3G Cell Network or Satellite?

Here's my understanding.

The 3590 has a power cord that has an FM antenna that receives ( or received ) traffic data from certain broadcasters in various geographic areas.  I presume it was based on geographic population density, but how the traffic situation data was collected and distributed for retransmission over the air is unknown to me. ( no satellite nor 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or LTE interaction.)

Then there's the Garmin Connect app you install onto your phone.  Your phone receives data over the cellular system and shares the data!with your 3590 via a Bluetooth link between your phone and the 3590.
In this case, it's going to depend on your phone.  If your phone is 3G AND your phone is 3G, when AT&T disconnects its 3G support, then your phone won't connect at all, so the Garmin Connect app won't help.

However, if your cell phone supports 4G, 5G or LTE, and your using the Garmin connect, then, presuming Garmin Connect can exploit the 4G / 5G / LTE services, all should be!as they are now.

I don't know what GARMIN CONNECT actually requires for in the case of ?G

I've tried it with 3G and 4G phones, alnd it's seemed to work in the past.

Now, if you've a "Satalite Phone" that can Bluetooth connect to your 3590 AND run the GARMIN CONNECT app, I've no idea if the traffic data is even available.

But who knows what they'll do today.

Whew!

BarneyBadass beat me to it, but here's my 2¢

Traffic for your 3590 comes via 2 options, neither being satellite.

One is the power cord with the built-in FM radio traffic receiver. Traffic is usually only available near/in larger cities.

The other is via your cell phone using the Garmin Smartphone Link App. The cellphone connects to your 3590 using Bluetooth which in turn pulls traffic data from the cellphone system. This uses very little data, so you should NOT see a rise in your cellphone bill - unless you have a plan that has a very small data allowance. As long as your cellphone has a connection you should have traffic

The traffic on your Garmin comes from an RDS radio system. These are all FM radio stations that utilize the Radio Data System. These stations will transmit traffic data and the traffic cord on your GPS will pick up the information. Not all FM stations utilize the RDS service and most, if not all, are located in large metropolitan cities. Looks like there are a couple of RDS stations in Cincinnati and a couple in Dayton.

Thank you to everyone who answered my questions.

I will be OK as far as the GPS function is concerned since it's Satellite.

I think my traffic function should be fine as well since my 3590 has the receiver in the power cord and utilizes FM signals.

I am good to go!

Thanks again.

I don't know any portable navigation device that uses cellular network of any kind. One exception, Garmin smartphone with GPS and I think they stop making them.

It's ~16:50 central time in chicago. My att flip - some cheap zte phone - still works. Will test again tomorrow morning. We'll see if they actually kill 3g after today.

Good thread, but the shutdown of 3G can have quite an impact ranging from senior citizen “alert” devices to school buses to logging devices for truckers. See https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/att-3g-shutdown-what-...

Not all the carriers will drop 3G support on the same day. The last notice I think I saw had Verizon currently saying pretty late in 2022 for dropping their support. They had previously said at least two much earlier dates. I have an interest because I have a Verizon 3G flip phone currently serving as backup to my newish T-Mobile while it burns the leftover prepay dollars on my Verizon account at $5/month.

Flip phone still working as of right now (att). Will test again in a few days. Folks & companies have known for at least 2 or 3 years this was coming. They should have been proactive. Responding at the last minute is on them.

This flip is just a spare/emergency phone, not of vital importance. If/when it goes dead I'll buy some cheap volte capable flip.