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What Type of Traffic Does My Automotive Device Use?
Your Garmin automotive device is compatible with two types of traffic information:
- A non-embedded external traffic receiver built into its vehicle power cable.
- Live Traffic using an app on a compatible Android smartphone paired with the device via Bluetooth.
External Traffic Receiver
Your device was packaged with a vehicle power cable that has an external traffic receiver embedded along the wire. The model number of the cable varies by the automotive device model. The label for the cable can generally be found on the bottom of the portion of the cable that connects to the 12-volt outlet in your vehicle.
Your device will not receive traffic information unless the cable is connected to your device and vehicle. Using the GPS device without the vehicle cable, or with a third-party vehicle cable, will result in no traffic information.
These receivers come with a lifetime traffic subscription. No additional purchases are necessary. See Activate the Free Navteq Lifetime Traffic Subscription that came with my GPS Device.
NOTE: External Traffic receivers are no longer available for purchase through Garmin. See GTM 60 and GTM 36 Cables are Discontinued for more information.
To View Compatible External Traffic Receivers for your Device:
- Go to Garmin.com
- Locate your device model
- On the device's product page, click Accessories
- Click Traffic Receivers
Live Traffic
Note: Smartphone Link is only compatible with Android phones and is not available on iOS for your device.
Your device may also receive traffic information from an app called Smartphone Link. This app may be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store onto a compatible Android smartphone, which is paired with the device via Bluetooth.
Your phone must be in a coverage area for your carrier for the Smartphone Link App to provide traffic. This coverage varies by the cellular provider.