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coming from Skoda, and the ‘unofficial fix’ will mean having to choose between up-to-date maps with no traffic data, or out-of-date maps with traffic data.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.

One of the cheapest options is 12GB / 12 month PAYG data SIM from three.

Currently £24.98 from MyMemory (other sellers are available).

I use one for my Google maps view on my MIB2 High, and also Audi’s Connect traffic (while it was still free). Never got close to using 1GB a month.

 

The only disadvantage is you have to buy a new one every 12 months (or move to their PAYG rates which aren’t nearly as cost effective).

I have an EE pre loaded annual 120gb data SIM from Amazon £50 stuffed in my tablet. Slight overkill for the tablet. No sign up, just pop it in. £28 is their lower cost options for 6gb. EE flog the data off via these data SIMs but don't really publish it.

 

Connected services never came to Seat mib2 standard. Mib2 high was experimental with connected services and they pulled the plug on the app. When Seat were testing their app writing skills. Alex and Google maps integration. 1gb app. You needed to use a hot spot and early mib2 high on Seat were missing the menu option to put the unit it in the right mode. They were shipped in hot spot mode but no data SIM slot in the unit. Again VCDS / coding to unlock that menu.

 

Mib3 a fair few people come out of data contracts and use alternative for data but the connected services. That Spanish company they use for data. Slow data speeds.

Edited 23 June, 20232 yr by Tell

I'm pretty certain that the MIB2 Standard (Amundsen) in my 2016 Octavia III doesn't have the Skoda Connect option either.

 

Is this actually a MIB2.5 Standard alternative, and not applicable to a MIB2 Standard?

17 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

I'm pretty certain that the MIB2 Standard (Amundsen) in my 2016 Octavia III doesn't have the Skoda Connect option either.

 

Is this actually a MIB2.5 Standard alternative, and not applicable to a MIB2 Standard?

 

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

9 minutes ago, joek666 said:

 

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

I've just checked and my MIB2 Amundsen 5Q0 035 874 A definitely does NOT have the Skoda Connect option, so I for one cannot use this alternative.

Edited 23 June, 20232 yr by PetrolDave
Added Amundsen part number

Vag introduced a mib2 standard Wi-Fi enable one. Probably that I reckon. The base unit and the fancy one that came later. Wasn't fitted to all Seats. So yes it will be the Wi-Fi flavour standard one with matching firmware.

 

Created chaos with POI import programs which people had written since nobody knew the ID code the firmware used when running the scripts to bring in the POIs. That code was in the firmware updates.  Those were the Wi-Fi standard mib2 one's. 

Edited 23 June, 20232 yr by Tell

1 hour ago, Tell said:

£28 is their lower cost options for 6gb

Except for the 12Gb/12 month SIM currently sold by MyMemory at £24.98. 🙄 

Granted this claim is it retails at £42.99.

 

But a simple Google search for “three 12GB data sim” gives me…

MyMemory £24.98

Argos £25.99

Amazon £25.00

 

Amazon also have the 24GB/24 month product for £32.95 which is even better value

I'm guessing this is only for FL models because I have a PFL Octavia with an MIB2 Amundsen and Skoda Connect services are not an option for purchase, at least from what I can see.

11 hours ago, hhcd80 said:

I'm guessing this is only for FL models because I have a PFL Octavia with an MIB2 Amundsen and Skoda Connect services are not an option for purchase, at least from what I can see.

Which makes me ask:

- can an FL MIB2 Amundsen be EASILY retrofitted to a PFL model?

- how can you tell the difference between a PFL MIB2 Amundsen and an FL MIB2 Amundsen, is there an obvious part number suffix change?

You'd fumble the menus looking for Wi-Fi is how you know the difference but as you say there will be a part number. I think the firmware will be the same once they released the unit. Seat has no special firmware for the Wi-Fi units with mib2. So it must be wrapped up in the software. My guess is they progressed on to a train where it covers both types of units, the original and the Wi-Fi enabled one's. May be Skoda is different. Its the 5 series or 4 series train for Seat when I believe Wi-Fi arrived to some of the units. They were shipping both. The Karoq of Joek666  like the Ateca will have had it. Later Leon3 got them. They were really designed to support connected services and those experiments they did on integration to apps.

 

Might be useful or not if you have VCDS / Obdeleven:

 

https://forums.ross-tech.com/index.php?threads/10862/

 

I suspect there isn't a chipset doing nothing that just needs turning on. Our Arona 2018 has a mib2 standard without wifi, same time period they were fitting the wifi units into the upper end cars. Mib2 high in my Ateca when you could specify what you wanted as an option.

3 minutes ago, Tell said:

 Its the 5 series or 4 series train for Seat when I believe Wi-Fi arrived to some of the units.

My MIB2 Amundsen is on series 2 train.

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

My MIB2 Amundsen is on series 2 train.

Reckon thats pretty old. I believe the series trains are similar between Skoda and Seat. Tiles came after... ? Or whatever the youngsters want 😍.

15 minutes ago, Tell said:

Reckon thats pretty old.

Original factory fit from 2016. Had a hack done to enable CarPlay so not sure whether I would lose that when updating to the latest compatible version...

Well, I'm totally confused now after reading the various sub-forums on here. All this talk of MIB2STD, MIB2.5, MIB2 High, Skoda Connect option (or not), wi-fi enabled (or not). I used to think I had a bog standard MIB2STD - but I'm not so sure now.

 

I, like many of us, have been dismayed at the loss of TMC (over FM/RDS) during April due to the demise of the TrafficMaster service and the unwillingness (or whatever) of the VAG group to come up with a replacement service (INRIX) that we all know is out there (still on FM/RDS, I believe, as well as a service via DAB). I guess we're all looking to enable a replacement Traffic service for our vehicles - and to add the to complication - there seems to be differing ideas surrounding which vehicle manufacturer you might be driving, which year it was produced and even which NAV system was fitted into it. Nowt seems to be "standardized" across the group.

 

Me? I'm driving a Skoda Octavia Superb Technology 2016 with an Amundsen MIB2 (of some description!). Quite how I might find out if I am able to attach a dongle to give me connectivity to a server somewhere out there that will provide me with Traffic data I do not have a clue.

 

As PetrolDave indicated in his post, above, it seems he also drives a Skoda Octavia III 2016 and he doesn't have the Skoda Connect option.

 

My Nav system (believed to be a MIB2STD) has a part number of 5Q0035874B;
Version information....
V03959820MP
2110
ECE1 2024     (I believe this is the latest map data from the VAG mapdata site)
SHIELD: SHIELD 2016-03 (build 020);
--not sure if the following have been updated since the new 2110 maps were installed--
Installed software train is MST2_EU_SK_ZR_P0359T;
Software version: H28.28.133_STD2Nav_EU
Installed SW MU version: 0359
HMI Versions....
Model: GuideModel_28.28.69
Software Base: H28.28.133-201605251448
CGRun Number: H28.28.133-210605251455_STD2Nav_EU_2016052

All these numbers must mean something to someone - to me? not a lot (other than the map info)!

 

I don't have need to make use of the Traffic data all that often and I'm trying to find an option that will work and won't cost a fortune - maybe the dongle option (Humax?) and a cheap SIM (RWGmobile 1p/MB), no need to reload cash every 120 days like another 1p/MB option I spotted).

 

And, I presume, if all is well with my NAV system and the dongle option is likely to work without delving into the unit with the VCDS/VCP, I simply plug the SIM into the dongle, plug the dongle into any spare 12v (with USB adapter) port, enter a few details on-screen, and away it will go.

 

So, the base question is - will my Amundesen work (as is) if I were to go and buy a dongle & SIM? And how am I likely to find out from the numbers shown above whether it would work or not? Or don't the numbers relate to anything useful?

 

Maybe a new TomTom (or similar) would be the answer, but I don't want or need to pay that sort of on-going money.

 

Definitely "confused.com" !!!

 

2 hours ago, dgc188 said:

So, the base question is - will my Amundsen work (as is) if I were to go and buy a dongle & SIM?

@Tellsuggested you need a SW version beginning 4 or 5, yours begins 3 - so it's unlikely.

 

If you don't have the Skoda Connect option visible on your infotainment system, then a dongle & SIM will be no use to you.

 

14 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

@Tellsuggested you need a SW version beginning 4 or 5, yours begins 3 - so it's unlikely.

 

If you don't have the Skoda Connect option visible on your infotainment system, then a dongle & SIM will be no use to you.

Even then, in my Leon I have the seat Connect tile, and the head unit which has wifi built in, both I used the obd11 to "switch on"  but when you connect to the wifi hotspot from my phone, or house wifi you have to register within the seat app using your VIN number to add your car.  Entering this number brings back this car is not compatible, so I guess it contacts the seat servers brings up my car with the original equipment which didn't have the wifi head unit.  If anyone on here knows how that can be overcome so I can at least connect and find POI'S for example that would be great. 
Regards
Robert 

Edited 24 June, 20232 yr by Lamplite1c

Yes I think that's the stumbling block Skoda will get you if you were to retrofit a unit since you'd need a valid VIN for it.... all fun.

Like others, I've been following the thread on the loss of TMC with great interest and I'm extremely impressed with the ability of members to come up with solutions. However, with so many vehicles affected, the various manufacturers could make life so much easier if they would just negotiate a contract with Inrex and give us all software updates...

Be that as it may, my 2019 model year Superb 280 with a Columbus system is currently leading me straight into unwanted traffic queues, as is my wife's 2019 Karoq. We already subscribe to Skoda Connect but we're not getting traffic info, presumably because of the lack of a data connection.  We're attracted to the elegant (and simple!) solution suggested above by @joek666  and for my wife's Karoq, we'll need a dongle. However, the Columbus unit in my car already has a slot for a SIM card, so presumably I can just plug a data SIM straight in. Just wondering if anyone has done this and, if so, are there any menu options I need to change? Grateful for any thoughts...

25 minutes ago, Chris48 said:

Like others, I've been following the thread on the loss of TMC with great interest and I'm extremely impressed with the ability of members to come up with solutions. However, with so many vehicles affected, the various manufacturers could make life so much easier if they would just negotiate a contract with Inrex and give us all software updates...

Be that as it may, my 2019 model year Superb 280 with a Columbus system is currently leading me straight into unwanted traffic queues, as is my wife's 2019 Karoq. We already subscribe to Skoda Connect but we're not getting traffic info, presumably because of the lack of a data connection.  We're attracted to the elegant (and simple!) solution suggested above by @joek666  and for my wife's Karoq, we'll need a dongle. However, the Columbus unit in my car already has a slot for a SIM card, so presumably I can just plug a data SIM straight in. Just wondering if anyone has done this and, if so, are there any menu options I need to change? Grateful for any thoughts...

 

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. 

Feels like your Skoda connect service is faulty or not configured correctly. You could try a SIM card as suggested by joek above.

3 hours ago, joek666 said:

 

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. 

Thanks @joek666 I'll certainly give it a dummy run before I commit to another SIM, if only I can find one I haven't butchered to fit into a phone! It's also useful to know how much data the system uses, so that I can source an appropriate SIM. I found one on a well known online retail site that can access all the main networks so that should limit any interruptions of service and I'll post an update when I've given it a go.

3 hours ago, Tell said:

Feels like your Skoda connect service is faulty or not configured correctly. You could try a SIM card as suggested by joek above.

Thanks @Tell - that's the plan! I had also (possibly naively) thought that the SIM that's built into the car for the emergency call facility and to inform the My Skoda app would also allow data downloads. However, from browsing other forum topics, that appears not to be the case. I'll definitely check the configuration though just in case I've missed something. As noted elsewhere, the Connect site and the people behind it aren't exactly the fount of all knowledge!

19 hours ago, joek666 said:

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!

If there is currently no 4G coverage where you live then it will fallback to 3G even if the SIM is 4G capable - I suspect this is the case where you are, it's certainly true for much of rural Wiltshire where I live!

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

If there is currently no 4G coverage where you live then it will fallback to 3G even if the SIM is 4G capable - I suspect this is the case where you are, it's certainly true for much of rural Wiltshire where I live!

 

Yes that would make sense, except I've driven up and down the country and it's never displayed anything other than 3G. I don't think it's the SIM card as you can't even buy 3G SIM cards these days, and the CarStick states it's LTE/4G. So I think it's probably just an oversight in the car's software, in that it can't distinguish between 3G and 4G connections.