Garmin Free Trafic (ie NavTeq) How long does it take to update?

Mine updates immediately (within 1 minute or so.)

I have a 765T, for whatever it's worth. I'm in downtown Denver.

-Jeff

I suspect "downtown" is the key. My traffic doesn't pop until I'm near the highway...too late in many cases/

For my unit I have observed if you are planned to take highway route, within a minute unit will show the updated traffic data on your route ahead. But if you are taking streets rather than highway then it would take about 2 mins to calculate comprehensive traffic data on all the highways within 30-50 mile.
Then you can go and search updated traffic in traffic option. Setting >> Traffic >> search traffic.
My advice is first plug in the traffic receiver with your unit >> turn on the car power >> set the distance address and hit go >> check the map >> turn on the car engine . By the time you end up this routine process it should have passed one minute and you FM traffic receiver must have received latest data to use. Good luck!

I tried my 255WT in NYC and it looked like it updated quick.

My 265wt never seems to update (correctly) - Baltimore

a receiver? Might have a blockage of some sort if you do.

Can anyone comment on how the free traffic works in the Phoenix area? Good? Bad?

Is the problem that it doesn't receive the FM information for a while, or is the info it receives out-of-date?

Hi jimmy,
check it out for network coverage of free FM traffic in your area.
http://www.navteq.com/rdstraffic/index_261.htm

Thanks guys, the problem is that it just take a while. Like 3-5 mins for the data from the entire area to be download. I can sit inside the traffic search mode and I could see one hwy after another popping up.

Do I need to download or activate the free lifetime from Navteq? I can see the traffic activated under setting but I not see any car icon on the map. Do I need to request a traffic download (how?) or is this automatic only when there is a warning issue.

I would like to confirm that I am receiving alerts since I have not seen any or ads.

Nuvi 255WT in Chicago

Once you register the unit on your Garmin page and connect the receiver cable to you cars lighter.It will connect without doing anything.You will see a green icon on the screen when you are in the area receiving traffic.The ads only appear once you come to a stop or moving real slow.I have never received that many at one time. Look at the owners manual pages 25 and 26 to show the color codes used to alert you. http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/2675_OwnersManual.pdf

Ads are part of Free life time traffic. As they are not collecting any fees from you for life time traffic data, instead they will collect it from retailers to put their adds on the device along with the traffic data. one kind a marketing strategy !!
you don't need to download anything special for receiving traffic data. Its just plug and play. even if you have not register your product under Garmin you will be receiving the free traffic details as long as 60 days. so better register within 60 days . After that god knows!!!
Just plug it into your car >> enter some address >> wait for 2 mins and you will get a double car icon on left side of your screen in a round circle. This changes color. goes from green >> yellow >> red as traffic is getting more and more congested. You can not see the traffic without attaching your car charger cum traffic receiver with it and turning the car on. This receiver needs power to turn on the traffic data.
If you wann check the same real time traffic data you can check it on http://www.navteq.com/ >> traffic

krishgarmin
Once you plug the receiver into the lighter you don't have put in a address to get the traffic icon to come up.Just touch the map and you will see the icon if in the receiving area.

Hey charlie, You are certainly Friend.
I mentioned it to demonstrate traffic on route. then only icon will change the color. Ya without entering the address also you can see it within 2mins but that will not be particular. It would show all the traffic surrounding your current location and icon will not change color warning for traffic congestion.

I am over in Central Florida for now.The traffic reports work well over here.I just plugged mine in a minute ago and the icon was up after the warning screen.Getting ready to go to the Florida panhandle to see my son Sunday.Once I get on I10 there is no traffic reporting.Last year when I first got the 265 and seen the icon disappear I thought something was wrong with the unit.On the return trip once I got back off I10 and back to 19 it came on.

May be there is no traffic sensor on 110 by NAVTEQ.I love in Los Angels. Here the coverage so nice. what ever the freeway i take it gives a very good data. May be it is because i dont drive far than 2o miles from my home. May be i will loose the network if I go to Las vegas. because i can see some disruption on the map .But figuring this out I have to plan a trip to vegas. Let me set off something in this holidays.

I checked the map when I got back and no coverage for that area on I10.Traveling down I95 from Florida to Va you lose coverage somewhere around Georgia and don't pick up until North Carolina.Some areas better then others.I email them about the coverage and if any plans to expand they said yes.Waiting to see when.love Las Vegas but didn't have a gps when I went.

My 265wt seems to update differently when I go to different places over 500 miles or more. Time to ipdate takes 2-5 minutes, But does update when in a region that has coverage. There are "pockets" where you can go several miles without coverage. Atlantic City going to Philly has 0ne or 2 between the cityand the main freeway toPA.

Virgo