Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I am about to buy this. I've been dying to find a product that works and will rereoute me through traffic (and not just simply pressing a button that says detour). I want a system that will predict the time if I go straight thru the traffic and if I go around and tell me which is best. I'll report back if this works.Also I'm surprised that the PLUS was even functioning in the US. I could never get that to work.

I got part 4V00.081 and am using it with a TomTom ONE in Dallas. I am satisfied with the timeliness and accuracy of the RDS-TMC data service in DFW, especially because it is currently free.It is essential that you upgrade the application software on your TomTom GPS to the latest release. Versions before 7.162 running on my TomTom ONE are very slow to find a good FM station and often lose track of it.The RDS-TMC data in DFW seems to be identical to the TomTom PLUS data feed that I am getting through my cellphone for another TomTom GPS with bluetooth support.

Given the more than $100 price I paid for this product, i was a little disappointed to find nothing more than a FM radio antennae with a mini-usb connector and 3 suction cups in the box. Considering the cost of manufacturing this has got to be less than $10, the more than 1000% markup has to at least be covering the service that this device allows me to receive.To their credit, there are no subscription fees for the traffic service once the equipment is owned, at least in my area. The service is extremely lacking though and for use in my every day travel needs, I'm far better off catching the traffic reports on the radio. TomTom will often tell me that I have delays of anywhere from 1 to 12 minutes. I've never bothered to re-route my travel based on delays, but mostly because by the time i learn of a traffic problem, it would take longer to re-route than just continue on my way since this is mostly a problem when crossing the San Francisco bay. With the regard to the SF Bay Bridge, I'm pretty sure that TomTom interprets a "bridge metering lights are on" signal as a one minute delay, where 10 to 15 minutes in the maze would be more accurate plus the delay as we slowly make our way across the bridge.Some of this could be TomTom mapping software problem as well. If there are accidents on freeway when i leave work, then the side streets i usually take home are also backed up. I saved myself an extra 1/2 hour of drive time last night, but only because i had personal knowledge of even smaller side streets.I still have this antennae in my car, but it is no longer hanging in my window feeding info to my TomTom. Rather, it sits in my center console / armrest waiting to be tested again at a later date.

I just bought this at the end of December and received it in early January. So far, it seems to work fine. I generally only drive in the DC Metro area, but it does a good job of informing me of traffic problems. It changes radio stations frequently enough to keep information current. One thing to remember, however, is that only traffic issues that are addressed "on the air" will be displayed, meaning that just because you're in a traffic jam, it doesn't necessarily mean that the RDS receiver should have told you first. One other thing I like is that it displays any ongoing road construction issues.

I found that the received unit did not match the picture, and was for a different model of TomTom. The third party Vendor, did try to satisfy me, by sending me a replacement, that still wasn't the right product.It would have been nice if the product description mentioned that some TomTom models apparently have the traffic built in, and only require some sort of antenna.Eventually, the vendor did reimburse me, after I sent both units back.I ended up going to a big box store & picked up the correct item, & installed it. The installation was quick & easy, & didn't require any tools, (other than some spit). I did have to update the TomTom One, but that was easy too.After playing with the unit for a bit, I was able to figure it out, the interface was easy & intuitive, & was able to set a home to work route pretty quickly. With this information the unit was able to calculate a traffic free route, and display a green dot, (no jams).Since I take a different route home, than the way I came, the traffic module re-calculated, quickly, and displayed an all clear.Since I commute in a major metropolitan area, I receive updates, as soon as I turn it on. I won't really know if the unit will live up to it's potential, until it saves me from some jam up.

Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver (Purchased on 02/05/2008)Many outstanding and efficient features of device and this feature is yet to perform-perhaps due to living in a suburb. Easy to setup and use. Looking forward to big trip at end of the month heading south on interstates...it should have impact in Washington DC area and hopefully others.Tom Tom One itself is not quite as accurate and good compared to our Mio gps which is not only excellent locally and in detail but even has dirt roads in Pennsylvania at our permanent vacation campground---amazing.

The over the air traffic information just isn't detailed enough for this to be useful. Plus it only works on highways that have sensors in place. For those of you in the Philadelphia area, if this picked up traffic on I-95 it would then just re-route you to US-1, which is always a traffic light nightmare. It would do this because there's no info available on US-1.The TomTom web site also led me to believe that when it picked up traffic it would pop up a dialog to allow me to reroute, which it didn't do. I had to go into the traffic menu and then select "Minimize traffic delays" to get it to re-route. Maybe it's just this way on the ONE 3rd ed.This is not to say that it doesn't work. It gets traffic info and shows accidents and areas of trouble but it's not complete. Like others have said, you'll be sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and it will show a clear route.That said, if this were $20-$30 it would be a nice addition and maybe the traffic info would improve in the future. But at $120+ this is absolutely not worth it.