Hi, I would be very grateful for help/advice.
I have just bought this 2016 Octavia 1.4 tsi. It came without an sd card. when I turn on the satnav I get an error message "Please insert  a data medium with valid navigation data".
I went to the Skoda update portal and entered my VIN. It then offered a range of map data sets. I have downloaded various map updates which include the UK and I have copied the contents of the unzipped folder onto the root af a Sandisk 32GB SD card. But when insert the card I still get the error message - Please insert  a data medium with valid navigation data.
I read on the Skoda Amunsden pdf guide about the sd card that is supposed to be in the unit and which you are instructed to remove "This card has a security chip, so other cards will not work". But the guide also refers to formatting cards as if new non-Skoda sd cards could also be used.
Can anyone tell me if I need a Skoda card with a security chip to make the satnav work. If so can you tell me which card and how I can get one?
An additional question is whether the age of my car means the fitted satnav is too old to use the map updates available on the Update Portal.
Many thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this.
Martin

Hello Martin, welcome to the forum.

For the Amundsen MIB2 unit, you require a genuine, Skoda-branded (or possibly VAG) SD card for the GPS port.

I currently have my Amundsen running on 2025 maps - not sure about latest 2026.

Edited 4 March4 Mar by Warrior193
greeting

Thanks Warrior193, that makes sense and is really helpful.
I tried phoning Skoda customer support (it's in S Africa!) and was told there's no security chip but Skoda cards "work best" - but she seemed a bit uncertain.
Our local (Bristol) main dealer's parts department said any card could be used but it seems that's not correct.
Do you know if any Skoda SD will work? I assume the data on the card is not relevant as you can format and copy new data to the card.

28 minutes ago, derryvolgie said:

Do you know if any Skoda SD will work? I assume the data on the card is not relevant as you can format and copy new data to the card.

My previous Octavia came without the map SD card for Amundsen (and the dealer said they couldn't get one) so I spent a few minutes on eBay and found many suitable Skoda map SD cards, look for one with a part number beginning 5L0 051 236.

Since you have a MIB2 make sure you get at least a 16GB or 32GB Skoda SD card (I use a 32GB card and the full Europe AS maps).

There is a thread on here 2026/27 MIB2 maps with links to the latest 2026 maps for the MIB2 Amundsen, and I can confirm they work on mine.

Edited 4 March4 Mar by PetrolDave

Yes I believe any Skoda-branded SD navigation card will work, it is also possible that any VAG card will also work - you should try for 32gb card if you intend to use full EU maps as the 16gb card reportedly requires files to be edited-out to fit.

There was a member selling 32gb cards on this forum a few years ago, otherwise try Ebay - there are sellers on there.

Edited 19 May19 May by Warrior193
grammar

There are also quite a few being touted on the Ali at very low prices - but be warned, I got burned a few years ago when an ordered and paid-for card didn't arrive and just got given a lot of nonsense from the vender - finally ended up doing a charge reversal through my credit card provider to which the vender didn't even respond!

1 hour ago, Warrior193 said:

There are also quite a few being touted on the Ali at very low prices - but be warned, I got burned a few years ago when an ordered and paid-for card didn't arrive and just got given a lot of nonsense from the vender - finally ended up doing a charge reversal through my credit card provider to which the vender didn't even respond!

Yes I saw those Ali Express ones. But as the SD card needs a physical chip (as I understand it) that would be harder for the Chinese system to "clone" as it is not software/programming. Also they looked suspiciously cheap. I saw an offer - https://www.speedcams.co.uk/shop/skoda-map-sd-card/genuine-5l0-skoda-map-sd-card-32gb-full-europe - It's £39 + 3.99 delivery. It looks legit but I have asked about the chip /hardware and am waiting to hear what he says.
I am away for 8 days from tomorrow - so I will not be here/online till I come back but still interestedto come back to this afterwards.
Thanks to those who have responded to my query - really appreciate it.

10 hours ago, derryvolgie said:

But as the SD card needs a physical chip (as I understand it)

Not so, it's a card ID code that's unique to the VAG (inc Skoda) SD cards, there is NO extra chip.

13 hours ago, derryvolgie said:

Yes I saw those Ali Express ones. But as the SD card needs a physical chip (as I understand it) that would be harder for the Chinese system to "clone" as it is not software/programming. Also they looked suspiciously cheap. I saw an offer - https://www.speedcams.co.uk/shop/skoda-map-sd-card/genuine-5l0-skoda-map-sd-card-32gb-full-europe - It's £39 + 3.99 delivery. It looks legit but I have asked about the chip /hardware and am waiting to hear what he says.
I am away for 8 days from tomorrow - so I will not be here/online till I come back but still interestedto come back to this afterwards.
Thanks to those who have responded to my query - really appreciate it.

I think the issue with Ali vendors (at least in my case) is the reliability (or otherwise) of the vendors in respect to actual delivery of paid-for goods - not the card itself.

Does the OP actually need to use the inbuilt NAv.

Amundsen MIB 2 supports Smart link. If it's not activated, it can done for a lot less than dealer costs now. This then allows their mobile phone to be connected and use Google Maps via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and more apps as well.

Just another option to consider.

Hi all, as I said I was away for a week and the sd card - https://www.speedcams.co.uk/shop/skoda-map-sd-card/genuine-5l0-skoda-map-sd-card-32gb-full-europe I bought arrived during that time. I installed it today and am pleased to say the satnav is now working properly. Thanks for all the useful advice. The seller operates a map update service (using the buyers sd card) but I think anyone can download these maps from the Skoda update portal and simply copy them over the previous map on the sd card.
The same seller also offers spped cam warnings (presumably as poi's). Does anyone know how to get speed cam warnings without paying?

On 05/03/2026 at 21:40, paulski said:

Does the OP actually need to use the inbuilt NAv.

Amundsen MIB 2 supports Smart link. If it's not activated, it can done for a lot less than dealer costs now. This then allows their mobile phone to be connected and use Google Maps via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and more apps as well.

Just another option to consider.

Thanks paulski, I am new to Skodas so didn't know I could use Smartlink and google maps on my iPhone. I bought a Skoda sd card but I will also try Smart Link - it would be good to have live updates from Google maps sometimes

On 05/03/2026 at 08:49, PetrolDave said:

Not so, it's a card ID code that's unique to the VAG (inc Skoda) SD cards, there is NO extra chip.

Thanks PetrolDave, Do you know if the sd card ID code can be accesssed and changed?

One thing to mention with Smart link, is to use a "decent" usb cable between the phone and car. Personally my car does not have Smart link enabled so not experienced this myself, however I've seen a good few posts mentioning this to be a bit of a weak point.

Also I must mention that "live" traffic updates with built in NAV don't work now as the Traffic Master signal used for this was turned off, theres an icon called TMC with a red line through it. It affected other makes too not just VW group cars. Think it was April 2023 when it got stopped.

Edited 14 March14 Mar by paulski

A good USB cable is a must, but will wear out the phone connection eventually. There are several wireless adapters that will give you wireless carplay.

15 hours ago, derryvolgie said:

Thanks PetrolDave, Do you know if the sd card ID code can be accesssed and changed?

On some cards using a special tool - this was discussed on here a few years ago, so the posts will be really hard to find!

Pleased to say I now have Smart Link and Apple Car Play. I paid to download the files and procedure from this eBay page https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404559000150
It cost £55 but a local VAG centre quoted me £140+vat just for the "product" and was then planning to charge labour on top for the installation.
I am very happy. I got a second hand official Skoda SD card which allowed the satnav to work but it is a pretty clunky system. Google maps via Apple Car Play is more user friendly.

On 14/03/2026 at 21:15, JD52 said:

A good USB cable is a must, but will wear out the phone connection eventually. There are several wireless adapters that will give you wireless carplay.

Hi JD52,
I did a search here for wireless adapters and Smart Link / Car Play but got no hits. Would you mind pointing me towards any reelevant information? Thanks in advance.

16 minutes ago, derryvolgie said:

Google maps via Apple Car Play is more user friendly.

Agree 100%, even though I keep the maps on my Amundsen up-to-date I always use Google maps via CarPlay.

12 minutes ago, derryvolgie said:

I did a search here for wireless adapters and Smart Link / Car Play but got no hits.

I use this wireless adapter CPLAY2air

37 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

I use this wireless adapter CPLAY2air

Thanks PetrolDave, that looks like exactly what I want. I think I will get one. Cheers

It's a real con that you have to pay for smartlink, but worth it to use Google Maps. They claim it's some licensing issue and would be unfair to charge everyone when not everyone wants it - but I paid £170 odd to get it tunred on on my Octi III (charged to my business and hence VAT refunded .. so not too bad) which is a fraction of the cost of a car!

Anyway, pleased to say that the map updates for the built in SatNav are now free (I hadn't realised) and though it took forever (6 hours) to move the files to the SD card, I now have maps that actually show things like the Huntingdon Southern Bypass (which has been open for many years but not on my SatNav).

Having used Google Maps for the last umpteen years in lieu of up to date Skoda maps, I hadn't realised that TMC got turned off in 2024 ... so the "Traffic" button on my dashboard is now totally redundant. Back to Google Maps I gbuess :-) .

Anyway, if you DO want to use the SKODA SatNav it's free and easy to do if just a little slow. The bloke charging £20 to send you the maps on a USB stick or £14 to update your SD card is doing nothing you can't do yourself.

5 hours ago, nicka62 said:

It's a real con that you have to pay for smartlink, but worth it to use Google Maps. They claim it's some licensing issue and would be unfair to charge everyone when not everyone wants it - but I paid £170 odd to get it tunred on on my Octi III (charged to my business and hence VAT refunded .. so not too bad) which is a fraction of the cost of a car!

Anyway, pleased to say that the map updates for the built in SatNav are now free (I hadn't realised) and though it took forever (6 hours) to move the files to the SD card, I now have maps that actually show things like the Huntingdon Southern Bypass (which has been open for many years but not on my SatNav).

Having used Google Maps for the last umpteen years in lieu of up to date Skoda maps, I hadn't realised that TMC got turned off in 2024 ... so the "Traffic" button on my dashboard is now totally redundant. Back to Google Maps I gbuess :-) .

Anyway, if you DO want to use the SKODA SatNav it's free and easy to do if just a little slow. The bloke charging £20 to send you the maps on a USB stick or £14 to update your SD card is doing nothing you can't do yourself.

You can get Smartlink for a lot less than a dealer will charge - see my post above.
I Have to say I am very happy with the CPlay2air wireless adapter recommended by PetrolDave (big thanks). I have since found lots of wireless adapters advertised on Amazon but quite a lot of negative feedback about adapters stopping working after a few weeks or months,

indeed. good tip ( tho too late for me). id like to know how they do it and wonder if they could also properly enable the towing functions which my tow bar installers botched ( indicator feed back works and eco mode disabled but reversing sensors not disabled or alarm activated if the light board plug is detached)

As mentioned already, the Skoda/ VW SatNav is nowhere as good as a Smartphone; I have both, and have only been using Apple Maps for years (via CarPlay)