3490 with GTM60, Does it work for you?

Welcome to the site.

Before getting too deeply into a problem posted by someone new to the site (in your case a "Traffic" problem), we usually recommend the following.

There is a "Learn" button in the upper right of this page next to "red light cameras" that takes you to a Getting Started page. It is worthwhile visiting this page.

To make navigation easy, most browsers provide the following option. When you want to follow a link - but still keep your current page open - you can hold down the "Ctrl" key as you left-click on a link. That action will open a new "Tab" in your browser up on the "Tab" bar. When you then left-click on that new "Tab", you will follow the link - leaving the "Tab" you are now reading open and available to click on and return here.

So, using the "Learn" link, you might try the "Ctrl" - left-click sequence and then return here. You can return by either "X-ing" out of the "Getting Started" page (using the "X" on the "Tab" itself) or just left-clicking on the "Tab" for the page you are on right now.

Since you are new here, I encourage you to go through a couple of the Tutorials.

The first link makes sure the settings on your computer are such that you can do more advanced POI loading.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30393

The next link helps you make a backup of your GPS by attaching it to your computer. (NEVER do anything to your GPS until you have a backup). It also assures that you put your (newer) unit into a state where you can see all of the folders there.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

Now, about your traffic reception. Do you know for sure that other units in your immediate area get traffic?

I ask this because I do not have traffic in my area according to the Garmin coverage maps - BUT, I will get traffic when I enter an area that has traffic coverage.

I do have 2 other 1350LMTs that obtain traffic in the same area using GTM25 cables, with the cables positioned in the same manner as well.

I went out on a small trip and came back the same way today. On my way there, I used a GTM25 to the 3490 and had no problems with traffic and was successfully routed around a closed road.

While at my destination (in a strong traffic signal area), I did a master reset and let it sit for about 30 minutes. I drove back with my 3490 connected to a GTM60 and my older 1350 connected to a GTM25. My 3490 never once picked up a signal, while the 1350 brought me back and also successfully routed me around a closed road.

I believe it's a software issue. I can see in the diagnostics that it is succesfully picking up stations it can sync to. I can even see some data trickling in for the 2 seconds or so it stays on a station with sync, before hopping off to another frequency. It continuously does this, never adding anything to the FM table. If I manually tune it, I can get it to lock with full signal. I'm unsure if you actually can receive traffic in this test mode because I couldn't find any.

I've done a lot of digging around various forums and have seen people have the exact same problems. I wish I was in an HD traffic area so I could test that subscription.

I'm not sure what else I can do or try, short of trying another GTM60 cable or returning this to Garmin. Though I'm fairly certain I'd have the same problem.

Garmin did mention that some windshields may have a coating that could block signal. I plugged the GTM60 to an inverter outside with no obstruction and it still could not pick up any traffic.

you could also be in an area that doesn't have HD traffic.

you could also be in an area that doesn't have HD traffic.

The way I understand it the GTM60 receives signals broadcast by HD radio stations and the GTM25 (like the receiver with my Nuvi 660) receives regular FM radio signals. HD traffic is broadcast and received quicker and more frequently because of the higher bandwidth it works with but coverage is not as widespread. In the area where I live, regular FM coverage is much better than HD coverage and my GTM60 received nothing here in central NH until a few months ago. Even though I think the GTM60 is supposed to pick up both types of signals it has never picked up regular FM for me either. Don't know if it needs a paid subscription for that, because my Nuvi 660 required me to purchase one before it picked up anything.
Traveling up and down the east coast for several years, first with 660 now with 3490, I have found the HD traffic to be more accurate and useful more often (but not perfect by any means). The traffic received by the nuvi 660 was almost always out of date and I ended up ignoring it, regretting the subscription purchase.

Essentially coverage for both receivers is not the same because they work with different technologies. See Garmins info here: http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?c...
Whether or not you can use the GTM25 on the 3490 I don't know but Garmin should be able to help answer that. YMMV

I am definitely in an area without HD traffic. I'm just outside of Toronto, Ontario.

Garmin customer support says the GTM60 should pick up regular analog RDS signals in absence of HD traffic.

Not only that, if you look under subscriptions in the developer menu, GTM60 shows 2 subscriptions (RDS and HD), and the GTM25 will show just RDS.

So it should be able to pick up regular analog traffic as far as I know and as far as Garmin customer service confirms.

But thanks Meester. I guess that pretty much confirms it. HD traffic only with the GTM60.

Here's hoping that a firmware update for the GTM60 could potentially fix it, but I guess it's an older model now and Garmin won't pay it much attention.

Just for information sake, I did see that there was a 3.10 firmware update for GTM receivers. Some GTM60s took the update and then did not have a problem locking onto analog traffic. Some GTM60s did not, and remained on 2.10. Mine did not apply the update to the GTM60.

I don't know if this will help anyone but my GTM25 is on 3.10 and my GTM60 is on 2.10.

Thanks all

Yep my GTM60 never got that 3.1 update either and I have tried every update method Garmin offers. For me it works where I need it to, with ok HD coverage from Boston down to Washington.
It would be nice if Garmin would release an update to make it work the way they claim it does, but I won't hold my breath any more. Never took up the issue with support, since RDS was never much help to me anyway. I do wish they would fix the evergreen icon, but lets not get going on that LOL.
Good luck.

I too live in the Toronto area and I use a GTM 60. My GPS is often giving me alerts and reports on traffic (delay on route 5min) and I often get the traffic flow yellow line.

With my 3490 in the Atlanta area, I've always had to drape the power/receiver cord slack up on the dash for better signal reception to get it to work.

Angelfish,

Is it possible for you to enter the developer menu and tell me what firmware version your GTM60 is running? The ProdID would also be helpful.

Thanks!

I have never made a backup of my unit and I have several garmin units and appreciate the info just in case some happens

There we go....I knew it. I've bin thinking about doing that for some time, connecting my 3790 traffic cable to my 3590. I bin ranting and raving about the 3590 searching and searching for many a post. My 3790 cable blew up a while back, didn't mind replacing it.
Not liking the idea of buying a gtm 36 for the 3590, but i'm sure it will fix my issue.

Yes.. mines works, but my experience with any and all of the traffic receivers has been that the reporting is pretty dismal.

Usually tells me there is traffic, and when I arrive at that location it's all clear.

Or There is no indication of a traffic problems, but I run into stop and go traffic for miles.

The traffic reporting has a long way to go to make it usable for me.