Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Mikes1670 on 11 April 2010, 15:30:05

Title: Traffic Master
Post by: Mikes1670 on 11 April 2010, 15:30:05
Does traffic master still exist?  Is it worth pursuing? :-? Is it linked to the Vx onboard (CD) sat nav system (NavTech on board).

Any advice anyone? :y
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 11 April 2010, 15:31:59
Its  totally separate standalone system which was included FOC for the first 12 months of ownership. Requires an activation code to be used ongoing.

Was OK in its time, but the subscription was bout £60 a year, so half the cost of a TOM TOM.

HTH
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: Bionic on 11 April 2010, 17:43:56
Oh yes, it still does exist but why anyone would want the annoying thing baffles me. It was fitted in mine but I did not bother to re-subscribe to it (60 odd quid a year :D) cos my TomTom did, and does a far better job. When 'she who must be obeyed (the silly wench who is their automated voice) started to squark at me' for not renewing the subscription I pulled it out altogether. Easiest job in the world to do too!
Get yourself a TomTom  :y
GudLuk
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: Mikes1670 on 11 April 2010, 17:56:20
Thanks bionic, that's interesting. When you say you pulled it out - how did you go about removing it? I have a TM - traffic master button on the dash to the right of the steering wheel - what did you do with that - anything? :-?

I also have a small LCD screen for the CD on board Vx sat nav. I just leave that in standby mode as I haven't got an up to date CD for it. I suspect a more up to date Sat. nav. system would trounce it by todays standards! :-/

Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: pscocoa on 11 April 2010, 19:32:54
I have always found traffic master useful as I do quite a lot of motorway journeys. Because the Sat Nav system fitted to Omegas was not equipped with Traffic Message Channel (it was supposed to be but the development did not take place), the Traffic Master warning of hold ups etc has been extremely useful otherwise you are just reliant on radio news service.

I also like to keep the features of the orignal car up to date.

In short it is a good service if you are doing the motorway miles and you do not have any other form of traffic message channel
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: Lazydocker on 11 April 2010, 19:54:09
Traffic Master is fantastic... If you do the right type of journeys.

Subscription is only about £30/year, £55 for 2 IIRCC and, IMO, well worth it if you travel on major trunk roads a lot :y

It suits me for the type of journeys I do, although it only warns for the next 10 miles, but does sometimes give wrong info. When used in conjunction with other available traffic information sources it's great
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: TheBoy on 11 April 2010, 20:08:11
Yup, I like Traffic Master.  Ad I hate tomtom with a passion, useless heap of shite.  I used the stupid thing to get to the Essex meet Saturday, wish I hadn't bothered.

My traffic master expires in 6 days, must renew....
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: CaptainZok on 11 April 2010, 20:24:45
Quote
Yup, I like Traffic Master.  Ad I hate tomtom with a passion, useless heap of shite.  I used the stupid thing to get to the Essex meet Saturday, wish I hadn't bothered.

My traffic master expires in 6 days, must renew....

Black box?

I must get mine done too, I'll get the Gnome to send you a pm he wants some info.
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: Bionic on 12 April 2010, 04:15:45
LIke all things, it depends on the model, lower models are not so good but top end ones brilliant, and the skill of the user. Like eveything else it too needs to be kept up to date using its own update facilities and the MapShare one too. TrafficMaster is only suitable for a very limited types of journeys and then only gives the minimum information. Had it, used it, binned it! Apart from anything else the droning voice drove me nuts  :D
TrafficMaster is far from being infallible too cos it got me well and truly in the crap more than once with a coach with its diversion advice.
 I would sooner have a display I can see than some voice whose tone is so monotonous that it invokes sleep.
You pays your money and you takes your choice!
 ;)
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: TheBoy on 12 April 2010, 07:55:21
Quote
LIke all things, it depends on the model, lower models are not so good but top end ones brilliant, and the skill of the user. Like eveything else it too needs to be kept up to date using its own update facilities and the MapShare one too. TrafficMaster is only suitable for a very limited types of journeys and then only gives the minimum information. Had it, used it, binned it! Apart from anything else the droning voice drove me nuts  :D
TrafficMaster is far from being infallible too cos it got me well and truly in the crap more than once with a coach with its diversion advice.
 I would sooner have a display I can see than some voice whose tone is so monotonous that it invokes sleep.
You pays your money and you takes your choice!
 ;)
Exactly.  For me, TM and the car's built in Siemens satnav system, despite their age, work far better than the latest TomTom.  All these systems work pretty well (though obviously portable satnavs have underlying, fundamental issues), but people need to remember, its a piece of technology providing extra advice to the driver, not providing mandatory instructions :y


I certainly wouldn't be without my TM
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 April 2010, 09:01:11
Quote
I certainly wouldn't be without my TM

Neither would I. Although I do tend to use a Tom Tom as well (and radio/knowledge) and find the combination works for me :y
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: tunnie on 12 April 2010, 09:18:33
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Quote
I certainly wouldn't be without my TM

Neither would I. Although I do tend to use a Tom Tom as well (and radio/knowledge) and find the combination works for me :y

See i found it utterly useless! It would give large amounts a of false warnings saying queuing traffic ahead, and there was none. Often said 'You are traveling down the M1' when actually we were on the M40  ;D
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: pscocoa on 12 April 2010, 09:46:14
Quote
.... TrafficMaster is only suitable for a very limited types of journeys and then only gives the minimum information. Had it, used it, binned it! Apart from anything else the droning voice drove me nuts  :D
TrafficMaster is far from being infallible too cos it got me well and truly in the crap more than once with a coach with its diversion advice.
 I would sooner have a display I can see than some voice whose tone is so monotonous that it invokes sleep.
You pays your money and you takes your choice!
 ;)


I find the droning voice preferable to SWMBO sat next to me with a map - actually when in the car she has difficulty in getting a word in so it is either one or the other with smart directional advice. Close thing!!

As regards Tunnie's point - yes you can sometimes get a rogue message if you have been out of area of TM and the first box you pass in range triggers the system - usually you get an accurate message fairly soon thereafter.
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: TheBoy on 12 April 2010, 12:15:14
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Quote
Quote
I certainly wouldn't be without my TM

Neither would I. Although I do tend to use a Tom Tom as well (and radio/knowledge) and find the combination works for me :y

See i found it utterly useless! It would give large amounts a of false warnings saying queuing traffic ahead, and there was none. Often said 'You are traveling down the M1' when actually we were on the M40  ;D
Its never given me a wrong location. Ever.  As for the information it provides, its as accurate as any traffic solution, as they all use the same system ;).  I would say its about 90% accurate on small jams (up to 15mins - 15mins is about the cutoff period before I consider detours), and probably 99% accurate on longer jams.
Title: Re: Traffic Master
Post by: Road Hog Mad on 12 April 2010, 15:18:36
suppose someone who converts to lpg could use that tm button for the lpg switch?