Is traffic information used to optimize navigation route?

[sherrod]

Does the Tech package navigation system use the XM real-time traffic information to optimize the route? For example, if there is a wreck on the interstate that is reported by XM traffic, will the navigation system recognize the slow-down and select an alternate route around the wreck?

I have never seen any indication that the XM traffic information is used by the navigation system. I am coming to believe that the display screen showing the XM traffic is the only place it's used.

 

[Aquineas]

I have heard my nav tell me that there was both construction (turned out to be correct) and congestion (turned out to be incorrect) ahead. I too have never seen visual indication of traffic, save for a "traffic" keyword in the upper left of my nav screen. It's been on my list of things to investigate for a while now.

 

[james203]

Here is what Garmin says on their website:
"With a subscription to XM NavTraffic, you'll receive updates on accidents, construction, and more on your compatible GPS device. Detailed traffic information is gathered from the best sources, including police and road sensors, and overlaid on your GPS road maps so you can route around delays with ease. You can also determine the average traffic speed and estimate travel time along your route."
I take this to mean that you have to do the navigation not the unit.

 

[nearwater]

I think I read somewhere that our Nav unit doesn't reroute automatically according to traffic flow.
So I think the answer is.. no, it doesn't.

Dan

 

[Disaster]

Here is what Garmin says on their website:
"With a subscription to XM NavTraffic, you'll receive updates on accidents, construction, and more on your compatible GPS device. Detailed traffic information is gathered from the best sources, including police and road sensors, and overlaid on your GPS road maps so you can route around delays with ease. You can also determine the average traffic speed and estimate travel time along your route."
I take this to mean that you have to do the navigation not the unit.

My portable Garmin automatically routes around traffic for the best time. It is far from perfect as the traffic information is often delayed, but it has got me around major construction that was one lane just last week.

Once, I foolishly ignored it's routing. It kept telling me to turn at each street I passed but didn't relate the specific reason. I found out when I got to the closed freeway and had to backtrack 10 miles to get home.

As far as Hyundai's built in nav, I thought that was a Microsoft venture...not Garmin.

 

[ctrcbob]

I have heard my nav tell me that there was both construction (turned out to be correct) and congestion (turned out to be incorrect) ahead. I too have never seen visual indication of traffic, save for a "traffic" keyword in the upper left of my nav screen. It's been on my list of things to investigate for a while now.

Aquineas (and everyone else),

In the first year of my free XM and "traffic" keyword, I only had visual indication of traffic, (green/yellow/red lines) when I programmed the navi unit with a destination, and ONLY when I was going through a city, not out in the country. If I did not have a destination programmed, there was no visual indication of traffic, even when going through cities.

I just renewed my XM and Traffic. Lo and behold, when the traffic keyword is on, visual indication of traffic (green/yellow/red lines) now show up on major roads, even when I do not have a destination activated in the unit. If I do have a destination activated, when I come near an area that is in RED, the girl in the navi unit (Geraldine) tells me that there is congestion ahead. Never had that before. No only that, but the when looking at the areas where there are red lines, a small icon shows on the map, and this is the same icon that shows when I push the DIS down and look up the locations of traffic problems.

One reason I may not have had the visual indication in the first year is that although I was receiving XM Radio, the unit ID that XM said I had, when they asked me to renew, was not the unit ID that shows on my screen when I go to channel 0. No idea why the ID was different, and no idea why I was receiving XM with the wrong ID. I paid them (by Money Order, never by Credit Card) and all of a sudden, the visual indications of traffic show up, in addition to the XM radio.

I like it the way it is now.

 

[ASHDUMP]

I don't know why, but my XM and Traffic keeps working.... been over a year since the car was purchased.

 

[Paulroger]

I assume you never received in the mail a notification stating "Your XM Satellite Radio trial is about to expire". I got mine today (3 month free).

 

[Aquineas]

I assume you never received in the mail a notification stating "Your XM Satellite Radio trial is about to expire". I got mine today (3 month free).

I thought the free XM was 1 year with the tech package? I don't remember where I read this, but thought I did.

 

[Paulroger]

I thought the free XM was 1 year with the tech package? I don't remember where I read this, but thought I did.

It was 1 year for 2009, but now 3 months for 2010.

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[ctrcbob]

I don't know why, but my XM and Traffic keeps working.... been over a year since the car was purchased.

As I said in a previous post, look at the renewal notice sent to you (assuming you have received a renewal notice), and look at the radio ID on that notice. Then go into XM Channel 0, and look at the radio ID you have.

If the ID's are the same, they will cut you off after a while unless you renew.

If the ID's are different, (as was my case), then XM will cut off the ID listed in the renewal letter, but your XM with a different ID will still function. I have no idea why my XM ID was different than the ID listed in the renewal letter.

 

[nearwater]

As I said in a previous post, look at the renewal notice sent to you (assuming you have received a renewal notice), and look at the radio ID on that notice. Then go into XM Channel 0, and look at the radio ID you have.

If the ID's are the same, they will cut you off after a while unless you renew.

If the ID's are different, (as was my case), then XM will cut off the ID listed in the renewal letter, but your XM with a different ID will still function. I have no idea why my XM ID was different than the ID listed in the renewal letter.

Maybe the amplifier on your vehicle has been changed?

Dan

 

[nearwater]

It was 1 year for 2009, but now 3 months for 2010.

Probably the only good thing of owning an '09 vs. the '10.
I didn't know they cut it to 3 months for the 2010 models.

Dan

 

[blasterguam]

I've noticed the traffic cones, but never the red or yellow lines that there was traffic (even while sitting in bumper-to-bumper in Miami and West Palm Beach, nor did it attempt to route me around it. I didn't see any significant benefit so I dropped it when I renewed my XM subscription (yes, Bob, by money order only!)

If the product was reliable and actually did something useful then it might be worth paying extra $$$ for, but the only thing I see is a few pretty (unreliable) icons on the screen - NOT WORTH IT.

 

[Disaster]

I've noticed the traffic cones, but never the red or yellow lines that there was traffic (even while sitting in bumper-to-bumper in Miami and West Palm Beach, nor did it attempt to route me around it. I didn't see any significant benefit so I dropped it when I renewed my XM subscription (yes, Bob, by money order only!)

If the product was reliable and actually did something useful then it might be worth paying extra $$$ for, but the only thing I see is a few pretty (unreliable) icons on the screen - NOT WORTH IT.

One more reason I can't see paying thousands of dollars for an in car GPS that is less reliable than a $300 Garmin portable unit. That is about what my Garmin cost with it's free traffic subscription that it uses for routing. If only there was a way to integrate the Garmin into the existing interior better. Right now it sits on a sandbag on the dash.

Probably the only good thing of owning an '09 vs. the '10.
I didn't know they cut it to 3 months for the 2010 models.

The one year was only for V8 models, if I recall. Our V6 premium plus said it came with a 3 month subscription. Come to think of it, our subscription should be over...seeing as it started in December. My wife might not have used it in weeks. I'll have to go out and check.

 

[ASHDUMP]

The nav traffic is hit or miss. This passed easter it was a hit. Lots of traffic heading into and out of Boston. A couple car accidents along the way and it was accurate.

 

[HeavyG]

XM Traffic data is only available in selected cities. If you live in an area that isn't covered by XM Traffic, then it's probably not worth suscribing to.

 

[ctrcbob]

XM Traffic data is only available in selected cities. If you live in an area that isn't covered by XM Traffic, then it's probably not worth suscribing to.

Mine was like that, for "selected" cities, (like Dallas where I used to see it), however now that I renewed, (paid my money) I have it even here in the sticks of Mount Dora and all main roads between Orlando and Leesburg.

Will be driving up to Penfield in four weeks and will see if the traffic data (red/yellow/green) shows up on the roads on my way, including the non-interstate roads. Later in the summer, will check it out when I drive out to Roswell (and perhaps Phoenix).

 

[GripperDon]

The one year was only for V8 models, if I recall. Our V6 premium plus said it came with a 3 month subscription. Come to think of it, our subscription should be over...seeing as it started in December. My wife might not have used it in weeks. I'll have to go out and check.

My V6 system is working after 10 months.

 

[HeavyG]

Mine was like that, for "selected" cities, (like Dallas where I used to see it), however now that I renewed, (paid my money) I have it even here in the sticks of Mount Dora and all main roads between Orlando and Leesburg.

Will be driving up to Penfield in four weeks and will see if the traffic data (red/yellow/green) shows up on the roads on my way, including the non-interstate roads. Later in the summer, will check it out when I drive out to Roswell (and perhaps Phoenix).

I think the area served for a metropolitan area by XM Traffic can vary; for example I live in the DC/Baltimore area, so the area covered is pretty huge. I can get traffic reports as far east as Havre de Grace (NE of Balto) and as far south as Quantico.

I have noticed that it only gives my traffic data for interstate highways; other major highways like US 50, the Dulles toll road, MD 100, the Balto/Wash Parkway and others don't have traffic data displayed.