NigelR99

Yes I grew up with paper tape, 80 column punch card, 4k IBM 1401 computers, Autocoder and machine code, and then IBM 360's but on went on via Cobol programming to system, security and infrastructure design including corporate anti virus systems etc. etc. anything useful in the context of my MIB2 has been long forgotten.........

I was just about to ask a similar question, I assumed that the reference to check/config using VCDS/OBD11 meant that I would need to connect to the socket under the dashboard with either a cable or a bluetooth device and my laptop with config software on. I have seen such devices cheap on ebay? I am an Ex IT technical person but never worked on cars. The implication of "check" is that it could be correct but if it isn't you have to configure the setting? Up to a month ago my 2017 car was still running on 2019 maps, I don't believe the firmware of the MIB2 has been updated, I haven't done it and I very much doubt if Skoda Crewe did it. So is it possible the config is correct? and all I need to do is put the files on my Skoda maps SD card. If it needs configuring is there an idiots guide to the process on this site. Thanks.

The ideal solution for my MIB2 std would be an edit of the maps, I know nothing of this Vcds/Obd11 but as an ex IT person would be happy with even a hex editor on my PC........ Obd11 sounds like something from a Starwars film to me!

Trafficmaster stopped broadcasting early April 2023 that is when the RDS-TMC stopped working.

As far as VAG are concerned it is a commercial decision, for society it is more air pollution, traffic jams etc.

In 2011 the Government were aware of the consequence of loosing RDS-TMC over FM Radio in the document attached. They said "Were the majority of FM stations to broadcast only on DAB today, these millions of navigation units would stop receiving traffic information. The navigation system would still work but would no longer know of congestion, accidents, road works, or other traffic events. Drivers would be less well-informed, and, not knowing of traffic problems, would join, and compound, queues." This requirement to supply traffic information to motorists appears to be the result of a EU directive presumably cast aside after Brexit however the Government saw a need, They tendered for companies to supply the FM RDS-TMC service in the UK and car manufactures paid for a licence. (I don't know if this is the same process in Europe ) FM-Radio is still with us and the move to DAB wasn't completed so the hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of VAG and other cars that are still on the road and will be contributing to the clogging up of the road infrastructure by the inability of the sat nav systems to reroute and miss the traffic jam. Has there been an increase in traffic jams since April 2023? Has anybody contacted their MP about this, after all the system in the UK was requested by the Government so that drivers could be informed about traffic and avoid congestion and pollution, the need is still there. Just a thought......... Traffic_and_Travel_Report_1_.pdf

I would expect that Skoda have already read about it on this forum, I suspect all of us who have contacted Skoda will have mentioned the BriSkoda forum and this thread.

So mine is the MIB2 std thanks, it was that talk of a fix for MIB2 high that got me thinking. Thanks

Good question, I believe I have a MIB2 and not .5 or high but never found a definitive document to aid identification.

I am not paranoid but ...................

I have been expecting that sort of answer, next we will have one from VAG group saying no one actually uses RDS-TMC now.

Things are different with a 2023 car. Without Smartlink enabled in my 2017 car Android Auto or apple CarPlay are simply not recognised by the MIB2 Infotainment device. Smartlink enabling gives you access to them.

Well my 2017 Skoda would support Android auto if I paid for Smartlink to be enabled (£150?) however I feel I already paid for a working satnav that I was, until earlier this year very happy with and I had no inclination to go down that route.

Not quite true, modern VAG sat nav use mobile type data for TMC so are not affected, it is the devices that use the RDS-TMC broadcast over FM radio that are. Personally I can't believe someone at VAG didn't know it was going to happen, they could have apologised in advance for loss of service and discussed alternatives, but they chose not to.

I sent my photos to them some time ago, still waiting for a reply......

Done that twice with BBC Watchdog with no response, messaged Skoda UK (facebook and email), my Skoda dealer in Crewe, Skoda support in Europe, various car magazines etc etc. Sent screen shots and info to Skoda europe at their request. If you can take a car to France and it works then the TMC system can switch FM broadcasts presumably driven by GPS position and data in the maps. If Skoda produced new maps that pointed at Inrix presumably they would have to pay them for a licence. My manual for the Amundsen says nothing about the service could be terminated just that if you have a diagonal line through TMC you are out of range of the service.

Explain to me how if someone took their car to France TMC worked with French stations, it would appear that what it needed was French maps and a French GPS location. No trafficmaster involved. Does that mean we simply need new maps with Inrix code included? Is a firmware update a red herring or is there actual TMC info held in the firmware for all countries that you could download maps for. That would be a very inflexible solution. As at IT devoleloper I wouldn't do it like that! However with Skoda nothing would surprise me!

I just received this from Skoda - Still got the car wrong, it is a Rapid: Re: Škoda Octavia - N99 NAR Dear Mr xxxxxxxx Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the issues experienced with your Škoda Octavia. I am just writing today to provide a brief update on your case. At this time, I can confirm that we are still liaising with the Škoda Factory with regard to the issues you have experienced. As soon as I have an update to hand with regard to how your concerns can be resolved, I will ensure that I am contacting you as a priority. Should there be anything I can assist with in the meantime, please contact me on xxxxxxxxxxxx and I would be happy to help. Kind regards

I tried watchdog a couple of weeks ago without even a response that they had received it, Autotrader did get back to me but nothing done It is as if no one cares. What about trading standards? We have been sold somthing that is now not working as described! Can someone else try that as I still have Covid 10 days in.

That is better than a denial of service attack! I used to have to try and block those professionally.

I will let you do that, I have an IT reputation to keep. Currently full of Covid picked up in the Tonbridge area I think.

I think maybe a fault has been for us to try and come up with a solution, it is Skoda's responsibility, they took our money for the equipment and it should work. If there is a very good reason for it stopping working they should have informed us in advance with an apology and a discussion about alternatives so that we could still receive a service. I wonder how many traffic jams have been made worse and how much extra pollution caused by VAG cars?

I paid for a car with integrated satnav because it featured RDS-TMC, easy to update maps from the web etc etc. I didn't feel the need to enable SmartLink for £100-£150 to use Android Auto on my Skoda I was happy with what I paid for, I don't even have data on my phone! I use Android Auto on my wife's Toyota with offline Google maps and the number of times it looses the "blue" navigation line and needs a complete reinstall makes me realise what I had up to the start of March 2023 worked very well. If Skoda won't get it working again will they enable SmartLink for free? I am not a luddite but an ex IT security consultant who developed many Corporate WI-FI based systems over the years.

What puzzles me is that it is said (on wikipedia) that Inrix use Classic FM and that Trafficmaster use Global Radio - Classic FM is part of the Global Radio group? First I was always taught at university to never trust the data on Wikipedia but to go to source. Someone has contacted Inrix and they say they are still broadcasting however did anybody ask them what car manufactures subscribe to their service? Our contract (if we have one ) is with Skoda and they should be sorting this out or issuing a statement that the FM Radio service is no longer available to VAG cars. I would guess there is small print to get them out of responsibility.

Interesting that it switched to pick up the France/Belgium service. That would imply that if it was switched to a different FM service in the UK it should work. Inrix haven't said if VAG pay them to use the service (they can't do it for free), maybe the SatNav devices can check a "paid" flag in the data.