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nk416
2 Posts |
 Posted - 18 janv. 2012 : 16:09:01
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Hi everyone,
I'm looking for the best traffic solution in Toronto. So far I have used the TomTom 1535LIVE and the Nuvi 3490LMT. Here is my experience so far (along with my questions):
1. TomTom 1535 Live
Traffic information is excellent, although not always correct. Lots of information for arterial roads and even smaller roads in the city. I'm not always sure if this is just IQ Routes or not (seems like a mix, as it was showing traffic on Lawrence Avenue at Bathurst on a holiday that fell on a weekday ... of which there was no traffic to be seen anywhere).
That being said, the unit is a nightmare to use. VERY laggy making it almost unusable. Takes about 2 minutes to start. Trying to type in any addresses is just a pain.
2. Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT
The unit is a dream to use compared to the TomTom. Starts up fast and easy to enter addresses. Traffic seems to come up quickly, although it does not cover arterial roads, only seems to cover the 400 series highways. A bit disappointing, as I travel only in the city and was hoping to avoid traffic on small in-roads. TomTom Live is way better at this. Also to note, the handsfree mic is terrible when talking to my wife through the unit in the car.
Question: The 3490LMT is sold with the GTM-60 HD traffic receiver. Since I am receiving traffic updates does this mean HD radio traffic is available in Toronto, or is it simply using the regular FM-TMC traffic signal?
Also, does anyone know if FM-TMC traffic updates will eventually support arterial roads? Is there enough bandwidth for this - or are live services the only way to get this?
Many thanks everyone!
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Dewi
617 Posts |
Posted - 18 janv. 2012 : 22:36:55
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It's not receiving an HD Radio signal, but is utilizing the RDS-FM signal "fallback" receiver of the GTM-60. That is because there are currently no HD Radio broadcasts in Canada, althought the CRTC has ruled that HD Radio can be adopted by broadcasters in the future. Whether this will actually happen is unclear. The irony is that excellent surface-route (i.e. non-highway) traffic information for Toronto can be received by the GTM-60 -- you just need to be in or very near to Buffalo to receive it! Not very useful. I tested this with the GTM-60 while I was in Fort Erie:
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nk416
2 Posts |
Posted - 18 janv. 2012 : 22:55:26
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Now that's irritating...
Here's to hoping Garmin will come out with the smartphone link app for iPhone, and it will connect seamlessly when in vicinity of the Nuvi (much like how bluetooth handsfree works) to provide detailed traffic information. |
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Superj
Canada
8 Posts |
Posted - 28 févr. 2012 : 03:14:20
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I picked up a tomtom 1535m at Bestbuy in Milton last week. I love the Live features and traffic but agree the unit is clunky and feels a couple years behind garmin in UI.
Not sure if I would trade the Live function and HD traffic for Garmin smoothness though.
I have an Android phone and am considering doing a head to head with the Garmin 2595 since it is the same price, and supports the smartphone link app from Garmin.
I mostly curious about traffic and routing. The TomTom routes are top notch and noticeable improved over my old garmin 265, and may be enough for me to tolerate the sluggish unit.
I work all over southern Ontario but spend most of my time in the GTA or commuting back to my house in Waterloo and value the traffic feedback immensly. Will the garmin traffic experience be much better with the phone link or will be the same thing but faster? |
TomTom Live 1535m
Sold -Garmin Nuvi 265T w/GDB55 MSN
Waterloo to Toronto |
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Dewi
617 Posts |
Posted - 28 févr. 2012 : 15:45:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Superj
Will the garmin traffic experience be much better with the phone link or will be the same thing but faster?
I would like to know the answer to this too. I have an Android phone, but no longer have the 3490LMT to try it out. It may be that the Smartphone Link provides the same highway-only traffic data here in Toronto (as is the case with the nuvi 1690 with nulink traffic) or it could provide expanded surface-route info data similar to what is included in the Buffalo HD Radio signal. |
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Dewi
617 Posts |
Posted - 17 déc. 2012 : 00:18:41
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| FYI, Vinyl 95.3 is now broadcasting HD Radio out of Hamilton ON. I can pick up the radio signal using my car's HD tuner. So perhaps Garmin traffic via HD Radio in Southern Ontario is more likely in the future as we now have a broadcast precedent. |
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Dewi
617 Posts |
Posted - 04 janv. 2013 : 17:37:43
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An FYI for those in the Toronto/Golden Horseshoe Area, HD Traffic is apparently being tested using CING-FM out of Hamilton. I can receive the HD Radio signal (which is robust) using the factory HD Tuner in my Ford, but I don't have an HD Traffic compatible Garmin receiver to test it out. Unfortunately my friend lost his 2595LMT last week. :(
http://www.rwonline.com/article/hd-radio-data-services-testing-in-canada/217050 |
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Traffic Information in Toronto (TomTom vs. Garmin)
