Inrix traffic

[marksfish]

I have my Garmin set to get Inrix automatically, out of the providers shown in the list. Should I be setting it to Inrix UK? I ask because I have found it to be quite flaky on motorways. I was on the M1 this morning in a traffic jam around J15. Traffic initially told me there was a 18 minute delay. 15 minutes into the delay, the update showed no traffic ahead and the rest of the 40 minutes I spent in the traffic, the display never updated to a delay.

I understand that systems may be a bit slow to update, but this was a major issue this morning on a arterial motorway section that was going unreported. Am I better off using the digital traffic by smartphone, is that any more accurate/ up to date? I don't really want to link my phone unless there are serious benefits due to the data aspect, I only have 500mb per month.

Also, if I leave it at auto, should it pick up a signal overseas?

Mark
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[sussamb]

Not sure about the phone as never used that but my nuvi is set to auto and switches when in France without issue.
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[Kremmen]

Funny you mention Inrix traffic and delayed display. For the second week running my built in TMC RDS has shown M4 traffic around Heathrow, London bound, well before Inrix showed it.

Used to be the other way round.

As far as Smartlink is concerned that uses ViaMichelin data and is flooded with obsolete roadworks especially in my area that seem to take precedence over real traffic. In my area I've known of roadworks that ended 6 to 9 months previous but Smartlink was still showing them.
When I scrolled through the list of roadworks and traffic reports on the unit, all under the flag of 'incidents' there were over 200, of which only about 9 or 10 were yellow or red traffic reports. I think they are hitting display capacity.
Used to be good but something happened about May 2013 that wrecked it.

I did a test a while back, 2597 on Smartlink and 2599 on Inrix using the same plotted route and Inrix showed the M25 traffic between Heathrow and the M3 accurately but Smartlink didn't, again loads of obsolete roadworks.
_________________
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :

[marksfish]

I saw last night that Inrix have a phone app, so I downloaded it. I will have a look at it next time I am in traffic and I have nothing reported. That will tell me if it is the Nuvi having issues receiving, or if it is the Inrix. That said, I suppose they could be selective over what they send to a satnav unit couldn't they?

Mark
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[Kremmen]

As long as you can see Inrix as the 'provider' then you have a good connection.

I've had the phone app for ages now. According to that I have almost 7000 users near me. It is a good indication of whether your Garmin is showing what's what.
_________________
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :

[BigJohnD]

INRIX are pretty good but sometimes minor errors on their part cause havoc with your route. An example which drove me crackers was when they showed the road closure to be on the other side of a major cross roads. From their point of view they were about 25m out - but for any traffic being routed nearby the Garmin was for ever unnecessarily re-calculating and offering other routes.

WAZE is a good alternative app.

[marksfish]

I always thought I had a good connection to the traffic. I have signal bars on the home screen which I equated to traffic signal strength. Now, despite me having a full set of bars, I had no traffic info this afternoon

Mark
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[Kremmen]

Interesting

The bars are how I'm guessing my signal is good but the last 2 weeks late data makes me wonder.
I'll have a look Monday during the morning rush from the comfort of the garage and see what it picks up. Last time I did that exercise it was fine.
_________________
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :

[marksfish]

I did a non- manly thing and downloaded a manual Not for my unit, but similar, as it seems a manual for mine isn't around. The bars are apparently the GPS status, not the traffic strength, so bang went that idea...
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[Kremmen]

The bars on the main screen yes, but Settings then Traffic has it's own bars.
_________________
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :

[marksfish]

I've found them Will look again on Monday morning.
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Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[marksfish]

Don't know if it is my unit, how it interpretes the information or coverage issue.

Twice last week whilst travelling Southbound on the A1 from Gamston Airport (near Worksop) all the way to Grantham, the searching message was displayed.

I thought it was a dead spot, so decided to keep the traffic bar open during all my recent journies. I have had problems:

1. Clockwise M25 from leaving the Enfield tunnel, no service until the M11 slip road.

2. Nothing in Sittingbourne.

3. South Mimms to Welwyn Garden City Northbound A1.

These aren't just small sections, they cover quite a substantial area.

I also wonder if Inrix do similar to IQ routes? Whilst stuck at M6 Northbound yesterday, the Garmin showed no delays. The Inrix phone app showed heavy traffic.

Southbound A1 today at Hatfield, Garmin was showing no delays, Inrix app was showing an orang route.

So, does the Garmin incorporate these delays into daily travel due to historical data?

Mark
_________________
Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

[sussamb]

Under Settings, Traffic, Traffic alerts do you have it set to most?

Also is trafficTrends selected? I turn mine off so I get warnings of delays. Wiith it turned on predicted traffic flow may alter routes/timings and I prefer to make that choice myself. See this FAQ:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId=%7B9b48d480-abc6-11df-6dba-000000000000%7D
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[Kremmen]

The phone showing traffic but the Garmin not, plus the 'searching' message is pointing me to the data not getting through.

The only way to be certain is to go to Settings, Traffic and watch the top bar for either searching or up to date. Of course you lose the mapping while you are testing.

How have you got the TA cable routed?
_________________
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :

[marksfish]

On my unit, the receiver is built in (according to the specs), so the cable is a power supply. The cable is not long enough for me to route around the windscreen and into the 12v supply, so it is effectively trailing from my unit in the centre of the windscreen, at the bottom to the supply. There is about 2 feet in the glove box to prevent it trailing on the floor of the passenger compartment.

I have only noticed the problem late last/ this week, but then it is only now I am keeping the traffic open.

Mark
_________________
Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe

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