Choosing a traffic receiver
The Garmin 66 is Garmin's first auto GPS device accessing high definition content. Earlier models scale down HD content to produce an image. Some early models came with power cords that integrated receivers for tapping traffic content. That in some cases was the GTM60 high definition receiver. Bear in mind such receivers do not add high definition to a device that is not built to receive such. The predecessors to the GTM60 do not supply high definition but offer standard definition. That said, these receivers depend upon outside signals for their data and the coverage supplied is typically around cities of particular size. Garmin supplies a list of cities so covered in one of its webpages. While you would find St. Louis or Louisville covered, you would not find Evansville covered, for example. The GTM60 has been discontinued but not before another company, BGI, found a way to use its circuit board along with a USB connector rather than the cigarette lighter power outlet in earlier vehicles. Such is yet sold in 2025. However, if you want near real time traffic information outside of major cities, a Smartphone tapping Google Maps or Waze appears the way to go. As to vehicles with built-in navigation systems independent of a Smartphone, such systems have yet to match the mapping updates of the mentioned products and can misidentify an unpaved grass lane for a paved road. And you thought being sent on occasional loops by GPS was a cautionary tale. Your phone's data is hard to beat in terms of traffic data. Newer cars can tap the navigation apps on phones, best check compatibility, however. So, GPS units are good for driving directions, but phone data is superior for traffic information in terms of real time information, if you can bear unlimited data charges. Garmin directions appear more reliable that the built-in navigation systems but that is from personal experience and an A. I., not from a study.
