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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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I can accept the issue with the transmitter locations having a bearing on reception, in France for example a large proportion of transmitters are in towns/ cities, in the UK they are stuck on top of remote hills, often miles away from populated areas.
This only partly answers the problem for the UK, for example Navman receivers use iTIS transmitted using Classic FM, their device has worked on most trips I have made around the country, the TomTom product remains silent sitting there constantly tuning - when close to a Tx station it might work.
So if one manufacturer can get it right the issue has to be partly down to poor resceiver design. By the way this comparison is with "as supplied" receivers, no external aerials have been connected for the past few weeks.
I have said it before that these devices MUST be fitted with an external aerial socket to allow the user the option of coupling an external aerial to the device to boost reception, Navman have such a connection (even if it does use a rather strange connector) - Mike |
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AndyVaughan Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 1500 Location: Rossendale
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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The thing that annoys me the most is that you can sit and watch it scanning the entire FM frequency band, pausing at each station it finds, when in the UK it is only transmitted on a very narrow frequency band. We might stick more chance of getting a lock if it only searched between 99 and 102. TomToms answer to this was 'keep manually entering the frequency' - not a clever thing to do whilst driving.
I was on the M1 yesterday between Chesterfield and Nottingham and it kept locking on to Real FM on 106.2 (I think) before it eventually realised it wasn't getting any traffic info, and then after about half an hour it did lock on to Classic FM to warn me that the m1 was shut at Sheffield.
Kind of useless as if I didn't already know that the M1 was shut it was almost too late to do anything about it.
I tried with an external antenna for a while which did improve matters, but it was still far from ideal.
Andy |
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SpeedCam Frequent Visitor
Joined: Mar 18, 2004 Posts: 753 Location: Biggleswade, BEDS
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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:D We must be getting close, since my post TomTom have replied, there's no guarantee that the V2 will be any better than V1.
Dear Speedcam,
Thank you for contacting TomTom Customer Support.
The end of Quater 2 has aproached. Once the TMC receiver have been processed and shipped out.
You will be notified.
With Best Regards
The TomTom Customer Support Team |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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It is true at the moment that Classic FM transmits across a narrow frequency band, but iTIS holdings (the company who provide the Traffic data used by TomTom) have announced they are increasing the number of transmitters used in the UK.
This will mean other radio stations will supplement the Classic FM network, the frequencies could be anywhere in the FM band, so restricting it for use in the UK might have a counter productive edge to the longer term plans.
Extra transmitters = Improved coverage
No exact time scales as yet, just that they hope to announce the extra stations as they go live - Mike |
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AndyVaughan Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 1500 Location: Rossendale
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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That is good news as Classic FM is one of the worst signals in East Lancashire - not good for me unless I drive down the M66 (in the traffic jam) towards Manchester so that TomTom can alert me that I have just been delayed by 20 minutes!! |
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psykik Occasional Visitor
Joined: Apr 28, 2007 Posts: 28
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:48 am Post subject: |
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ok this might not matter much, but just my observation from using the tmc on a garmin unit i recently returned - the tmc actually worked on it! If garmin can get it right, why is it a problem for tomtom? |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
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For a start the Garmin product range use Traffic Master for their data provider, Traffic Master use a different network of radio transmitters (mostly local/ regional coverage).
The Garmin unit used to work in the North West until the radio station Century FM was sold at the end of last year, since this time Garmin users in the NW have been left without a signal for their devices to use.
The other explainations as to why you found the Garmin to work:
1/ Its different hardware.
2/ RDS-TMC is a postcode lottery, some areas work better than others - Mike |
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emjaiuk Frequent Visitor
Joined: Dec 06, 2003 Posts: 335 Location: North Surrey (TW17) UK
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Darren wrote: | OK, TomTom have replied to me saying an official response will be forthcoming very shortly with a resolution for all customers who've bought an RDS-TMC receiver. Can't say any more at present but will update this thread and post a news item as soon as I have received the detail. |
Darren
Has the question ever been asked of TomTom as to whether those of us who've modified our receivers will be eligable for the above 'resoloution'?
Also, you say that the existing receiver works on the continent, my experience with a modified unit in France, mainly Calais - Northern Paris, is that the reception is not a lot better than the UK. _________________ Go740L App 9.510 Europe 985.8155
RDS_TMC mount
Home 2.8.3.2499 Win10 Home |
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emjaiuk Frequent Visitor
Joined: Dec 06, 2003 Posts: 335 Location: North Surrey (TW17) UK
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Further to my previous post, I'm convinced that part of the problem with the TomTom receiver is software related. A previous poster suggested restricting the frequencies searched, and I'm sure that's a direction to follow. Several times, around Birmingham on the M6 for example, I've watched my 910 try to find a frequecy, and appartly attempt to lock onto evrything EXCEPT the one ot two it needs. Manually inputting Sutton Colfield, which can be very dangerous whilst driving, has no effect at all. All I can think of is that the alternative TM signals are stronger than ITIS at that location and are overiding the TT selection procedure. I've no knowledge of software at all, but if there was someway of getting the TT receiver to search a predetermined POI category either in order of distance or transmitter strength, I'm sure that would go a long way to solving some of there problems.
I'd be very interested in the opinions of those who are much more knowledgable than me on this subject. _________________ Go740L App 9.510 Europe 985.8155
RDS_TMC mount
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:13 am Post subject: |
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emjaiuk wrote: | Darren
Has the question ever been asked of TomTom as to whether those of us who've modified our receivers will be eligable for the above 'resoloution'?
Also, you say that the existing receiver works on the continent, my experience with a modified unit in France, mainly Calais - Northern Paris, is that the reception is not a lot better than the UK. |
It hasn't but I wouldn't expect this will be an issue, let's wait and see! _________________ Darren Griffin |
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AndyVaughan Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 1500 Location: Rossendale
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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We will have to trust you on that one Darren, as I am sure the majority of people on here have modded theirs.
I still have no update from TomTom, just a case sat on a status of Research.
Andy |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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Indeed, mine are modded (one dead due to my ham fisted soldering!).
Let me just add that if TomTom don't resolve this fairly then we will be making a big song and dance but lets give them the opportunity to state their case first. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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AndyVaughan Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 1500 Location: Rossendale
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Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:15 am Post subject: |
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Lets hope it is fairly soon as we have been waiting patiently......
Patience runs out eventually though
Andy |
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AndyVaughan Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 1500 Location: Rossendale
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Got a reply from TomTom - only taken them 3 days to bother replying and then you get this as a reply as to when I should expect to receive my v2 RDS-TMC:
Response (John G. (UK)) 03/07/2007 06.34 AM
Dear Mr ,
Thank you for contacting TomTom Customer Support.
We are sorry for the inconvenience and annoyance this incident caused. Unfortunatley, we do not have the requested item in stock available for process .
While we make every attempt to ensure that our products are only the best on the market, we are more than apoligitic that this unfortunate incident has occurred.
Please, be advised that as soon as we have the requested RDS TMC reciever in stock we will immedialty contact you.
With Best Regards
The TomTom Customer Support Team
They can't even spell - never mind not having a clue what is happening or when they will be available.
This is getting me close to taking legal advice on this matter as they either refuse to answer or just fob you off again.
Andy |
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AndyVaughan Lifetime Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 1500 Location: Rossendale
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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I think they are getting fed up with me now - I responded to the reply above saying that the response was not good enough and I have been waiting 4 months now and I got another reply that basically said as soonas we have any we will contact you.
Anyone else get the impression that this is not a matter of days away, but a matter of months?
Andy |
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