38 minutes ago, Hillbilly23 said:

It seems we will be waiting a long time for VAG as they seem reluctant to admit there is an issue. Their last reply said the service was not available for my car. Well it was until about two months ago.

 

If that is indeed true it would be disappointing, but until they actually come out and say what their fix is and what hardware it will be applicable to then its a waiting game. 🤕

8 hours ago, Hillbilly23 said:

Does anyone know who actually uses the INRIX service that is broadcast at the moment? Seems a bit pointless to broadcast a service that people do not or can not access.

 

According to Wikipedia - BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, Renault, Jaguar Land Rover 

 

I know Mazda uses it too because that was one of my first methods of testing whether the whole TMC system was down or not. Worked fine in the Mazda. 

Can anyone confirm model year this is affected to? Eg cars to 2019 or is it as simple as Mib1,2,2.5 affected but mib3 isn’t?

It's definitely effecting RNS, MIB1, MIB2 and MIB2.5 headunits.

 

 

I've not noticed any reports about MIB3 being effected but I think that uses online traffic as part of the Skoda Connect subscription rather then TMC over FM...

 

5 minutes ago, langers2k said:

It's definitely effecting RNS, MIB1, MIB2 and MIB2.5 headunits.

 

 

I've not noticed any reports about MIB3 being effected but I think that uses online traffic as part of the Skoda Connect subscription rather then TMC over FM...

 

 

I tried a brand new Skoda in the showroom and couldn't find my way to a screen that showed TMC traffic updates. It's possible this feature doesn't exist in the latest models, as you say if it is wholly reliant on a data connection instead. It's also possible I just couldn't find my way to the right settings - it was a bit different from my Amundsen unit. 

Quote

It's possible this feature doesn't exist in the latest models, as you say if it is wholly reliant on a data connection instead. 

My 2021 Karoq with a MIB3 Admunsen unit certainly doesn't ( and never did ) have RDS-TMC, it's all online via Skoda Connect,  well it was until the free 1yr subscription expired, now I just use Google maps via Android Auto 

Just now, NottsIan said:

My 2021 Karoq with a MIB3 Admunsen unit certainly doesn't ( and never did ) have RDS-TMC, it's all online via Skoda Connect,  well it was until the free 1yr subscription expired, now I just use Google maps via Android Auto 

 

I guess that's what they call 'progress'!

2 hours ago, joek666 said:

 

I tried a brand new Skoda in the showroom and couldn't find my way to a screen that showed TMC traffic updates. It's possible this feature doesn't exist in the latest models, as you say if it is wholly reliant on a data connection instead. It's also possible I just couldn't find my way to the right settings - it was a bit different from my Amundsen unit. 

Me and the sales rep had the same problem on a brand new octavia which I’m assuming is mib3?

 

I’ll be sure to tell the Skoda exec about which ones are effected*

 

* I wrote affected earlier, I need to rewatch the confused.com advert again 

1 minute ago, Danoid said:

Me and the sales rep had the same problem on a brand new octavia which I’m assuming is mib3?

 

I’ll be sure to tell the Skoda exec about which ones are effected*

 

* I wrote affected earlier, I need to rewatch the confused.com advert again 

Tell the exec that MMI3 units and RNSE ones also have lost the TMC feature on Audi vehicles, all part of the same VAG group.

Maybe we need a claim scheme as in diesel gate that will get the ball rolling

20 minutes ago, johnboy60 said:

Maybe we need a claim scheme as in diesel gate that will get the ball rolling

We also need more owners complaining to VAG Group and other manufacturers to get them to take this matter seriously.

Interesting reply from Here Technologies.. If you click on the link to customers they supply there is no mention of VAG Group and others.

 

Neil, Thank you for reaching out to HERE Technologies. For more information regarding your In-Vehicle Navigation System questions, please visit navigation.com.

11 hours ago, Danoid said:

Me and the sales rep had the same problem on a brand new octavia which I’m assuming is mib3?

 

I’ll be sure to tell the Skoda exec about which ones are effected*

 

* I wrote affected earlier, I need to rewatch the confused.com advert again 

 

You were correct when you wrote affected.  It should also be "The sales rep and I had the same problem...."  

I just rang and the executive will be checking a different system to see if this has been reported, I said if nothing is there it’s the issue everyone is having with getting this escalated.

 

I mentioned this is not just Skoda but the entire vag group (probably even older bentleys too)

 

If I hear anymore I’ll let you know

I have now received catagorical independent confirmation from a third party  (Gov UK/Broadcast Licensing/Ofcom).

 

It confirms all that we have manged to ascertain :

 

1. Trafficmaster (Teletrac Navman) have ceased RDS TMC Live Traffic broadcast in the UK on Heart/Capital/Smooth as of 31/03/2023.

 

2. INRIX  are continuing to provide their service via Classic FM.

 

I would imagine that hundreds of thousands of UK cars are affected by the removal of the Trafficmaster service.

 

I have emailed Trafficmaster for further information.

 

For info, this is the email I received from Broadcast Licensing........

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited 15 May, 20233 yr by Arthur124

2 hours ago, Arthur124 said:

I have emailed Trafficmaster for further information.

Already done that. Unfortunately their response is not very helpful.

 

Quote

Thank you for your email. 

Unfortunately we don't provide Traffic services anymore. 

You will need to speak with your Vehicle manufacturer regarding this. 

Kind Regards 
Smartnav Support 
 

At least we have confirmation from two independent sources that their service has ceased and we can push back on VAG.

The Ofcom response is particularly useful as it confirms the contractural relationship between service provider (TrafficMaster / Teltrac Navman) and vehicle manufacturers/mapping providers. So there must be someone in VAGs digital mapping team who is aware of this, or at very least of the implications.

So in an earlier post when someone said Trafficmaster had stopped because it was "unsupported". It could be that the manufacturers they served had stopped paying them for the service. If this is the case then at least we learn something from it - don't buy another VAG car as they may turn off features without notice.😡

58 minutes ago, Hillbilly23 said:

So in an earlier post when someone said Trafficmaster had stopped because it was "unsupported". It could be that the manufacturers they served had stopped paying them for the service. If this is the case then at least we learn something from it - don't buy another VAG car as they may turn off features without notice.😡

 

This looks like Trafficmaster making a business decision to not renew their licence to broadcast their traffic data anymore. How much notice they gave their customers (i.e. vehicle manufacturers), who knows? But now that the decision has been made it's up to the vehicle manufacturers to decide how to respond. I am concerned that Skoda will hide behind the caveat in the user manual,  shown in my screenshot, and just say they won't be doing anything. 

A few alternatives I can think of…

 

1. TrafficMaster decided to stop providing the service of their own accord (no longer profitable). Maybe they are unable to increase licence fees due to fixed price contracts having been negotiated years ago.

2. Another manufacturer (not VAG) decided to not renew their licence. TrafficMaster attempted to pass on costs to their remaining licensees, and VAG decided that was an unacceptable increase. On losing yet another customer TrafficMaster decided offering a service was unsustainable.

3. Similar to above, but it was VAG who decided not to renew first and it was other other manufacturers that then balked at the increased cost.

4. There isn’t an Ofcom tendering process that I can find for the service on Capital/Heart/Smooth. My assumption is they own their own Additional Services Licence. So perhaps Global Radio decided to increase their fee for carrying the service.

Any combination of the above. But with this being commercially sensitive we’ll probably never know the real cause.

 

For now I think all we can do is keep the pressure on VAG pointing out that TMC is still working for some other marques.

I have had a reply from Garmin, who also used Trafficmaster, basically saying that it is not their fault and that I should by a new sat nav from them that gets traffic info via an app on my phone.

27 minutes ago, Liger1956 said:

I have had a reply from Garmin, who also used Trafficmaster, basically saying that it is not their fault and that I should by a new sat nav from them that gets traffic info via an app on my phone.

This is the way things will go long term, especially with the (often delayed) plan to turn off FM radio completely and only have DAB and DAB+ transmissions.

What I find particularly concerning is that it must be absolutely clear to the VW group that TMC is no longer being broadcast by their provider (Trafficmaster)to their SatNavs. They appear to have chosen not to confirm this and are attempting to waste the time of their customers (and also dealerships) by directing this to dealerships when it is clear that there is nothing they can do. Customer Services have chosen not to reply to my last 2 emails requesting further clarification on the situation. 

It appears that Skoda/VW group are being deliberately evasive resulting in many members of this forum (and no doubt many others) spending significant time trying to get to the crux of the problem.

This is unsatisfactory customer relations and I find this stance surprising given the diesel emissions issue.

I will contact my local dealership to see if they have an update - no doubt unlikely - as they are already aware of my problem, with the likelihood beyond that of having to escalate this to senior management at Skoda

54 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

This is the way things will go long term, especially with the (often delayed) plan to turn off FM radio completely and only have DAB and DAB+ transmissions.

 

I wouldn't mind if my Skoda could use its DAB receiver to decode traffic messages sent over DAB. I believe this is called TPEG. But apparently Skoda were too short sighted to implement this when manufacturing the car(?)

 

Do even the latest Skodas receive/decode TPEG? Is TPEG being broadcast in the UK and received by other manufacturers' vehicles? 

Edited 16 May, 20233 yr by joek666
Typo

31 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

This is the way things will go long term, especially with the (often delayed) plan to turn off FM radio completely and only have DAB and DAB+ transmissions.

No problem with that if FM broadcast was being discontinued at the same time. And TMC over DAB is perfectly possible ETSI TS 102 368. Of course you need a DAB equipped vehicle.

I can’t help be feel a key issue here is the UK governments decision to go with a commercial TMC service. In quite a few other European countries TMC is run as a free to air government service.

 

You’ll be in an even worse situation with internet connected devices. Manufacturers (in many different fields from automotive to home appliances such as smart TVs) are notorious for “obsoleting” those services after a few years.  Usually using the same tired excuse that “technology has moved on” to force you into purchasing their latest device, usually with some requirement for a subscription service.

 

There should be a regulatory requirement for manufacturers to display a minimum “support lifetime” on all products from date of sale, with ability to make a claim for a percentage of the purchase price if they don’t stick to that. At least then consumers will know where they stand, and we may even reduce some e-waste at the same time.

3 minutes ago, joek666 said:

 

I wouldn't mind if my Skoda could use its DAB receiver to decide traffic messages sent over DAB. I believe this is called TPEG. But apparently Skoda were too short sighted to implement this when manufacturing the car(?)

 

Do even the latest Skodas receive/decode TPEG? Is TPEG being broadcast in the UK and received by other manufacturers' vehicles? 

How do you know that it can’t?

 

Not sure TrafficMaster ever broadcast on DAB. And VAG vehicles are only licenced to receive TMC from that one supplier.

 

INRIX have been broadcasting TPEG on DAB since 2010. Supplied to Toyota and Garmin, at least in 2012 when the presentation was written.