Sony TMC units... any reviews?

2216 · Regular Visitor Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 245

Dippy the part No is wjax-49fm. A German site is selling it for 111 euros + delivery or a UK site for £159.99 inc delivery.
I have found that the Sony ext GPS antenna as well as improving the GPS signal has improved the TMC signal so much that it is now on 95% of the time. At £39 through UK discount site it was money well spent.

Dippy · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 124

Thanks 2216. Whilst £39 sounds like a reasonable investment, I was actually asking pberesford about the 2.99 Maplin option! :D

Nonetheless, that's interesting - does the external gps thing you bought have to sit outside the car on a magnetic base, or can it sit on the dash?

My U-70t popped up a TMC message and redirected me this morning on my commute - although of course on getting to work colleagues who had come the usual way reported no issues with the road. Ah well.

swing · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject:

2216 · Regular Visitor Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 245

Dippy m8 I got the ext GPS antenna because while driving in London the GPS signal was on and off making it unreliable to navigate.
The ext antenna is fully waterproofed with a magnetic base and a 15 metre cable. It is small enough to place anywhere on the outside of the car. I think the TMC has improved because of the lenght of the cable is acting as an extended FM aeriel.

I hope this helps.

pberesford · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 31, 2006 Posts: 3

I bought the Ariel in-store but I think it's this one

JM10L 6-Section Aerial 547 in Stock £2.99
RK49D.

Using the wire Ariel from Sony, I stripped a little plastic back to expose the wire and attached this to the Maplin Ariel.
The two plastic suckers are used to mount the Ariel to the inside of the window screen. I have run the excess wire neatly up the side of the rubber on the driver side door column.

The last few days the required signal strength has approx. 80% but then the weather is clear and still.

I also find inputting the frequency manually (100.1 or 101.1) works better too. Even though the signal shows no bars I still get TMC data.

Dippy · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 124

Thanks for those replies guys. The aerial part number did pinpoint it or me, so I might well have a go at that. Having said that I can confirm that yes, it's WAY better if you use manual frequency input. In my case, 100.9 is the magic number.

As to the external GP aerial, doesn't that mean you need the window open to get the wire through? Not keen on that!

Given that only Classic FM carries the TMC data (as I understand it) in the UK, you don't need autotuning on anyway. On a long journey if I lose TMC I just see what the car radio thinks is the best Classic FM frequency at that point and manually set the Sony to that. Seems to improve the TMC lock.

On another topic, I'm unclear about the POI. They ONLY appear on the 2d view, right? But on just one or two occasions I've had petrol stations appear on 3d, although not in a replicable way (ie they're there on the outward journey but not the return, for example). Manual says nothing about POI not appearing in 3d view.

Dippy · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 124

Oops - sorry, in my previous I meant 101.9 is the magic number.

swing · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject:

Dippy · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 124

Thanks swing. I see I wrote somethinmg different from that which I meant. I intended to convey that Classic is the only station carrying iTIS data; which isn't what I said!

Yes, autotuning is needed when traversing long distances, unless you adopt the manual method I described. I agree it ought to be seamless, but the Sony unit appears to be a little persnicketty in that regard. But I still prefer it to a TomTom.

Thanks for the clarification! It's all very new to me.

swing · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject:

kieronishere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 24, 2006 Posts: 23

Dippy - do you know if the jag has a heat reflective screen and if so could this be one of the reasons for the poor tmc reception? I am considering a U-70T or a TT710 and paying for the TT traffic service via gprs on my mobile. Why do you prefer the sony to tomtom? Oh and well done with your guide to adding safety cameras - if I go for the Sony, that is going to be invaluable as I haven't got time with 2 kids under 3 to work it out myself!

pberesford - would you mind trying the external gps antenna inside the car eg tucked under the windscreen to see if the tmc reception is still improved?

2216 · Regular Visitor Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 245

kieronishere m8. I do hope the others don't mind as you addressed your two questions to Dippy and pberesford.

You don't pay for the traffic info with the Sony you do for the Tom Tom.

It was me that had the ext gps antenna and I only wish I had a Jag so I can't help you.

kieronishere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 24, 2006 Posts: 23

Vikash_sinha · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 18, 2006 Posts: 68

I have recently nought NV-50B unit which doesnt have TMC. But if i buy a seperate cradle i can connect to TMC. But i want to know whether its worth investing the money. I stay at antwerp belgium. The sony website mentiones that TMC telecast is available in belgium. Can any one give feedback about the usage and advantage with TMC? Other wise i am very happy with sony unit except new POIs cant be added.

was2502 · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject: tmc for sony u50t

Hi i just got a sony u50t after reading the reports on this site and i couldnt get a signal on it.so i stripped about 1 inch off the wire then put the system on the right side of the steering wheel and put the standard aerial throught the door rubber(no holes made ) the feed it up to the wing and leaved it there.i then got a full signal even when i drove to wales in the hills i got 100% signal and still am .
so my tip is get the aerial outside the car and it will work fine (and i havent done the 1.03 upgrade yet)

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