Comand Update from 2004 - worth it?

[smillion]

My W211 comand is running Version 2004/ 3.0 (Europe - DVD)

Any advice as to whether it is worth investing in an update disc - do you think I will notice the difference other than a few housing estate maps that were not there before? What other changes will have been made? Graphics?

Thanks

Marc

and would this be any good or already out of date?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220371187017

 

[Alfie]

My W211 comand is running Version 2004/ 3.0 (Europe - DVD)

Any advice as to whether it is worth investing in an update disc - do you think I will notice the difference other than a few housing estate maps that were not there before? What other changes will have been made? Graphics?

Thanks

Marc

and would this be any good or already out of date?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220371187017

The latest disk for your car is version 9. This will give you far far better mapping than version 3. The biggest benefit though is that it will give you TMC guidance. This is the dynamic route guidance around traffic congestion. Version 9 simply pops into your navigation drive and updates the software itself. It is then ready to use.

The version in your link is Version 7. Although a lot newer than your version 3, it requires a separate navigation drive update to be done. Version 9 does not need this update.

There are vendors around who are cheaper than Mercedes pricing, particularly with forum discounts

 

[verytalldave]

As Alfie says............
DRG with TMC is fantastic and worth the cost of upgrade on its own.
I actually experienced DRG for the first time last weekend while actually on the move.
I put in a route before setting off and due to traffic build-up in central Bromley, took me away from the main route. As I was being guided down roads I had never been before, the lady interjected with a statement I have never heard before..."Due to information just received at traffic control, your route is being recalculated". And off I was sent in a new direction. It must have saved me a good 15 minutes of sitting in a jam and being late.
As I said, go for it. Its money well spent.

 

[whitenemesis]

I hear that lady tellng me my route is being recalculated due to traffic reports all too often. But by God I'm very pleased I do! She has saved my literally hours over the last couple of years

 

[welland99]

How does TMC know when your route takes you near to a traffic jam? Does it have to make a phone call on your mobile phone?

What is the latest version of comand that can be installed on the unit fitted in a W210? How much does it cost?

 

[crockers]

The data is collected by sensors in Eddy Stobard lorries and Nat Express buses and relayed to a central processing centre....

 

[yachtman]

As Alfie says............
DRG with TMC is fantastic and worth the cost of upgrade on its own.
I actually experienced DRG for the first time last weekend while actually on the move.....

It is very good, mine came with 8 or 9and I recd a free update within a month of purschase. As an example Saved a half hour on the M40 @ 05:45 during lane closures & queues with a quick off at oxford services up A 40 and back on when london bound. always have it in nav mode. Seems strange at first to havnav running to oes parents! but boy does it work & save hours!!

 

[welland99]

The data is collected by sensors in Eddy Stobard lorries and Nat Express buses and relayed to a central processing centre....

And how does the central processing centre get the info to the car?

So if i go somewhere where there are no Stobart trucks and Nat Express buses then TMC doesn't work?

 

[whitenemesis]

COMAND has two radio tuners, one is permanently tuned to the traffic centre.

Whilst data is gathered from trucks and buses the centre also receives updates from other sources. TMC will be less informative / up to date on the quieter stretches. But then so will the hold-ups!

 

[richard]

The TMC data is sent along with the RDS information (station name, genre, etc) on the Classic FM station in the UK , so as Whitenemesis says, one of COMAND's tuners is tuned into that

R

 

[verytalldave]

And how does the central processing centre get the info to the car?

So if i go somewhere where there are no Stobart trucks and Nat Express buses then TMC doesn't work?

There are thousands of road traffic flow sensors covering all of the UK's main roads. They are on motorway bridges and gantries every couple of miles and London is absolutely crawling with them. The information is collected by these sensors (in effect, 'blind' speed cameras) and is fed into central and local control rooms, the emergency and breakdown services, bus depots AND the nice people than run the TMC system. Its by no means just collected by the buses and lorries mentioned. Motorway sensors are usually painted dark blue and they are always on the slip roads on and off motorways, as well as every few miles.
TMC works over the WHOLE of the UK 24/7 and is one of the few gadgets really worth having. Mind you, to make it work, you must make sure that "Dynamic Route Guidance" on your COMAND is switched ON, otherwise the TMC doesnt work as it should.

 

[whitenemesis]

There are thousands of road traffic flow sensors covering all of the UK's main roads. They are on motorway bridges and gantries every couple of miles and London is absolutely crawling with them. The information is collected by these sensors (in effect, 'blind' speed cameras) and is fed into central and local control rooms, the emergency and breakdown services, bus depots AND the nice people than run the TMC system. Its by no means just collected by the buses and lorries mentioned. Motorway sensors are usually painted dark blue and they are always on the slip roads on and off motorways, as well as every few miles.
TMC works over the WHOLE of the UK 24/7 and is one of the few gadgets really worth having. Mind you, to make it work, you must make sure that "Dynamic Route Guidance" on your COMAND is switched ON, otherwise the TMC doesnt work as it should.

You still get the traffic symbols even if you only use the MAP function

 

[verytalldave]

You still get the traffic symbols even if you only use the MAP function

Very true, but what you don't get is a new route to circumvent the hold-up. You have to figure out an alternative route for yourself.

 

[whitenemesis]

Very true, but what you don't get is a new route to circumvent the hold-up. You have to figure out an alternative route for yourself.

Yup! I use MAP all the time when in an area I know well. I get the warning of trouble ahead and figure my own diversion (without the lady getting insistant when I don't follow her guidance)

 

[richard]

The blue sensors used to only be for trafficmaster - maybee they now feed the info to ITIS who run the TMC stuff. a couple of years ago, ITIS only got its info from the mobile stuff - but looking at their website http://www.itisholdings.com/ it looks like they do have a lot more sensors now

R

 

[whitenemesis]

The blue sensors used to only be for trafficmaster - maybee they now feed the info to ITIS who run the TMC stuff. a couple of years ago, ITIS only got its info from the mobile stuff - but looking at their website http://www.itisholdings.com/ it looks like they do have a lot more sensors now

R

Looks like they are using passive mobile phone tracking to boost the data.

 

[verytalldave]

Makes radio stations traffic reporting totally redundant. Always an hour or two late anyway. TMC information is usually pretty up-to-date and reliable. I think I have only ever seen a COMAND "screen hold-up" and for there not to have been one ONLY ONCE.

 

[whitenemesis]

Makes radio stations traffic reporting totally redundant. Always an hour or two late anyway. TMC information is usually pretty up-to-date and reliable. I think I have only ever seen a COMAND "screen hold-up" and for there not to have been one ONLY ONCE.

I made the mistake of ignoring COMAND's re-routing advice just the once. Sat in a jam for ~1hr

 

[verytalldave]

Snap. Never again. I thought I knew best........................

 

[welland99]

TMC sounds really useful.

Thanks guys for your explanations of how TMC works. It sounds like it is a free service with no subscription fees. Is this right? I didn't know such a system existed.

Do any modern portable systems like Tom Tom have access to this free data? I have an older TomTom (probably about 6 years old) and this doesn't have it.

Would the comand system on a W210 be able to use the TMC system, or is it only available on newer units?