Dublin GPS live traffic updates system

IIMII

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about this new system:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1217/1224260838940.html

Apologies if it has been posted already - had a mooch around and couldn't locate any references..

Live satnav system set to make light weather of heaviest traffic

TIM O'BRIEN
Thu, Dec 17, 2009
DUBLIN CITY Council has announced a new system of live traffic information on road closures, crashes and even weather conditions, to be broadcast direct to in-car satellite navigation (satnav) systems.
However, the system will not be available on most currently owned satnavs without modification and an upgrade of existing maps.
Announcing an agreement with Hungarian firm TrafficNav, the city council yesterday said the new system “will not only show the nature of a traffic problem when it occurs, but will also show its exact location, while also providing an alternative route to avoid the traffic issue and reach the desired destination”.
The council said other information “such as weather warnings will also be included to make motorists aware of possible dangerous road conditions”.
The council was not able to give a specific date for the system to be available to car drivers.
TrafficNav said its service would be available on new Map Master satnav systems as well as on products from one other “big name”, which it could not identify for contractual reasons. This was also dependent on owners of these systems having the latest system maps on their devices.
To access the system, most current holders of satnavs such as Garmin or Tom Tom will have to ensure their device is enabled to receive an FM broadcast of a Traffic Message Channel (TMC).
If the device is not TMC- enabled, a piece of additional hardware can be purchased to upgrade it.
After this, holders of current satnavs will have to install the latest maps of Dublin, which must include the Samuel Beckett bridge, which opened last week.
A spokesman for Dublin City Council said such systems were the norm across Europe and the council saw the provision of traffic information via TrafficNav as complementary to its dedicated radio programme Live Drive on 103.2FM and the SMS and e-mail traffic alert systems provided at www.dublinregionaltraffic.ie
Laszlo Heckenast, TrafficNav managing director, said the company’s experience in Slovenia and Hungary had shown that once the traffic information was available on one satellite service, other manufacturers would have to offer it, on the basis of competition.
For existing users, he said, “the likelihood is that you have to buy a piece of hardware and upgrade maps”. The new service may be available to owners of new satnav equipment as early as January, he added.
© 2009 The Irish Times

mrmac

Sounds good.
Wonder if it'll be available country wide, or just Dublin?

KoolKid

TMC has been around a long time now..I would really prefer to see live services launched in Ireland.

gqma0

Great. Let's see how accurate this will be.

From experience, TMC isn't the most accurate update and can actually increase the trip time even though the congestions have eased.

re. Live services from TT, I'd be really looking forward to this. Some of the live services actually work here.

gqma0

I tuned in manually on 103.2 and got no TMC info on the GPS.

Glorya

What kind of GPS do you have?
Did you read: "However, the system will not be available on most currently owned satnavs without modification and an upgrade of existing maps."?

KoolKid

gqma0 wrote: »

I tuned in manually on 103.2 and got no TMC info on the GPS.

Tuned in on what!!!

gqma0

My GPS is TT go 740 Live with a RDS-TMC Cradle.

Scanning for TMC doesn't collect anything and 103.2 frequency as per the article doesn't neither

Glorya

It might helps you:
1.I have a Sat Nav device already, Will TMC work on it?
Not as it is, but you will most likely be able to download an update. The technology used in TMC requires the manufacturer of a Sat Nav device to implement a service specific database into their maps and software. Contact the manufacturer/retailer about the availability of an upgrade containing those databases.
In addition, you may also need to purchase a traffic receiver, which is in effect a special radio receiver that can decode RDS-TMC data.

2. What do I need to do to get TMC to work on my Device?
Contact your manufacturer/retailer about the availability of an update. Please bear in mind that it may take some time until such an update is released commercially, as enabling a device is a complex task and some manufacturers, particularly in the automotive industry apply quite long update cycles (e.g. some release only scheduled updates only twice or ven once every year).

3. How much will it cost to upgrade?
If the update involves only the software update to enable the device for traffic, the update will be free of charge. However, some devices will also require a map update. This means that apart from enabling the device for receiving TMC traffic information, you will also receive the latest map (e.g. a map that already included the new Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin) database. Depending on your original purchase deal, some manufacturers will charge you for the map update – but if they do, they would also charge you even if the update did not include traffic.
4. Do I need any other equipment to receive TMC broadcasts?
As RDS-TMC has not been previously available in Ireland, several manufactures sold devices without a traffic receiver, thus reducing the initial cost of their device. (Devices with Ireland and UK only maps are more likely to have been sold like that than devices with full European mapping.) To enable such a device for RDS-TMC, apart from enabling the software, you will also need to purchase a TMC traffic receiver. The typical cost is €30-50, depending on the manufacturer.
In some cheaper or older devices it may be impossible to connect such a traffic receiver, in which case the entire unit will need to be replaced.
5. What is TMC?
TMC stands for Traffic Message Channel, a digital data stream that informs the satellite navigation device about road closures and congestions. These messages (or traffic alerts) are carried as part of the RDS data by FM radio stations and are regularly downloaded to the device. The downloaded traffic alerts are then used by the navigation application to recalculate your travel time and, if available, plan an alternative route avoiding those problems.
6. Why can’t I always receive TMC alerts?
TMC coverage is smaller than that of the radio programme carrying the TMC service, therefore white spots do exist. Reception can also be affected in built-up areas.
7. Will I incur roaming charges if I use TMC abroad?
No. All TMC services available on your device are provided as part of a lifetime subscription that came with the device. You will not incur further charges whether you use TMC in your home country or abroad (where available).


(http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/Traffic/Pages/TMC%28TrafficManagementChannel%29.aspx)

gqma0

Glorya, Thks for that.

I still don't get it how I need to install an update to use it in Ireland when I don't need to do anything else over in Europe (Already used in France, UK and Belgium last summer)

Glorya wrote: »

It might helps you:
1.I have a Sat Nav device already, Will TMC work on it?
Not as it is, but you will most likely be able to download an update. The technology used in TMC requires the manufacturer of a Sat Nav device to implement a service specific database into their maps and software. Contact the manufacturer/retailer about the availability of an upgrade containing those databases.
In addition, you may also need to purchase a traffic receiver, which is in effect a special radio receiver that can decode RDS-TMC data.

2. What do I need to do to get TMC to work on my Device?
Contact your manufacturer/retailer about the availability of an update. Please bear in mind that it may take some time until such an update is released commercially, as enabling a device is a complex task and some manufacturers, particularly in the automotive industry apply quite long update cycles (e.g. some release only scheduled updates only twice or ven once every year).

3. How much will it cost to upgrade?
If the update involves only the software update to enable the device for traffic, the update will be free of charge. However, some devices will also require a map update. This means that apart from enabling the device for receiving TMC traffic information, you will also receive the latest map (e.g. a map that already included the new Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin) database. Depending on your original purchase deal, some manufacturers will charge you for the map update – but if they do, they would also charge you even if the update did not include traffic.
4. Do I need any other equipment to receive TMC broadcasts?
As RDS-TMC has not been previously available in Ireland, several manufactures sold devices without a traffic receiver, thus reducing the initial cost of their device. (Devices with Ireland and UK only maps are more likely to have been sold like that than devices with full European mapping.) To enable such a device for RDS-TMC, apart from enabling the software, you will also need to purchase a TMC traffic receiver. The typical cost is €30-50, depending on the manufacturer.
In some cheaper or older devices it may be impossible to connect such a traffic receiver, in which case the entire unit will need to be replaced.
5. What is TMC?
TMC stands for Traffic Message Channel, a digital data stream that informs the satellite navigation device about road closures and congestions. These messages (or traffic alerts) are carried as part of the RDS data by FM radio stations and are regularly downloaded to the device. The downloaded traffic alerts are then used by the navigation application to recalculate your travel time and, if available, plan an alternative route avoiding those problems.
6. Why can’t I always receive TMC alerts?
TMC coverage is smaller than that of the radio programme carrying the TMC service, therefore white spots do exist. Reception can also be affected in built-up areas.
7. Will I incur roaming charges if I use TMC abroad?
No. All TMC services available on your device are provided as part of a lifetime subscription that came with the device. You will not incur further charges whether you use TMC in your home country or abroad (where available).


(http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/Traffic/Pages/TMC%28TrafficManagementChannel%29.aspx)

Alun

gqma0 wrote: »

I still don't get it how I need to install an update to use it in Ireland when I don't need to do anything else over in Europe (Already used in France, UK and Belgium last summer)

In some countries, a TMC sevce is provided free, such as in France and Belgium. In all other cases you must have a subscription of some sort, be it a paid one, one that came wth the GPS, or a trial one that also came with the GPS. My 760 came with a lifetime sub to TrafficMaster in the UK, for example.

You can check what subs you have, if any, by going to Tools > Setup > Traffic > Show Subscriptions (you must have your GPS connected to the traffic reciever, i.e. for many Garmins have it in the cradle with power connected, as the receiver is actually built into the plug).

You can check on http://www.tmcforum.com/en/about_tmc/tmc_services_today/ to see what services are provided where and by whom.

Glorya

gqma0 wrote: »

My GPS is TT go 740 Live with a RDS-TMC Cradle.

Scanning for TMC doesn't collect anything and 103.2 frequency as per the article doesn't neither

Dear gqma0!
The article says that once the traffic information was available on one satellite service, other manufacturers would have to offer it, on the basis of competition. According to this article (http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/New-TMC-Traffic-Launched-in-Ireland_a1934.html) up till now only Royaltek Mapmaster is sign up for the TMC service but probably TomTom has to sign up for it soon as well.
I think you should check the TomTom news - about TMC capability in Ireland - in the beginning of next year.