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Drive 51 LM and traffic

 
Tue, 01/29/2019 - 4:12pm

Is anyone using a Drive 51 LM and a GTM-36 traffic cable?

I have a friend that is not using the GTM-36 (still in box, never been used) that he says came with another model he is not using and he's willing to part with it for $15.

Does this provide decent travel info? I rarely need to use traffic which is the reason I did not want to pay extra for any of the LMT units nor did I want to tie up my phone linking to a GPS.

Interested in hearing anyones experience.

Thanks in advance.

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I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.
Tue, 01/29/2019 - 4:51pm

Where?

KenSny wrote:

Does this provide decent travel info?

Your bio says you're from the USA. Traffic can be great in parts of the USA and nonexistent in others.

In Arizona for instance, it's probably good around Phoenix and Tucson and nonexistent in the rest of the state.

Even where it's good, it won't hold a candle to a Garmin GPS with SmartLink on your smartphone.

Tue, 01/29/2019 - 6:00pm

Mostly Cleveland and

Mostly Cleveland and Columbus OH, yearly Denver Metro area, and occasionly Albuquerque, NM. Detroit, MI.

I've been travelling for years without traffic info and just wondered if a small investment might be worthwhile installing.

Thanks, but not interested in Smartlink and the 51 LM is not Smartlink capable.

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I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.
Tue, 01/29/2019 - 10:29pm

Yes, worth $15 IMO

Since your Drive 51 does not support Smartphone Link, I would say having the traffic receiver for the metropolitan areas you travel in would be worth $15. Garmin traffic leaves a lot to be desired, but it is worth that small investment in my opinion, even if it saves you a delay only one or two times.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
Thu, 01/31/2019 - 2:30pm

Questions

Ok, so far so good. The GTM36 works on the Drive 51LM.

From the Diagnostics screen:

Traffic Reciever Status
Providers ver 470
Got 27 LTs
Got 19 TPEG SIDs
Init 4G 0/0
Line Ref 1914
Connect 4G/HD
Init TSM
Prod ID 1257
SYS Ver 230
BB Ver 210
GTM4G Software Version 2

A couple of questions.
1. I see info circles on the Traffic App map that indeed show traffic alerts. If I am on the normal map screen will these alerts show?

2. Is there any indicator on the normal map screen that will show Traffic is active? Green icon or similar? Because I'm not seeing anything.

3. If I press the tools (wrench) icon on the map screen and then "traffic" I get a small section on the right that displays traffic info. Is having this small section displayed the only notification there are traffic alerts?

I guess I really need to get in stop-and-go rush-hour traffic to test becuase the User Guide PDF is of no use at all.

Thanks in advance for helping with this old-school technology (i.e. not Smartlink).

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I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.
Thu, 01/31/2019 - 3:25pm

1. No 2. No 3. Yes

1. No
2. No
3. Yes

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267
Thu, 01/31/2019 - 5:42pm

Thanks

Thanks phranc.
Short, and to the point.

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I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.
Thu, 01/31/2019 - 10:08pm

I was on my phone, waiting

I was on my phone, waiting for the children to load on my bus. Short and sweet, I hate the keyboard on my phone.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267