RDS-TMC

psyskiesman · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject: No service on rds-tmc

Since installing new map I have lost rds-tmc service. I'm getting the green dot to indicate service up to date, but no delays are shown. I have 2 receivers, one with barrel type plug, and other with usb. Both are behaving the same way. Has anyone else had this problem and found a fix?

mikealder · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject:

Connect the device to your PC and use Windows Explorer to locate the UK&ROI or Western_Europe map folder as applicable, open this folder and take a look at the file size of the following two files:

tmccodes.dat
traffic.dat

If they are 0Kb the map hasn't been fully installed by TomTom Home, this is know problem with the recent v835 update.

Locate the map download file on your PC and unzip it, then copy the two files to your map folder on the TomTom - Mike

psyskiesman · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject:

Sorry, forgot to say that I've already done that and deleted the gns data file, but still no joy. Just contemplating a full backup from prior to this problem,

bloater · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 01, 2004 Posts: 91

You have got to the same point I did. For me though, not even the backup got anything fixed. I even did the full format, twice, becuse TT support couldn't read the previous responses.

After a prompting from on here, my device is now on its way back to Holland, hopefully to get fixed. It got collected yesterday, and I will post once I hear what is wrong with it. I can't believe a map update would break the hardware, but who knows.

I'll let you know.

Gary

psyskiesman · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:

Instead of doing a complete install from backup, I copied over just the map (from computer) to replace the latest version (on TomTom). Everything working as it should. Now I'm going to re-install the latest map to see what happens.

psyskiesman · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

Okay, after re-installing the latest map, RDS-TMC has stopped working again, even after checking the tmccodes.dat file and the traffic.dat file. I've once again reverted to my previous map and all is working as it should, so I guess I'll have to wait for some incredibly gifted soul to post a definitive fix for this problem. Until then, a big "thanks" to all you guys who make PocketGPS such a brilliant site.

Stocky69 · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

diesel_dog · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 08, 2009 Posts: 6

Hiya this may sound a daft question but what is the difference between the 2 receiver's ?? is one just powered and one not?? Which is the better of the 2, ta Smile

mikealder · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:20 pm Post subject:

The one with the round plug is powered from the device and remains active with the ignition switched off taking power from the built in battery of the nav unit.

The one with the Mini USB takes its power from the ciggy charger lead so with the ignition off the RDS-TMC de-powers and loses its signal lock.

In use they are about the same in terms of reception, the mini USB style unit possibly being slightly better for reception but if you shut the car down for any reason the unit drops the connection which can take a considerable time to re-acquire when in areas of marginal signal coverage - Mike

Stocky69 · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

bloater · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 01, 2004 Posts: 91

Mine is fixed, apparently.

Had an email from TomTom today saying that my device is fixed. They are saying that the RDS-TMC hardware had an intermittent fault, so they are replacing it. Intermittent must mean all the time, as I couldn't get it to work at all.

I have asked the question about testing with the latest map, and they are going to do that before shipping it back to me on Thursday. So once they actually decided to do something, after a prod from here Smile

, it has all gone quite quickly, other than 3 calls to UPS to get it collected.

I have put to the tech bod that the hardware failed at exactly the same time as the map was installed, but they haven't made anything of this. I have also told them, that there are others suffering the same problems after installing that map, we'll see if anything comes of it.

I'll update once I receive my device back, hopefully with the latest application, and current maps, tested, as that's what I have requested.

Cheers.

Gary

Calomax · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject:

I spent a week in the UK last week and used my RDS-TMC. 4 times during the week I noticed the traffic bar was missing. Each time it reappeared on resetting the device.

I do have the mini-usb version but my car socket is permanently live so it only went off when I turned the device off.
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TT Go Essential

muddymickey · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 08, 2009 Posts: 7

Hi all

Thought I'd join this thread; I own a 520T device and some time ago, I stopped receiving traffic data via my RDS-TMC device. It has worked previously, if a bit patchy.

I can't say for sure, but I think it stopped working around the time I last updated the software.

When I power the device on, it knows the RDS-TMC antenna is connected as I get the message in the top RHS of the screen. However, all I ever get it the car symbol with swirling arrow. I've not had any data for weeks.

Do these sound classic symptoms of needing the 2 files (tmccodes.dat
and traffic.dat) sorting ?
I can't look until I get home.

I've rapidly come to the conclusion that TT support is a complete waste of time...I raised the issue via online support. A couple of days later and I get the "backup/restore" advice, which unsurprisingly makes sod all difference, other than wasting another hour of my life.
I reported back that it made no difference and was told to try a slightly more involved backup/reinstall procedure where I only restore specific folders.
I did this, and not only has it made sod all difference and wasted another hour of my life, but now the computer/synthesized voices no longer work either.
Have reported this back via online support and not heard any more.

So, with a holiday looming this weekend involving a several hour trip with a 1 year old in the back of the car, I really wanted to have some traffic info - so I thought - I know, I'll buy the 12 month combined subscription to GPRS Traffic and Speed Cameras. So I did.
Eventually got a wireless connection setup with my phone, got my TomTom login details accepted, and TomTom services on my device shows that I have bought a Speed Camera subscription, so all was looking good.
I then tried to access Traffic, but it tells me I don't have a valid subscription. There is also no traffic bar on the screen Mad

So I opened a support request about this issue, explaining that I have setup the wireless connection OK as my device knows about the Speed camera service I just bought.
Got a reply the next day - telling me how to setup my wireless connection Mad

I have replied to that and....not heard any more.

So I have a 520T, that can't get Traffic data over RDS-TMC, thinks I don't have a GRPS Traffic subscription that I just paid for, and no longer has any synthesized voices.

EDIT: While

about with the thing yesterday at my office desk during my lunch hour (about the only time I've ever used it on battery - always powered in the car or on the dock) - I discovered the battery only just lasts about 15-20 minutes from a full charge before it briefly flashes a low battery image and switches off. It's less than a year old and has hardly ever been used on battery so it shouldn't be worn out through charge/discharge cycles. Mad

Thanks TomTom !

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1936

My Go730 has the Round-Pin type RDS receiver. Last week I traveled from Spain to the UK via France and then back again to Spain. These are my findings regarding the RDS reception during this trip :-

Spain -- Girona to French border at La Boulou. Virtually no signal to be of any value. 1/10

France -- La Boulou to Caen. Perfect fix at all times, normally never more than 30 minutes out of date. Loads of alternative routes advised and not a single delay/accident encountered. Motorways and small roads alike. 10/10

UK --The S.E. including Hants & Beds. Very patchy updates, sometimes 3 or 4 hours between information. Appeared to be better at rush hours, sometimes updating at 15 minute intervals - but only rarely. Normally running with a greyed-out circle icon. 3/10

My conclusion is that RDS is possibly working in the UK even when we think it isn't. The RDS data supplied, or the way that it is provided could be at fault and not necessarily the TT.

But this does not account for TT's which have been running perfectly well until a recent upgrade.
_________________
Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

muddymickey · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 08, 2009 Posts: 7

OK, I have solved the problem of my GPRS Traffic subscription not being received, and hopefully RDS-TMC will work too when I set off for work shortly. Had I read the threads on this site sooner I wouldn't have needed to get the GPRS traffic as RDS-TMC would be working again, but hey-ho !

As suggested, I had a look for the two files, tmccodes.dat and traffic.dat.

Sure enough, both were there but with zero size.

I went to extract new copies from my map file - but couldn't find a map file anywhere on my PC, which was odd.
So I removed the maps off my device (I had a backup) to force TT Home to re-download them. It did, and installed them back on my device.

I went back in to the maps folder on my 520, to delete the zero-length files - and found that they weren't zero length - but instead were correct, the same size as in the newly-downloaded archive.
Sure enough, my GPRS Traffic started working.

Since I last updated my maps, I brought TT Home up to the latest version on my PC (one of the steps TT recommended in their usual restore/update procedure) so I can only assume TT Home has been updated to correctly install these files. Unfortunately the instructions from TT support haven't told me to re-download the maps, only the application, which is why their advice hasn't cured the problem. I just copied my mapsettings.cfg back from my map backup and Bob's your Uncle.

A HUGE thankyou to those on this forum who found this solution - and no thanks at all to TT support !

Cheers
Lee

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