[tailormade]

My prof. nav TMC has stopped working and it does not show any traffic alerts. It was working all fine until last week. I have not changed any settings. I was wondering if its just my system, or you guys having this problem too.

I was stuck in traffic jam near M4 junction 12 for around half an hour this morning. It's not good when you rely on technology and it turns out in siutuations like this.

[booforty]

I've never experienced a problem with TMC in 2 years of ownership. Mine was working fine the other day, its always on. Perhaps get it checked out at the stealers...

[matlough]

I think it was a problem with the TMC signal - I also had a problem this morning.

[tailormade]

Originally Posted by matlough

I think it was a problem with the TMC signal - I also had a problem this morning.

Thanks matlough, I will wait for a couple of days and see if it's sorted out. I drove from Southampton to Reading this morning and didn't get any TMC alerts. Again on my way back in the evening, there were no signals at all.

[ShereKhan]

TMC relies upon RDS technology

The BBC usually transmit the best signal for TA broadcasts. They could be transmitting duff data in the area you've referred to.

Might be worthwhile checking BBC engineering dept to see if they were OK in the areas mentioned. I know they do lots of testing and sometimes reduce power on transmitters.

[booforty]

Wow didn't know that. Good knowledge I rely on TMC so much now, its been a life saver so many times...

[ShereKhan]

Before my company car I had a Vectra with TMC Sat Nav.

I found it quite useful but it had the odd hiccup if the area I travelled into had poor TA service then it would tell me about an incident miles away.

In central London it just kept popping up and annoying me so had to switch it off. Its a bit like when you take your laptop around London you keep getting bombarded by Wifi hotspots. With TMC in London its the same there is too much TA traffic.

AFAIK TMC uses the extra bandwidth that was included in the RDS spec. As there was some plans about adding an emergency broadcast channel to send information to radio listeners. I know it still works to a degree - just do scan for a pirate radio station in London and you'll find them transmitting their phone number and other info.

The TMC system via DAB is a bit more complex it hasn't really been exploited as DAB in the UK was a rush job. There is restricted bandwidth for programs so the bit rate is usually found to be variable.

I'm sure some of our German members can expand on their experience with DAB and TMC.

[matlough]

The TMC signal comes from Classic FM, not the BBC.

[tailormade]

Originally Posted by matlough

The TMC signal comes from Classic FM, not the BBC.

That's correct. there are only 2 TMC provides in UK, iTIS and Trafficmaster. iTIS uses Classic FM, while Trafficmaster messages are transmitted through various FM channels in the country, for e.g. 2TEN FM and Ocean FM in South East. AFAIK, BBC does not provide any TMC service. Though its RDS, it's different from TA (traffic updates on radio).

I am not sure whether BMW has contracted Trafficmaster or iTIS for TMC in UK, as both claim BMW as their customer on their websites:

http://www.itisholdings.com/bmw2.asp

http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/page.cfm?key=bmw

[B3MA]

I too have lost reception over the last couple of days. Does anyone have any updates of any reported issues?

[roofer]

Mines been playing up this last week as well......somethings up with the signal then?

[tailormade]

Originally Posted by roofer

Mines been playing up this last week as well......somethings up with the signal then?

well, mine is working ok now. looks like a temporary problem with TMC signals.

[bluemax]

TMC has stopped on my system today.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Is there a way to find out if the service is down?


thanks
B

[peterg1965]

Yes, i noticed it was down too.

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by tailormade

That's correct. there are only 2 TMC provides in UK, iTIS and Trafficmaster. iTIS uses Classic FM, while Trafficmaster messages are transmitted through various FM channels in the country, for e.g. 2TEN FM and Ocean FM in South East. AFAIK, BBC does not provide any TMC service. Though its RDS, it's different from TA (traffic updates on radio).

I am not sure whether BMW has contracted Trafficmaster or iTIS for TMC in UK, as both claim BMW as their customer on their websites:

http://www.itisholdings.com/bmw2.asp

http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/page.cfm?key=bmw

iTis is now contracted to provide the BMW group with RDS-TMC until March 2012.
More info here.

Although Trafficmaster initially provided support to the 5-series BMW Monitor in 1996, it is not a current TMC provider for BMW.

All the best.

Viv

[mjh93sa]

Originally Posted by tailormade

That's correct. there are only 2 TMC provides in UK, iTIS and Trafficmaster. iTIS uses Classic FM, while Trafficmaster messages are transmitted through various FM channels in the country, for e.g. 2TEN FM and Ocean FM in South East. AFAIK, BBC does not provide any TMC service. Though its RDS, it's different from TA (traffic updates on radio).

I am not sure whether BMW has contracted Trafficmaster or iTIS for TMC in UK, as both claim BMW as their customer on their websites:

http://www.itisholdings.com/bmw2.asp

http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/page.cfm?key=bmw

The BBC does not provide any TMC service as it is a commercial operation and as such broadcast of it is prohibited by it's charter.

Both of the trafficmaster and TMC services are broadcast by GCapMedia stations (formed when the GWR Group and Capital merged). TMC by Classic FM and trafficmaster by it's contemporary commercial radio stations.