FM Traffic vs. MSN Direct Traffic: Anyone know which one is more accurate?
597973
I live outside of Boston. We had a Nuvi 760 and subscribed to the FM traffic. It broks so I exchanged it at Best Buy and got a 780. It came with a free subscription to MSN Direct or FM Traffic. We chose MSN direct and never once found it useful. It would only show me a 1 or 2 minute delay about 35 minutes ahead on our route. I found the FM Traffic to be very useful. Once we were driving through NY City and the highway was stop and go. The Nuvi piped up and said an alternate route is available. Loved the help it gave. I began to take it whenever I drove a long distance so it would give me the traffic update. Will not use MSN again.
658141
I guess I've never had the traffic status on. It has diverted me around high traffic areas without telling me that was what it was doing and I have never seen any ads on the GPS. It does show heavy traffic areas in red, medium traffic in yellow and smooth sailing in green.
272312
The one I have has both AM and FM. To be honest I would recommend that you buy one with multiple bands. If you are using it as a 'spirit box' you'll be surprised at how much you can save an otherwise low-production session by switching bands. If we aren't getting a lot on the FM, I switch to AM and often get multiple-word and multi-syllabic replies.
2268610
I was most interested in bluetooth.... SO I purchased the 285 W/WT, what is the cost of the MSN Direct. How do buyers like the traffic information? Don't you think another provider will step in when MSN Direct stops???
1801036
To my knowledge, all Garmin GPSes, including the Nuvi 370, require a subscription for traffic data. The C550 includes a 3 month FM traffic subscription while the 580 includes a 1 year MSN Direct subscription. The 580 does not include an FM receiver, and without a subscription for either, you will not get any traffic info once the initial subscription runs out.MSN direct costs $50/year or $130 lifetime, while a one year FM Traffic subscription is $60 (this information is available on Garmin's website, although it may not be the easiest in the world to find).
1928385
I have no idea of any difference between 3-D and HD traffic updates. However, my traffic updates keep me current and in the know. I really like my 3590 GPS.
1737409
I can only say that you'll only get traffic in a few metro locations, and even then, it's pretty unreliable. For example, we were stuck on I-95 this summer in NYC for two hours at 12 in the morning. Traffic said the delay was 2 minutes. I do not trust traffic!
1837226
I agree MSN Direct is terrible, after months of complaining to them still no changes. Traffic alerts in covered areas are often not listing accidents, often problems listed are not really there. Weather alerts are often wrong. This is the worst service I've ever seen. I wonder if they are violating FCC regulations by putting out wrong information?
600734
No matter which unit offers the MSN.contact traffic option (which is what these higher end priced units offer). You will not be assured that you can use it in your area if it is not a MSN.contact coverage area. I just found this out with a Garmin 680. I live north of San Francisco in the Sonoma-Napa valley. Very populated area. Lots of tourist, travelers though here---but, MSN.contact is not available in this area, and will not be in the forseable future either. Check with Garmin or MSN.contact directly. Don't trust that you will have it just because the brochure or statistics for Garmin units tell you it comes with the unit. I have returned my Garmin Nuvi 680 due to this, and other reasons as well. No matter which unit offers the MSN.contact traffic option (which is what these higher end priced units offer). You will not be assured that you can use it in your area if it is not a MSN.contact coverage area. I just found this out with a Garmin 680. I live north of San Francisco in the Sonoma-Napa valley. Very populated area. Lots of tourist, travelers though here---but, MSN.contact is not available in this area, and will not be in the forseable future either. Check with Garmin or MSN.contact directly. Don't trust that you will have it just because the brochure or statistics for Garmin... » Read More No matter which unit offers the MSN.contact traffic option (which is what these higher end priced units offer). You will not be assured that you can use it in your area if it is not a MSN.contact coverage area. I just found this out with a Garmin 680. I live north of San Francisco in the Sonoma-Napa valley. Very populated area. Lots of tourist, travelers though here---but, MSN.contact is not available in this area, and will not be in the forseable future either. Check with Garmin or MSN.contact directly. Don't trust that you will have it just because the brochure or statistics for Garmin units tell you it comes with the unit. I have returned my Garmin Nuvi 680 due to this, and other reasons as well. « Show Less
2234783
It's 9.95 a month. i've had it for several months, but don't find it all that helpful with the main roads, Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike, that I travel in NJ. I have either seen the traffic myself ahead or heard it on the radio. So, for myself, I don't see it as a very valuable or helpful feature in giving advance warning and will be cancelling my XM traffic subscription.
1492156
Best I can tell is that the 285 has Bluetooth capabilities. However, it only has 9 months of traffic service while the 255 has "Lifetime." But "Lifetime" only last until the MSN service is shut down Jan 2012.
2214796
According to my husband, FM reception is fine. Other than just to try it out, we haven't really used it.
1738015
Sorry, don't know the answer to either question as I only use it on my commute.
1067517
I think it depends on your local radio stations. I found 88.9 to be most effective
1603186
FM 88.1 on the low end, I believe it is 107.9 on the high end. I flip back and forth between 88.1 and 88.3 depending on where I'm driving. One of the two almost always get a good, clear signal. I've been impressed for the price.
508128
No drift on FM. I am in a strong FM signal area on crest of a ridge. AM station coverage in my area is very weak.
2272330
Yes, it does have traffic updates. However it is difficult to determine the accuracy of those traffic reports, because conditions are constantly changing, so by the time you arrive at the area that had an earlier-displayed slowdown, you'll never know if things cleared up or got worse moments before you arrived at the location. After driving ~6000 miles on a northeastern road trip last summer (areas with lots of traffic), my impression is that the traffic updates were largely accurate and helpful. Oh, by the way, we didn't get traffic capabilities that require extra equipment or subscriptions. We just got the basic model.