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RDS Traffic adapter

 
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rkm_hm
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Joined: Nov 28, 2004
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Location: Warwick, UK

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:33 pm    Post subject: RDS Traffic adapter Reply with quote

I've recently bought a TT Via 135 to replace my very ancient (c.2004) TT GO Classic.

The Via 135 may not be the very latest model(!) but at least it has things like lane guidance and can still use Pocket GPS World speed cameras. Mine came with lifetime free maps, too.

I could have bought a more expensive model with 3G traffic - but I don't have a smartphone with a data contract, and the models with built in 3G and free traffic for life cost an arm and a leg!

Which brings me to the point. Although I don't do many long journeys these days, traffic info might occasionally be useful. TT sell a combined charger and traffic receiver for about £50 - but very similar units are available on Ebay and Amazon for less than £20. So, a few questions . . .

1. How useful is RDS traffic info - does it get anywhere close to 3G traffic?

2. Is there any difference between TT's £50 unit and Amazon's £20 unit? [The Amazon reviews are mixed - as always - some saying it's brilliant, others useless. Some seem to suggest that the £20 ones are old models and need some sort of software patch (to what?) in order to work.]

If anyone has any experience of these things, and is willing to share it, I will be most grateful.
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DennisN
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. How useful is RDS TMC Traffic? Personally I think not much. It's better than nothing, but it is not great coverage and is not updated at short intervals, maybe half an hour. Back in the day, I concluded it was a waste of time and money. Instead, tune your radio to 693 and/or 909AM. BBC Radio Five Live gives traffic updates at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour and I found that good enough.

2. The antenna came in several formats and they were not all interchangeable so caution when buying that the one you buy WILL work for you.

TBH I wouldn't bother with it.
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If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!
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JimmyTheHand
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DennisN wrote:
It's better than nothing


From my experience - I'd say it was worse than nothing, the times I had good signals and it locked on (which was rare on my commute, but OK on some longer journeys) it actually gave out of date info about jams that no longer existed

Before I switched to a Live model, the BBC traffic was more use than RDC

That said I switch to a Live Traffic model 5 years ago, so things may have changed
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DennisN
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

JimmyTheHand wrote:
DennisN wrote:
It's better than nothing


From my experience - I'd say it was worse than nothing,
Being a nice gentleman, I felt that for me to say so might be going a bit too far. Just occasionally it would be right about a road closure 90 miles away, but I never gave it much credence and can't recall ever diverting to avoid a warning.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!
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AliOnHols
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whenever I am notified by my Go940 and it's RDS traffic alerts, I ignore them and continue along my original route. I am never disappointed.
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JimmyTheHand
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DennisN wrote:
Being a nice gentleman, I felt that for me to say so might be going a bit too far.

Being nice to who though?
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DennisN
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Everybody who isn't called "TheSomething". 😀
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