinions, I just bought one from amazon.

Will let you know how it works too :]
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zYx
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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi all,

I received it today and I'm comparing it with http://route.tomtom.com. I don't exactly know how tmc is working, but I have some missing traffic info on my tomtom go and vice versa, some of the traffic info is available on tomtom go, but is missing on route.tomtom.com. I must admit, I'm testing it at home with tmc aerial outside the window Laughing but do you think it depends on signal strengh?


Last edited by zYx on Tue May 12, 2009 6:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
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falkirk81
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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Traffic through the RDS receiver is different to the HD traffic display used in the http://routes.tomtom.com website.

HD traffic is supposed to be better than RDS traffic, thus the discrepancy and the £8 a month charge for all LIVE services!
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welshwizard
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PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:15 pm    Post subject: Re: RDS-TMC - to buy or not to buy Reply with quote

zYx wrote:
Hello everyone.

I am considering purchase of RDS-TMC USB version receiver for tomtom go 520. Is it worth buying? I don't drive for living, but it would be nice to know of any roads blockages..

Thanks in advance.


Been reading this correspondence and have ordered and received mine today from Amazon for my GO520. However, I have a problem - the unit has spent about 30 minutes trying to find a signal. Do you think its a "dud" unit or does anyone have any ideas? Sad
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MrT
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PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Usually if it shows it is trying to find a signal it is is sign it works. If it is broken plugging it in usually has no effect.

My personal experience is that it can take ages to find a signal, so much so that I have found it useless on short trips. Others here have not had this issue.

I think a lot depends on where you live and the signal strength, you can manually set a frequency but I usually find it gives up and goes back to searching.

Shame as I could do with it working when I go to France and my Live Services don't.
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