iTIS or TrafficMaster

erniesone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 41

GPS_fan

GPS_fan · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

Would the longer shoestring aerial supplied with some hi-fi systems be any better than the one provided with the receiver?

swing · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:24 am Post subject:

erniesone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 41

"swing"

swing · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject:

cantgetlost · Frequent Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2005 Posts: 291

Just a comment on TMC reception.

I've only recently got round to using a Garmin GTM 10 in a different car to ususal that does not have the window problems my merc has for reception with a GTM12
In essence I wired the the GTM 10 to the car aerial and it gives far better results than the 12 with the wire string aerial. Iv'e tried both on the same routes and the GTM 10 fitted to car aerials is an odds on winner. :D

Geoffity · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 10, 2007 Posts: 1

My experience of the two providers so far is in favour of iTIS.

I have an OEM Sat Nav unit in my Audi with TMC provided by TrafficMaster (as of end Jan). I have reception problems in the North West, and spend probably 95% of my journeys without TMC Info.

I tried a BMW with OEM Sat Nav and ITIS TMC and had no such reception problems, also found that the Messages came through more quickly.

There were inaccuracies or timing problems (I found jams before TMC) in both cases, but on the basis that the ITIS system provided me with more messages it would get my vote.

Geoff

GPS_fan · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject:

Regardless of which system you favour, neither provider covers every inch of road and it is therefore unfair to expect instantaneous traffic reports.

It takes a finite amount of time for the sensor(s) to detect a problem, then the data has to be processed before it can be transmitted.

Also, I think that TMC data is only transmitted every few minutes, rather than a constant stream of data.

Apart from this, reception is a real problem and if you can't get a signal, it doesn't make much difference which provider is favoured.

I've had TrafficMaster in the car since the first Freeway systems came out so, at the moment, my personal preference is TrafficMaster - but this could easily change.

RedJuan · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject:

You are correct, I was mistaken. iTIS use floating vehicle data in conjunction with data from Highways Agency etc. They do not have their own fixed sensors unlike TrafficMaster.
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Darren Griffin

GPS_fan · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject:

I think that, regardless of the type of sensor, the biggest problem with BOTH providers is one of reception.

I recently tried an amplified glass-mount aerial - but reception seemed to be worse than the sheostring aerial.

There is another amplified aerial that I'd like to try, but I'm loathed to spend nearly £30 on something that might not even work.

philpugh · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject:

Simplest way to check if external aerial will work is to connect your 'shoestring' aerial lead to the plug on the end of your car aerial. It requires you to remove the car radio - but this is not a big deal on most cars. No cost involved (except a few pence for the radio removal tools from Halford if you don't have any).

If you get better reception then it is probably worth investing in either a seperate aerial or an amplifier and splitter for your existing aerial.
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Phil

GPS_fan · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject:

Phil,

Very true, but I'd like a portable solution so that I can easily transfer the GPS from one car to another (and take TMC with me)

philpugh · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject:

Then a mag mount external aerial may be the only choice - but they hardly count as portable. You could try extending the shoestring, lead it outside via the door seals and tying it to the external aerial as a support mechanism. It may work but would be less than attractive Wink

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Phil

Timelord2 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 27, 2006 Posts: 2

I have a fixed system using itis and a Garmi system using Traffic Master. The itis ifo is useless - if it shows me a holdup i usually ignore it as it is 90% wrong as the data is too old. It has routed me throgh the closed Blackwall tunnel on a couple of occasions. The Traffic Master system is more up-to-data and reliable IMHO. It may be differences between the 2 systems, but I would go with the TM system any day.

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