| jeffcarp 2008-01-25, 10:33 pm |
| I own a Garmin 760 with FM traffic by Clear Channel (which uses Inrix
data). I also own Inrix's own Windows Mobile traffic application.
Lately, I've noticed that the Garmin traffic data contains only a
fraction of the activity that the Inrix app shows. Specifically, when
it comes to flow, Inrix's app shows even 5 - 10 mph difference in
flow, while Garmin shows no activity at all. I contacted Inrix and
asked why the Inrix mobile app had so much more detail than the Clear
Channel product on my Garmin if it also uses Inrix data. The answer I
got was superbly informative. I wonder if this means that the
upcoming Dash navigation product will truly be a revolution when it
comes to traffic information? Here is Inrix's answer:
Thank you again for the inquiries regarding the INRIX traffic
application and the associated functionality with your Garmin device.
There is a difference between the traffic reported on the Garmin 760
with the Clear Channel FM and the INRIX Traffic for Windows Mobile
product. While both leverage both Clear Channel and INRIX traffic
data, the network and configuration of the two products is vastly
different. As you may know the Clear Channel FM traffic product is
based on the RDS-TMC network which is an FM frequency network that is
broadcast with a single broadcast transmission per market and, as an
analog FM sideband channel, has very restricted bandwidth. The INRIX
Traffic for Windows Mobile offering leverages each user's cellular
data plan that, while not as high bandwidth as a broadband internet
connection that you may experience through your home PC, has a vastly
higher data rate than the RDS-TMC network that the Clear Channel
offering on your Garmin 760 leverages.
As a result, more information can be passed to the user through the
Windows Mobile product than the Clear Channel FM offering.
Furthermore, the device displaying the information to you between the
two offerings is vastly different. Whereas the Windows Mobile
application is a dedicated traffic information application, the Garmin
760 is primarily a navigation device. Obviously, you should expect
that the depth and breadth of traffic information offered by the
dedicated traffic information application would be far more expansive.
While both offerings you cite leverage the same traffic information,
their ability to transmit that information to the user and the devices
capability to display that information are very different. In the
specific example you cite, both offerings leveraged specific traffic
information in Des Moines for the congestion that you experienced, but
you likely saw more of that information on your Windows Mobile device
because of the higher bandwidth channel for delivering that
information to your device and the application's depth of
functionality in displaying traffic information.
Thanks again for your inquiries and feel free to continue sending
feedback our way.
Best regards,
INRIX Mobile Support
mobilesupport@inrix.com
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