1 hour ago, Aldfort said:

For clarity, in the UK Cubic does not run it's own mobile network in the UK, it buys space on one or more of the 4 actual MNO's network

In response to an Ofcom consultation Cubic Telecom included in their reply that they are an MVNO on the BT/EE network.

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

In response to an Ofcom consultation Cubic Telecom included in their reply that they are an MVNO on the BT/EE network.

& they have go slow speeds.

 

I use buy MVNO Sim cards visiting Japan the operation parameters were quite wide. Cheaper than the Japanese main providers which you couldn't buy since you didnt have a registered address, but there was a reason why they were cheaper. They always worked thou.

5 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

In response to an Ofcom consultation Cubic Telecom included in their reply that they are an MVNO on the BT/EE network.

Yes an MVNO (the V stands for virtual). This means they don't own the mobile network they sell space on. If they sell too much space then their users get throttled first. They may also have agreed to speed caps on data. They don't tell customers any of this and it's poor IMHO that a big company like VAG does not deal direct with an MNO in each territory. 

Well that's the advantage to Vag they have sold out responsibility to those that look after the Internet of things. Not us, they provide the service type of thing.

I've recently experienced a return of traffic data issues via Skoda Connect. I tested with different data connections (e.g. change SIM card, tether to mobile hotspot, etc.) and these made no difference so I strongly suspect this is an issue on Skoda's side.

For a couple of days it wasn't even registering that there was a data connection (even though there was) - all I got was the red globe icon and no traffic data.

After a lot of faffing, including resetting to factory settings, and de-registering and re-registering the vehicle with Skoda Connect, it started recognising the data connection again. However, it was still not pulling in traffic data.

It's now in a state where it seems to register the data connection, and pull in traffic flow data (i.e. the traffic speeds on all the roads) within about 1-2mins, but it's taking waaaaay longer to load in traffic events, i.e. road closures, roadworks, etc. I would say a good 5-10 minutes into the journey.

Is anyone else experiencing issues with Skoda Connect traffic data lately?

I did wonder if it was anything to do with the 2G/3G sunset (https://www.skoda-auto.com/connectivity/2g-3g-sunset), but I'm using the Skoda CarStick LTE (4G) so don't see how that could be an issue. In any case, the affected models table seems to suggest that Infotainment should still function for my 2018 Karoq.

Suspect you are in the slow lane of end of life care (EOL as its called in the NHS). That's the worry with connected cars as to how long the support lasts for. You got the dongle bit but never the less elements of connected car. Question is whether other users find the same.

13 hours ago, joek666 said:

I'm using the Skoda CarStick LTE (4G) so don't see how that could be an issue

If there's no 4G coverage where you happen to be driving it will revert back to 3G, but if there's no 3G it will revert back to 2G data - which even in its "fastest" form of EDGE is still hundreds or thousands of times slower than 4G.

19 hours ago, joek666 said:

I've recently experienced a return of traffic data issues via Skoda Connect. I tested with different data connections (e.g. change SIM card, tether to mobile hotspot, etc.) and these made no difference so I strongly suspect this is an issue on Skoda's side.

For a couple of days it wasn't even registering that there was a data connection (even though there was) - all I got was the red globe icon and no traffic data.

After a lot of faffing, including resetting to factory settings, and de-registering and re-registering the vehicle with Skoda Connect, it started recognising the data connection again. However, it was still not pulling in traffic data.

It's now in a state where it seems to register the data connection, and pull in traffic flow data (i.e. the traffic speeds on all the roads) within about 1-2mins, but it's taking waaaaay longer to load in traffic events, i.e. road closures, roadworks, etc. I would say a good 5-10 minutes into the journey.

Is anyone else experiencing issues with Skoda Connect traffic data lately?

I did wonder if it was anything to do with the 2G/3G sunset (https://www.skoda-auto.com/connectivity/2g-3g-sunset), but I'm using the Skoda CarStick LTE (4G) so don't see how that could be an issue. In any case, the affected models table seems to suggest that Infotainment should still function for my 2018 Karoq.

Yes it is all to do with this.

On the plus side Skoda seem to be the only part of VAG group to be facing up to the issue of 3G (and 2G) switch-off.

On the minus side there will either be no cure or the cure is not yet developed. At least that's what I got from the "2G / 3G Sunset" article.

Part of the problem is that VAG rely on intermediaries to ensure the data connectivity rather than contracting directly with the actual Mobile Network Operators. Their use of MVNO's is a weakness as I have mentioned before. Before anything can happen the car needs to connect onto an MVO's network, then a contact with the MVNO's data centre has to be established. This data centre has to talk to the VAG data centre which in turn has to talk to the Google data centre. Then the data is fed back to you. Now I'm sure there are data cashes in the chain but it's still flakey if there is a data centre problem (as there was clearly yesterday). Then you need to factor in the network loading. If there is no 2G and 3G due to the switch off then everybody is on 4G or higher. In these circumstances MNO's will prioritize their direct contract paying customers and those who connect on an MVNO's bulk plan (cheap) will be second best. Sadly VAG did not see fit to allow their cars to connect via their customers mobile phones preferring the e-SIM method (although legislation about the SOS call might play a part in the decision). This is why so many people use Android Auto or Apple Car Play.

Afraid I'm not into connected cars for navigation or traffic reports. Feels like amateur radio. The maps created are not created by cartography companies but Google itself. Waze has fantasy roads on it without validation, ditto Google maps putting in farm tracks. Speed camera reports are only reports. All CB radio type of stuff on Waze. Missing is validation.

Now traffic reports are dogged by the closure of 3g. Sounds fun. For software updates and inbuilt navigation problematic slow connections isn't really an issue but real time use it will be.

Least we now know from the above why eSim and dongle use as alternative to TMC are problematic. The post 2020 cars with mib3 and above won't have TMC, whilst in the UK and France etc coding solutions are available to get the traffic reports still up on your built in maps (mib1 and 2, Skoda and Seat) till that plug is pulled. Inrix does for me with the solutions posted on the other thread. It's the database that Traffic Authorities use in the UK to record known road conditions.

2 hours ago, Tell said:

Afraid I'm not into connected cars for navigation or traffic reports. Feels like amateur radio. The maps created are not created by cartography companies but Google itself. Waze has fantasy roads on it without validation, ditto Google maps putting in farm tracks. Speed camera reports are only reports. All CB radio type of stuff on Waze. Missing is validation.

Now traffic reports are dogged by the closure of 3g. Sounds fun. For software updates and inbuilt navigation problematic slow connections isn't really an issue but real time use it will be.

Least we now know from the above why eSim and dongle use as alternative to TMC are problematic. The post 2020 cars with mib3 and above won't have TMC, whilst in the UK and France etc coding solutions are available to get the traffic reports still up on your built in maps (mib1 and 2, Skoda and Seat) till that plug is pulled. Inrix does for me with the solutions posted on the other thread. It's the database that Traffic Authorities use in the UK to record known road conditions.

You are right that everything is a mess with vehicle connected coms, in particular here in the UK where cheap has won out over good yet again. The reason TMC works in Europe is that it's free to air in almost all European countries and run by government. Only in the UK is it farmed out to unreliable contractors. That said no UK user should need to be re-coding their own car to get a service they "paid for" when the car was purchased (as in the brochure said the radio had TMC, then suddenly it does not).

Not sure I'm with you on the maps stuff somebody has to turn the "map" into files a computer can read. Generally Google maps are pretty accurate Traffic Wales uses Open Street Map as a base map but Traffic England does seem to use an OS base map. As to the actual traffic data it seems the 2 big players are HERE Technologies and INRIX, oddly INRIX are the most well known, probably because they are mentioned on the Traffic England site.

I don't use WAZE so can't comment but I have driven on non existent roads a few times when my Sat Nav maps were out of date!

37 minutes ago, Aldfort said:

You are right that everything is a mess with vehicle connected coms, in particular here in the UK where cheap has won out over good yet again. The reason TMC works in Europe is that it's free to air in almost all European countries and run by government. Only in the UK is it farmed out to unreliable contractors. That said no UK user should need to be re-coding their own car to get a service they "paid for" when the car was purchased (as in the brochure said the radio had TMC, then suddenly it does not).

Not sure I'm with you on the maps stuff somebody has to turn the "map" into files a computer can read. Generally Google maps are pretty accurate Traffic Wales uses Open Street Map as a base map but Traffic England does seem to use an OS base map. As to the actual traffic data it seems the 2 big players are HERE Technologies and INRIX, oddly INRIX are the most well known, probably because they are mentioned on the Traffic England site.

I don't use WAZE so can't comment but I have driven on non existent roads a few times when my Sat Nav maps were out of date!

Probably need to update your satnavs maps 😉. Mib1, mib2 high and mib3 are Here Maps. Mib2 standard to circa 2018 or something (on the other thread) were Here Maps. After TomTom cartography. Not sure why they changed. All Here Map ones can be changed to Inrix via coding or file changes. TomTom can't.

TomTom and HereMaps use more strict validation in a cartography sense. Google Maps is free and easy. If they can get a survey up a road even though it is a farm track and not a public road it goes in. Issue the routine algorithm takes you up those roads. If they take user input on those roads and also use the car as a probe then they say, past validation, it's a road. They become a devil of a job to get these farm track short cut roads removed. I've given up and won't supply any cartography to Google Maps after they fail to remove farm track roads. Unsurfaced mud roads. One here, jump to one side, here comes another Google Map user taking the farm track to the country hotel.

Openstreet is really a general purpose cartography controlled by academics in the main. Ordnance Survey planning maps in the UK, Crown Copyright are the statutory planning control maps. It is those that are the gold standard in the UK used by survey companies to submit their planning applications for their clients. The house number system and house names, street name is found on that, regulated by local authorities. Postcode directory and house numbers by the Post Office. Openstreet have an arrangement to use these maps to provide information for crowd sourcing Openstreet from them. Copyright arrangements by the companies and authorities to use each other's. Electoral ward, local authorities etc is all cross referenced into the postcodes.

Because Openstreet is free it is used by companies to overlay their information. Google maps a charge may be appropriate. Here Maps you also see. Cartography subroutine libraries they use on websites. Amazon use Heremaps on their tracker map. Point mapping is also used by delivery companies where the front entrance door becomes the address. You see DHL won't let parcels out of their hands until at the geo point. Sorry they say as they walk closer and the device says they are there. That's built up from their own databases. I believe that is also sold on to the cartography companies as validation files. The mobile phone tracks also become the probes used for validation of traffic movements.

On 07/03/2025 at 14:46, Tell said:

Probably need to update your satnavs maps 😉. Mib1, mib2 high and mib3 are Here Maps. Mib2 standard to circa 2018 or something (on the other thread) were Here Maps. After TomTom cartography. Not sure why they changed. All Here Map ones can be changed to Inrix via coding or file changes. TomTom can't.

TomTom and HereMaps use more strict validation in a cartography sense. Google Maps is free and easy. If they can get a survey up a road even though it is a farm track and not a public road it goes in. Issue the routine algorithm takes you up those roads. If they take user input on those roads and also use the car as a probe then they say, past validation, it's a road. They become a devil of a job to get these farm track short cut roads removed. I've given up and won't supply any cartography to Google Maps after they fail to remove farm track roads. Unsurfaced mud roads. One here, jump to one side, here comes another Google Map user taking the farm track to the country hotel.

Openstreet is really a general purpose cartography controlled by academics in the main. Ordnance Survey planning maps in the UK, Crown Copyright are the statutory planning control maps. It is those that are the gold standard in the UK used by survey companies to submit their planning applications for their clients. The house number system and house names, street name is found on that, regulated by local authorities. Postcode directory and house numbers by the Post Office. Openstreet have an arrangement to use these maps to provide information for crowd sourcing Openstreet from them. Copyright arrangements by the companies and authorities to use each other's. Electoral ward, local authorities etc is all cross referenced into the postcodes.

Because Openstreet is free it is used by companies to overlay their information. Google maps a charge may be appropriate. Here Maps you also see. Cartography subroutine libraries they use on websites. Amazon use Heremaps on their tracker map. Point mapping is also used by delivery companies where the front entrance door becomes the address. You see DHL won't let parcels out of their hands until at the geo point. Sorry they say as they walk closer and the device says they are there. That's built up from their own databases. I believe that is also sold on to the cartography companies as validation files. The mobile phone tracks also become the probes used for validation of traffic movements.

My maps update automatically thanks. My comment was more related to 2G / 3G switch-off which has left a lot of folks in the lurch.

Update on this issue from me - traffic data has been pulling in very quickly after starting the car again now. I would say within around 30 seconds I will start seeing traffic flow data (the green/amber/red roads), and then after 1-2 minutes it will start to pull in the traffic incident data too (the symbols on the map like closed roads, accidents, etc.). May take a few mins to fully populate with incidents, but that's fine.

On the downside, there are occasions where the data connection just doesn't start at all. The red globe will remain present and no data is received. I remedy this by unplugging and replugging in the CarStick, and if that doesn't work I restart the Infotainment system (hold the power button for ~13 secs causes it to restart). This seems to happen around 1 in 10 times of using the car.