Tmc receiver - first impressions Options

[Pedro2NR]

Just curious, but what countries are listed when you first connect the TMC?

[johngoodland]

Just curious, but what countries are listed when you first connect the TMC?

Ah its in the car now, but i will note them down tonight and let you know.

[Ayres]

The countries shown are:

Any Country (strongest signal)
Austria
Italy
Switzerland
Germany
France
Netherlands
Belgium
Czech
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Spain
United Kingdom

and in that order (on my screen at least). A new 'Select RDS-TMC country' icon is also shown in the TomTom Traffic screen which when clicked returns that list to choose the relevant country you are in.

I am surprised there aren't more informative instructions included on using the module. Only a 2 picture instruction guide is shown.

[johngoodland]

I am surprised there aren't more informative instructions included on using the module. Only a 2 picture instruction guide is shown.

ditto - especially when I first plugged it in and nothing happened. Not sure if I was expecting some fan fair having waiting this long....

[Ayres]

It's the least we should have got!

Have managed to choose the UK as the country but am still waiting for it to download information to the 910. I think it's going to take a bit of trial and error to get it right.

[johngoodland]

ah mine downloaded with 30secs, mind you I'm right next to the NEC, so I guess theres lots of RDS traffic about.

[cooperjohn]

Typical wheres all the traffic jams when you want them?

Have managed to choose the UK as the country but am still waiting for it to download information to the 910. I think it's going to take a bit of trial and error to get it right.

Ayres, Mine took a while to get its first signal, then when on the motorway the light went green and all was well, think johngoodland is right and you need to be in a strong signal area, then it will update data for the jorney as and when it gets a signal.

[Pedro2NR]

Does the any country option let you select a country that is not listed?

[cooperjohn]

Pedro2NR

Not sure, the info with the TMC is scarce to non existent, I was wondering myself, if I could take it to the states, when I go. I presume some countries broadcast the data on different frequencies.

[Ayres]

Thanks cooperjohn.

It took a while but the module seems to have found a 'lock' on the 100.9FM, Classic FM (who I believe are the national RDS broadcaster for the UK). If it continues to stay locked then I'll be happy, maybe the device just takes a while to scan the various frequencies. I live in NW London and generally the signal we get for radio/tv is good although it can have it's off days.

The 'Any Country' option seems to suggest it's only for those countries listed on the TomTom, I suppose trial and error of the TomTom's TMC device in the US will confirm whether it can be used there.

The Wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_Message_Channel seems to be quite useful in determining how different countries interpret and use TMC technology if it's of any use to anyone!

This post has been edited by Ayres: Oct 9 2006, 19:25

[cooperjohn]

Good find Ayres
Well seems Tele Atlas is broadcasting Fm Tmc in the states, only way to know is to try it when i go (As you Say)

QUOTE(johngoodland @ Oct 9 2006, 14:03)

Not moaning, in fact the service easydevices have done is spot on, I just dont understand how they are the only suppliers in the UK with stock.

All others on net are saying maybe Nov



Yeah, that is baffling me too. Still, we can all sleep easy tonight now!

In Reply to above Perhaps Easy Devices have sourced them from germany (Perhaps a sister company) TomTom are staggering the release, and they were released in Germany first last week.

[Electric Warrior]

Ordered mine late on Saturday from Easy Devices, and just recieved an email to say it has been dispatched by courier. So should recieve it on Tuesday.

[angel13]

It took a while but the module seems to have found a 'lock' on the 100.9FM, Classic FM (who I believe are the national RDS broadcaster for the UK). If it continues to stay locked then I'll be happy, maybe the device just takes a while to scan the various frequencies. I live in NW London and generally the signal we get for radio/tv is good although it can have it's off days.

On the German forum there is a lot of talk about the device tuning to radio stations that give the strongest signal but do not carry TMC data. I understand that in Austria however it seems to work better as there are fewer radio stations with TMC data. Hoping this is the case also in Switzerland.

[johngoodland]

I had no signal at all on the way home lastnight, however I did go back via the A45 and not m6. This morning, again no signal until I reached the m6/a14/m1 junction and that was with classic FM which it then stayed locked.

Not what i was expecting.......

Edit: Just emailed TOMTOM support asking why the device only locks on when on the motorway network. If it just uses classic fm 100.10 then I guess thats why, I thought more stations where onboard. Pretty poor if thats true, all this waiting, better off using gprs and tomtom traffic.

This post has been edited by johngoodland: Oct 10 2006, 08:18

[DustyMiller]

Just ordered mine from Easy Devices this morning, after waiting 4 months on backorder with someone else.

[Ayres]

It does appear that there are other broadcasters in the UK who transmit TMC data john, at least the link to the Wikipedia site I gave in an earlier post suggests that is so.

I got a lock on 100.9FM (Classic) sitting at home last night and was 5 miles from the nearest motorway (M40) if it's of any consolation. The trouble was I wasn't sitting in my car!

However, I tried it properly for the first time this morning when I journeyed to Beaconsfield on the M40 from NW London and although the green circle lit in the top right corner, the module wasn't forthcoming with any traffic information whatsoever. This was despite very heavy rain which had caught several people out it seems and caused some minor accidents en-route which I would reckon should rightfully have appeared as delays on the TomTom Traffic screen.

I sincerely hope Tom-Tom haven't 'Boo-Booed' and released this device when it is evidently isn't very capable of providing the data and service they suggest it does even under normal conditions. I will persevere and see if I can get it to be more obliging later on.

This post has been edited by Ayres: Oct 10 2006, 13:53

[Martin4Jay]

I am going to get one next year when my Tom Tom traffic expires
Cheers

[johngoodland]

I was hoping I could jump in the car, connect the tomtom and hay presto traffic information *before* i pull of the drive and not 10-15 mins into my 25min daily slog up the M6. This clearly isnt the same vision shared by TOMTOM.......

Edit: Used once (10min connection) RDS-TMC for sale willing to swap for 12months traffic

This post has been edited by johngoodland: Oct 10 2006, 13:58

[Martin4Jay]

Hoping that 11 months time they would sort the product and problems out
Cheers

This post has been edited by Martin4Jay: Oct 10 2006, 14:44

[angel13]

Just picked up mine from ATU across the border in Germany. Took about 1 minute to pickup DSR1 after setting Switzerland as the country. No traffic where I am but I was impressed that despite taking minor roads a long way from the nearest motorway the light remained green the whole way (i.e. I had a good connection). I plotted some longer routes and managed to find a bit of traffic but no where near the detail that Tom Tom traffic has with all the construction sites. I checked and found though that not long after crossing the border the station changed from DSR1 (the national Swiss station which I know has TMC) to Radio Argovia (a local station which I'm not certain carries TMC). I will make a run into Zurich tonight to drive a friend home and give it a good test at rush hour.