Traffic information (TIM) & TP. RCD510

[Markybhoy]

From what I understand, it is only melb/sydney/brisbane, although I can't fully vouch for that as I'm actually in Perth. I was going to go buy myself a Navman last week and was reading about it there.

A lot of UK cars have TP in their radio's. I ended up turning mine off, as I'd be listening to music on the radio, only to have it cut in with another station who was giving a traffic update (which is how it works in the UK at any rate). Trouble was though, half the time the traffic update was just finishing by the time it switched over and the other half the time, it was for somewhere completely different to where I was! And most of the time, it would switch over to Radio 2, which should be called 'Geriatric's FM'!

[Autopia]

I was of the understanding that you could "subscribe" to receive traffic updates if you have a compatible GPS unit.

The Suna link below has some info.
http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/where.html

There appears to be an antenna that can be purchased to enable traffic info to be received.

Might be worth contacting Suna for further info if you're really keen on it.
If the feature works in Europe it may be the case that an antenna is already fitted to the RCD510 and it may only require "tweaking" to operate in Oz. Worse case it may need to be swapped out for an Oz spec antenna.

Send Suna an enquiry and see what they say.

Cheers
Sean

[bennobee]

i cant wait to see the outcome as when i press that button (in the middle of the CBD in Melb) i get no messages. so if there is a way to get it working...

[passatpout]

I've turned on TP in Melbourne, and the radio has come up with messages saying that there are signals around, but I've never heard any come over. It was a bit of a pain in the UK, since it would cut over anything else and the volume was a fair bit louder, but all up it had its advantages. Being able to bring up a list of incidents on the RNS-510 screen and see them on the map, with it plotting ways around and getting advanced warning, was certainly a handy way of doing it. The volume control was a bit fiddly though, and since they came up a fair bit louder than normal music it was always a bit of a balancing act.

[Breno]

You don't hear it, it transmits info silently to the GPS to enable it to route around incidents/traffic etc.

[DiMmY]

If you had a poke around their website - you'd see it's nearly all portable units that support that... and the Ford inbuilt GPS.

I believe NO in-car GPS's in Australia (apart from that one Ford) support traffic updates via radio OR GPS.

[tryingavw]

You don't hear it, it transmits info silently to the GPS to enable it to route around incidents/traffic etc.

Do you know if this function then works with the VW RNS510 GPS?

[zsolt_downunder]

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/buy.html

Many recent-model European vehicles are potentially software-upgradeable. SUNA is in discussions with vehicle importers regarding licensing arrangements that my enable certain models to be upgraded. Register your interest here.

Best thing to do would be to contact VW and ask them about the TMC service provided by SUNA.

Interesting, as I thought Melbourne was operational:

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/serviceinfo.html

Current Service Information

Melbourne Service unavailable
Sydney Operational
Brisbane Operational

This is why we are not able to receive any TMC messages, (I definitely get the TP on my RCD510 in Melbourne on numerous FM radio stations but never get any TMC messages come through):

Suna's service broadcasts digital, encrypted TMC (Traffic Message Channel) data containing traffic information, such as incidents and delays, as well as major events and other factors which may be of interest to motorists. These messages are piggybacked onto an existing FM radio station's signal — Mix 106.5 in Sydney and Gold FM in Melbourne — and received by GPS devices equipped with a TMC receiver and Suna subscription.

Interesting read:

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/pdf/su...w-jan_2008.pdf

[Autopia]

You don't hear it, it transmits info silently to the GPS to enable it to route around incidents/traffic etc.

Sorry this is incorrect. The traffic update info is audible. The GPS unit then provides the option of re-routing your journey.

[Breno]

Sorry this is incorrect. The traffic update info is audible. The GPS unit then provides the option of re-routing your journey.

Au contraire

Taken from Suna Website

How do I get SUNA GPS Traffic Updates?

SUNA traffic information is encrypted and available only through a compatible navigation device or in-car system. It is silently transmitted in a normal FM radio broadcast and will not interfere with your radio. You will hear nothing, but your navigation system, via the TMC receiver, will decode this information and your navigation device in turn, will advise you.