[NJARC] How does the GPS get traffic reports?

[oldradio at comcast.net]

FYI.....

Hi All,

How does the traffic report get to your car's navigation unit?

I purchase an Magellan GPS unit to replace a 5 year old GPS unit. The old
unit cost $75 to update the maps, the new one is $150 with free updates (1st
update pays for the unit) and the GPS also gives life time live Traffic
updates.

In the last few days I see that no Traffic Reports were being received and a
message said, to go the web site to find the reason. On the web site you
click on the market of use and it listed a Radio Station that sends the Traffic
Signal out. The Atlantic City Station is WFPG 96.9. I called the Chief
Engineer Tom, W2DOX, and told him the problem. He walk into the Engineering
Room and saw that the Traffic Encoder had a red light. A quick reset and the
Traffic was back, he was surprised that the Traffic provider had not already
call him, they monitor the system from a local RX. He thank me for the Heads
UP.
The Magellan GPS unit has a FM broadcast receiver  built in that scan for
the station that TX the information. The Signal is* part* of the RDS (Radio
Data System) which some stations send out the Song Tile, Artist and other
information, this is then display on a screen of the home or car radio. Of
course the Traffic Information is only decoded by the properly equip car
navigation unit.

 That also answers the question of why on the GPS unit says,-- "USE THE
SUPPLIED DC POWER CORD and not another brands DC power cord", the FM
Broadcast antenna is built into the DC power cord.

I thought that you might be interested on how the Traffic Report gets to the
GPS.

73,
de Bob, W2ARP

73, John Dilks, K2TQN


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