C550 No need to buy the FM TMC Traffic receiver

When I was looking at the C550 , I asked the salesman about the FM
Traffic thing and he told me the unit came with a free 90 day
subscription but it required an FM TMC Traffic receiver that didn't
come with the unit and the store didn't carry them.

Before using my C550 in my car I was reading about FM TMC Traffic
capability in the manual and it looked pretty good for driving around
Southern California. The manual went on to say I get the free 90 day
subscription to FM TMC Traffic but also said I'd have to have an FM
TMC Traffic Receiver to use the free subscription.

Garmin's web page said pretty much the same thing, " FM TMC Traffic
requires the purchase of a Garmin GTM 10, GTM 12, GTM 20, GTM 21
Traffic Receiver." Garmin sells the receivers for about $215.00.

I was talking to Garmin support about a couple of other things and
asked about the Traffic Receiver. The support guy told me that I
didn't have to purchase a Traffic receiver because the power cable
that came in the box with my unit is also the FM TMC Traffic receiver.
I reread the manual and web page and didn't see anything about the
power cable being the traffic receiver.

The first time I used my unit in my car, FM traffic came on, worked
great and still does. I don't know if I'm going to purchase the
service at the end of the 90 days but if I do, at least I don't have
to lay out extra $$$ to buy the receiver.

Skip

Yep... I bought the C550 and have been pleased with it. Sometimes when you
give it an address right on a major freeway it can be way off. I've had this
happen twice. Overall I am very pleased. It is the best GPS navigation unit
I have owned to date.

Not sure the traffic thingy is so wonderful. It's ok I guess. Still on the
90 day freebie deal. Probably won't get the subscription.

RTM... Page 1 states that the box includes a FM TMC Traffic
Receiver/12V adapter.

On 27 Oct 2006 12:35:37 -0700, edward.moore.1@gmail.com wrote:


I did read it. Evidenlty I missed it. Thanks for finding it for me.