Periodic Tone / Beep with RNS-510 Sat Nav fitted Vehicles

[jwastrel]

cheers coz

[Ozram]

I know what this is. It drove me nuts for ages, then the missus and i were driving up the coast and it kept occuring. The Australian cars do not have the ability to update the traffic problems.

They do actually. Its just VWA won't activate the system. The RNS510 is perfectly capable of accepting incoming traffic program alerts. I emailled them about it and was informed that they had no plans to activate the system in Australia. I believe that Audi do have the use of this system. Sucks really.

[pologti18t]

They do actually. Its just VWA won't activate the system. The RNS510 is perfectly capable of accepting incoming traffic program alerts. I emailled them about it and was informed that they had no plans to activate the system in Australia. I believe that Audi do have the use of this system. Sucks really.

Huh? Isn't it because we in Australia don't broadcast traffic alerts... or if we do its via SUNA.
I think FORD sat navs (and probably the new iQ system in HOldens) make use of SUNA.

[slipshot]

Huh? Isn't it because we in Australia don't broadcast traffic alerts... or if we do its via SUNA.
I think FORD sat navs (and probably the new iQ system in HOldens) make use of SUNA.

That's was my understanding too. SUNA is the newer system whereas TP has been available for years in Europe via RDS radio's and thus most people have it and are familiar with it. I think it's about 10-15 years old now though so probably getting ready for a change to digital radio when that starts to come through.

Traffic Programmes use the radio stations that broadcast a unique 'sound' that alerts the unit that a TP is coming through and it will then change/pause whatever is happening, broadcast the TP and then revert back to what was going on. But if the radio stations do not broadcast the signal (and I've no idea if they do or not) then you'll never hear anything...

[Maverick]

They do actually. Its just VWA won't activate the system. The RNS510 is perfectly capable of accepting incoming traffic program alerts. I emailled them about it and was informed that they had no plans to activate the system in Australia. I believe that Audi do have the use of this system. Sucks really.

Volkswagen don't have to do anything, the system is activated on the head units and ready to go.

The problem is that the only traffic service which is partially tax payer funded is Suna and they are absolutely useless, for a start they will only sell the service with new hardware and will not sell a subscription to the service. They do this via encryption which the RNS 510 (and other models) supports. What this means is that Volkswagen have to sign up and hook up every single car that has a RNS 510 (and other models) fitted to the service. Volkswagen wouldn't be able to enable it on older cars due to the licensing conditions so you would be forced to buy a new car if you really wanted it. RNS 510's (and other models) imported would not be able to use the service either.

And why would Volkswagen hook it up? The service only works in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne along with a few other locations but for a limited area in each.

Plus the system sucks, it truly is useless with traffic information 30 to 120 minutes delayed, you get notified of a traffic problem after it's already occurred and been cleared. This is why you get an auto manufacturer offer the service and drop it soon after, Volvo and a few others have offered it for short periods.

The only useful traffic system is one with up to date information and this is Google's traffic, there is no reason why the traffic information has to be delayed like it is with Suna because in Europe that have it as close to live as is possible.

Google "Suna Traffic" and you'll see plenty of complaints about the service. Their refusal to offer yearly subscriptions but instead force people to buy new equipment is inexcusable, not only would they make more money that way but it would save perfectly good GPS units going to landfill.

Suna traffic channel - GPS - Gadgets - watch out for the one time posters like tim7am - some viral marketing from Suna I suspect.

[slipshot]

Thanks Maverick. Very interesting to read that and I feel better informed. This is not sarcastic by the way, just wanted to say it was a useful post as I'd heard of SUNA but knew little about it. Information is power etc etc. Cheers anyway.

[easeup]

My GTI likes to beep and boop at me. Sometimes when driving it makes a single low 'boop'. I'm talking about the same sound for when you need to put your seatbelt on, or drive off with the handbrake up. But it only sounds once.

Happens in situations where i've been driving for some time, no speed alarm is set, all passengers have belts on and nothing heavy is on any other seats, the handbrake is not up, and it isn't freezing cold outside. It is not accompanied by any messages on the MFD. On the weekend i was cruising at 120km/h down the Bussel Hwy when the car suddenly gave out a 'boop'. Very confusing. It's almost like a happy sound. "Boop... i am being driven."

Does anyone else know what this is about?

[ralp2dam]

Is it the TP on the radio/headunit? Mine males that "happy boop" sound when there is no TP.

[easeup]

Aaah thats interesting thanks mate. I'll check if my TP is on. However on my long weekend country drive i was listening exclusively to MP3 stuff from the RNS hard drive, so that can't have been it for that particular instance.

[team_v]

Is it the TP on the radio/headunit? Mine males that "happy boop" sound when there is no TP.

I second this.
Had to turn mine off since iit would sometimes do it every 5 minutes.




I thought it was the fatigue warning alarm but then realised it was probably a $500 option