A possible addition for the GARMIN FAQ - traffic (faq)

1. What are the GARMIN Traffic services?

GARMIN Traffic services have two radio based methods (“HD Digital Traffic” (HD) and “GARMIN Traffic” (RDS)) for receiving traffic reports by your GARMIN GPS device. It works by having your GPS tune in and lock onto a HD or RDS based digital radio signal broadcast by a participating FM station in your area of travel. A third service, “Live Traffic”, uses your smartphone to act as a connector to a GARMIN website traffic server. The “Live Traffic” option works as long as you have cell service and Internet connectivity.

There are two families of radio receivers – RDS and HD based. The GTM 10, 11, 12, 20, 25, 26, 35, and 36 are RDS based while the GTM 60 is HD service based. RDS is considered a low speed data service while HD is a higher speed data service.

The GARMIN Traffic service is dependent on many factors in order to get reasonably reliable information to your GPS in a timely manner. From traffic sensors in the roadway to traffic cameras and police reports, digital traffic data is collected, processed and forwarded to traffic broadcast systems. Eventually it is received by your GARMIN GPS device and displayed as an alert/warning if it applies to your current route. This information is displayed during both route planning and while actively driving.

It is important to understand that not all of the US or other countries are covered by these services. If you are driving outside of the RDS/HD radio service area, there will be no traffic coverage.

See the NAVTEQ RDS web site, http://www.navteq.com/rdstraffic/index.html , for the maps of the city areas covered by the GARMIN radio RDS traffic service.

See the NAVTEQ HD Radio web site, http://www.navteq.com/hdtraffic/index.html , for the maps of the city areas covered by the GARMIN radio HD traffic service.

Within a coverage area, some secondary roads may not be covered.

2. What Does GARMIN GPS device Show When There are Traffic Problems?

When the GARMIN unit receives a traffic report and it pertains to your active route, a warning message will scroll across the top line of the GARMIN unit. It will list the reported traffic problem (location, type and distance ahead) and allow you to touch the active line for re-routing options. Similar information is shown during route planning with suggested alternatives as part of the solution set.

In addition, in the map view the traffic button will change color from green to yellow or red. The red color signifies that there is a road blockage ahead. The yellow color indicates caution - some slowdown event is ahead. The traffic button color will change back to green after you pass the trouble location.

3. What is the GARMIN “Live Traffic” service?

GARMIN “Live Traffic”, also called Smartphone link, has a service to link your phone to the GARMIN nuvi via the Smartphone link app. The GARMIN nuvi must be Bluetooth enabled and there is a charge for some of the services. Additionally the connection uses your smartphone so users must be careful not to exceed their phone providers data service plan limits. Smartphone Link is supported on some 2012 GARMIN models (2475LT, 2495LMT, 3490LMT, and 3590LMT). Various 2013 models are supported too, see:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-go/apps/smartphone-li...

4. Do I Need Additional Software for the GARMIN GPS device to do radio based Traffic Reporting?

No. No additional software needs to be downloaded. But you must have an antenna (GTM xx) cord attached and powered to your nuvi for the default radio based service (HD or RDS).

5. What about the Firmware Version of my GARMIN nuvi?

Your software firmware version can be found in the Device About page (Settings->Device->About). Your GARMIN nuvi includes other firmware called out in the Device About page. That list includes the other operating aspects of the nuvi: audio, voice, text, GPS, Bluetooth, PMIC and TSC.

Some users have reported that the GARMIN nuvi traffic radio receiver seems to be less sensitive to weak radio signals with the latest software firmware (current version 7.9 for the current nuvi models). Older software firmware versions may have worked better with the reception of weaker signals (version 7.2 or earlier?).

[The older RDS based nuvi models may have a different software version – include it here or a pointer to a table in another FAQ on the POI Factory site].

6. What are the Sources for the GARMIN traffic reports?

This list is from the GARMIN web site. The source list includes: data from millions of Garmin device owners, data from millions of cellular phone owners, incident reports, radio feeds of live information, news stations, historical traffic data from NAVTEQ Traffic Supply, historical traffic data from Garmin device owners and fixed traffic sensors on major roads giving extremely accurate traffic reports.

7. How do I tell that my GARMIN GPS device and its traffic radio reception are working?

1) The following tests can only be done while in the vehicle with the GARMIN GPS device plugged into the power outlet.
2) Check for a green traffic icon in the main map display. This icon indicates that the GTM antenna is plugged in and working ok. This does not mean that you have an active radio station lock/active traffic reporting information.
The antenna is part of the power cord – if the cord is not plugged into the power outlet in your vehicle, then the traffic icon will be greyed out.
3) Touch the green display and see what (if any) traffic info is shown.
4) Go to the volume screen and hold your finger for 5 seconds in the upper right corner of the screen. This action will display the GARMIN diagnostic page.
5) Scroll down to Developer Info line and select it (by touching the screen).
6) Scroll down to the Traffic Receiver Status and select it. If you have a locked in radio station, it will be listed here.
7) Try manually tuning in one of the radio stations for traffic service. Touch the triple bar in the upper left hand corner of the display. Select RDS if you have a RDS receiver, otherwise select HD. Then press the software keyboard and give a RDS/HD radio station in your area.
8) When you are finished testing, touch the left arrow icon in the lower left hand corner to return to the previous display. Repeat the left arrow icon touch twice to exit the diagnostic section.

8. Why do I not get or see traffic reports (the traffic icon seems to be ok (green))?

There are many reasons why you are not getting traffic reports. The first one is you are outside of the RDS/HD service area. If no radio signal can reach your GARMIN unit, then there will be no traffic reports. See the NAVTEQ RDS coverage http://www.navteq.com/rdstraffic/index.html web site for the maps of the city areas covered by the GARMIN radio traffic service. See the NAVTEQ HD Radio coverage http://www.navteq.com/hdtraffic/index.html web site for the maps of the city areas covered by the GARMIN radio traffic service.
There are other possibilities including no traffic incidents to report, radio signal interference problems, and a broken antenna.

9. What do I do if I do not see any traffic reports on my GARMIN nuvi?

1) Check the RDS/HD service maps to see that you are in an area that has active traffic coverage. See website navteq.com pointers listed in the previous question.
2) Check the power connection is plugged into the accessory/cigarette lighter power port. If the red LED is not lit, then check your connection. Also check the replaceable fuse in the end compartment.
3) Check for local interference in the vehicle. The cable that runs from the power port to the nuvi GPS unit is an antenna. If you are operating other electronic devices in the car, you could have an interference problem. Try turning the other devices off for a moment for testing purposes.
4) Move the GPS cord so it is as close to the windshield as possible. The antenna cord needs to be as close to the windshield to improve radio reception of the traffic data signal.
5) External interference can also occur – strong transmitters can interfere with the reception of the RDS/HD signals. Large buildings can cause problems too. Only after you have driven out of a problem area, will the radio reception return to normal.
6) If you think that the GTM antenna is not functioning, it is time to contact GARMIN for further suggestions.

10. What are the RDS and HD radio/traffic services?

RDS is a short-hand for Radio Data Service. It allows FM stations to broadcast their station ID, station slogan, the time of day, the current program or current song and artist titles and yes current traffic information in digital form. RDS compliant radios for cars and trucks sold in the US have an LED screen where the RDS information is displayed [everything but traffic?].

HD is short for High Definition radio services. HD is optionally available on AM and FM stations in the US and elsewhere in the world. HD provides higher fidelity sound quality with less transmission cost. It also provides more digital based radio channels for more services than the default old analog methodology. Those additional services include traffic reports.

Not all radio stations have RDS or HD based broadcast services - additional equipment (and cost) is required by the broadcaster to provide these newer services. The current US HD radio list can be found at hdradio.com.

RDS and HD based consumer radio receivers are sold at many commercial stores in the US (i.e. Wal-Mart, BestBuy, Crutchfield, etc).

11. Which FM radio stations in my area provide the RDS and/or HD radio based traffic service?

One method to determine this to put your GARMIN nuvi into diagnostic mode and look at the stations listed. Another is to test the stations that advertise themselves as RDS/HD radio. These stations tend to be owned by the larger multi-city market operators (Clear Channel is one such US nationwide chain owner). The current US HD radio list can be found at hdradio.com.

12. What other options do I have for traffic reports?

There are multiple sources of traffic information and you should check all of the information that is available to use:
1) In most city locations there is usually at least one local AM station that reports traffic conditions every ten minutes or so.
2) Google maps have a traffic layer and can be consulted at home on your PC. Google maps are also available as a mobile phone app usable in the car (maps.google.com) for both Android and Apple based smartphones.
3) Apple maps app is another mobile alternative for iPhone users that shows traffic information.
4) Microsoft’s Bing map service also has a traffic option (www.bing.com/maps/).
5) Other phone based Apps like Waze, now a part of Google Inc, can be used. Waze is a crowd sourcing technology for reporting traffic problems in real-time. Waze also works on your PC/laptop in your browser (IE, Firefox, Chrome, etc). Waze coverage includes countries besides the US (waze.com).
6) Inrix is another phone app similar in functionality to Waze (inrix.com).
7) AAA has a routing app that is part of its service package to members. It shows construction issues on any chosen route (aaa.com).

13. I Have GARMIN Traffic. So Why Am I Stuck in Traffic?

There are time lapses between the time of an accident and the time it is reported, the time it takes to be processed by the system and then finally when the traffic notice is sent on to your traffic receiver. Many limited access highways (Interstates and Turnpikes) have a limited number of exits and many miles between the exits. If you are caught on a limited access highway and no exit close by, you will have to wait for the traffic to clear.

14. Are GARMIN Traffic Reports Bogus (Unreliable)?

Timing (as mentioned in the previous question) is one problem.

Broken sensing equipment can cause bogus reports in the traffic system.

At the other extreme, traffic reports may remain in the broadcast system for a while. The problem may have already cleared, but the message is still in the system. Your GARMIN nuvi receives the (what is now) old message and displays it with possible alternative routing even though the traffic incident has been cleared.
The longer a traffic condition occurs, the higher the reliability of the traffic report. Consider a long term event like highway construction on your active route – it is present for a long time (relative to a fender bender) and the GARMIN should have it listed on your active route.

15. Are the Alternative Route Recommendations Reliable?

It depends on the length of the traffic disruption, the network of alternative roads and your personality. A long disruption will force many drivers to seek alternative routes – thus clogging up the secondary routes in the area. A number of secondary routes are not covered by traffic monitoring, so your GARMIN may recommend an alternative route but not know that it too is backed up.

The personality issue is defined as the person that has to do something – we cannot just sit here. The first step is to turn on the AM radio and find the traffic report to see what they know. Also try and get the bigger traffic picture – using any smartphone apps that you have access to (Waze/Inrix, Google/Bing/Apple Maps, etc.). Then decide what action to take.

16. What about Traffic reporting outside of the US?

Canada: the RDS based traffic services are available today in select metropolitan areas. HD Radio testing has been underway in Toronto since the beginning of 2013.

Mexico, Central and South American countries: unknown

European countries: unknown

Asian countries: unknown

Not sure what all you want to include. If you go to Garmin site for FAQ.Type in traffic and 4 pages are there.