Customer Reviews

Magellan Traffic Link for Subscription-Free Traffic for RoadMate 1210, 1220, 1340, 1424, 1440, 1470, 4700

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

The traffic link is a power cord that replaces the power cord packaged with the GPS unit and has the added ability to receive traffic information. I got it free when I ordered a Roadmate 1470 several months ago. I appreciate that it's very simple in that you swap one cord for another so you are still using only a single cord that can both power the unit and receive traffic info.

Provided I am in an area where there is an active signal to receive, my GPS can show traffic delays either in the overall area or along my specific route when I have entered a destination when I touch the red on screen traffic icon. I live about 30 miles outside Philadelphia and while still in my driveway, it shows traffic delays in and around Philly so it has a reasonable range. When using it for traffic on my route, it can alert me to both slow traffic and stopped traffic and can provide a detour. It shows a revised ETA for the detour so I know how the detour might affect my arrival time before I select it. I have found it to be a bit helpful while I've been traveling in unfamiliar areas.

I do not believe that I am currently using the traffic feature on my 1470 to its full potential since I haven't taken the time to figure out how to optimize this feature. However, the Magellan Traffic Link does exactly what it's meant to do, power the unit and receive traffic info, and does it reliably.

Having read some of the negative reviews, I wanted this to work, and I wanted to like it. In the sense that the cord provides power to the GPS, it works. In the sense that it gets past 'Aquiring signal' and actually gives you traffic info..........it does not.

And most unfortunate, I paid $50.00 for it and did not get it free as part of a package. Love the 4700 GPS! But this additional accessory adds nothing cost to the experience.

To the writers of previous reviews........you were right, you told me so, but I had to see for myself if the stove was actually hot - it was.

This is great for when you're stuck in traffic and looking for an escape. we were on our way home from hartford and it told us there was a traffic jam in New Haven CT. we were re-routed around it through New Haven city streets and could see on occasion the traffic was a parking lot. we were thankful we had it. i have heard some people have had issues with it but, so far so good.

I bought the Magellan 1475T which came with the Traffic Link cable. Unfortunately, the manual did not tell you how Traffic Link works, or how to use it. At first I figured that it must be so intuitive that the manual writers decided that no explanation was needed; however, now that I've had it a few weeks in the Baltimore/Washington area I still don't know what the numbers under the icon mean (duration of delay or time to delay?) - also, I have never been able to "connect" to the traffic information - it just says that it's still searching. I have also never seen any traffic icons on the map, and I have never been "redirected" around any traffic issues. It would have been nice to put some screen grabs and a short how-to-use section in the manual - or at least have something useful on the internet!!!

I foolishly expected that this would give me the same data as google maps traffic, but after sitting in SF bay area traffic and then Sacramento .... the other day, I spent 30 - 45 minutes in 0 - 5 mph traffic outside Sacramento, the gps traffic showed no problem. Google maps traffic on my mobile phone showed the area as red ... It seems like the only time I get traffic information is when they want to show me an add. I don't understand how a free service like google can provide the information but the service that I pay for can not.

The traffic report is VERY important in Los Angeles. This tells me when there are major accidents, I just wish it worked a little more like those live updates you see in the Times. The ads aren't that distracting, especially because there is only one ad -- every day I'm asked if I'd like 1500 points at Best Western. No thanks. Doesn't it know I'm near home? But I was very wary of having ads in the car and only chose this one because I couldn't figure out how to get the paid traffic service. Anyway, it has worked for me. It has Maggie suggest alternative routes while I'm driving when new traffic problems crop up.

This item came free with my Magellan Roadmate 1470 purchase. After a couple of hours of using the standard 12V adapter with no problems, I tried the Traffic Link adapter. Took me a couple of days to figure out it was this worthless thang that was causing my 1470 to power up maybe 1 of 10 attempts when sliding the power switch 'on'.

Threw it in the trash and now all is well with the 1470! Don't have any lame advertisements now either...the same two or three ads at that.

When it does allow the 1470 to power up and if you are in a metro that supports, it only gives you worthless line after line of text of traffic jams. This requires actions on your part to read, no audio. Can't imagine anybody actually spending the time trying to read these and decipher and then plan a course around. Every now and then though I did catch it throwing me a red sign when traffic was normal about a hazard ahead. Sure enough there would be a disabled auto on the side of the road...then I would be 5 miles past and it still showed the 'red flag'. I tried to say something nice about it! ;-)

This free device almost made me think my 1470 was faulty, because when using it as the power source would be lucky to actually get the unit to power on.

For free it's terrible...if I'd paid for it, I would be not happy camping.

Love my 1470 though...

Bought it for free as a bundle with Magellan 1470 GPS unit.

Unsure if all Magellan's work this way, but the 'traffic' icon button was always on the map when the traffic link was connected. Therefore you never really know if you're getting a signal unless you stay within the traffic menu. Would've been better to see some kind of 'traffic available' icon or message or something.

Used in DC area, as in Northern Virginia where there is known good traffic coverage. Never received any information.

Again, maybe it wasn't working, maybe I was getting a signal and the traffic system wasn't pushing information due to lack of information to push...but I have no way of knowing since I always have the traffic menu available whether or not I'm receiving traffic info.

Not much to say except it doesn't work. Have had the unit for 3 days now and it is still aquiring a signal. My Garmin & Navigon both lock in without a problem. Totally useless so I don't even know how my 1470 handles traffic.

Edit*****
I finally got to take it for a trip where I knew there was lots and lots of traffic info. I kept my Tomtom connected at the same time. While the Tomtom stayed connected to the traffic service 95% of the time, the Magellan only stayed connect 10% of the time. It's not good!

I just switched from a Garmin to Magellan so my expectations of this product are a bit biased. Having said that I fully expected to get reliable traffic information WITHOUT the stupid ads. I feel that paying over $70.00 for this product entitles me to an ad-free experience. Basically what you get is the exact same traffic service offered by Garmin but unlike Garmin you're forced to pay for this add on.

To make matters worse it's a much worse implementation that Garmin's. For example there are no audio prompts for traffic conditions, only on screen displays. I can't always watch the screen for traffic reports. In contrast Garmin will alert you to slow traffic or accidents and the special FM power cord is included with their GPS units.