DS 86 not performing like prior Garmins

I’m not familiar with the DS 86 but perhaps check the content at https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=Umn3OMB08f3iXuuEyML7o6....

Maybe follow up on the section mentioning Active Lane Guidance. It states

With my DS51 and bozophone sourced traffic I got too many work area messages recently. The worst message was "left lane closed in 71 miles".

I know nothing about the DS 86 and junction views.

But for the missing work areas and alerts, I'm not surprised that you see no warnings since you're using the traffic cable and not the smartphone link.

If you view the coverage map for FM and HD Traffic, I expect that even its optimistic coverage area does not include the places you've been. This is not an issue unique to the DS 86, it's a problem with FM/HD coverage which will likely only get worse with time. If you have a smartphone, you need to install and use the Garmin app that Bluetooths to the Garmin device.

Relative to Garmin's traffic coverage, there is content at https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=p0bTDWWUmW2UNq62eC79C7... that should be read. In that content is a link that provides an idea of the coverage areas. That link, repeated here, is https://coverage.here.com/rds-coverage.html.

I suspect, as CraigW has pointed out, the HERE traffic system is lacking in much of the areas you've mentioned (IL, MO, and KS).

I have the DS65 and it was my first experience with traffic via the bluetooth link to my phone. Initially, I was concerned about data usage, but found it only used about 1Mg/hour. Additionally, it was far superior to the FM radio link.

I can attest to this. Shortly after getting a 3550LM with included GTM60 cable for free from its prior owner I tested it against my DS65 / smartphone link. I then compared those two to my nüvi 65LMT and its built-in traffic receiver. There was no contest. Smartphone link picked up much more than the 3550 and more quickly. The 3550 however fared better than the nüvi 65LMT despite the 65LMT traffic receiver being built in to the shell rather than needing a special cable. I didn't try the GTM25 cable that came with the $7 1300LMT I bought off ebay, but I know it wouldn't do any better than the 3550.

It is one-SIXTH of the screen!

I had the app on and phone linked into Colorado and Arizona.
ONE hit for over 15 work areas.

I have a brand new OnePlus phone that gets excellent reception too.

Assuming you're referring to Junction View size, you are correct. Take a look at the image shown for the DS 86, compared to the 76, 66, and 53:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/720310

The JCV is a greater percentage of the screen for the smaller DS models as shown in the above link when you click the 5, 6, and 7-inch display size. I couldn't find anything in the DS 86 manual at all regarding Junction View so I will assume there's no setting available to change it. My guess is that Garmin decided that with the largest screen of the DS models, 1/6 of the total display is enough while keeping more of the map showing on the 86.

I think if I were using a DS 86, I would likely agree with sethr that this would be a shock to see, an undesirable one. I wonder if Garmin would have the ability, if enough owners complained, that a firmware update could enlarge JCV. It may not be possible as each currently offered DS device has a different Display Resolution, with the DS 86 at 1280x800. Oddly, of the smaller models, the DS 66 has higher resolution than the 76.

86: 1280x800
76: 1024x600
66: 1280x720
53: 800x480

Regarding your later post regarding work areas, I think that the DS 86 will show the same traffic alerts the 53, 66 or 76. I expect all Garmin devices will share the same work area alerts as other models using the same traffic provider. I can confirm that a large work area that's been present near me for a long time does not show a work area with the smartphone app on my DL 51. But for sure, my DL 51 shows the area around the work area as a congested area and to expect slower than posted speed limits during rush hours, nearby college football games, etc. Go Badgers, it's Homecoming Weekend.

Around here I can only get FM traffic, no HD and I don’t use a smartphone link. There’s major road construction going on near my house for the last 2 years (still nowhere done) with 4 lanes in both directions reduced down to two and speed limit through the construction zone is reduced from 70 km/hr down to 40 km/hr. Traffic is backed up everyday for 3-6+ kms and my DS55 traffic says “No traffic reported ahead” every single day. No change in map road color to yellow, red or what other color there is , basically nothing. I don’t even bother with traffic on any Garmin GPS that I own because it’s useless IMO.

Compared to a smartphone link FM traffic is slow to update and slow to pick up a signal. Useless? That's debatable: if it's all you have it's better than nothing. I wouldn't dismiss the smartphone link out of hand however. I find it to be a significant improvement over FM traffic, both in speed and accuracy. For example, earlier this week in my area I encountered a traffic slowdown due to an auto accident. The smartphone link picked up the data and generated an alternate route around the slowdown. It did this very quickly, but admittedly it didn't beat Waze in terms of reporting speed.

I suspect that if I had tried this with FM traffic I would have never been routed away from the auto accident.

Adding to my original post, this is 2 years of major freeway expansion on 2 different freeways plus 2 busy exchanges. Everyday the traffic is backed up for many kms in both directions and the DS55 on FM traffic not once has it showed any type of traffic in the area on both freeways in either direction. Yesterday afternoon I went for a drive to my mom's house on a different freeway. DS55 map showed a section of the freeway in red with a 6 min delay but there was hardly any cars on the road and traffic was free flowing in both directions. If you don't call this FM traffic useless, what would you call it then?

Slow.

I encourage you to try the smartphone link software. I think you'll like it a lot better.

Think you need the Garmin Drive app for the DS86, Smartphone Link app is for the older devices.

You are correct. Just to clarify, we seem to have two different devices being discussed: the DS86 and jackrabbit's DS55. The DS55 I don't think uses the Drive app but requires the smartphone link app instead. Naturally I could be wrong, but there you go.

DS55 also uses the Drive App.

Drive App - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/666925#devices

Smartphone Link App - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/111441#devices