Traffic information (TIM) & TP. RCD510

[rotelman]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone found any information on getting this feature to work on their Passat RC510 / RSN510 radio? Many new GPs units have optional Traffic recieviers which use SUNA (see link) This is traffic information that is sent along side the standard FM transmission. Apparently only works in Melb/Sydney/Brisbane metro.

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/coverage.html

The RCD510 seems to support receiving this signal but I am not sure if this is compatible?

I have TP switched on and set to record. I am in the county at the moment and the display shows " NO TP" so the radio appears to know when there is a signal.
Anyone have any information??

[Markybhoy]

From what I understand, it is only melb/sydney/brisbane, although I can't fully vouch for that as I'm actually in Perth. I was going to go buy myself a Navman last week and was reading about it there.

A lot of UK cars have TP in their radio's. I ended up turning mine off, as I'd be listening to music on the radio, only to have it cut in with another station who was giving a traffic update (which is how it works in the UK at any rate). Trouble was though, half the time the traffic update was just finishing by the time it switched over and the other half the time, it was for somewhere completely different to where I was! And most of the time, it would switch over to Radio 2, which should be called 'Geriatric's FM'!

[Autopia]

I was of the understanding that you could "subscribe" to receive traffic updates if you have a compatible GPS unit.

The Suna link below has some info.

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/where.html

There appears to be an antenna that can be purchased to enable traffic info to be received.

Might be worth contacting Suna for further info if you're really keen on it.
If the feature works in Europe it may be the case that an antenna is already fitted to the RCD510 and it may only require "tweaking" to operate in Oz. Worse case it may need to be swapped out for an Oz spec antenna.

Send Suna an enquiry and see what they say.

Cheers
Sean

[bennobee]

i cant wait to see the outcome as when i press that button (in the middle of the CBD in Melb) i get no messages. so if there is a way to get it working...

[passatpout]

I've turned on TP in Melbourne, and the radio has come up with messages saying that there are signals around, but I've never heard any come over. It was a bit of a pain in the UK, since it would cut over anything else and the volume was a fair bit louder, but all up it had its advantages. Being able to bring up a list of incidents on the RNS-510 screen and see them on the map, with it plotting ways around and getting advanced warning, was certainly a handy way of doing it. The volume control was a bit fiddly though, and since they came up a fair bit louder than normal music it was always a bit of a balancing act.

[Breno]

You don't hear it, it transmits info silently to the GPS to enable it to route around incidents/traffic etc.

[DiMmY]

If you had a poke around their website - you'd see it's nearly all portable units that support that... and the Ford inbuilt GPS.

I believe NO in-car GPS's in Australia (apart from that one Ford) support traffic updates via radio OR GPS.

[tryingavw]

You don't hear it, it transmits info silently to the GPS to enable it to route around incidents/traffic etc.

Do you know if this function then works with the VW RNS510 GPS?

[zsolt_downunder]

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/buy.html

Many recent-model European vehicles are potentially software-upgradeable. SUNA is in discussions with vehicle importers regarding licensing arrangements that my enable certain models to be upgraded. Register your interest here.

Best thing to do would be to contact VW and ask them about the TMC service provided by SUNA.

Interesting, as I thought Melbourne was operational:

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/serviceinfo.html

Current Service Information

Melbourne Service unavailable
Sydney Operational
Brisbane Operational

This is why we are not able to receive any TMC messages, (I definitely get the TP on my RCD510 in Melbourne on numerous FM radio stations but never get any TMC messages come through):

Suna's service broadcasts digital, encrypted TMC (Traffic Message Channel) data containing traffic information, such as incidents and delays, as well as major events and other factors which may be of interest to motorists. These messages are piggybacked onto an existing FM radio station's signal — Mix 106.5 in Sydney and Gold FM in Melbourne — and received by GPS devices equipped with a TMC receiver and Suna subscription.

Interesting read:

http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/pdf/su...w-jan_2008.pdf

[Autopia]

You don't hear it, it transmits info silently to the GPS to enable it to route around incidents/traffic etc.

Sorry this is incorrect. The traffic update info is audible. The GPS unit then provides the option of re-routing your journey.

[Breno]

Sorry this is incorrect. The traffic update info is audible. The GPS unit then provides the option of re-routing your journey.

Au contraire

Taken from Suna Website

How do I get SUNA GPS Traffic Updates?

SUNA traffic information is encrypted and available only through a compatible navigation device or in-car system. It is silently transmitted in a normal FM radio broadcast and will not interfere with your radio. You will hear nothing, but your navigation system, via the TMC receiver, will decode this information and your navigation device in turn, will advise you.

[tryingavw]

traffic updates

what a shame the TMC hasnt been implemented.

i was in tullamarine, melbourne heading to the city wednesday and they said there was a big crash on the freeway inbound. i decided to stop off at a shopping mall and have a coffee rather than get stuck.

If I was driving the passat ( she doesnt let me use it during the week much ) and if we had TMC going , I could have checked it out !

while having a coffee i picked up a copy of top gear march and they have a write up of the passat CC.
reads well .

[rotelman]

Sunas response from my enquiry....



Dear Sir

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Suna Traffic Channel.

As we progress the roll out of the SUNA services, we are talking with all areas of automotive and navigation industries. SUNA is a subscription based service provided to our customers as an encrypted transmission which they then provide to consumers. As such the receiving devices need to be capable of decoding the information. Devices capable of decoding this transmission are available from those companies with which we have a commercial agreement (please check here for specific device information http://www.sunatraffic.com.au/moreinfo.html).

Unfortunately at this time we do not have a commercial agreement with VW. For further information regarding their plans, I would encourage you to continue checking with the manufacturer themselves for service availability information.
Please continue to check back at www.sunatraffic.com.au as we will update information regarding service and product availability as soon as we are able.

Thank you for your interest in Suna Traffic Channel.

Kind regards

Kathryn Whitfield

Suna Traffic Channel

https://www.sunatraffic.com.au

[Autopia]

Au contraire

Taken from Suna Website

I stand corrected. Thanks.