Garmin 2595 with an internal traffic chip vs traffic on the power power supply

The only difference is in the supplied power cable. On the older model, the cable also contained the traffic receiver. The newer 2595's with the traffic receiver built-in use a plain power cable.

You can find mre details here:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/39664?page=1#comment-326366

Just for curiosities sake.

Does that mean that a Garmin with an internal traffic chip would also work running on the battery without being connected to a 12v power source?

I think the power cord serves as the traffic antenna even when the traffic receiver is not part of the power cord. If so, the cord will still be needed for traffic reception.

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?...

I bought the 2597 this past Saturday. The unit will only give traffic with the TA20 cord. I don't believe that the cord acts as an antenna. I have most of the cord coiled up and in a compartment in the console of a Ford Explorer. The unit will only give traffic with this cord. It will not work with the USB cord. The TA20 cord must have a special pin in the connector that allows traffic to work.

So far I am happy with the 2597. It even warned me of a school zone in Burleson, TX this morning.

Just for info to post.If you go to settings,device and about.It will show under built in traffic receiver, yes. For 2597 same as 2595 except Bluetooth.Based on the cable provided with the unit.My cable has TA20 charger printed on it.

Same here. Got my 2597 last week, and traffic will only work with the included plain looking 12v pwr cable that has TA20 printed on it.

A disadvantage with the traffic receiver built into the unit rather than built into the power supply cable is that you can no longer get traffic with a different GPS unit by using that traffic receiver cable. Also, if the unit develops a problem with the traffic receiver portion, you'll have to send the unit in for repair rather than just the cable.

I too prefer to have the external detachable/transferable traffic receivers.

I had a battle with Garmin over the traffic issue and found that the refurb unit that I got, was sent with the wrong cable.

It also had a defective internal receiver. I also beive that the serial number will have 2LQ at the beginning, if it has internal.

There may have been some rollout issues.

All your comments are right according with the service rep. For what I see is the unit with internal traffic looks to be the new generation.

Your are right the internal unit only receive traffic connected with the wire. I am waiting for the new unit and I will post something if I find out any difference.

Thanks

Have an early 2595 and the traffic is working fine..

...we can't upgrade to a GTM 60 cable?

Are you looking to get twice the number of traffic reports?

I really wonder what the unit would actually do if you connected a cable-based GTMxx traffic cable to a unit that already has the traffic receiver contained within the GPS unit...

If you go to Garmin products and click on the Nuvi 2597 then click on accessories it will show Traffic Receivers in the list.Click on it and it will show the following.

GTM™ 60 HD Digital Traffic Receiver 010-01031-00 $69.99 USD

GTM™ 36, North America 010-01009-02 $69.99 USD

I bought another TA20 for my truck. It has a device like the external cables about 2 inches from the power plug. It works just like TA20 that came with the unit. I will have to try it on my 1490 to see if it works with it. My son has it now so I can't.

Regardless where the traffic "chip" is, isn't the power cable necessary to serve as the antenna to receive the data?

I once heard that the traffic data was received thru the FM frequency .... is this accurate?

If this is the case, the cable is indispensable ... with or without the traffic chip.

Your thoughts sound right to me.

Yes indeed.

Good to know, thanks.

I finally received my gps after a month. I sent for repair and was replaced by a new unit. I am using the same traffic receiver and works ok.
The gps only receives traffic when connected with TA20 charger or similar receiver.
The tech told me this one has the chip on the cable but I don`t see the difference.

Well I have to find many interesting points of interest and enjoy.

I think Garmin Tech is wrong because TA20 is just a charger with built-in antenna. Traffic receiver is built in your unit.

I have two TA20 cables. The one that came with the unit has nothing in the wire. The other looks like this:

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

Both say TA20 on the power connector. Both work with the 2597.

I just looked at your link. It is just Vehicle power cable only.

I think if you check under accessories for all traffic units you will find that all cables are called Vehicle Power Cable.

If you visit the following links, then you will see the difference between traffic receiver and power cable:
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/shop-by-accessories/cables/v...

and this one for traffic receiver:
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/shop-by-accessories/cables/v...

OK

I received the TA20 cord with build in antenna with my 2598LMTHD. I was trying to find out if any power cord would work (I assumed that the copper wire inside any cable would serve as an antenna). I was wrong. So I tried getting a backup TA20 cord from Amazon or Garmin but not to be found (only on EBAY). I did find the model # of the TA20: GARMIN NUVI TA20 VEHICLE CAR POWER CHARGER CORD 320-00239-70, which isn't in any of the links previously posted.

I think you will find what you want here under cables. It is no longer called TA-20. Only Vehicle Power Cable.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-road/automotive/2013-...

It looks the same (Amazon has same pic), but nowhere does it say "traffic antenna".

And the Part # is different:

Vehicle Power Cable
010-11838-00

It might be worth a call to Garmin to verify the if traffic antenna present in this cable?

My 2597 has the traffic receiver in the unit. It uses the power cable to provide 12vdc to activate the receiver. I coil my cable as short as possible. I receive traffic at least to 70 miles north of DFW.

jjen,
Are you saying that your 2597 came with the TA20 cord, or did it have a different designation?
Was the part#: 320-00239-70 or 010-11838-00?
The number s/b on the plugs label. I didn't realize that the 2597 came with the built in traffic receiver.

The 2597 came with a TA20 part# 320-00239-70. The cable is slick throughout. I bought one from ebay TA20 same part#. It has a plastic device about 1.5" long and about 1/2" in diameter. It is close to the power connector. Probably a terminator.

I wonder if it is possible to hard wire the power cable in to a spare fuse holder of the vehicle?

No.

The Garmin cable plug reduces the voltage from 13.8VDC to 5. The fuse holder in your vehicle is 13.8 V when the car is running, otherwise it sits about 12 V.

That is what I was thinking too. I just thought I ask. Too bad.

If this is really something you want to do, there are several hardwire kits available for the nuvi. Of course, you eliminate the traffic receiver when you do this. Just google it and you will find them at amazon, ebay and many other places.

The other option is to use a hardwired 12V cigarette lighter socket with your regular nuvi power cord. Wire it in to your fuse box and tie it up under the dash where it is hidden.

My Nuvi 2557 has a build in traffic receiver. Would I loose that when I hard wire a power cord?

As far as I've read, whether the receiver is in the nuvi or the power cord, the cord serves as the traffic antenna. As jolette wrote earlier for his nuvi 2598, traffic reception for nuvis with built in receivers requires a TA (Traffic Antenna) power cord and my guess is that your 2557 requires the same.

Does the 3597 have an internal chip or in the power supply?

THe HD traffic receiver is in the power cord on the 3597

What you would lose is the traffic antenna. Even if you used the method of keeping the Garmin power adapter using a hardwired cigarette lighter plug, you would diminish the traffic signal strength if you tie the cord up under the dash. In fact, it may weaken the signal to the point that the traffic receiver wouldn't work at all.

I guess I have to put up with the power adapter sticking out of the cigarette liter.

I was presently surprised when my 3597 announced an accident up ahead when I was on the road the other day. Unfortunately, I was already stuck in standstill traffic so it didn't help me.

I have been in similar situations with seemingly massive traffic tie-ups. Even though it did not help in allowing me to detour in time. It did provide sufficient information on the expected delay and what is happening. That helped ease the anxiety.

I personally find Google Maps (aka Navigation) much better in actually predicting traffic ahead of time and correctly rerouting without much delays, while Garmin usually gets me stuck in bumper to bumper traffic somewhere where I can't escape from and just helps me figure out how much longer it may take

The only real advantage of Garmin is that it always work, while Google Maps works only when I have internet connectivity on phone ... which is not the case in some remote areas ...

No, your nuvi must be plugged in for live traffic updates to work as the power cable serves as antenna for traffic updates

Does anyone know FOR CERTAIN the TA Power Cable Pin-out?

As per the USB Specifications, #1 is Vbb, #5 is Gnd. #2 is D-, and #3 is D+. I am assuming since (I assume) the 2597 is a Full-Speed/High Speed Device Pin 3 is Pulled up to 3.3V.

#4 Must (should) be the "antenna" wire and MY GUESS IS THAT #4 and #3 are "(DC)shorted together" inside the 12 volt connector / Voltage Regulator "Plug". That way the 2597 LMT could sence the pull-up voltage appearing on pin 4 and know there was an antenna connected.

This is just a guess on my part, can anyone confirm?

Thanks & StaySafe

I know this is an old post but I just arrived today.

Anyhow, I don't believe the school zone has anything to do with the traffic receiver. School zones are a geographic or map feature so they are downloaded with map updates. Traffic updates are dynamic and are broadcast real time. You will get school zone warnings in areas where you will not get traffic updates.

Mike