940 GPRS Traffic available?

technik · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:55 pm Post subject: 940 GPRS Traffic available?

Can you subscribe to normal GPRS traffic with a 940?

I don't see any point in HD traffic as it seems unreliable, and I get my mobile data free, so normal GPRS is best option for me.

MrT · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

GPRS traffic will not work on the 940. RDS-TMC traffic will work.

If you wanted GPRS traffic you should have bought a 920/930 as the 940 replaces the 920/930 GPRS traffic with Live Services including HD Traffic and this is the main difference between the ranges. Maybe someone here would be willing to swap units?

It is very unlikely but may be possible by installing the 930 operating system on the 940 you would get GPRS traffic but I have not tried this and I have not seen any reports anywhere on this. Even if you did this and it worked, the internal phone would not work for GPRS as you would not have any mobile subscription on it.
_________________
Drivelux

Darren · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:44 am Post subject:

No, GPRS services on the x40's are only available via the LIVE subscription. The only other option is RDS-TMC either via an accessory antenna and the accessory iPod mount that has the connector or the new RDS-TMC integrated mount.
_________________
Darren Griffin

emjaiuk · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject:

MrT · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject:

As far as I am aware when you lose mobile contact (rather than server contact) it will automatically switch to TMC.
_________________
Drivelux

mikealder · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject:

emjaiuk · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:

mikealder · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:08 pm Post subject:

Tap the sat strength meter followed by the version box and on the resultant screen is "Network" tap that and you will see the connection status and signal strength for the mobile network connection.

In use with HD Traffic you get the traffic information sidebar to the right of the screen but there is no green disk or animated arrow.
In use with RDS-TMC you still get the traffic information sidebar, but you will see the animated arrow if its searching for a signal, or a Green disk when it has received an RDS update within the last 5 mins - this diminishes to a grey disk in 4 quarter segments if no further reception occurs over a 20 minute period.

With the RDS-TMC built in to the mount you have a much neater solution with less aerial wire strung across the windscreen, otherwise in terms of functionality they are indeed the same - Mike

emjaiuk · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mike

I normally go to France 2/3 times a month, so I'll post here after my next trip with comments. With my 901 setup, I had a signal before I left the the docks/tunnel, which could be useful in choosing the A16 or A26/A1 into Paris. On my last trip, the first with the 740, without RDS-TMC, I made the wrong choice!
_________________
Go740L App 9.510 Europe 985.8155
RDS_TMC mount
Home 2.8.3.2499 Win10 Home

emjaiuk · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:34 pm Post subject:

I’ve just read this myself before posting, and my apologies if it’s a bit rambling, I’m tired!

My vehicle is an 08 VW T5 Kombi, both new and existing TT setups have/had TT in bottom RH corner, with TMC cable running left to centre of windscreen, and

I've just returned from a couple of trips to Paris with mixed feelings about RDS_TMC and the x40.
On Tuesday night the TomTom had stayed in its mount fed with power but switched off. On switching on, it immediately recognised the RDS_TMC, but I was very disappointed that I didn't get a signal in Calais, normally a strong signal area in my experience, until I was about 20/25mins away travelling at 130kph, heading east along the A26. Once I had a green circle however, it stayed for the majority of the trip, except for dropping to ¼ grey once and ¾ grey once. This is a marked improvement on my previous setup with the 910 and an unmodified ‘mark 2’ receiver. The TT stayed on in Paris

On the return trip it continued to stay solid green until I stopped for a break about 160k from Calais. This time the TT was switched off and removed from the mount. On starting up again approx 2/3hrs later, it kept trying to connect to Live for some reason, until finally stopping with the grey vertical band, but no rotating black dotted circle, and no yellow triangle! e.g. traffic appeared to have locked up. I had to remove it from its mount, switch off, return it to the mount and switch on again before it found the TMC antenna again. This time there was no reception at all until almost at Calais. I stopped briefly to play around with the antenna position, including holding it outside, but to no avail. Playing with it on the journey back, I discovered that switching off and on whilst in the mount, caused it to revert back to attempting Live mode and not seeing the TMC unit. Also loss of power immediately loses the TMC connection. When I arrived at Calais I had a look at the map, and all visible traffic incidents where in Belgium! Whilst waiting for the Ferry, as an experiment I tried switching the TMC off and then on again, it had not reconnected by the time I boarded the ferry 20+ minutes later.

Last night was almost an exact repeat of the previous night, with the initial TMC info being for Belgium only, with French info not being picked up until approaching Arras (This included Paris info BTW) The only difference was that I noticed it briefly went to a full grey circle for a few minutes. In Paris this time I switched it off, and it took almost 15 mins to reconnect, again in a very strong signal area. On the return, I stopped at the same point and this time left the TT connected, and it was still solid green a couple of hours later. Approaching Calais it had again acquired Belgium traffic info.

With this admittedly brief trial, I’m convinced that whist signal retention and transfer between frequencies are very good, initial signal acquisition is very poor. At one stage I tried to manually input 107.7, which I briefly had some time ago on a previous trip, but it immediately told me no TMC signal was on that frequency although there is a free TMC service on it. With regard to traffic info, it’s very difficult to say, but from what I could see on the map, it looked about what I would expect. The problem with my 740 reverting back to Live when it is switched off and on again is very real and pronounced on my unit and when I feel the need for some light entertainment, I’ll report it to TomTom

I tried to find some way of finding out what frequency the TT was using as on the 910, but if it’s there I couldn’t find it.

If anyone else ahs experience of TMC/x40 use in Europe I’d be very interested to hear about it
_________________
Go740L App 9.510 Europe 985.8155
RDS_TMC mount
Home 2.8.3.2499 Win10 Home

MrT · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:

In the UK I have had the TMC working in remote areas of Northumberland but even there I tended to lose the TMC signal as well as the Vodaphone. I have found very little difference between the same TMC aerial on the 940 or 530 in performance.

The problem with the 940 was when it briefly got a vodaphone signal and lost it again the TMC would start searching for a signal again. It seems to take a long time to choose a signal and manual input only seems to provide a starting point.

I would prefer the 940 to automatically switch to TMC when connected or have a manual selection option rather than switching on loss of mobile.

TomTom did ask me in a survey how much extra I would be willing to pay to use HD roaming abroad.
_________________
Drivelux

sonypc100 · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

So if I dont want to pay £7.99 a month and will use my TT in the USA (occasionally) am I better off buying a 930 as opposed to a 940?

cheers

rich

Darren · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject:

sonypc100 · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks Darren and is TMC more reliable than using a GPRS connection via my mobile - or is that a "can of worms" question?!

Darren · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject:

	PocketGPS
	Web