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Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

All Garmin traffic GPS are in a group Garmin calls "FM traffic compatible". This means these GPS may receive FM traffic selective information from an FM traffic receiver and show it on the GPS display. A subgroup of this larger group is titled "FM traffic included" which means that the GPS is sold with an integrated traffic receiver and subscription to the traffic service included in the buy price.

Now that we have the definitions out of the way, let's clear up one point that may surprise you. None of these Garmin GPS genuinely have the FM receiver built inside the GPS. The FM receiver is actually built into the cigarette lighter power plug that powers the GPS. The cord that powers the GPS also carries the data from the FM traffic receiver located in the power plug to the GPS.

On all current Garmin units, you may tell if the GPS has FM traffic included in the buy price if the model number has the letter "T" in the last reputation position. Example: Garmin Nuvi 1490T.

If you buy a GPS that includes traffic, you will have an easy time installing it since the GPS and the FM receiver are matched when they arrive together in the box.

If you purchased an FM Traffic compatible unit without the FM receiver (and related subscription to the traffic service), you will need to do numerous exploration if you want to add the traffic service to your GPS.

The best place to find the selective information you need for this is on the Garmin website. Go to the Garmin home page. You will see a link on the top left of the page, "On the Road". Move your cursor over this link and a drop down box with appear. Click the link "Automotive" in this box. This will fetch up a page that lists all the current Garmin automotive GPS models.

On the top left of this page are assorted links, one of which will be "Traffic Receivers". Click this link and all of the Garmin traffic receivers will be displayed. Note that there are likewise numerous satellite receivers shown, but we will not address those in this article.

The basic deviations amidst these traffic receivers are the traffic service that they provide and the type of plug on the cord that plugs into the GPS. To find the FM traffic receiver for your Garmin Traffic GPS, click on the link to a specific receiver (Example: GTM(TM) 25 with lifetime traffic). When the page loads, you will see a lot of tabs all over the page toward the bottom of the screen. When you click on the "Products" tab, a page will display all the Garmin GPS that are compatible with the FM traffic receiver.

Check to see if your GPS is included and verify that the FM traffic service covers your area. The traffic service is provided by either Clear Channel Traffic Message Channel or NAVTEQ Traffic. Other subscriptions may be available underneath the "Accessories" tab (if displayed).

You must now have the info you need to make an intellectual decision in regards to how to add traffic capability to your Garmin traffic GPS.

Good luck and good driving. Steer clear of traffic with your Garmin traffic GPS.

See the resource data under for more selective information when it comes to using the Garmin and Amazon internet sites to find the rectify FM receiver for your Garmin traffic GPS. 

Stop sitting in traffic waiting for traffic updates on your favored radio station. Traffic Link will alert you on current traffic conditions for the area in which you are travelling. Simply plug in the Traffic Link device to your compatible Magellan GPS device, and you'll receive free data on the type of incident (e.g., accident or slow traffic), status of surrounding freeways/interstates, and approximate time until you come upon the issue. With the touch of a button, Traffic Link will provide you with an substitute route so that you may refrain from delays, saving time and money.

Click to enlarge.

With the Traffic Link service, you'll also receive particular offers from premium vendors. Simply touch the info on the screen to obtain details on how to take vantage of the respective deals being provided. Stop sitting in traffic. Get Traffic Link, turn it on, and go! Features include:

  • Free automatic traffic updates for life1
  • Intuitive user interface distinctly displays traffic events
  • Reroutes you around reported traffic jams
  • Valuable promotional offers from premium vendors2

1. Lifetime is specified as the serviceability and operability of the GPS receiver registered to the Traffic Link device.

2. Traffic Link service is ad supported.

Markets with Traffic Coverage

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Austin, TX
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Boston, MA
  • Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
  • Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
  • Chicago, IL
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Columbus, OH
  • Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
  • Denver-Boulder, CO
  • Detroit, MI
  • Fresno, CA
  • Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC
  • Hartford-New Britain-Middletown, CT
  • Houston-Galveston, TX
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Kansas City, MO-KS
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Memphis, TN
  • Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL
  • Middlesex-Somerset-Union, NJ
  • Milwaukee-Racine, WI
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
  • Nashville, TN
  • Nassau-Suffolk, NY
  • New York, NY
  • Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • Orlando, FL
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Portland, OR
  • Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI
  • Raleigh-Durham, NC
  • Riverside-San Bernadino, CA
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT
  • San Antonio, TX
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • San Jose, CA
  • Seattle-Tacoma, WA
  • St. Louis, MO
  • Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
  • Washington, DC- Annapolis
  • West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL

What's in the Box
Magellan Traffic Link power adapter

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate Picture

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate Image

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate Pic

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate Pic

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate Picture

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate

Magellan Traffic Link Subscription Free Roadmate Image


Most helpful client reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful.
4Magellan Traffic Link
By P. Probst
The traffic link is a power cord that replaces the power cord packaged with the GPS unit and has the added capacity to receive traffic information. I got it free when I ordered a Roadmate 1470 various months ago. I be grateful for that it's very simple in that you swap one cord for another so you are still using only a single cord that may both power the unit and receive traffic info.

Provided I am in an area where there is an active signal to receive, my GPS may 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 when it comes to 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 may alert me to both slow traffic and stopped traffic and may 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 journeying in unfamiliar areas.

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

45 of 49 persons found the following review helpful.
1"I told you so" Traffic Link
By J. Lucht
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 genuinely gives you traffic info..........it does not.

And most unfortunate, I salaried $50.00 for it and did not get it free as percentage of a package. Love the 4700 GPS! But this further and added accessory adds not one thing cost to the experience.

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

30 of 33 humans found the following review helpful.
5Marriage Saver
By Robert Daly
This is outstanding 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 a good deal of humans have had issues with it but, so far so good.

See all 62 client reviews...