MSN direct VS. fm traffic updates

The MSN traffic data comes from traffic.com The FM/TMC traffic comes from realtimetraffic.net - you might Google and seek out comparisons of the quality of those services in the areas you're interested in.

And, for what it's worth...XM uses Traffic.com/NAVTEQ data, and MSN recently announced it would be using Inrix traffic data in all it's traffic reporting platforms.

Ray, I think based on past threads much of people's experiences depend on where you are. I'm happy with my FM Traffic in the Phoenix area. Matter of a fact, I just renewed my subscription ($60 + tax).

BTW, I checked 760/770 at Garmin's site and noticed that BOTH 760 and 770 support FM and MSN traffic...however, they only come with GTM20 in the box and you'll have to fork over additional $124.99 for MSN Direct receiver. Hhhmmmm. Is that a writing on the wall????

Guess I'm a little confused. Since the 760 and 770 come with FM traffic built-in.....Is the GTM20 just in case you want the MSN? And if so...why would you want both or is it just an option? I must be missing something here....not that that's unusual..lol.

Actually, the entire 7xx line is capable of using a traffic receiver...the 750 does not come with a receiver...the 760 & 770 come with the FM receiver, and one can add the MSN receiver as an option.

I have MSN and it has gotten a lot better in the past few weeks. But until the traffic services accont for red light tife they can't really reroute you around traffic and help you improve time.

MSN has gas prices, weather and movie times as well!

I heard the new Garmin update gives lifetime traffic. Is this for both services?

The MSN has seemed to have gotten better as of late.

FM Traffic and MSN Direct Traffic are not built into the 7XX line. You choose which service you want by you choice of AC power cable which have radio receivers & antennas built into the power cable.

GTM™ 20 ((This one is for FM Traffic))
Part Number: 010-00544-01
Suggested Retail Price: $ 214.27 USD
The Lifetime free version of FM Traffic is AD supported, when you stop for a red light or whatever a small advert will popup on your screen.

GDB 50 MSN® Direct Receiver ((This one works with an MSN Direct Subscription))
010-00583-00
$ 119.99 USD ***Includes a one year subscription***

The MSN subscription is $50/year or $130/lifetime.

From: http://www.msndirect.com/about-msn-direct.aspx

MSN® Direct is a unique information service that uses a wireless datacasting network to deliver location-based services to navigation systems. Services available today include:

* Traffic Reports
* Send to GPS
* Gas Prices
* Weather Reports (includes NWS Alerts/w maps)
* Movie Information
* Local Events
* Stock Quotes
* News Headlines

MSN Direct wirelessly delivers information over an unused FM radio spectrum to broadcast data to 125 cities in the US and Canada, including the top 100 biggest cities in all 50 US states and five Canadian provinces. We provide information you can use—when and where you need it most. Interested in the technology that powers MSN Direct? Visit our Partner page for more information on working with us.

I've been driving around with gas prices displayed. Great for situational awareness -- not only learning which areas are expensive and which less so, but also how the prices displayed on the Nuvi screen compare with the prices displayed at the stations themselves.

I believe you mean the DC power cable in your first paragraph.

And for folks with units like my 750 who want to add FM traffic, note that GTM-20 receivers can be found on eBay typically for under $50. Including S&H, I paid under $25 for mine. For the 7xx folks (unlike the 7x5 folks who have ad-supported traffic), lifetime FM traffic is $60+tax. Note: lifetime = for the life of the GTM-20 traffic receiver/power adapter combo.

My boyfriend and I drove around Los Angeles this weekend with his Nuvi 680 with MSN and my 760 with FM both plugged into his car. They gave pretty much the same traffic information, though the routes they suggested in high traffic locations differed from each other a little. The ETA was never more than a minute or two different. His showed the anticipated rainstorms for a few hours before they actually hit, something that might prove to be useful.

I can't say about reception as that isn't an issue in Los Angeles. But if you want basic traffic, the FM is fine. If you want the extras (as I do) you'll probably want the other cable. Sadly, it's selling for quite a bit more on eBay than the FM traffic cable. The lowest price I saw it going for was around $80.

Anybody know if the lifetime MSN Direct subscription is transferable to another device like when you buy a newer model or replace a broken or stolen unit?

No it is not.
You can also claim it on your insurance if stolen, if broken your out of luck, the lifetime is for the life of the unit.

i got mine with my c580, hooked it up to a 760 worked great, now it is working on my 765T

So, the subscription goes with receiver instead of GPSr?

The Lifetime Traffic is only for the Navteq Traffic service here is the response I obtained from Garmin about the service with my 205w.
The 205W is definitely compatible with the GTM 25 and the GDB 55. The GTM 25 will only work with the Navteq Traffic service. The GDB 55 will work with MSN Direct service. At this time, the FM TMC (Clear Channel) traffic service does not work with the 255W. If you purchase the GTM 25, it will come with a lifetime subscription to the Navteq traffic.
The GDB 55 comes with a one-year subscription. I hope this helps.

The subscription goes with the reciever if you purchase the receiver individually. However, if the particular unit come traffic enabled then the subscription comes with the GPS unit. As far as I can tell the only one that is built into some of the units is the Navteq Traffic service and the MSN is optional.

I do not have the lifetime service, but my msndiect service is "the cable itself" as it works on other 760's that I have tried.

I do not have the lifetime service, but my msndiect service is "the cable itself" as it works on other 750's and 760's that I have tried.

Thanks.
When I said "receiver", I meant "FM receiver" which is integrated with AC power adapter. Not the GPS receiver.

Just a side track, it is interesting to see when I have car ignition off, the AC power is also off, but the FM traffic receiver is still working until the GPS r is off. So, I am assuming it takes the feed from GPSr instead of from power adapter. Anyone every noticed this?

abin, you're correct with your last observation. I carry a spare cradle for my 660 at home and regularly hook up my GTM 20 to my GPSr to check on traffic info and play around with simulated routes in and around reported incidents. The traffic receiver does not have to be plugged into the car's cig. outlet to work. It can be powered by the GPSr on its own and the feed does come from the GPSr rather than the power adapter.

I know that the FM TTN (Clear Channel) does not give construction/incidents on side streets - only on highways. I know this from personal experience (my Nuvi 760) and also talking to the company (www.totaltraffic.com) who provides DFW with the traffic info.

I'm wondering...

Does MSN give info on side streets (construction/incidents)?

I have had both TTN and MSN traffic cables and they both report major roads only.

All the services show the routes they service on the coverage map. They differentiate these routs by color code and have routs that report traffic and incidents, and others that are incident enabled routes. Non of the services show all the roads available only those that they show on thier coverage maps.

Really,I use Microsoft Live search on my phone and the gas prices are usually 1-2 days old.

In Atlanta I've had MSN Direct on 680 report an accident on a 2 lane road (1 lane each direction) approx. 6 miles from closest interstate. As I recall I heard a helicopter, so perhaps this accident was reported to MSN.

I like MSN Direct for other services, especially the enhanced MSN reporting on my 760.

Yes, I have noticed this on my Nuvi 760 with FM receiver. It also appears that the 760 continues to get traffic updates while in this operating state.

It might be good to compare MSN info to gasbuddy.com. I don't know how MSN gets their info, but gasbuddy.com is user-based. I've submitted several updates to the site for locations I'm near.

That is correct. The one model 20 receiver that I have with lifetime traffic works with my 760 and my c550.

In regards to what happens if the receiver needs to be replaced, before I subscribed to the lifetime Clear Channel FM traffic I asked Garmin what would happen if the receiver broke or failed and I sent it in for repair. They replied in writing that if I sent the receiver in for repair and they needed to replace it instead of repairing it that the lifetime traffic would be transferred to the replacement receiver.

I think I'm spoiled, I can't remember their source, but MapQuest mobile gets gas prices 7 times a day. They use several fleet charge company information captures when the gas charge goes through. Similar to MapQuest for the PC.

GPS Magazine has a good evaluation in its on-line review of Nuvi 785t

I just went with the FM lifetime, its less investment and I heard that MSN could become obsolete in a couple years. Depending on who you read, neither is better nor worse, so I will see how it goes on our trip to Florida.

I read somewhere that MSN gets their gas prices from deidentified credit card transactions. No personal information is exchanged, just the fuel price.

While I'm here, does the FM Traffic signal only broadcast a signal less than a mile from downtown metro areas (ie. Nashville, Atlanta, Houston, etc.)? I drove all the way through Atlanta on I75 South (Chattanooga to Macon) and never got a traffic signal. On the way back through northbound I did pick up the traffic signal at about Fulton County Stadium/Turner Field and lost it before the 75/85 split. It's the same everywhere I go.

Is that performance pretty common for FM traffic? If so, is MSN traffic signal strength any better?

I purchased the MSN receiver for my 760. I've only used it for 3 days now but I really like the gas price feature. In my area, it even has a brand-new 7-Eleven's current prices. So far, all the prices I've matched in my area are accurate.

I'm in the Dallas area so the strange thing to me is it shows some cities for the weather but not ones you'd think would be listed. Shows Carrollton and Richardson but not Plano, Frisco, Lewisville, Denton. There are normally plenty of weather stations in these cities.

The only other thing is it takes about 20 minutes each time to download info unless I keep it plugged into cigarette lighter. I thought it was supposed to hold the info for a couple of days without being plugged in.

The traffic reporting seems pretty similar to TTN's FM reporting. Since I talk to these traffic reporting companies daily at work, the provider to MSN traffic calls us more frequently for traffic updates than TTN's provider does.

Now, if they could only start reporting incidents on major side streets I'd be really happy.

PS - I love the MSN one for the gas prices alone

I also have a 760 with MSN. I, too, have wondered why Frisco, McKinney, Denton, etc. are not there. Not that big of a deal, but I storms tend to hit Denton and McKinney harder.

It does take a few minutes to load for the most part, especially traffic. Don't know what they can do about that, unfortunately

MSN does get their prices from various fleet gas card users. Supposedly, only the fuel price for regular unleaded is sent to them.

I've had my MSN for 3 days now. I actually left it on the gas prices selection as I drove through certain areas. The ones that said updated "today" were all accurrate and most from the "yesterday" category.

exactly..the cities that are sometimes affected the most in our area aren't in there. Maybe they like to keep us in the dark. Probably some programmer's way of messing with us LOL. I'm with you on not too big of a deal. I just what it says about cities around me and make my own weather prediction.

the act that the FM receiver is actually divided into 2 types make it more confusing.
do we have a choice between which we use? navteq or clear channel?

i like the idea of free map updates w. navteq.. what are the pros and cons of either navteq or clear channel?

or do u guys JUST recommend the MSN?

It all depends on the coverage provide by all three. You may check your area on all three providers' web sites. If you have coverage from MSN Direct. I would suggest you get MSN Direct because it is lot superior than the others.

When you think about it, the 'find if it covers your coverage' area isnt always THE solution to finding whch traffic locator is better.

Ive lived in the washington dc area for over a decade and a half and its almost stupid to not KNOW where the traffic would be.

what im worried about is going to busy places OUTSIDE of where i dont usually go to (ie NYC / anywhere im not familiar with) i think thats where this thing SHOULD come handy the most. to find out that i spent money on something that isnt going to help me.. (get stuck in traffic in a foreign place) then.. thats going to be frustrating.

then we all go back to the same ol 'just come hella early'.. it kinda defeats the purpose of trying to go high tech.

oh choices!!

has anyone here found the ads annoying from the navteq maps? is there a way to get rid of those?

my tired old eyes can hardly read the small text anyway, and it doesn't cover much of the widescreen on my 765T.

plus, they only appear when you are completely stopped for 10 seconds.

I got both and using with 885.

It's seem that the MSN provide the traffic information more accurate and faster. Plus MSN have more extra thing like gas price, local entertainment....

But MSN only come with 3 months trial, and a fee for lifetime service, FM traffic come with newest Nuvi unit free for lifetime.

Korndogg27,

I found this on the web, I don't have the AD problem so I have no way to test it but it seems like it's worht a shot.

"I figured out a way to get rid of them with a little help from my good friends 'find' and 'strings'. If you mount the device and delete the file Garmin/Poi/ddb/RDS_LBA.ddb, you'll be ad-free. At least until the next time they update the firmware to disallow this."

Stevennguyen, you got the MSN 3 month free trial with the 885T, but how much extra was it for the FM receiver, so that you can have free lifetime traffic, also? Both receivers did not come with the 885, did they?

Have any one used the avoid car pool lane or HOV option in avoidance screens and successfully was detoured based on the hours of operation and regulation specifically in busy areas like DC..? Please share your experience, I am also interested to know if there was a way to modify the avoidance regulation table..

Both my Nüvi 200 and 255 seem to know when the I-95 HOV lanes are open and route me accordingly.

used it on 495?

brilliant!

gerrydrake,

My 785t came with both. After the 3 month trial for the MSN expired, I still have the traffic alert. The only thing I miss about the MSN is the gas prices and the weather radar.