Real time traffic receiver connected to your GPS - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Talensnana · RV-Dreams Family Member

Real time traffic receiver connected to your GPS

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most of these traffic information systems used in personal GPS units employ FM radio stations to deliver the traffic information via this little “FM” receiver. Just be advised that the delivery of the traffic information is dependent on there being an FM radio station in range that is also contracted to deliver the data. So, as they say and we have found, Your-Mileage-May-Vary.

Comparing the GPS delivered traffic to the smartphone delivered traffic – I’d use the smartphone. That’s our experience and we have both. Not saying the GPS traffic info is bad – just the smartphone data seems more reliable and the data is delivered via the internet so as long as you have 3G/4G, you have data.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

I like the info we get with our TomTom versus the iPhone when around major cities. But most of the time there isn't any station (nor info) because we aren't near a major city so I really don't worry about it - - nice to have in a metro area, but not something that is a make/break deal for us.

Barb

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

My Garmin has a realtime traffic receiver. Better than nothing but not much. There is a free app called Sigalert that is awesome and then some. It doesn't connect to your GPS but this is only the 21st century. I do L.A. a lot. The wife says, are you going to be home for dinner? My answer is usually, "what day?" Sigalert gives me the most accurate info I could ask for..

Now my turn to ask a question. If you are retired, why do you care? A little traffic is just an inconvenience. You don't have an appointment to make. So what you get stuck in traffic. If you are driving, stuck in traffic gives you time to look around. Make yourself a sandwich, have a beer. Let her drive. I wouldn't miss a city just because of traffic. It's all part of the plan.

Talensnana · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS..

We aren't so worried about traffic but construction due to the recent trucker that was 13'6" who took out a bridge that although being repaired was suppose to be 14'3". So I am wanting to know where major construction is to avoid those areas.

Yes I am retired but I already look like I belong in the circus at 86'. At that long I don't have as many options to redirect as the smaller folks. As far as letting my wife drive, I have had one heart attack and I don't need another.😀

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

86' is purty long. Heights are supposed to be accurate but seldom are. Usually higher than marked, occasionally lower. I don't know of a truly accurate way to be sure of what's ahead. Garmin has an app that uses cell data to be most accurate but it doesn't work with apple products. Only android.

Theoretically, if you stay on truck routes you should be ok. However...

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our Garmin has a traffic receiver, but we find running Waze on our smartphones the most reliable way to figure out detours and problems. A couple months ago it redirected us off I-75 in Florida to avoid a 3 hour delay due to a fatal accident.

TomW · RV-Dreams Family Member

The receiver in my Garmin is better than nothing but I've learned not to rely on it.

My GPS is always on, even when not routing so even around the home environs I almost always get a 'slow traffic' alert for a particular intersection. Yes, it CAN be bad at that intersection but most of the time the traffic is not backed up at that light but I get the alert anyway.

Not A Clue · RV-Dreams Community Member

We have a RM 7710 and have the traffic add on, but I never get a heads up on slow traffic or accidents. Maybe I don't have it set up right.....don't know. It does give construction areas.