Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver

by TomTom

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 1.9 inches ; 10.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000VSWHIO
• Item model number: 9V00.080
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

Product Description

The TomTom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver works by using TMC (Traffic Message Channel) technology. The receiver acquires information through an FM radio signal broadcast by regional providers. By simply connecting the new TomTom GO device to the RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver, users will automatically receive traffic information via the TMC connection. Once a trip is planned, traffic alerts are clearly displayed in the traffic bar on the right hand side of the screen. When users tap the traffic bar, they receive further information, such as accident or traffic jam delays. The RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver is compatible with the new TomTom GO 920 range, TomTom GO 720, TomTom ONE XL and TomTom ONE 3rd EDITION and provides seamless integration of RDS-TMC Traffic information with the user interface of the TomTom GO and ONE product ranges.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother., October 14, 2007

By 

R. T. Watkins "duncandoenitz" (Rex, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver (Electronics)

I've had this antenna for a couple of weeks now, and it only retrieved traffic info for two days. Since then, it connects to either of two radio stations in Atlanta and reports "no delays on route", even when I'm stuck in a two-hour traffic jam on I-285. Switching stations results in the "green dot" on the traffic monitor, and a further result of "no delays on route".

Several calls to TomTom tech support have been fruitless. The last time, they claimed their traffic server was down indefinitely. That would be bad enough, but the RDS-TMC information is not controlled by TomTom's service, it comes from Clear Channel's Traffic Network. The traffic server is only for their GPRS/Mobile Phone/TomTom Plus traffic service.

I had tried the TomTom Plus service prior to ordering the antenna, and it worked fairly well (when the traffic server was up) but I found the $19.95/month charge that T-Mobile added on to my bill to be a bit excessive when this antenna was supposed to do a comparable job.

I'm sending it back. If it was just an intermittent outage, I could understand that. Two solid weeks of "no traffic on route" while sitting in the I-285 parking lot for thirty-seven miles each way is ridiculous.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Make sure you can return this if you buy it. Coverage may be overstated., December 29, 2007

By 

Fletch (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver (Electronics)

I purchased the Tom Tom RDS-TMC antenna for my Tom Tom One XLS. I bought the correct one, said Tom Tom One XL right on the box. My Tom Tom software is the latest version 7.162, The unit was charged up and the power was on.

I checked to see if Clear Channel RDS-TMC coverage was in my area (said it as according to the coverage map and other press releases from RDS-TMC).

I was !so! hoping this item would work, but even though the Tom Tom unit recognized the antenna, it was never able to lock on to a channel and receive a signal. I drove for 40 miles near Cleveland and it never, not even for a blink of an eye, found a channel.

I searched the web for manual tuning options, I even stood outside with the receiver in hand in the open air and let it search and search and search ...nothing.

Without a signal, the $130.00 wire is pretty much useless. Forget about the 'web' being much help, Tom Tom pretty much states on their website, not responsible for the data and signal and refer you to Clear Channel RDS TMC, if you go to RDS-TMC, they refer you to Tom Tom...so what are you to do.?? I went to HH Gregg, they said yours if the first we sold and we don't know anything about the product. I went to Best Buy and the kid didn't know what I was talking about and they only sell this product on the web (I wonder why?)

All I can say is the service may be where you live and it may be great, but it is not in Cleveland, Ohio (even though it says it is).. So if you buy this, make sure you can return it, because this item can only be used for one thing and one thing only. Let me tell you, you will be upset if you need to and cannot get your money back, Luckily HH Gregg gave me all money back and I can wait until the covereage improves or until the next great thing comes out (which if you look at Tom Tom site and change the country to the Netherlands, you will see there is already a next generation of Traffic Information service available called HD Traffic) that is probably going to be all over Europe shortly and in the US sometime in the next several years. Who knows.

If the Tom Tom RDS-TMC was $20.00-$30.00, I would have stuck it out, but unfortunately it is not $20.00, unless you can get lucky on ebay (from someone who couldn't return theirs).

I am not stating this is rds-tmc antenna is a bad product, I am stating I was unable to utilize this product in my area and every indication that I had prior to purchasing it was that everything was there for it to work.

As far as my Tom Tom One XLS, it is a great GPS.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, works great, January 28, 2008

By 

Stephen White (Falls Church, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tom Tom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver (Electronics)

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.