Get on twitter let’s raise awareness 

1 minute ago, short1uk said:

Get on twitter let’s raise awareness 

This seems to be the standard reply from VAG group. The Digital Support Team will now tell you they do not deal with RDS-TMC because it is not digital and refer you to a main dealer for an unnecessary and expensive diagnostic check which will reveal that their are no faults and that they do not know how to fix the problem.😡

 

8 minutes ago, short1uk said:

Get on twitter let’s raise awareness 

 

This seems to be the standard reply from VAG group. The Digital Support Team will now tell you they do not deal with RDS-TMC because it is not digital and refer you to a main dealer for an unnecessary and expensive diagnostic check which will reveal that their are no faults and that they do not know how to fix the problem.😡

Edited 10 May, 20233 yr by Hillbilly23
replied to wrong post.

1 hour ago, Mattnam said:

Good shout, although the issue here is that VAG didn't/don't use INRIX, they had a separate contract/subscription with Trafficmaster who have ceased transmission of data.  What I would be asking is, were VAG aware of this turnoff (given that they would have had a contract with Trafficmaster one would think so) and why haven't they advised customers of the change?  

... and what are they doing to restore RDS-TMC to their customers?

Reply to my Email from Audi Digital Services.😡

 

Dear Mr. Powell, We hope our email finds you well. As mentioned in our previous communication this is out of our department's scope. Instead you should visit your preferred Audi partner. If you wish we can contact your preferred Audi partner given you provide us with the following: 1. The details of your preferred Audi Service Center (name, address and contact phone). You may find your preferred Audi Service partner here: https://www.audi.co.uk/uk/web/en/locate-a-centre.html 2. The registration number of your vehicle 3. Confirmation that we have your consent to handle you data to your preferred Audi Service Center. 4. A telephone number that you can be reached by your preferred Audi Service Center. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are available 24/7 and you can reach us either by calling the phone number 0800 323 4855, or by replying to this email. We kindly ask that you indicate your case number. We kindly ask that you indicate your case number 0001881944, for a quick follow up. We wish you safe journeys in your Audi A6.

Kind regards, Steff M.

I have replied as follows -

 

Dear Steff M.

                        The action you advise is pointless as I pointed out in my previous contact. It is NOT something that an Audi Dealer can fix. This is NOT a fault on the car but a lack of reception of RDS-TMC in lots of VAG group cars due to a change of supplier. It is the RDS-TMC received over FM radio that even newer cars fall back on when they cannot receive traffic data via the live traffic digital method. I even explained that RDS-TMC broadcast ownership has changed and is now run by INRIX who assure us that their transmissions via Classic FM are working fine. What I am trying to determine is have VAG group subscribed to them and if so do us people not receiving them need to update the MMI Firmware and maps to receive the broadcasts from INRIX. In my last contact I gave links to a couple of forums, did anyone bother to read them? As I have informed you people HAVE taken their cars to dealers only to be informed that they have no idea what the problem with the RDS-TMC is and dealers have checked other cars on their premises and found that they all have the same problem. I appreciate that your department does not deal with RDS-TMC but surely someone must know which department actually does know something about the system.

 

Kind regards - Neil. 

 

 

Further to previous info, Ofcom have allocated an Investigation Number to my email.

 

Here is that email.......

 

 

6 minutes ago, Arthur124 said:

Further to previous info, Ofcom have allocated an Investigation Number to my email.

 

Here is that email.......

 

 

Well done Arthur. As you can see in my posts above Audi like Skoda seem unwilling to investigate the issue and just refer you to a dealer for an unnecessary and expensive diagnostic check that will solve nothing. 

4 hours ago, Hillbilly23 said:

Yes I did mention that the supplier has changed.

 

My understanding is that it is not even a supplier change - there were two suppliers (Trafficmaster and INRIX), and one of those (Trafficmaster) appears to have ceased providing the TMC service. It's now up to the impacted vehicle manufacturers to figure out how to restore the functionality to owners' vehicles. The solution may be to switch to INRIX. 

1 hour ago, Arthur124 said:

Further to previous info, Ofcom have allocated an Investigation Number to my email.

 

Here is that email.......

 

 

Excellent mail, but the problems not with INRIX. There are (or were up until a month or so ago) 2 separate and competing TMC service providers in the UK. Trafficmaster, who broadcast on Capital, Heart etc, and INRIX who broadcast on Classic FM.

INRIX is indeed continuing to broadcast and functions perfectly normally for receivers that have a licence to use their service. Unfortunately it seems most (maybe all) VAG systems are licenced only to use Trafficmaster broadcasts. Trafficmaster appear to have decided that they no longer wish to provide a service on FM.

1 hour ago, Hillbilly23 said:

I have replied as follows -

 

Dear Steff M.

                        The action you advise is pointless as I pointed out in my previous contact. It is NOT something that an Audi Dealer can fix. This is NOT a fault on the car but a lack of reception of RDS-TMC in lots of VAG group cars due to a change of supplier. It is the RDS-TMC received over FM radio that even newer cars fall back on when they cannot receive traffic data via the live traffic digital method. I even explained that RDS-TMC broadcast ownership has changed and is now run by INRIX who assure us that their transmissions via Classic FM are working fine. What I am trying to determine is have VAG group subscribed to them and if so do us people not receiving them need to update the MMI Firmware and maps to receive the broadcasts from INRIX. In my last contact I gave links to a couple of forums, did anyone bother to read them? As I have informed you people HAVE taken their cars to dealers only to be informed that they have no idea what the problem with the RDS-TMC is and dealers have checked other cars on their premises and found that they all have the same problem. I appreciate that your department does not deal with RDS-TMC but surely someone must know which department actually does know something about the system.

 

Kind regards - Neil. 

 

 

 

I can empathise how frustrating this is - I've had similar issues trying to escalate the issue with Skoda. No one wants to know, it's always someone else's problem. 

1 minute ago, joek666 said:

 

My understanding is that it is not even a supplier change - there were two suppliers (Trafficmaster and INRIX), and one of those (Trafficmaster) appears to have ceased providing the TMC service. It's now up to the impacted vehicle manufacturers to figure out how to restore the functionality to owners' vehicles. The solution may be to switch to INRIX. 

Seems there can only be two solutions - switch to INRIX or reinstate Trafficmaster. Problem is the manufactures either do not know of a problem or do not want to admit that there is one.

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?

actually only the one solution (switch to INRIX) as Trafficmaster have terminated their transmissions and I somehow doubt they will reinstate the service.  Makes me wonder what kind of contract they had with the manufacturers they were transmitting to, VAG MUST be aware of it at some level as there would have been some kind of termination.

22 minutes ago, Mattnam said:

actually only the one solution (switch to INRIX) as Trafficmaster have terminated their transmissions and I somehow doubt they will reinstate the service.  Makes me wonder what kind of contract they had with the manufacturers they were transmitting to, VAG MUST be aware of it at some level as there would have been some kind of termination.

 

Agreed, it is poor from the manufacturers as we have seen no evidence of any advanced warning to owners, nevermind a proposed workaround or solution. 

Latest reply from Audi, dare I think they are now taking this seriously?

 

Dear Mr. Powell, We hope this email finds you well. In regards to your inquiry concerning RDS, your navigation system is designed to receive traffic updates through the TMC protocol from radio stations, using the "INFO" button as you correctly stated in your original communication. Please check the  menu "Info" > "Setup" > Traffic programme menu, to see if the function is switched ON. If no info appears anymore, kindly attach a screenshot from the MMI to your reply email, so that we may document the issue. Please, do not hesitate to contact us for any assistance you may need. We are available 24/7 and can be reached either by calling 0800-2792884, or by contacting this email. We kindly ask that you indicate your case reference 0001881944, for a quick follow-up. We wish you safe journeys in your Audi A6.

Kind regards, Sotiris Audi Digital Services Team Phone  0800 279 2884 Email    *****@*****.tld

Here's an idea, how about spamming the managing director of Skoda UK's inbox?

 

Mr Matthew Bowden	Managing Director
Email	*****@*****.tld

1 minute ago, Mattnam said:

Here's an idea, how about spamming the managing director of Skoda UK's inbox?

 

Mr Matthew Bowden	Managing Director
Email	*****@*****.tld

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 a few well placed emailed to the MD might focus attention (or at least he will pass it back down the food chain to get someone to actually respond)

4 minutes ago, Mattnam said:

I think a few well placed emailed to the MD might focus attention (or at least he will pass it back down the food chain to get someone to actually respond)

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

So, I've dropped an email to the Skoda MD maybe a few more along this theme in his inbox will get some attention:

 

Dear Mr Bowden,

 

I am writing to you as myself and pretty much every owner of a Skoda(and other VAG vehicles) have been hit with an issue wherein the TMC function within the built-in sattelite navigaion has ceased to function. Despite numerous approaches via Skoda Customer Services we seem to be no closer to getting an official response regarding this. In fact the stock answer from Customer Services is to take the vehicle into a dealership for diagnosis, despite this being an external issue (in fact my local Skoda dealership checked and are also affected, including their own personal vehicles and have confirmed there is nothing they can do).

 

The issue appears to be that Trafficmaster, who provided the servers to VAG and also Honda, Chrysler, Fiat and Vauxhall, stopped transmitting RDS-TMC data in the UK (in their words, as it was unsupported). This has effectively cripped the Dynamic Routing function of the in-built sattelite navigation as the system is no longer able to pick up information on potential traffic issues on the route selected. This in turn will result in more vehicles stuck in traffic and the subsequent knock-on effect to the environment.

 

The other RDS-TMS supplier in the UK (INRIX) have confirmed they are still transmitting data but it appears that there would have to be some kind of firmware/map update to allow Skoda vehicles to use this (and, one would assume a licence agreement between Skoda and INRIX).

 

I would appreciate it if you could arrange for someone to provide a definitive statement on what is going to be done to resolve this issue for what will be be affecting tens of thousands of Skoda users currently.

 

For information, my particular vehicle is a Skoda Superb SE Business, Registration ********. But I would encourage you to review the BriSkoda forum online, specifically the following thread: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/512443-tmc-traffic-events-no-longer-being-receivedfirmware-update-required/page/8/

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Edited 10 May, 20233 yr by Mattnam

52 minutes ago, Mattnam said:

So, I've dropped an email to the Skoda MD maybe a few more along this theme in his inbox will get some attention:

 

Dear Mr Bowden,

 

I am writing to you as myself and pretty much every owner of a Skoda(and other VAG vehicles) have been hit with an issue wherein the TMC function within the built-in sattelite navigaion has ceased to function. Despite numerous approaches via Skoda Customer Services we seem to be no closer to getting an official response regarding this. In fact the stock answer from Customer Services is to take the vehicle into a dealership for diagnosis, despite this being an external issue (in fact my local Skoda dealership checked and are also affected, including their own personal vehicles and have confirmed there is nothing they can do).

 

The issue appears to be that Trafficmaster, who provided the servers to VAG and also Honda, Chrysler, Fiat and Vauxhall, stopped transmitting RDS-TMC data in the UK (in their words, as it was unsupported). This has effectively cripped the Dynamic Routing function of the in-built sattelite navigation as the system is no longer able to pick up information on potential traffic issues on the route selected. This in turn will result in more vehicles stuck in traffic and the subsequent knock-on effect to the environment.

 

The other RDS-TMS supplier in the UK (INRIX) have confirmed they are still transmitting data but it appears that there would have to be some kind of firmware/map update to allow Skoda vehicles to use this (and, one would assume a licence agreement between Skoda and INRIX).

 

I would appreciate it if you could arrange for someone to provide a definitive statement on what is going to be done to resolve this issue for what will be be affecting tens of thousands of Skoda users currently.

 

For information, my particular vehicle is a Skoda Superb SE Business, Registration ********. But I would encourage you to review the BriSkoda forum online, specifically the following thread: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/512443-tmc-traffic-events-no-longer-being-receivedfirmware-update-required/page/8/

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Excellent summary, hopefully will get some traction.

 

I have just resumed my attempts to get through to Skoda UK so will see how far I get from the other end, so to speak.

I have had the same issue for the same time period, initially TMC only showed the same 2 messages for ~3 weeks then stopped working altogether. 

However, on a trip down the M5 last week, it clicked into life just north of Bridgewater and showed 7 messages, all attributed to Greatest Hits Radio. These did not update and fell off after an hour and then TMC switched itself back off. 

On the return journey, the TMC came to life around Bridgewater again, 7 messages again, then auto updated to 8 messages. All were attributed to Greatest Hits again, all fell off after ~1 hour.

TMC has not worked since. 

I have googled FM transmitter locations and signal strength but nothing from this has really provided any further info of use.

Perhaps there are other places in the UK where the system comes to life?

I have noted that FM reception as a whole is a bit shonky of late and have seen reference to transmission strength being reduced due to higher energy costs, not sure if this is reliable information or not though.

9 minutes ago, JDextrose said:

I have had the same issue for the same time period, initially TMC only showed the same 2 messages for ~3 weeks then stopped working altogether. 

However, on a trip down the M5 last week, it clicked into life just north of Bridgewater and showed 7 messages, all attributed to Greatest Hits Radio. These did not update and fell off after an hour and then TMC switched itself back off. 

On the return journey, the TMC came to life around Bridgewater again, 7 messages again, then auto updated to 8 messages. All were attributed to Greatest Hits again, all fell off after ~1 hour.

TMC has not worked since. 

I have googled FM transmitter locations and signal strength but nothing from this has really provided any further info of use.

Perhaps there are other places in the UK where the system comes to life?

I have noted that FM reception as a whole is a bit shonky of late and have seen reference to transmission strength being reduced due to higher energy costs, not sure if this is reliable information or not though.

 

Could be there is a lonely transmitter in Bridgewater that was forgotten about when the Trafficmaster TMC broadcasts were turned off. I don't generally listen to FM radio so can't say I've noticed any signal strength issues. 

11 minutes ago, joek666 said:

 

Could be there is a lonely transmitter in Bridgewater that was forgotten about when the Trafficmaster TMC broadcasts were turned off. I don't generally listen to FM radio so can't say I've noticed any signal strength issues. 

My FM Radio reception is excellent but still no messages. I still get the local radio TP messages no problem but nothing on the TMC at all.