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Nearest antenna transmitting TMC data in Newcastle area?
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RobertV
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Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:22 pm    Post subject: Nearest antenna transmitting TMC data in Newcastle area? Reply with quote

I have a NUVI 660 and have been unable to even get my subscription set up. Where can I go to park near an antenna transmitting TicketMaster TMC data in the Newcastle Upon Tyne area?
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mikealder
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Robert, check your e-mail as I have sent you a POI file that details the RDS-TMC transmitter locations that Traffic Master use, also is a user guide detailing how to use it on the device - Mike
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RobertV
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks a lot Mike. Much appreciated. -- Robert
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madhatter
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi just to let you know metro fm transmits the tmc data for newcastle. I live in cramlington and can pick up the tmc data fine as long as i am on the south side of Cramlintgton. If i goto Newcastle i can also pick up the tmc. Hope this helps.
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RobertV
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In looking at the POIs that MIke supplied I find that I am less than 3 miles from the Fenham transmitter site. I have yet to pick up any TMC data anywhere. When I look on the NUVI for subscription information there is nothing showing. As I understand it from the NUVI manual the subscription should be set up automatically when I receive a signal. At this point I do not know whether I have a defective GTM21 or whether it is a signal strength issue. I know that my athermic windscreen should not affect normal radio signal reception but am wondering.
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madhatter
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was told leave it turned on in the car for about an hour. The ideal position for the aerial is an L shape down the rh side of the windscreen and horizontal where the windscreen meets the dashboard. I got my 660 exchanged for a 660FM because the GTM21 died after the last firmware update. I had to leave mine in the drive for 1 hour then all worked. Hope this helps. I'm off to Newcastle this afternoon so will confirm ncle is still ok.
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adrian_anastas
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm less than a mile from the closest transmitter that is on the list that Mike has, but I've never received one message from that transmitter (Alexandra Palace). I have received messages from other transmitters (Croydon, Oxford, Dunstable etc). So my guess is that Fenham is either not currently transmitting, or no longer transmitting.

From what I can understand Traffic Master and their competitor Itis Holdings have contracts with media companies to broadcast their signals. As these media companies buy and sell radio stations (and transmitters) their coverage evolves. If you read through the forum you'll see that those in the Northwest were hit when the TM affiliated network sold the Winter Hill transmitter to the Itis affiliated network.

As a general rule if you the media companbies that Traffic Master has an agreement with you can see which stations "could" be broadcasting TM data. These are:

GCapMedia http://commercial.gcapmedia.com/index.php?id=3
Chrysalis - now owned by Global Radio http://www.globalradiosales.com/global/
Capital Radio (Now owned by GCap)

What is interesting is that GCap purchased Classic FM earlier this year, and they transmit the Itis information. Here's hoping that they'll switch to TM.
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RobertV
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have used the NUVI 660 in our Renault Scenic for two of the four weeks that I have owned the unit. In that time I have never had any indication that the TMC setup is working. So I attached the mount to a bedroom window and powered the system up from the mains. After about ten minutes I was able to see traffic messages. I checked the subscriptions and encountered the "Subscription not yet activated" message. What I did find that was odd was that clicking on the OK button for that message showed two active subscriptions. One was a TTN (US) 3 month subscription. The other was a MICHELIN (FR) Lifetime subscription. I know that others have been receiving UK traffic data when there is no UK subscription shown so I assume that it is a software issue with the GTM21. The fact that I was able to solidly receive traffic data in the house indicates to me that the other issue is one of signal level that is likely related to my type of windscreen that, though theoretically should not affect FM transmissions, does in fact attenuate just enough for an already weak signal to drop out completely. I wonder how many of those people experiencing similar loss of signal also have the new athermic windscreens.
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RobertV
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have used the NUVI 660 in our Renault Scenic for two of the four weeks that I have owned the unit. In that time I have never had any indication that the TMC setup is working. So I attached the mount to a bedroom window and powered the system up from the mains. After about ten minutes I was able to see traffic messages. I checked the subscriptions and encountered the "Subscription not yet activated" message. What I did find that was odd was that clicking on the OK button for that message showed two active subscriptions. One was a TTN (US) 3 month subscription. The other was a MICHELIN (FR) Lifetime subscription. I know that others have been receiving UK traffic data when there is no UK subscription shown so I assume that it is a software issue with the GTM21. The fact that I was able to solidly receive traffic data in the house indicates to me that the other issue is one of signal level that is likely related to my type of windscreen that, though theoretically should not affect FM transmissions, does in fact attenuate just enough for an already weak signal to drop out completely. I wonder how many of those people experiencing similar loss of signal also have the new athermic windscreens.
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RobertV
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry about the second, duplicate message. It seems that whenever the webpage expires and I press the refresh button it submits my last message again. Is there any way for me to delete the duplicate message?
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GPS_fan
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

adrian_anastas wrote:
I'm less than a mile from the closest transmitter that is on the list that Mike has, but I've never received one message from that transmitter (Alexandra Palace). I have received messages from other transmitters (Croydon, Oxford, Dunstable etc). So my guess is that Fenham is either not currently transmitting, or no longer transmitting.


Often, being too close to a transmitter can be a bad thing because the signal just goes straight over your head.

I once lived very close to a TV transmitter and we had to tune our aerial into a different transmitter many miles away, but now that most of us have cable or satellite TV, this isn't so much of a problem.
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adrian_anastas
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

GPS_fan wrote:
Often, being too close to a transmitter can be a bad thing because the signal just goes straight over your head.


Good Point. Just to be sure that this is not my issue then, would I still get a signal from this tranmitter. On the GTM Status page I get a strength of betrween 45 and 55 from this station (196). I'd also expect that as I moved away I'd start getting messages, but that does not happen.


RobertV wrote:
I wonder how many of those people experiencing similar loss of signal also have the new athermic windscreens.


In the trouble shooting guide I got from garmin it has this statement:
Quote:
Some vehicles are fitted with UV reflective and heated front windscreens, again these will block the FM signals so you will not get traffic updates. If you have any of these screens then the best log term fix is the GTM10 which is wired into the radio antenna in your car.


You could try hanging the antenna out the window to see if it is your windscreen.
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swing
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Certainly in the early days of my Nuvi ownership, I could get an occasional signal from my GTM12 in my car, but my wife's car (with an athermic windscreen) NEVER got a TMC signal. Not tried it since.
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adrian_anastas
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

swing wrote:
Certainly in the early days of my Nuvi ownership, I could get an occasional signal from my GTM12 in my car, but my wife's car (with an athermic windscreen) NEVER got a TMC signal. Not tried it since.


Over the last week I've seen quite an improvement in coverage with a GTM 12, but when you've only been getting coverage 10% of the time, doubling it is still only getting coverage 20% of the time.

Do you mind letting us know what you're using now? I can see in other forums a lot of talk about splicing into the external aerial of the car to improve reception. Is this the best way to get good coverage?
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swing
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Soon after the car manufacturer provided a SatNav CD with TMC, so I have never felt the need to try the GTM12 with the athermic windscreen since.

For my own car, I now use a GTM10 permanently wired into the car aerial, although I still use the GTM12 from time to time.
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