PetrolDave

I hope it's a TSI (petrol) as that driving pattern won't suit a TDI due to DPF issues. I would definitely change the service interval to annual, and even consider a 6 monthly oil change.

I agree more people are time poor & income rich than are time rich & income poor, so most people will still favour the quicker route (which sometimes in Summer due to Grockels can be the non-motorway or non-dual carriageway route! - I've seen the M3 queued all the way from Southampton back to Camberley).

Which CAN? The Gateway also acts as a CAN switch between multiple CAN buses - Powertrain, Comfort, Infotainment, Extended, ...

Did it come with software on a CD? If it did then as it's the English version of VCDS then 100% it's a clone.

Manual or DSG gearbox?

Who pays £500 RFL? Currently after the first year it's £190 (or £600 for years 2 to 6 if the list price is over £40,000) for cars registered after 1 April 2017.

Does the CAN Gateway need some kind of wakeup message on the Diagnostics CAN connections before it will start talking?

???? The rear camera connects to the glovebox unit and the dashcam doesn't connect to the infotainment system (except maybe for power).

Try here

What do you mean by infotainment system? The screen in the centre console is just that, a screen - no more. All the wiring is behind the main unit (it's much more than just a CD player) in the glovebox.

I also use Classic Shell (originally on Windows 10 but now on Windows 11), it's no longer being developed so support is a bit flaky. IIRC there's a configuration app/program installed into the same folder, worth checking this out.

Simple answer, you can't. The electrons go where they want to not where any money tells them to! Any organisation that says they use only electricity from renewable sources is lying if they get their electricity from a connection to the National Grid. What they should claim is that they pay only for electricity from renewable sources to be placed onto the National Grid - but that's NOT the same as using only electricity from renewable sources!

You need to use the correct coding & adaptation changes for the 20 camera that is fitted to your vehicle NOT the coding & adaptation changes that only apply to the A5 camera that you don't have! The changes needed for the 20 camera can be found in the sticky posts in this forum, I know they work because I did them on my previous Octavia Elegance which had a 20 camera.

He's definitely messed things up!!! I would definitely find someone local who can do a fault code scan as it seems unlikely all the symptoms you describe aren't leaving some fault codes in their wake!

There are 2 different cameras fitted depending on specification (high spec which is at address A5, or low spec which is at address 20) - do you have a camera at address 20?

Sounds like the mechanic could have made some incorrect coding changes. I think you're going to need a fault code scan with VCDS or OBDeleven to understand what's been done.

That tool is just a wireless to USB adapter, as the MIB1 doesn't support USB CarPlay or Android Auto there's no way that adapter can overcome that.

MIB1 doesn't support CarPlay or Android Auto so it would be a waste of your money. To get CarPlay and Android Auto you need to upgrade to a MIB2 unit.

That's already in place, it's called Agile Octopus - where the cost per kWh varies every half hour of every day.

No, I'm on Agile Octopus not an EV tariff.

I don't have an EV, but I know when I'm going to be cooking my Sunday lunch and doing my washing!!!

Thre are several different blocks available with different combinations of switches, but AFAIK individual switches cannot be moved within the blocks.

... and also is in breach of EU regulations.

Worth asking in the Octavia 4 forum?

There's a microswitch inside the boot lock in the tailgate.