NigelR99

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.

Are you saying that currently you are sometimes getting Traffic alerts and that the TMC signal is sometimes active or was that before March 2023? I am in Cheshire and there is nothing and I have been down to Kent over a long weekend and still nothing.

Thisi document on Ofcom is worth a read I have added a link and attached the document. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__search/s/redirect?collection=global&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ofcom.org.uk%2F__data%2Fassets%2Fpdf_file%2F0027%2F226971%2Fstatement-additional-services-licence.pdf&index_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ofcom.org.uk%2F__data%2Fassets%2Fpdf_file%2F0027%2F226971%2Fstatement-additional-services-licence.pdf&auth=OqnXOfo5dqusplhCrtrrMQ&profile=_default&rank=7&query=rds statement-additional-services-licence.pdf

I have already contacted the Skoda Digital team, sent them details like the Vin and photos of the TMC screen and am waiting for a reply. I guess the more that complain the better.

It may not be Trafficmaster but INRIX (ITIS) , there are two separate traffic alert services in the UK.

This is a countrywide problem, I have raised it with Skoda and have been contacted by Skoda support, search on BriSkoda for the other threads for more information.

I already have been in contact with Autocar and they got back to me today, they have raised it with Skoda PR and have asked if Skoda Customer Services can get in touch with me - no problem. I did explain it was far bigger than just a problem with my car.

In that case that is why I thought it was INRIX ITIS all along and was surprised when Trafficmaster was mentioned.

INRIX https://inrix.com/press-releases/inrix-completes-acquisition-european-traffic-company/ “The acquisition takes us one step closer to our goal of reducing the world’s traffic congestion by providing better information globally,” said Bryan Mistele, president and CEO of INRIX. “As one company fueled by a talented staff and an unrivaled set of patented breakthrough technologies, we offer customers the best quality real-time, predictive and historical traffic information and services worldwide.” This statement seems at odds with what has happened.

Skoda Support for Digital Services have contacted me and asked for a photo of the Traffic screen with the TMC fault and the VIN number. This was after I emailed the Skoda Support Team email address I posted earlier. It might emphasise the problem if others contacted them, I have given them links to these threads.

I have had the following response from Skoda customer services: I'm sorry to learn the TMC traffic services have stopped working. Due to the nature of your enquiry, I would advise you to contact Škoda Support Team as they are best placed to assist with connect enquiries. You can contact them on the following details: Telephone: 00800 80 247 247 Email address: *****@*****.tld that is support @ skoda-auto . com take out the blanks Probably worth everybody contacting them. I have also emailed BBC Watchdog about it, it has worked in the past with a non car issue.