XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: robban@clubtelco.com   
      
   On 17/01/2014 7:32 am, Greg Goss wrote:   
   > "Rod Speed"  wrote:   
   >   
   >> Greg Goss  wrote   
   >   
   >>> My wife has a fairly recent GPS in her car.  Once, we had programmed   
   >>> the destination into the unit because we needed it for the final   
   >>> navigation -- we knew the way for the first fifteen miles.  But, with   
   >>> very little warning, it abruptly told us to take an exit three miles   
   >>> before the obvious one, and adjusted the time-to-destination   
   >>> accordingly.  As we turned onto the overpass, we saw traffic   
   >>> backing up from something further down the road.   
   >>   
   >> That is just poor implementation.   
   >   
   > I think you're misreading the anecdote.  This was a good   
   > implementation -- the traffic jam was still forming up, and it   
   > successfully got us out of it.  If traffic starts to jam up when we're   
   > thirty seconds from the last exit for several miles, a sudden change   
   > is better than no change.   
   >   
   >>> How is traffic information sent to GPS units?   
   >>   
   >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel   
   >>   
   >>> Other satellites (ex XM)?   
   >>   
   >> Nope.   
   >   
   >  From your link:   
   > "It can also be transmitted on Digital Audio Broadcasting or satellite   
   > radio."   
   >   
      
    From the link, I see that I was wrong: we do have that service in   
   Australia, but it is limited to the few car companies that have made a   
   commercial arrangement with the company.   
      
   --   
   Robert Bannister - 1940-71 SE England   
                       1972-now W Australia   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)