Traffic Data

I'm just about to step foot into the world of SatNav's for the very first
time......

I see that there seem to be two traffic data update systems; via Classic FM
traffic program or via a mobile phone.

Is either one better than the other when it comes to the accuracy of the
traffic info?

I largely travel around the South East (Hampshire, Sussex & Kent) with the
occasional foray into Essex.

Many thanks.

Richard

Richard Wagstaff wrote:


In your example the data is the same. i.e. it is from the same company. It
is simply the method of delivery that differs. However there are two
different companies collating traffic data, iTIS who use ClassicFM (and also
used by TomTom's service over GPRS Mobile) and RAC/TrafficMaster who use
another station.

The choice between RAC and or iTIS is made by the navigation program
authors, i.e. TomTom use iTIS, Garmin use RAC.

I have been testing three systems over the last few weeks, a Navigon system
that uses RAC data over FM, a TomTom system using iTIS over GPRS and a
ViaMichelin system using iTIS over FM. The findings are interesting.

Ignoring the data quality, neither FM system could lock onto a signal
reliably enough on a five hour drive to make the service usable. Both had
areas where signal was aquired and both had long periods where it was not.

The service using GPRS connected and polled for data reliably throughout.

Where data was received it appeared to be very similar in general content
from both providers. Accuracy varies considerably and whilst it is useful I
would never rely on it to take a major detour without confirmation from
other sources.

--
Darren Griffin
PocketGPSWorld - www.PocketGPSWorld.com
The Premier GPS Resource for News, Reviews and Forums

Many thanks Darren - I'm grateful for the the info.

Richard

In uk.rec.gps, Darren Griffin - PocketGPSWorld.Com wrote:

This is probably a daft question, but are we likely to see a GPRS
receiver built into a TomTom unit, or will traffic data reception
inevitably involve an extra wire trailing over the dashboard?

--
Mike Barnes

Mike Barnes wrote:


Not a daft question at all. I dislike the trailing wires of the FM
Receivers but understand that some companies are looking to release units
with small walkie talkie style antennas built into the mounts which would
IMHO be a neater solution.

However, until the reception issues are resolved, for me RDS TMC is a waste
of time in the UK with it being unavailable in too many locations to be rely
upon.

GSM modules may well become a feature of future units but given that most of
us have a modern mobile that has Bluetooth I don't see what advantage a
built-in GSM module would have?

Going OT what I really would like to see is a fixed rate unlimited Data
bundle widely available. Future devices will almost certainly all receive
their map data from off-board servers but until flat rate data becomes the
norm it isn't going to be feasible.


--
Darren Griffin
PocketGPSWorld - www.PocketGPSWorld.com
The Premier GPS Resource for News, Reviews and Forums