13 hours ago, shootek said:

I received my car today, asked about the issue, they checked the Škoda bulletin and there was nothing. Should be a localized problem...

 

 

Or Slovenia hasn’t got the message yet.   :-)

Ha, ha 

 

Here is Oz, they stopped supplying Skodas with wireless charging because the phone signal amplifier did not comply with regulations here.

As a result some MY17 & all MY18 models did not have wireless charging....aka Phonebox.

 

Rumour was that the Phonebox was to return (in MY18.5 models) without the phone signal amplifier and have just the wireless charging.

Don't know if this is the case though.

I had both the wireless charging and signal booster in mine. Went in to the dealer back in July 2017 for the lane assist update and they removed the booster as it was on the Skoda recall (I was never notified of this). Still have wireless charging and didn’t notice any difference from a signal point of view. 

 

Was as told by the dealer that the booster was not compliant here in Oz, that was 9 months ago.

1 hour ago, Andysuew said:

I had both the wireless charging and signal booster in mine. Went in to the dealer back in July 2017 for the lane assist update and they removed the booster as it was on the Skoda recall (I was never notified of this). Still have wireless charging and didn’t notice any difference from a signal point of view. 

 

Was as told by the dealer that the booster was not compliant here in Oz, that was 9 months ago.

Was the option refunded (if bought new) or were you compensated in any way?  Just curious to know how they handled it...

11 hours ago, Andysuew said:

I had both the wireless charging and signal booster in mine. Went in to the dealer back in July 2017 for the lane assist update and they removed the booster as it was on the Skoda recall (I was never notified of this). Still have wireless charging and didn’t notice any difference from a signal point of view. 

 

Was as told by the dealer that the booster was not compliant here in Oz, that was 9 months ago.

Wow, shocked to read that dealers would remove unit with no discussion Andysuew.

 

I am sure our lovely UK dealers would not do that.

 

I have read a few members here say they would not let there phone box be removed. Guys how would you feel if you took your car in for service and the service department said afterwards "We've removed your wireless charging and signal booster, good news is its done free of charge"

 

I imagine once the blocked car guys have been dealt with Skoda will move on to others with this option fitted

Edited 23 April, 20188 yr by Parked
typo

On 4/23/2018 at 20:41, penguin17 said:

Was the option refunded (if bought new) or were you compensated in any way?  Just curious to know how they handled it...

 

Here in Oz, we don't pay for individual items.  Most of the things come standard with car's base price, in our case including the phonebox.

Hence this particular item can't be "refunded" as we didn't explicitly pay for it.

 

Also Skoda faces heavy fines/penalities if there r items in the cars they sell that breach regulatory rules in a market.

Those refusing to have it removed could find themselves with a bigger issue.  In the UK at least, if interference was caused by the hardware in a vehicle being non-compliant and the manufacturer has previously warned the Owner and that Owner chooses to refuse to comply with the removal, then it is possible for the Authorities (Ofcom) to seize the vehicle.  They have the powers to do so, and if a prosecution followed then the Owner is at risk of being fined and losing the vehicle completely should a Magistrate or Judge so order.

 

Once the Owner has been notified by the Manufacturer, and has chosen to refuse, then the problem becomes theirs not Škoda’s.

 

The chances of there being an issue of the size that Ofcom may need to take action are realistically pretty low to say the least, however they do exist and that is why Škoda (and VAG) are reacting.  Just something to think about and add to the mix.  Use of what could be an unlicensed transmitter carries an unlimited fine, up to 5 years imprisonment and forfeiture of items seized.

 

This of course assumes it is the rf emissions from this amplifier that breach whichever international standard(s) that they seem to be doing.

On 23/04/2018 at 20:41, penguin17 said:

Was the option refunded (if bought new) or were you compensated in any way?  Just curious to know how they handled it...

 

They told me about the booster removal when I arrived on the day. The signal booster is mounted in the rear of the vehicle. It’s about 4” square and is made from aluminium. It looks very much like a heat sink. They never touched the phone box in the centre console because if they had I would have made sure that they fixed the squeaky cup holder that’s been driving me nuts since I bought the car a year ago.

 

The phone box still charges my Samsung S6 wirelessly and I have not noticed any drop in signal strength on the phone or the radio for that matter, not that I listen to much radio when I have 265gb of music without any commercial breaks loaded into the SD slots  As JR said, in Oz we have 3 options, Tech Pack, Comfort Pack & Image Pack. The Tech pack gives you things like the Canton sound system, wireless charging, adaptive chassis control, all the assist options, virtual pedal etc. The Comfort pack adds leather, vented/heated/electric seats. The Image pack (which is standard on the 206kw 4x4) adds Kessy, 19” rims, LED lighting, multi function steering wheel etc. If you order all 3 packs, you basically get every option available, except towbar.

 

Overall, I didn’t know the booster was there from the start and didn’t notice any change after it was removed.

 

Hi Guys,

 

Rather than leave this hanging I thought I should let you know Group Sales Manager of the dealers no less emailed me yesterday to say fix done, block has been removed and Sportline is being delivered Friday afternoon.

 

I will let you know if signal booster has been removed with a lump hammer.

 

Right my negativity is stopping here. I hope I will be contributing in a positive way to the forum in the coming weeks.

 

Thank you all for the information, support, help and advice. It has genuinely been appreciated