2004 COMAND Navigation CD is TMC Enabled.... just....

[saorbust]

Ref Test Disc - that would be telling.

Let me know how you get on - be curious to see what you think of it.

 

[barflux]

clegsr

I went back to The Tele Atlas website and noticed the note on motorways too, so I called them up today, and they said it does cover A roads B roads, etc... I shall be getting my disc by Friday as it is on Express Delivery and will check it out next week.

Also on the German discs it says the same as the UK disc about TMC codes. Anyone know what is exactly covered in the UK under TMC, I waiting to hear back from ITIS.

N

 

[db1]

Hi there,

I was considering buying one of these if:

TMC works - I am concerned that you have to tune to Classic FM - does that mean if you are not listening to Classic FM you have no TMC?? That would be aweful.

Postcodes work - on the website it says you can use UK postcodes and house numbers.

Pse post your findings asap! We're keen to find out.

thanks

DB1

 

[saorbust]

In other countries TMC works for A / B roads - in the UK it doesn't. Sorry. It only covers motorways. This is a limitation of the COMAND system itself and the software within it.

Regarding your radio - COMAND will automatically tune to Classic FM to pickup the TMC carrier. If you are listening to CD's, or something else via the Aux port, no problem - you can carry on. However if you re-tune the radio you loose the reception of the TMC data - the data you already have is cached in memory. The TMC logo will change on the map screen - I think its a different colour, and you'll get a warning message.

TMC covers all the road network in the UK, however our system is the limiting factor here - not the broadcast.

Incidently the TMC system here is a LOT better than abroad - hence the cost of the disc - you are effectively paying a license for it.

 

[barflux]

Hi got my new nav cd today, and as saorbust says, it only covered the Motorways, which is not much use sadly.

saorbust, will their be any service comand cds to fix this on the comand.

Sadly a little disappointed.

If you do motorway driving then you can consider buying it if not then forget it till they sort out the comand, if they ever do.

N

 

[db1]

Hi got my new nav cd today, and as saorbust says, it only covered the Motorways, which is not much use sadly.

saorbust, will their be any service comand cds to fix this on the comand.

Sadly a little disappointed.

If you do motorway driving then you can consider buying it if not then forget till they sort out the comand, if they ever do.

N

Does it allow the use of UK Postcodes.

BTW: See the response from Teleatlas....

Thank you very much for your email from 16 December
and for your interest in our Tele Atlas navigation CD's.

If in both your Mercedes-Benz vehicles with Comand
navigation system, you have the small arrow display,
then you need for both vehicles the Blaupunkt non dx
compatible Tele Atlas CD's.

I have asked my colleagues if your navigation systems
support TMC. I expect to have their answer within 1-3 days.
Upon their answer I will contact you again.

Our current CD Great Britain + Belfast 2003 does not
support TMC.

With this CD it is possible to select 4-digit post code
districts in Greater-London.

Best regards,
Nicole H.
Tele Atlas Navshop

 

[barflux]

The post code feature was in my 2003 cd, you can only enter the first half in place of a city, i.e NW1

It is also in the 2004 too, I haven't checked if it does the whole post code yet, will check later on for you.

Someone needs to get in touch with Mercedes Benz too, to get them to explain what they are playing at with a TMC system that only works on Motorways because only their system can't hack it?

N

 

[Shude]

Someone needs to get in touch with Mercedes Benz too, to get them to explain what they are playing at with a TMC system that only works on Motorways because only their system can't hack it?

Well, comand is just a pretty version of the travelpilot, bosch/blaupunkt make it for audi as well as a few other brands, same unit different name. MB themselves don't make any part of it, it's Bosch who should get the shouting at if anyone .

BTW I discovered with my disc that you can put the first part of the postcode in for anywhere in Britain, not just london .

 

[clegsr]

I don't think the Classic FM only thing is a big problem becuase as I understand it, when you key in the destination you need to have Classic FM tuned in so it can check the route, but after the route calculation you could tune in to a different station.

The only thing you will be missing is/are traffic problems which occur and are reported whilst you are driving - which I reckon will only be a very small part of the service.

I think the TMC system updates are for major diversions/road closures, contraflows etc.

I don't think you will miss much as I don't think TMC provides updates on small hold-ups which clear within 30 minutes or so - like individual breakdowns or accidents.

 

[saorbust]

Well, comand is just a pretty version of the travelpilot, bosch/blaupunkt make it for audi as well as a few other brands, same unit different name. MB themselves don't make any part of it, it's Bosch who should get the shouting at if anyone .

BTW I discovered with my disc that you can put the first part of the postcode in for anywhere in Britain, not just london .

Absolutely correct. Its actually Bosch / Blaupunkt who are responsible - not MB. Given MB are not using them for the newest version of COMAND - I can't see them being keen.

Post codes do work - up to the second part numerical part of the post code. EG - for EC1 9LE you can type "EC1_9" - and then browse a list of streets.

I think you'll find you need the DX Version as well - check the screen on power up - if it shows the DX icon then you know ! DX has been used since at least year 2000 models.

TMC is only supported on the 2004 CD's for the UK.

 

[jimmy]

It would be interesting to know if the new TMC disc will work with my Blaupunkt Travelpilot. It uses DX discs and I am currently using 2003 which uses postcodes for the whole of the UK. My Travelpilot is TMC enabled, just been waiting for the discs to become available.

I want TMC but only if it covers all major roads and not just M-ways. I have tried several times to scan for TMC stations but always get the message 'NO TMC' I presume this is because the TMC codes are not on my current CD?

 

[richard]

IT should work with Travelpilot DX the disks have always been the same (asuming your travelpilot supports TMC!)

Im not quite sure how it can be "COMAND" at fault that A and B roads are not supported - why on earth would COMAND be treating A/B/any roads differently when calculating stuff [apart from classing roads to guess at average speed limits]
The only thing that I can think of is that the UK tmc service people are using some type of extended format of TMC codes (which they have used for a/b roads), and the COMAND software doesnt understand them.

Bosch/Blaupunkt did release a s/w update (called MY2001) even though the E class was already getting Becker only kit (i.e the audio-50-aps and the new COMAND planned, with Harmon Kardon speakers), so there is some sort of service contract.

The interesting thing (Jimmy) would be to know if the Travelpilot DX works with the A+B roads whereas COMAND doesnt.

My disk (£155 - ouch!) is due next week. The "michelin" version isnt due until May according to the lady I talked to earlier.

If they stay at that price (presumably most of the difference goes to the TMC supplier) I hope they start giving a discount for sending the old CD back, or i wont be replacing my CD every time a new one comes out

Richard

 

[barflux]

Jimmy,

All the roads should be covered on all aftermarket Blaupunkt systems but not factory fitted navigation systems. (was told this by Tele Atlas)

I havn't updated my system yet with the new system cd, not sure if that makes a difference.

Also how do I get 50m scale, I still have 100m as the smallest.

N

 

[mapleleaf]

Just got my teleatlas DX NAv map with TMC.

Popped it into comand and it self loaded the new stuff.

Tried a route and selected tmc (you have to switch off comand then back on again after loading new disk for comand to recognise the new options under settings.)

TMC duly searched for the Classic FM radio station and away we went - BUT .... if you then put your radio to a "normal" station (I'm not into classics) you get a warning message saying you lose the TMC facility !

Thats not very convenient to say the least. I can listen to CD's but If I want Radio it looks like I'll have to have a seperate radio tuner in teh glove box or somewhere, tuned to my favourite station and connected to comand via the aux input .

Or does anyone have another solution


The map seems a lot better with the postcode facility extending to the first character of the second part to get down to street level . House numbers are still in groups though.

I mildly itrritating feature is that when entering an address and getting street names it adds [GB] to each one! But its a GB map disk ! Oh, must be because they've added some Eire addresses , why not just put [IE] for those then as there are fewer of them ??

Bottom line is I'm not sure its quite ready yet ! unless its comand that needs 2 rds tuners (I thought it had though)

 

[sym]

Thanks for the info Steve. . . as I thought, after using a TMC enabled disk in Germany, and experiencing the same thing when switching away from TMC radio station. Very annoying !

Wonder if there is any way to avoid this problem ?

I think I'll be waiting a bit longer before investing in a UK TMC disk though !

S.

 

[jimmy]

@Steve

It would be really interesting to know if the TMC and twin tuner thing is the same for my TravelPilot. Like you I dont want to listen to Classic FM all the time (at all)!

How could I go about getting an evaluation copy before I buy? Do you think it could be possible?

 

[mapleleaf]

@Steve

It would be really interesting to know if the TMC and twin tuner thing is the same for my TravelPilot. Like you I dont want to listen to Classic FM all the time (at all)!

How could I go about getting an evaluation copy before I buy? Do you think it could be possible?

I'm going to try to make a backup disk as I like to keep the original in the house. But it says that the disk is copy protected. I'll see how it goes and post my findings.

 

[Ralph]

I'm going to try to make a backup disk as I like to keep the original in the house. But it says that the disk is copy protected. I'll see how it goes and post my findings.

Were you able to create a backup disk?

Ralph

 

[mapleleaf]

I eventually managed to create a disk but it was a bit hit and miss. I tried a few. Some worked and some didnt.

 

[Paul Grainger]

This disc is difficult to copy - but it can be done if, like me, you don't like leaving very expensive discs in your car. The disc protection is Safedisc 2/3.
Clone CD / Nero / etc didn't want to know on my system. They all copied the disc with an identical bit count, but the discs just wouldn't work......

Paul G