TMC Versus Trafficmaster..Which is better?

[TheGrocer]

TMC Versus Trafficmaster...Who wins??

Thursday Dec 6th at 8.45AM travelling on the M26 heading for the M25. TMC tells me that the M26 has an average speed of 24mph with little yellow cars across its whole length while trafficmaster YQ2 box tells me no problems on the M26.
Reality... Im travelling at 75mph with no congestion in site for 12 miles!!
The TMC system doesnt update for 45 mins!!!

Now I understand that the TCM system is based on radio signals from various trucks, cars and coaches but how long does it take to update!!
The Trafficmaster YQ2 updates every 3 mins and its is very very accurate. I have been saved from many a problem by this great system and having recently upgraded to the new 2007 DVD on my E320 command system I had hoped the TMC would be a great back up.

I have found that on a regualr basis the TMC is very inaccurate and now I tend to ignore it. Why does it take so long to update the system ie up to 30 minutes from the original problem....I understand that Trafficmaster has sensors on most mway bridges and that it updates very quickly and comapred to TMC its streets ahead.

 

[television]

Traffic Master is almost real time where as TMC is only as quick as the station broadcaster who puts the info up

 

[R2D2]

I run Smartnav (trafficmaster navigation) in all our family's cars. It might not look great like Comand but it gets you from a to b brilliantly. Just one little button on show is all there is to see!

 

[jeremytaylor]

I thought TMC took info from Trafficmaster, amongst other sources??

 

[RichardM]

I've always found Trafficmaster to be the most accurate traffic souce.

 

[crockers]

I thought TMC took info from Trafficmaster, amongst other sources??

So did I......................

 

[whitenemesis]

I thought TMC took info from Trafficmaster, amongst other sources??

That's what I thought also....

 

[Diesel Benz]

If this is up-to-date, UK appears to have two competing TMC service providers.
http://www.tmcforum.com/en/about_tmc/tmc_services_today/united_kingdom.htm

 

[Rory]

MB use ITIS - http://www.itisholdings.com/technology.asp I *think* passing on the data they gather is an essentially manual process. However it works, it really isn't very accurate, and I've found it to be wrong on many occasions.

 

[crockers]

I think they should re name TMC to wolf -- as it seems its always crying wolf.....am beginning to ignore it now.....

 

[jeremytaylor]

I used to have a YQ, until it got stolen.

Sadly, Trafficmaster no longer sell stand-alone traffic-monitoring systems, and so the only way you can use their traffic-flow sensing services is via Smartnav. This routes you to avoid traffic but doesn't give you a display of nationwide traffic flows like the old YQ used to. I think this is a real shame, as a YQ alongside a Comand (or similar map-based sat-nav) would, I think, give you the best of both worlds.

 

[hawk20]

Well I have found TMC incredibly useful and good both from the COMAND system in the S class (over a 20,000 mile period) and latterly from the portable Garmin I use in our two A classes. Having sensors on main motorways and main trunk routes is fine for some but TMC scores handsomely if you want to get off the beaten track a bit. It has saved us hours by avoiding major jams and accidents.

And by the way TMC in France was very useful too.

 

[Rory]

Well I have found TMC incredibly useful and good both from the COMAND system in the S class (over a 20,000 mile period) and latterly from the portable Garmin I use in our two A classes. Having sensors on main motorways and main trunk routes is fine for some but TMC scores handsomely if you want to get off the beaten track a bit. It has saved us hours by avoiding major jams and accidents.

And by the way TMC in France was very useful too.

TMC = Traffic Monitoring Channel.

In the UK there are 2 sources of the data:
1) Trafficmaster, which uses the blue fixed sensors that you see all over the place (Garmin use this). It works well.

2) ITIS, which uses sensors carried mainly by Eddie Stobart trucks, national Express coaches and AA vehicles (MB use this). It does not work very well.

 

[hawk20]

When I was in France with the Garmin nuvi660 we were on our way round the perephique ring road round Paris (bit like our M25 round London) and up cam traffic jam warnings and offer to divert us. Did that. Later realised it was the crowds building up for the Rugby World Cup.