How is your experience with the GTM 60 HD Traffic Receiver?

I have the GTM 60 which was included with my 3590LMT. I had previously used the MSN Traffic before it was discontinued. I find the GTM 60 traffic to be more current and accurate.

I purchased the antenna extension cable to plug in to the receiver. It helps with the signal especially when the cable is oriented vertically in the car.

Well, traffic reporting for HD using Navteq is a lot more limited than it is with a GTM 25 using Clear Channel. I also find that the 60 takes considerably longer than the 25 to log on to traffic reporting.

Also, I don't know if its a function of the GTM60 or the 3590, but the traffic icon shows green even if it is not in range to receive traffic data. The green icon only means that the traffic receiver is connected to the GPS. (How stupid is that?)

With the 1490/GTM25 setup, the green icon showed only if the receiver was within range and there were no reported incidents. (That is the way it should work.)

It used to be different on the 765 and other units from that time frame.

The icon color functions were:
Green - connected to power and receiving traffic data
Gray - traffic receiver is currently *not* receiving data and/or has old/stale traffic data.

Why Garmin "fixed" this function with what it is now is typical Garmin: change something when it's not broken.

Pretty sure that on my 255w the traffic icon would change color according to the traffic conditions:

GREEN: OK
YELLOW: Minor incident or tie-up on route
RED: Major delay, tie-up or accident on route

I can't recall the icon on my 2595 ever being red or yellow.

Apparently, it is not worth upgrading to the HD 60 traffic receiver. I have never had a traffic receiver that was worth having anyway. They never tell me when a road is closed or lane restricted or accidents or detours, so what good are they? In 8 years I never had a traffic report that really helped me. All I ever hear is "Accident 9 mines ahead" or "traffic 9 miles ahead". By the time I get there it's cleared up.

Ok, maybe not so much aimed at Garmin but with the providers of the traffic data. I've tested the GTM 60 and I agree with many others that this is not worth the extra money to pay for. It is going back and I guess I will wait it out until Garmin brings Inrix over to the US.

Looks like Clear Channel already provides Inrix but it is a subscription that I would have to purchase on top of this GTM 60 and I don't think I want to take that gamble.

I have the 3490 which uses the GTM 60 and I am still unimpressed by the traffic services provided.

I find the traffic reporting to be outdated/inaccurate.

It's not as if I live in Hicksville, I am in a large metropolitan area so I would expect the traffic info to be better.

Alas.... in my experience, the traffic service has not improved since I have had GPS units for the last 10 years, going all the way back to XM traffic.

My experience has been mixed but generally bad...

The biggest problem I have is: I live in an area supposedly covered strongly by Navteq HD Traffic (mid Long Island). The receiver readily tunes to one of two local stations and starts "Receiving Traffic" follwed shortly by "Traffic Up to Date". However, there is NEVER any traffic reported. The stations this happens with are 106.1 WBLI and WBAB 102.3.

I was unable to resolve this with the Garmin, Navteq or the stations themselves. The stations never got back to me, nor did Navteq. Garmin support was useless. They walked me through a process of clearing user data, updating firmware, resetting the FM tables. After none of that worked, they just came full circle and asked me to the same process again - three times. I finally gave up with Garmin... There seems to be no mechanism to up the support level when the low level techs get stumped.

In desperation I purchased a Clear Channel subscription. This actally works, but is much slower (because it uses RDS) than when the unit actually receives HD traffic (which I'll talk about later). Garmin offered to replace my unit, but gave me no answer on whether I can transfer my Clear Chanel subscription that I paid for two months ago. But RDS traffic is also not without issue (discussed later).

Bottom line, I do not believe the unit is actually at fault (at least with the HD traffic issue) - read on.

Recently I took the unit out of my area. After I got out of range of those two stations, I allowed the unit to use a Navteq subscription and it tuned to 98.7FM from NYC. Traffic information that was reasonably accurate started to stream in - including roads that are never mentioned by my Clear Channel subscription (secondary routes, service roads, etc).

So, I was seeing stellar HD Traffic! But the triumph was short lived... It turns out the GTM 60 is VERY picky about how strong the signal is. HD traffic was lost after about 20 miles.

The unit then started scanning for stations. Looking at the "GTM Status" page in the "Developer Info" section of the "secret menus" (accessed by touching and holding the top right hand corner of the volume screen - on my 3590), I could see it would tune to a station, start receiving data, and then tune to another station never adding it to the FM Table. It does this if it loses sync just once during the data transfer. So, it simply scanned for almost an hour until I manually tuned it to a RDS trafic station. I then got traffic.

My wife's TomTom receieves traffic flawlessly (albeit RDS) in areas where the GTM 60 refused to "sync up".

The "out" is manually tuning the receiver to stations that are weaker than the GTM 60 likes to see. The manual tuning method also helps with the HD Traffic issue as I can force the receiver to tune to weaker stations that are actually within receive range and prevent it from tuning to those two stations which seem to have an issue. Sooner or later I'll smash up my car navigating through the menus to get around these traffic problems.

So, all in all:

Pro: HD Traffic seems quite good - when it actually works.
Cons: 1)HD Traffic rarely works - even within areas supoosedly covered by it.
2) Poor sensitivity and reluctance to lock onto weak signals.
3) It annoying to have to touch the traffic icon when it's green to know whether traffic is actually up to date or whether the unit isn't reciving traffic info.

John

I think that sums it up. I also think it is not efficient to have to change screens to check if the traffic is up to date. Change the colors on the main screen, make the traffic icon blink or change the icon from the default to a signal or something.

I'm not convinced Inrix is "all that." With my ClearChannel (Total Traffic Network) subscription, I often see areas that are reported as slow that have no traffic at all... Historically those areas have been problematic, but not consistently, yet the areas are still reported.

I've been routed around these bad areas without warrant...

You're lucky your 3590 is going back. The place I bought mine from wouldn't accept it back and told me to take it up with Garmin...

It's too bad traffic is so crummy (as compared to my wife's TomTom) because the graphics and user interface on the Garmin is SOOOOO much nicer (and MUCH faster). I also find that the TomTom routes around traffic better (and routes in general) than the Garmin which seems to overly favor major thoroughfares than secondary roads.

John

I don't have the 3590, it's only the GTM 60 receiver that I have, that's going back. I purchased it to see if the traffic is better with it and my 2595. That came with the GTM 35 receiver.

You're right, Inrix may not be all that. I'm hoping for enough improvement, time will tell, it may be slightly better but not enough. I would be very disappointed if it ends up worse.

So, how does one manually tune in a weaker station?

I too, am annoyed with traffic functions of the 3590/GTM60. Like you, I also got a Clear Channel subscription. I see where I can select Clear Channel or NAVTEQ, but do not see where I can select an individual station.

I live in a fringe are for HD reception and in my driveway HD always works, but as soon as I start driving it typically starts searching for a very long period of time. I can choose TTN and that does work, but in my area TTN data is quite unreliable or not up do date.

Even searching for TTN with the GTM60 is a lot slower than it is for my 1490/GTM25.

I did try the 3590/GTM25 combination in my driveway and it does work, but have yet to see what happens on the road.

Re: << I did try the 3590/GTM25 combination in my driveway and it does work, but have yet to see what happens on the road. >>

FWIW, I use this combination on my 2595 since I had an optional Total Traffic subscription attached to the GTM25 which came with my previous 255W. When I purchased the 2595, I called Garmin to see if there would be any difference in using the GTM25 vs the GTM35 that came with the unit. They confirmed that they would function exactly the same and that the 3D traffic features on the 2595 would be fully functional with/using the GTM25. I find this to be the case. They also mentioned that the only real difference between the two was the amount of current they draw. I think they said the 35 draws a little less current.

I do believe you are probably forfeiting the HD features of the GTM60 when you hook up your unit with the GTM25.

How do you manually tune to the desired station you want?

I've been around these things since a nuvi was not even a nuvi. This is the first I've heard of manually tuning a traffic FM station on the nuvi. I know that with some units, you have the ability to select between traffic providers (if you have more than one traffic subscription on the GTM unit), for example Navteq and Clear Channel. But tuning the unit to a particular traffic transmitting station? That's news to me. Do tell how it's possible...

Thank you for this valuable information.

How to manually tune to a station (Garmin 3595):

1) Enter the volume adjustment screen.
2) Tap and hold the top right hand corner of the screen until the menus appear.
3) Tap "Developer Info"
4) Tap "GTM Status"
5) This screen shows the status of the incoming RDS or HD traffic info (RSSI is the signal strength indicator)
6) To tune to a specific station, tap the menu button on the top left of the screen. You'll be presented with 4 options:
"Test RDS"
"Test HD"
"Reset BLER"
"Norm"

The first two are of interest with regard to manual tuning: to manually tune to a RDS station, tap "Test RDS". A screen will appear where you can enter the FM frequency.

The same thing is true for "Test HD".

While in Test HD or Test RDS modes, the unit will remain tuned to the slected station, even if the signal beomes unavailable.

Select "Norm" to restore the unit to automatic mode.
---------------------------------------------------
Selecting "GTM FM Table" from the "Developer tools" menu shows the current list of available FM stations and the provider used.

John

Thanks for the info, jgedde

No problem... BTW, I just installed v7.50 of the firmware. It changed things a bit.

Entering the menus up to "Developer Info" is the same. The traffic receiver menus have been renamed (more intuitively I might add), and the "Norm" option is gone. It's been replaced by "Test DAB". I don't yet know what that is.

The "Norm" button was handy as you could readily get out of test mode. The only way I've found with v7.50 (in the few minutes I've played with it) is to reset the FM tables.

John

DAB is the broadcasting standard in Europe. We used to have it here in Canada, but now we have neither HD Radio or DAB... so a GTM 60 is useless, unless we shuffle off to Buffalo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting

Gotta LOVE these SECRET menus! Thanks jgedde!!

Correction to an earlier post: I put in my 0.02 worth about the traffic icon colors and erroneously posted that I didn't think the icon changed colors on the 2595: Umm, well, I was wrong: it -does- change from green to yellow to red depending on the conditions.

What it DOES NOT do (like my 255 does) is change to gray when the reception is lousy or lost.

Garmin should fix this: You're tooling along the highway with a nice green icon thinking all is right with the world; when in reality it may not have updated for an hour, and not knowing it you are heading into a 50 car pile-up caused by black ice, locusts, or tourists slamming on the brakes to pull into "Casa De Fruita". Not cool!

Have GTM60 with 2495 in the San Francisco Bay area (Cupertino, Palo Alto mostly).

The GTM60 receives signal basically 100% of the time. It acquires signal typically within a minute after turned on.
Signal strength is 4-5 bars near my home and > 3bars on area freeways or surface roads. I found (3bars=>40db, 4bars = >50 db and 5 bars = >60db)

The traffic data for the freeways are quite accurate, off by ~ 1 minute at most. This is much better then the GTM25/35 that I also have.

GTM60 does report a whole bunch of stop-and-go conditions for the surface roads. However, I found they bares little resemblance to actual traffic conditions.
GTM35 and 25 have very few surface road information.

I have the 3490 which came with the GTM 60 HD Traffic Receiver. The receiver was always looking for reception. I bought the subscription for the SmartLink application which pulls traffic off my phone. I am much happier with this setup.

I would love to know if the internal traffic receiver (reportedly used on some new models)is better at picking up traffic data than the GTM 60? I believe that the internal version is not HD but the regular 3D traffic.

I never get the gray icon either. Either no icon until it gets data and a green icon if all traffic data have expired.

Since my earlier post indicating good experience with the GTM60/Nuvi2495, I updated the SW to V7.50/V7.60 and saw the similar station locking issues. The same problems was also posted by DorkusNimrod. Reverting back to V7.20 solved the issues and an unrelated pronunciation problem with Jill/Jack.

You might want to check out this thread to see if it makes any improvements for your GTM60:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/38782

How to backdate to ver. 7.20 Only option I see on Garmin site is to update to 7.6

**************
Firmware downgrading is not a standard process. Process with caution and do it at your own risk.
**************

There are several ways.

This is how I do it:

1. Dig out the backup copy of the gupdate.gcd file of the firmware version that you want to revert back to.

2. Check the .system directory of your Garmin unit. Locate the gupdate.gcd file. It is the installation file for the firmware currently on your unit. Rename it to something like gupdate.gcd.VXXX

3. Copy the old gupdate.gcd to the .system directory

4. Disconnect and turn off the gps.

5. Turn gps back on. The gps unit behaves similarly as if updating to a newer firmware when it detected that the gupdate.gcd file is different from the firmware on the unit. It will display something like, "The software that you want to install is older, proceed?"

6. Answer yes and wait. It will go through the same sequence as updating to a newer software. I seems to feel that it actually take a bit longer. Just be patient and do not interrupt the process.

7. Make a copy of the current.gpx file as always to reconstruct your favorites after the update.

I also use an alternative process. This process allows me to switch back and forth between versions of firmware quickly:

Steps 3 & 4 above are replaced by the following:

A1. Create a directory \garmin on a u-SD card

A2. Copy the gupdate.gcd of the firmware version that you want to install to the \garmin directory.

A3. With the gps disconnected from and off, insert the u-SD

A4. Follow the same steps 5-7 above.

If you do not have a back up copy of your old gupdate.gcd, you will need to somehow get hold of a copy.
This thread on a different forum shows how to download it directly from Garmin Website:

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=138746

(The third SergZak's post in thread shows how. Change the version number in the download link to the one that you want to download.)

I just Garmin3597 which camewith GTM60.Since I am in Canada so there is no HD signal available yet. I am using Smartphone Link for traffic. It seems to be doing good job for the highways and some major roads.

I have a lifetime clear channel subscription on a power cord that came with my 760. I use it without issue on my 885. The nuvi doesn't know about the subsciptions. It displays what it gets from the power cord/traffic antenna. If you send a nuvi back but keep the power cord, you would keep your subscription.

This is the case for the most part but be aware that some of the newer nuvi models have the traffic receiver actually built into the nuvi unit with the included cable supplying only power to the unit. This applies to some of the later 25xx series which instead of using a GTM traffic receiver come with a TA20 power cable/car charger. This can be verified on the unit itself in the "about" settings.

I've read that some of the newer nuvi models come with the traffic receiver built into the nuvi and the power cord is just a combo power cord and traffic antenna. In these cases, traffic will be tied to the nuvi instead of the power cord. GTM models are traffic receivers while TA models are antennae.

[Edit] DorkusN beat me again. He must type with more fingers than me...

My fingers "go to 11"

This is Spinal Tap Dorkus Nimrod!

It's just that. It's very slow. There is no option to purchase HD Clear Channel Traffic plus on my Nuvi 3597 the traffic icon is buried behind the scenes. I dunno why Garmin didn't use the same icon as with the older Nuvis that showed traffic (grey, green, yellow, red).

After experiencing complete frustration with my 3590 and its very poor traffic reception I decided to spring for a refurbished 3597 ($220).

In my driveway the 3597's GTM 60 was able to pick up traffic reports while the 3590's GTM 60 did not. I connected both power cords to both GPS units. Sure enough, the problem is with the GTM 60 furnished with the 3590.

While the 3590 was still in warrantee I had communicated with Garmin several times; they kept telling me that I was in a fringe area and wouldn't do anything about it.

With the 3590, traffic reporting does work in very strong signal areas. I live in an area that shows spotty reception on Navteq's coverage map.

I suspect that there may be lots of poorly operating GTM 60s out there judging by the number of complaints observed.

Although the 3597 hasn't seen any actual use yet, I think that I may like the way it works better. At least I won't have to look at that green icon indicating that everything is clear when actually its not receiving any data. As mentioned in the previous message, you have to dig into the menu to find out whether its actually receiving any data.

I have purchased the optional ClearChannel premium traffic lifetime subscription from Garmin for the nuvi 3597LMTHD with the GTM 60 and it is running fine. It cost $60- less a $6- discount:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/shop-by-accessories/traffic-...

Look under "Accessories," "Traffic Subscriptions"

dobs108

dobs108,

I assume (and that is dangerous) that with dual subscriptions available, the GPS would select Navteq HD coverage if available and otherwise select Clear Channel if it cannot pick up Navteq; CC appears to include broader coverage, but allegedly Navteq HD is more up-to-date.

What happens when you then approach an area with coverage by both services? Does the unit switch over to the Navteq HD?

When there are two subscriptions, you can select your preference in the nuvi Traffic menu: either Navteq only, ClearChannel only, or Auto. I am assuming that on Auto, the receiver will use the stronger signal. ClearChannel has a stronger signal in my area, and on Auto the receiver uses ClearChannel. If it changes over while I am driving there is no indication of that on the screen. I would have to bore down through the Traffic menu to find out which one is active.

The most important issue, related to which provider to use, is the signal strength. There are so many areas where only a weak signal is available. As for content, that depends on the local area. One provider might be better in my area and the other in your area.

dobs108

I just bought a 3597 and will give it a while to see how well the traffic function works before adding Clear Channel.

I did add Clear Channel to my 3590 and all it did was search. It also would not permit manual subscription selection.

I plugged the 3590's power cord into the 3597 and noted that it will allow manual subscription selection. However the 3590's GTM60 sensitivity is poorer than the one provided with the 3597.

There is also the Traffic Antenna Extension 010-11282-00 from Garmin for about $10-, an accessory for the GTM 60. It is much more delicate than it looks like in the online picture.

dobs108

It is possible that the GTM 60 you are using with the 3590 is defective.

dobs108