Anyone use the traffic service?

 

Hello!

I have the Nuvi 350 with the GTM-12 traffic antenna. I also live in the Washington DC area.

I just went on my first trip to work with the traffic service working today and I have to say I'm disappointed.

It seemed like the FM traffic service only has information on the big highways.

Today, on the radio, they announced that a smaller street (Old Dominion Drive) was closed in both directions. My Garmin routed me through it also (I went ahead and skipped around it). I checked the traffic and there was no notice of it. All I saw were the big interstates.

Does anyone know if the FM Traffic service in the US only covers the large interstates?

Also, does anyone with the XM Traffic service see the similar?

Thanks!

Don't know the answer to

Don't know the answer to your question, but thanks for the heads up. I was thinking about it, but now I am not so sure. My CB works great for real time traffic anyways.

--
Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

pitterchi wrote: Hello! I

pitterchi wrote:

Hello!

I have the Nuvi 350 with the GTM-12 traffic antenna. I also live in the Washington DC area.

I just went on my first trip to work with the traffic service working today and I have to say I'm disappointed.

It seemed like the FM traffic service only has information on the big highways.

Today, on the radio, they announced that a smaller street (Old Dominion Drive) was closed in both directions. My Garmin routed me through it also (I went ahead and skipped around it). I checked the traffic and there was no notice of it. All I saw were the big interstates.

Does anyone know if the FM Traffic service in the US only covers the large interstates?

Also, does anyone with the XM Traffic service see the similar?

Thanks!

Here's the xm coverage areas

http://www.xmradio.com/navtraffic/market_coverage.xmc

here's the clear channel TMC Traffic Service

https://shop.garmin.com/fmtraffic/select_service_plan.asp?L=...

I've been using the tmc and am not familiar with the xm so can't do a comparison. Either way, the information we receive is only as good as what's reported and broadcast. Looking at the coverage maps they look like they cover the same areas. But, the xm map looks like they have it broken down to surface roads and freeways.
My guess is only major roadways are reported and not the side streets or minor roads.

--
........Garmin StreetPilot c550 / Nüvi 765...........

Hello! I'm new to the site,

Hello!
I'm new to the site, but so far I like what I see.
As to the traffic service, I just signed up with the XM service (despite the fact that I love my Sirius) and have found it to be pretty darn good. Then again, I don't have anything else to compare it to. I can tell you that it's extremely accurate and very fast with the updates.
This is just my first week, so I expect to post a follow up in about one month. Till then.

BTW, I use the XM service with my Streetpilot 2730.
-G