help with tomtom traffic dots

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject:

I trust those less than TT Traffic!

Surely the only way is to all head off in different directions, slavishly following the calculated routes, and to see who gets there first?

DennisN · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:14 pm Post subject:

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:42 pm Post subject:

Pass me my 'Acme' cloning kit....

WackyRaces · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:52 pm Post subject:

When I turned my 940 on today around 2pm there were 450 traffic incidents reported and the dots on the map seemed to stretch up to nearly 100 miles away from my location but then stopped very abruptly at what was clearly a boundary point.

I wonder if they restrict the range over which traffic incidents are reported the most when their servers and/or the Vodafone data network are the busiest (i.e. Monday to Friday in the peak hour). Or may be they are fine tuning the range over which HD Traffic data is supplied to strike a balance between network loading and/or unit data download capabilities and having access to as much traffic information as possible.

I still find that they haven't mapped out many of the London back streets for HD traffic reporting as yet. For instance I went to Cirque De Soleil at the Albert Hall last Sunday afternoon and when I left around 5.45pm Exhibition Road was completely gummed up heading down to the A4 and so were several of the parallel side streets I tried driving through to but HD Traffic showed no jams at all in any of them.

st1967 · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 28, 2003 Posts: 189

Good article this one. I used to have a Honda with built in Sat Nav which had very good built in TMC (Trafficmaster data). However over the last year of the car my maps were so out of date, I went to my TT7 backup on my phone and resubscribed to the old style Tom Tom Traffic.

The first thing I noticed was how much better the data had become in the 3 years since I last used it (I subscribed to their 1st traffic system on my old PDA TT). I assumed that was because it was using the same data as the HD system, but I've since been told they are still completely different systems? Anybody know for sure?

Anyway, I used to drive with my Honda built in on, but zoomed out to the maximum resolution so it still showed traffic incidents, well TT Traffic had them all, with the added bonus of how long you would be in them for, and again this was quite accurate.

The Honda has gone now so I just have the phone, but I trust it. At the end of the day that is all we are really looking for, a device with data you can trust.
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MRCC · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 06, 2008 Posts: 82

Just switched 540 on at 2pm on Sunday. Only 27 incidents reported, all in the 50 mile radius.

Not knowing the traffic situation on minor roads close to the main roads is a problem - I've had the situation in Manchester where it avoids the A34 queues but the diversion route is just as bad if not worse with the TT thinking there is no delay...

2216 · Regular Visitor Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 245

I noticed it last Monday morning, I had to be in Bolton for 6.30 am and left Hitchin just before 3.15 am. At this time of the morning I wasn't expecting any delay and I think HD traffic only showed a few problems on start up. There were no delays on my route around Birmingham on the M6 as I chose not to use tolls. I was in Bolton for less than haft an hour and then selected Home, HD traffic showed a general delay of about 5 mins. As I got on the M6 the delays started to get larger as again I selected not to use the M6 toll, but not as far down as Birmingham. Now what I wanted to know do I go off the M6 or chance it and if necessary pay the £5 toll. What I wanted was the whole route delays and make my own mind up as what to do.

DennisN · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:35 pm Post subject:

2216 · Regular Visitor Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 245

zip401 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 4

Don't post here often, so please be kind Smile

A workmate got a new TT about 4 years ago, and it had Bluetooth and came with free traffic for 3 months or so. He tried it for 3 months but gave up on it. Reason? It was looking at incidents 100s of miles away and redirecting him hours before he would have even got there. Eg, he travels from Kendal to London, TT Traffic reports a jam/incident on the M6 around Birmingham, so it tries to send him across the A50 and down the M1. Most times, by the time he would have got to Brum 2 hrs later, the jam/incident would have cleared. Particularly if he plans at 0900 (tail of rush hour) but won't hit Brum till 1100.

Last Oct my trusty 5 yr old TT Go Classic was stolen. I headed off to Dixons and bought a new Go1000, oblivious of the fact it had only just been released. It did not connect at first, but TT support were very helpful, and it was soon connected and getting HD Traffic info.

What a revelation! Incidents are only reported within a reasonable radius that you might actually get caught up in them. And they appear to be accurate.

Two examples (of more if needed):

1) traveling north on M5 to join M6, one usual jam at Brum. The TT reported a 0.8mile queue. I stopped to a standstill exactly where the icon on the route said I would. Spookily impresive.

2) One Sat afternoon before Christmas, was going from my home in Merseyside to Glossop in Derbys. Usual TT route is M62/M60 past Stockport/M67. TT this time told me to go M60 north to Oldham and drop down. Was only a mile longer, and TT was showing a red line at Barton.
As I drove there I heard on the radio that an incident had caused the closure of the M60 by the Trafford Centre. Major clag and delay if I had gone the usual route. So TT got it spot on.

Also when it picks up another delay, it tells me '3 more minutes delay, but you are still on the fastest route'. So it's little computer brain seems to be working out whether ducking around minor roads roads on estates will actually save you much time over simply sitting there on the clogged motorway for 10mins and taking the hit?

So far I'm quite impressed. It feels like an accurate traffic radar in the car.

Hope this post is helpful.

garstie · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 9

HI I HAVE JUST BEEN LOOKING IN A FREINDS VAN WITH A BUILT IN TOMTOM WITH TRAFFIC HE HAD THE RED DOTS AS FAR AS THE M25 AS MINE HAD BEFORE IT CHANGED ITS THE FACT NO ONE CAN SAY OH YES WE HAVE CHANGED IT BECOUSE OR WE HAD TO DO THIS THE CHANGE OER MAKE BETTER!!!!! I DONT GET AN AWNSER FROM TOMTOM I JUST WOULD LIKE WHAT IHAD BEFORE!!!! Shocked

DennisN · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:07 pm Post subject:

garstie · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 9

Point. 1 I'm actually dyslexic and struggle to put anything on here and I did not realize you needed a engish degree to post
Point 2 thank you for you answer
Embarassed

DennisN · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:11 pm Post subject:

I was offering advice, not commenting on any lack of an English degree - it doesn't take one to knock the caps lock key on and off. And take your pick, fullstop or comma when you pause to breathe or make a different point.

Your previous posts (and I did look at them all before making my points) gave no hint at all of dyslexia.
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