GTM xx firmware update v5.30...

Updated the c550 that just got back from a 500 mile trip around the St. Louis area. So far I didn't notice anything new after the update. That unit still has active traffic through December.

Haven't done the 760 that has expired traffic to see what happens if it has expired traffic instead.

Would this free traffic also apply to the 660's?

And..is it 'optional'.. I HATE ADS. Can you still enter a code and not get the ads?
I'd rather pump the code rather than get ads.

This update is for paid lifetime that would be supplied by Clear Channel and I was told by Garmin when I called about it that it would be running $60 but no ads.

Clear Channel info link:
http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/fm/clearchannel.html

The Free Lifetime is supplied by Navteq and it is what comes with some of the new XX5 series Nuvis. It will display ads like is shown in the following link:

http://www.gpslodge.com/pictures/Nuvi755TAd.jpg

Navteq info link:
http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/fm/navteq.html

Something doesn't make sense.

So Garmin currently sells the annual traffic subscription for $60.

And the new 7x5 series comes with free lifetime traffic, but that service is supported by ads.

But you are saying we can opt to make a onetime payment of $60 and get a lifetime ad-free traffic subscription? Wouldn't Garmin or whomever be losing money by doing this?

Will a new traffic receiver be needed? Or will the existing MSN or TMC receivers be able to pick up Navteq traffic/

Navteq uses Clear channel.

But I just paid them freaking $60 and got a 1 year update. Does this mean I have to pay them another $60 or will it automagically update my existing subscription?

It sounds then that CC/TTN will switch their broadcasts to the new format (with ads) then. I wonder how that will play with those who have not updated their firmware to support the data format. And I'm not seeing any information on how current paid subscriptions will be converted to the free service.

Navteq is a data source for maps.

MSN Direct and TMC (Traffic Message Channel) are delivery protocols for traffic data.

The Navteq owned company Traffic.com provides traffic data to the MSN Direct service.

Inrix provides traffic data to Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network (TTN) service, which broadcasts that data through their FM stations using the TMC protocol. The Inrix data is predictive flow data. TTN also collects their own incident data (which they provide to Inrix). They broadcast the combined data.

Here's a link which explains more: http://www.gpsreview.net/traffic/

Back in September my 3 month trial subscription for TMC Traffic was ending. When I went to the Garmin site to get a renewal subscription, they were offering a lifetime subscription offering for $60. I jumped on the opportunity. Well, the code I received would not work with my NUVI 760 and Garmin told me that they knew of the problem but had no solution.

Since then they have provided me an annual renewal and have been promising the fix for the lifetime issue.

Yesterday, I emailed the Garmin Tech and asked him if this latest firmware would let me use my original lifetime subscription code or would they have to give me a new code? I'm waiting for their answer.

Just saw this posted on another site and it looks like you will have lifetime traffic now:

"Just got off phone with Garmin and they tell me if you have a subscription and update to version 5.30 you will now have a lifetime subscription. Mine expired and I never renewed it so I'm out of luck unless I pay the $60 for life which seems ok to me."

I did the update last night via web updater. This morning, when I put the unit in the car, it updated the traffic software. I then checked my subscription info. It still says it expires at the end of next July.

Do I have to update my firmware version from 3.00 to get the lifetime traffic sub on my 760?