[Traffic Service Now Working] Anyone in the US using TMC?

[techbri]

The antenna was pretty hard to find. I located one here http://www.expansys-usa.com/p.aspx?i=157840. I spoke with someone at HP support and they confirmed that it is a US part number and not an EMEA one. Also, Expansys confirmed that they purchase them from a US channel. HP support said they didn't have any of the details but I managed to dig up an HP user manual online where it says that you can activate the TMC from the unit if you live in a country where it's subscription based. I expect it to be $60 a year or so and will try it out when I receive my unit and antenna which are on order. I was just curious if anyone in the US has tried it.

[patruns]

I was not aware that there was a subscription available in the US............

[techbri]

[techbri]

OK everyone! I have traffic service! Here's how I did it. I ordered the TMC traffic charger at:

http://www.expansys-usa.com/p.aspx?i=157840 (looks like it's backordered now)

When I connected the ipaq to the charger, it lit up the traffic option under the NAV extras section on the device. I went into it and saw the tuner scanning for traffic but it wouldn't lock on to a signal as TMC is subscription based here in the US. There was a clear channel button on the screen next to the scanner so I tapped that and it told me to go to www.hp.com to register for the service and provided a hardware ID. Of course I couldn't find an activation site and HP support knew nothing. I even tried escalating the call but got nowhere. I did a google search for tmc activation and ended up at the following link:

https://cart.buytmc.com/subscribe/

I filled out my information and entered the hardware ID from the ipaq and signed up for the lifetime service for $129 (they also have a $60/yr option) and entered the activation key provided on the ipaq. IT worked! It locks on to traffic stations now and provides updates!

Enjoy

[gatorguy]

Great post techbri. I hadn't seen anyone yet note the availability of TMC traffic for the HP. In fact, several posts that HP didn't have it and wasn't available. You going to make a lot of HP310 owners very happy.

[techbri]

this probably deserves a sticky so people can find it easily

[Tim]

Stickified.

[infama]

[dhn]

Geez infama......how come we never see you 'slumming' in the TomTom fora anymore?

[infama]

[gatorguy]

Well just imagine all the "fun" you can have with the Garmin's as people get more familiar with their shift to Linux. Should be even more challenging than iGo "lite".

[infama]

[dougproctor]

And what about the UK? I have been trying to get our, supposedly, free service working for days now. We also get the scanning for channels, the message about subscription, the visit www.hp.com to obtain a subscription where nothing is shown, the run around by HP Live and phone support who do not have a clue about where to get any information - mine has just gone back accusing HP of false advertising.
I don't want to buy a subscription when ours is advertised as having a free basic travel service. Wish I has stayed with my TomTom 720 where it was free and it worked - eventually!
PS the link for subscription works for the US - nothing for the UK!

[infama]

[dougproctor]

Thanks for that. It has gone back now and I have been refunded. There is so little information on it. I mean, if HP themselves don't know, what chance have we mere mortals?
Doug

[techbri]

Patruns asked me to give an update on the traffic service. So far, so good. I used a HK GPS-810 previously and the traffic service is different compared to the HK. When I set my route, it calculates the eta taking the traffic into account. In fact, it usually says it's going to take longer than it does. If there is traffic up ahead on the route, it will flash the freeway number and show how many miles ahead the traffic is in a banner side of the screen. I do have it set to automatically recalculate to avoid traffic, however has basically stayed on it's route the last few days. In my case, this is probably due the fact that the traffic isn't usually constant as I drive reverse commute. By contrast, the HK unit would go to extremes to avoid all traffic it found on the route and would usually resort to city streets through downtown. This didn't always work out well as it didn't take the city street traffic into account. I prefer to stick with the freeway and divert around if necessary. I also like the fact that the unit will show the traffic icons on the map even if you don't put in a destination. If there is traffic up in front of you, it will usually be represented by an icon. I am pretty happy with the iPaq 310 and glad HK took the 810 back.

[patruns]

Good to know. I gotta get me one of these.

[patruns]

Anyone else try this yet in the states, specifically the northeast?

[gatorguy]

Some potential good news for HP owners and traffic services:

" Hungarian navigation software editor Nav N Go and Clear Channel Radio announced that real-time traffic data from CCR’s Total Traffic Network (CCTTN) will be integrated into Nav N Go’s software moving forward, to speed up development time for PND makers looking at adding real-time this feature.

“A large portion of the PND makers we work with use Clear Channel Radio’s Total Traffic Network so creating this bundle makes perfect sense,” said Attila Kátai, Chief Content Officer of Nav N Go.

Navigation devices featuring Nav N Go software will offer CCTTN’s real-time traffic data as a free trial for the first 90 days. Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network now serves more than 125 metropolitan markets, mostly in the United States, but also in Canada, Mexico and New Zealand. In the United States CCTTN serves 95 metropolitan markets with RDS TMC (FM radio sub carrier), the most common distribution method for traffic today. "

[patruns]

Yeah, now if HP would just start to show that they still believe in the iPAQ 300 series and roll out updates and offer additional maps I might believe I actually made a good choice in buying one................