This thing called Command is stupid

[whitenemesis]

But not integrated into giving you turn by turn directions. Back to map reading ?

 

[crockers]

A bit off topic I know, but Google maps is on of the best for producing a route which can be printed out for you to follow. After selecting the start and finish points it calculates a route in about a second. You can then select a part of the route and drag it to a new location. You can keep doing this to create your own route. It is the best and fastest route planner I have ever seen.

If I remember if you plotted a trip from New York to London it has you swimming across the Atlantic.....or has that been fixed??:bannana:


NOW FIXED..........

 

[toby1]

Slightly off-topic I'm afraid. My Comand when selecting the TMC option, very often says "recalculating your route due to traffic disruptions".

All well and good, but after it's finished "recalculating", it never plots a different route than the one with which I started! This happens all the time. Wherever I go, and this it notified, it never plots a different route.

Should it, or am I expecting too much?

 

[MBManInKen]

Should it, or am I expecting too much?

It will divert you. but not always. TMC contains information about the type and severity of the delay on route. It is quite possible that even with a disruption en route, the set route is still better than a divert.

 

[glojo]

As usual I agree with Guido and would suggest that if it does recalculate and it does find a new route......... I would take it.

it is possible that the delay has cleared but far better to go a few miles out of your way rather than the old....... "If only!"

Regards
John

 

[toby1]

If it ever does plot a new route, then I will take it. I'm just surprised that it never has in 9 months of ownership. The most common route I take is from Newbury to Cambridge.

So it always plots M4, M25 and M11. There are often delays on the M4 and M25. On a Friday night the warning is heard two or three times I would say.

I can remember one occasion where it said there were traffic delays after I'd passed Reading. It was the J8 Maidenhead bit that had a tailback. Now, I know one can come off there and turn left and then pick up the M40 near Marlow.

There is a manual button one can press to tell it there is a queue and it will calculate a route based upon exiting at the next junction.

However, I will wait to see if it ever re-calculates a route for me. I'm not holding my breath though...!

 

[whitenemesis]

I travel the dreaded A34 often and my COMAND is always redirecting me! As John says I always take the advice and have not been diappointed so far

Toby1 how do you know it hasn't changed the route? When COMAND first calculated the route it would have taken any exsisting problems into account. These may clear once you set off. Do you ever see red cars or even road closed symbls on the map display?

 

[MBManInKen]

I'm just surprised that it never has in 9 months of ownership.

Whitenemesis suggested a good question: do you see the symbols coming up, like the triangle symbol etc? If you receive TMC info, it should display automatically the dashed lines indicating the blocked sections and show warning symbols. If that does not appear anywhere en route, then it has received no such information for your route and consequently will not calculate a diversion.

So it always plots M4, M25 and M11. There are often delays on the M4 and M25.

I live in London, and I often go out on the M4 and M25 and it has happened a few times that TMC guides me around specific problems on those two motorways. Of course, sometimes the alternative routes are congested and busy, especially within the M25 area.

I think many people underestimate the time a diversion can take, it would often be quicker to drive in slower traffic or even stand still for a few minutes along the calculated route.

 

[toby1]

Do you ever see red cars or even road closed symbls on the map display?

Yes, I have seen the road closed symbol on one occasion and sure enough the M25 was closed at the M40 junction. However, it still did not direct me where to go. I did have enough notice to exit at a junction before I reached it.

I've never seen a red car symbol.

I have seen the road change colour to diagonal red/white stripes, which I believe indicates congestion.

 

[toby1]

I think many people underestimate the time a diversion can take, it would often be quicker to drive in slower traffic or even stand still for a few minutes along the calculated route.

This could well be the case. The longest I've been delayed in slow-moving traffic is 45 mins, moving at around 20-30 mph with some stationary periods. If I was not between suitable junctions then it could be just as well to stay crawling on the motorway.

I also find it odd that only Classic FM transmit the TMC signal. So I can't listen to any other radio station. Nothing against Classic FM, but on a Friday night I want to listen to Tongy on Radio 1, so I put a CD on!

 

[crockers]

This could well be the case. The longest I've been delayed in slow-moving traffic is 45 mins, moving at around 20-30 mph with some stationary periods. If I was not between suitable junctions then it could be just as well to stay crawling on the motorway.

I also find it odd that only Classic FM transmit the TMC signal. So I can't listen to any other radio station. Nothing against Classic FM, but on a Friday night I want to listen to Tongy on Radio 1, so I put a CD on!

Does one have to be listening to the station that transmits TMC for it to be activated? I thought it was automatic no matter what station one listend to..

 

[Diesel Benz]

Does one have to be listening to the station that transmits TMC for it to be activated? I thought it was automatic no matter what station one listend to..

I thought the car should be able to use its diversity receiver for TMC when necessary. In any case not forcing one to listen to that channel that actually provides the TMC info. I thought this was mentioned in the user guide but I was not able to find a reference.

 

[Alfie]

Does one have to be listening to the station that transmits TMC for it to be activated? I thought it was automatic no matter what station one listend to..

Yes for Comand 2, no for Comand APS.

You can listen to a CD whilst TMC navigating with comand 2 if you have a CD changer.

 

[whitenemesis]

Yes, I have seen the road closed symbol on one occasion and sure enough the M25 was closed at the M40 junction. However, it still did not direct me where to go. I did have enough notice to exit at a junction before I reached it.

I've never seen a red car symbol.

I have seen the road change colour to diagonal red/white stripes, which I believe indicates congestion.

NEVER seen a red car symbol! What about yellow?

Red is for stationary traffic, yellow for slow moving traffic. The diagonal red/white stripes I thought was the closed sections / diversion?

 

[whitenemesis]

Does one have to be listening to the station that transmits TMC for it to be activated? I thought it was automatic no matter what station one listend to..

I believe COMAND-APS has two tuners, one permanently receives TMC data.

 

[television]

Well thank you for all of the replies, I do know now that I cant set a destination while in the garage, as it must take it from maps rather than satellite.'

I cannot get TMC up at all, not even when tuned into the correct station.

Next time I go out I will try and activate it

 

[glojo]

Well thank you for all of the replies, I do know now that I cant set a destination while in the garage, as it must take it from maps rather than satellite.'

I cannot get TMC up at all, not even when tuned into the correct station.

Next time I go out I will try and activate it

That's weird. Our car is in the garage with the fully insulated double skinned door shut and it picks up the TMC signal all but instantly. The Pioneer DVD based system will ALWAYS take at the very least five minutes to get a signal and the van must be in motion.

You have seen the location of our garage and it faces directly south, but all the walls are double skinned brick and breeze block?

I just nipped into the garage and had wife put Charmouth as the destination. It instantly warned of slow moving traffic at Newton Abbot and then gave me the expected route of Exeter, Honiton and the A35?

The TMC was instant and COMAND recognised we were 'Off Road'

Regards
John

 

[toby1]

I'll read the manual again, perhaps I've missed something.

I'm off down to Taunton on Saturday so I should be clued up by then. My usual route is A34, A303 and then something else which I can't remember.

We'll see what Comand reckons.

 

[television]

That's weird. Our car is in the garage with the fully insulated double skinned door shut and it picks up the TMC signal all but instantly. The Pioneer DVD based system will ALWAYS take at the very least five minutes to get a signal and the van must be in motion.

You have seen the location of our garage and it faces directly south, but all the walls are double skinned brick and breeze block?

I just nipped into the garage and had wife put Charmouth as the destination. It instantly warned of slow moving traffic at Newton Abbot and then gave me the expected route of Exeter, Honiton and the A35?

The TMC was instant and COMAND recognised we were 'Off Road'

Regards
John

I think John there is a difference to being CD based like I am, yes you can force it to change its mind once you have started off, having motorways turned off is a no no as the farm yards are very slow driving through them

 

[glojo]

I think John there is a difference to being CD based like I am, yes you can force it to change its mind once you have started off, having motorways turned off is a no no as the farm yards are very slow driving through them

I think that is the nitty gritty of this debate. The COMAND' are different with completely different operating systems.

Regards
John