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[Weds]

Having changed my car from a preface lift with a trafficmaster fitted. I now have a facelift with a Siemens 2013 satnav/radio fitted. It has whats called TMC but has remained silent since I've had it.

Has anyone had any success with this, as far as i can find out Classic FM is the only station to broadcast traffic info but there's nothing listed in the messages.

[iggy21uk]

My 99 Omega may be different?.
Subscription based service about £30.00 gives road traffic info  via the radio for local major roads - also button on dash shows green when
 "no jams" for the next 12 miles - ish. red when probs. Your licence I expect has expired so no info
If you press the button once or twice you can then licence info & renew on the web.

M roads covered and A roads.

Say you join M25 clockwise 10 it will give advanced info for next junctions and any main joining roads

See : http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/

[VXL V6]

I don't think TMC (Traffic Message Channel) is the same thing as Trafficmaster, TMC is incorperated into the Sat Nav unit and allows it to recalculate the route whereas Trafficmaster as a subscriber system (About £35 a year I think) that gives you verbal warnings of Traffic issues ahead / around you.

As TMC doesn't appear to work in this country yet I am considering putting my old Trafficmaster in my car and connecting the mute and audio via the phone car kit

[iggy21uk]

Thought it might be different .  

[VXL V6]

I must be one of the few people who actually likes Traffic Master!

[iggy21uk]

So do I    

[Weds]

I must be one of the few people who actually likes Traffic Master!

I used to like my Trafficmaster, living in the southeast and using the M25 quite a bit it can/did come in handy to let you know of any delays but now i have a useless TMC

[iggy21uk]

Some info here. Perhaps it new renewal

http://www.lordpercy.com/tmc_explained.htm

[VXL V6]

Interesting.... Didn't realise how they collected the data.

[Paul M]

TMC is very poorly supported in the UK. It is supposed to be broadcast over FM as part of the RDS information I believe, and some areas may be covered on Radio 3 or Classic FM's signals -- can't remember which. I have had a TMC supporting navi unit in my car for several years now, with the TMC option switched on, and not once has it re-routed to avoid traffic.

It's supposed to be much better in continental Europe, but I've never tried it so can't say for sure.

IMO Traffic master sucks, I've used it once or twice and it's just a mild annoyance. OK it tells you of an impending hold-up, but it doesn't tell you how to get around that hold-up, nor does it tell you whether all the surrounding minor roads are also congested (as usually happens when a significant proportion of road users try to drive around the jams).

[VXL V6]

Suppose you have to think how old Trafficmaster is though, it was originally only installed on motorways then started to appear on A roads. When Trafficmaster became common Sat Nav was in it's infancy in the car.

I remember having it in my first Vectra (95) and when it said 'severe delay, avoid' there'd be Vectra's and Omega's all diving for the slip road!

TMC seems to be on Classic around here but it still does nothing so better off with Trafficmaster.  

[pscocoa]

TMC was an initiative scrapped in the UK - Vauxhall did not pursue the technology.

This is completely different to Trafficmaster which I personally find very helpful if I use in conjunction with Sat Nav - this is not an automatic link but when Traffic Master advises of problems I  switch route class on Sat Nav. This has proved successful over the years. Obviously if you do not have sat nav then obviously good map and reader!!

Phil