joek666

My understanding is that having no data connection would prevent you from obtaining any live traffic data, regardless of whether or not you're subscribed to Skoda Connect. This is because the fallback of the TMC service via radio signal has been shut down, so there's literally no available source of traffic data. It should be very easy to test the SIM card slot in the vehicle that has one - just pop a SIM card in and see what happens! You'll know if it's connected or not because the red globe icon at the top of the touch screen should change to white to indicate a data connection, and you should be able to access the various Skoda Connect services, such as news, weather, etc. On mine it also states '3G' next to the white globe, although I am fairly sure it's actually connected by 4G as both the Carstick and the SIM are 4G. At least I hope so, since 3G services are being shut down in the UK! Although I stated in my original post that I would switch to a pay monthly SIM, the PAYG SIM has lasted far longer than I anticipated because so little data seems to be used. I think I've used just £1-2 in PAYG credit in all that time.

Part number 5Q0035874C seems to be MIB2. Happy to be corrected though!

For anyone's interest...

For anyone with a MIB2 Amundsen that has lost TMC traffic updates, it seems as though there is no fix coming from Skoda, and the ‘unofficial fix’ will mean having to choose between up-to-date maps with no traffic data, or out-of-date maps with traffic data. Neither appeals to me, so I have gone down a different route. This won’t be for everyone, but just putting it out there as an alternative… Traffic data can obviously be obtained via Skoda Connect, so I signed up for a free 1 month trial to test its functionality. I have to say the traffic data seems superior to TMC, with much more traffic information being made available, even on very minor roads. I understand it then costs £44 a year which, considering Skoda map updates are free, I can personally justify. Slightly harder to justify is the purchase of a Skoda Carstick LTE, since you will struggle to find the real deal for less than £100. However, I wanted to have a data connection in my car without mucking around with mobile hotspot tethering every time I get in/out. This in turns requires a SIM card with available data. I’m unsure how much data this will use on a month-to-month basis, so I started off with an old PAYG SIM to gauge what I actually need long term. I intend to replace this with a cheap pay monthly SIM (e.g. < £5.00 per month) that provides just enough data. Finally, since I didn’t want the Carstick standing vertically upwards in front of my gearstick, I purchased a short right angle USB male-female cable from eBay for about £3. This allows me to have the Carstick laying down flat and out of sight. Overall, I can say this is working pretty well. When I start the car, the data connection seems to establish automatically, and traffic data is pulled down within seconds. Attached pictures for people’s reference.

Well I finally hit an impasse with Skoda, here is their latest reply: I see no point in flogging this horse anymore. On a more positive note, I am working on a solution that is completely different to the techy one described above. It won't suit everyone, but for those with MIB2 and stuck between out-of-date maps with traffic data, or up-to-date maps with no traffic data, this could potentially be of interest. Once I've tested it all end-to-end I will report back.

I'd be very interested in a solution for MIB2 units but my understanding from the discussion on this thread is that I'd be stuck on 2020 maps for ever more. Already looking at trading in my Skoda now for something non-VAG. Shouldn't really cost me much if anything, might even get some money back. Best do it now rather than a few years down the line when this issue is more widely known and it's used to knock down a bit of money off the asking price ("oh those are the ones with broken sat navs").

Still no meaningful response from Skoda for me, and I am chasing... On a related note, is it possible for me to swap my MIB2 Amundsen for one of the head units that does accept the more straightforward fix? Or does that create a whole load of new problems?

Does every MIB2.5 unit come with a built in data connection or at least a slot for a SIM card? My Amundsen MIB2 does not have either, so although I can subscribe to 'Connect' services, I cannot really 'connect'. Mobile hotspot tethering is more trouble than it's worth.

I don't think it's a 'first world problem'. Most governments would want to reduce traffic jams and as a by-product, net emissions. In fact, developing countries are predicted to be the worst impacted by the effects of climate change.

Just like dieselgate. They justify it for as long as they can get away with it. The lack of learning at a corporate level is astounding.

Interesting developments over the past couple of pages on this thread. Quick question from someone not so technical - I have a MIB2 Amundsen. Does that mean that I would have to choose between old maps with TMC or new maps without TMC? Personally I'm still waiting for a definitive response from Skoda but expect it to mirror the one posted a little earlier on this thread, essentially telling me to get stuffed. Once that happens, assuming there is also not a decent manual workaround, I will be in the market for a (non VAG) replacement.

Although Trafficmaster has caused the issue by ceasing its service, it is looking increasingly like either negligence or a conscious decision on VAG's part to not contract with INRIX in advance to ensure continuity of service. Either way, it's on them.

My god, how long does it take? Step into a random sample of affected vehicles on any of your main dealer lots in the UK and you will replicate the problem.

The obvious point here is that regardless of the cause of the Trafficmaster shutdown, the solution is quite clear and simple. Other car manufacturers (including but not limited to BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, Renault and Jaguar Land Rover) are still paying INRIX for their vehicles to use TMC data. VAG have either neglected or consciously decided not to contract with INRIX following the Trafficmaster shutdown. Presumably to save a bit of money. This is exactly where we need to apply pressure - functionality from our vehicles has been abruptly disabled without forewarning, and VAG should take action to replace like for like so that our vehicles continue to function as they did before 1st April 2023 (or whatever the precise date was when Trafficmaster went belly up). What's making this about a hundred times more difficult is how awful VAG customer service has been - constantly directing owners to their dealers for expensive and useless diagnostics when the answer is staring them in the face. They should refund anyone that they directed to spend money on pointless main dealer diagnostics for a problem that THEY CAUSED. I've more or less made my mind up that my next car will not be Skoda/VAG because of they way they've handled this. Toyota seems like a safe bet...

Good response. I am not as far along as you in terms of getting a conclusive response from Skoda, but will provide an update when I get one. I wouldn't assume this is done and dusted just yet. Right now they are saving money at owners' expense because they are no longer paying Trafficmaster and also not paying INRIX for a replacement service. If they realise just how many owners are being adversely impacted, they may change their tune. particularly when owners are deciding to look elsewhere for their next car.

Agreed. I can currently use the built in sat nav without traffic data, or use Android Auto but that requires me to plug in & unplug my phone via USB cable every time I get in and out of the car, along with all the drawbacks versus the built in sat nav that have already been discussed earlier in this thread. Another option is to pay for Skoda Connect but the problem is that my car has no built in data connection or even the option to insert a SIM card, so again I need to tether it to my phone, and have not been able to get this to work seamlessly since I bought it. Also not keen on walking around broadcasting a mobile hotspot everywhere, so the alternative is manually turning it on when entering the car and turning it off when leaving the car. Many other owners do not even have these options, because their vehicles don't come with Android Auto and/or Skoda Connect. It's so frustrating because I went from an older Nissan that had a perfectly working sat nav with live traffic data. Seriously thinking about switching cars again now, not just because of the TMC issue, but also the farcical way Skoda / VW is handling this - it's a worrying sign if other things go wrong in future.

Well everyone would stop buying televisions if no one could watch anything on them, so I think you would find manufacturers doing something about it! And there is a difference here. Skoda (VAG) was paying Trafficmaster for this data to be accessed by their vehicles. Trafficmaster stopped broadcasting, and I agree Trafficmaster cannot be compelled to resume broadcasting (it's not even as simple as that, they appear to have rescinded their right to broadcast). However, there is an alternative provider (INRIX) with whom VAG could arrange to contract TMC services from. That is what we need to push manufacturers for. Simply to replace like for like, we're not asking for anything more.

I understand all that, but a car should be expected to comfortably last for over a decade. We're talking about obsoleting a feature in cars just several years old. One of the feature benefits of my car was built in sat nav. No one from Skoda told me when I bought it that this feature would be crippled in 2023.

I think giving up on an official fix sets a worrying precedent. That's effectively saying that for anything provided for your vehicle by a third party, e.g. FM & DAB broadcasts, compatible light bulbs, tyres, oil, spark plugs, brake discs, if the third party decides to cease production, the vehicle manufacturer doesn't need to do anything, you're on your own. Your vehicle could be made obsolete at any moment, regardless of age.

Perhaps, but there's no evidence that this is a VW decision. Rather, Trafficmaster did not renew their licence to broadcast TMC data over FM, which has caused this knock on effect to many tens possibly hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

Just to set the record straight re: some of the more recent posts to this thread - this doesn't appear to be a Skoda / VAG decision, rather the supplier of TMC data (Trafficmaster) have stopped broadcasting TMC data to all manufacturers that used to rely on it, so this includes VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi, Honda, Mazda, Chrysler, and Vauxhall and possibly others. Since Trafficmaster cannot be compelled to resume the service, we need to pressure our vehicle manufacturers to devise a solution to get this functionality working again. The obvious solution is for them to pay INRIX (as they used to pay Trafficmaster) for TMC data and then issue an update to all impacted vehicles. The problem we are encountering is that Skoda seem largely clueless about the issue, and provide absolutely shockingly bad customer service. I just received another useless reply from them today. There must be people at Skoda/VAG that actually understand the issue and are perhaps even working on a fix, but the message is not getting through to anyone customer facing. Some of the replies we're receiving are a complete joke, they really are shambolic.

Typical useless reply from Skoda. No one knows anything and they pass the buck around in circles. Next you'll be asked to go to a dealer.

I tried in a brand new model on the forecourt and couldn't see any options relating to TMC. Could still be built in as a fallback perhaps?

The cut off seems to be the switchover to MIB3. The latest units don't seem to pick up TMC data at all. I presume they rely entirely on a data connection and cost the owner money after a certain period of time.

Yep, to effectively deactivate functionality of a vehicle only three years old is completely unacceptable. My Karoq is not even five years old yet and I am disgusted this has been allowed to happen. I would be far less angry if Skoda had proactively addressed the problem, but they have done nothing. They have been shockingly bad at handling this situation, a textbook of how not to handle an emerging problem. You would think they would have learned from the past with dieselgate but apparently not. I will never buy another Skoda or VAG vehicle if this is not resolved satisfactorily. I urge anyone affected to apply pressure to Skoda directly. They have the responsibility to fix this.