Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: grain.ben on 03 June 2012, 22:14:05
-
Hi guys, just been trawling the Trafficmaster website to find out that after 16 years, they are ceasing the freeway and oracle services, so all you guys, including myself who have a subscription with them, will no longer work as from June 2012 (this month). So, after my holiday this week, i shall be on the phone to them asking for my money back as i subscribed last november for 12 months!
Now im going to have to rip it out and source another dash part that doesnt have the button! :'(
-
to swee it for yourself, heres the address
http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/content/1/85/freeway-and-oracle.html
-
oooopps, sorry, ive put this in the wrong place, sorry admins
-
Oh crap! No point subscribing then . . . :-\
-
Is this completely? For all cars? I honestly find it helps a lot on a journey.
-
It was useless anyway!
-
I thought it worthwhile, until they re worked both my entry and exit junctions, and from then on the sensors failed to trigger the traffic report until I was committed to the motorway anyway, by which time it could say what the hell it liked. Pointless!
It was usefull before hand though. If sometimes out of date.
I find google maps with traffic option activated seems fairly accurate these days. If anyone has tried that?
-
It was useless anyway!
Once again, for somebody who has never used it, you seem very sure of how good it is ::)
I will miss the service, I've found it a fantastic help, and its dug me out of a few holes many, many times.
Like all driver aids, sat navs included, its not infallible, but if you know how to interperate the information given, its a godsend.
Looks like I need to get my arse in gear with that cd70 :(
-
It was useless anyway!
Once again, for somebody who has never used it, you seem very sure of how good it is ::)
How do you know I never used it? It was active on fatherT's facelift when that was brand spankers as a company car.
Remember driving it along M40, towards London. Traffic Master said "Warning you are travelling on the M1"
Err no I wasn't! No way near where it said I was, also time and again it reported issues that just were not there.
Useless heap of junk, no wonder they are ceasing service
-
I find google maps with traffic option activated seems fairly accurate these days. If anyone has tried that?
Like all GSM reliant solutions, it has some major drawbacks. One being the reliance on 3g. Something that O2 can't supply out in the country. And obviously, reliant on having a data contract with a usable data allowance.
If it works for individuals, great :y. Doesn't work for me :(
-
It was useless anyway!
Once again, for somebody who has never used it, you seem very sure of how good it is ::)
How do you know I never used it?
Because you told me ;)
It was active on fatherT's facelift when that was brand spankers as a company car.
Remember driving it along M40, towards London. Traffic Master said "Warning you are travelling on the M1"
Err no I wasn't! No way near where it said I was, also time and again it reported issues that just were not there.
Useless heap of junk, no wonder they are ceasing service
As said, like satnav, parking sensors and other driver aids, its an aid. Its how you interperate the info ;). 5/10/15 min delays, who cares, quicker to accept the delay than detour. Also, by nature, these short delays tend to be transient, so may have long gone a few minutes later. Increasing delays as you approach an area, useful info, can be something has just happened which will probably on a radio bulletin in 30mins. Longer length delays, allows you to look at alternatives. Severe delays, generally worth rerouting.
Like the satnav trying to send you up a one way street, use it as an aid, not gospel ;)
Although accuracy is normally good-excellent. But not perfect.
And FYI, its the same sensors that are used for *any* live traffic flow system, whether Oracle, phone, BBC/Independent radio, TMC, satnav or mobile solutions ;)
-
It may use the same sensors, but neither myself or FatherT ever really found it accurate or useful :-\
Trouble is quite often it would report a major issue, but the road continues to be fine. So we never really trusted it enough to re-route!
-
It may use the same sensors, but neither myself or FatherT ever really found it accurate or useful :-\
Trouble is quite often it would report a major issue, but the road continues to be fine. So we never really trusted it enough to re-route!
So if the radio said the m40 had severe delays on, you'd ignore that too ???
TBH, in the 4yrs I've used Oracle daily across 5 cars (Bullet, Tractor, Goldie, TBE and the Rover), I can only think of one occasion where a reported significant delay (30min +) was non existent.
In the Rover, it was particularly good, as reception was astounding - used to pick yup the A43 pole near Tesco from Boots, and the one on Jnc11 roundabout one from the roundabout at the top of the hill near Middleton Cheney.
If its what I'd call a borderline delay (20-30m), I'll get Mrs TB to check live traffic cameras, to get some idea if traffic is crawling, or at standstill - latter always means reroute.
The black units are better as well, as it gives a clue how far away the problem is. The silvers lack this.
-
It may use the same sensors, but neither myself or FatherT ever really found it accurate or useful :-\
Trouble is quite often it would report a major issue, but the road continues to be fine. So we never really trusted it enough to re-route!
So if the radio said the m40 had severe delays on, you'd ignore that too ???
I rarely listen to any road reports really, stations I listen to very rarely give traffic news. With M40, particularly parts closer to London, detours are pointless, its often quicker just to sit in traffic. Particually between South Oxford & High Wycombe which is usually where problems are!
Traffic Master is in so many cars, yet they still cannot make enough money from subscriptions? I must not be the only one who thinks it was crap
-
they still cannot make enough money from subscriptions
Who says? ;)
-
I found the Trafficmaster system well worth the sub of £30 pa even with the odd glitch - but only for motorway work.
The dynamic system I now use is obviously a lot better but you inevitably can end up with a hazard (and therefore traffic jam) having been cleared before the message gets to the car system and you curse that you would have been better staying with the jam. However, I would say that for 90% of the time it is bloody helpful in conjunction with radio traffic reports TP and TMC.
-
they still cannot make enough money from subscriptions
Who says? ;)
The fact they are shutting it down?
-
Had Trafficmaster since my second Vectra (Back in the days of company cars) and found it a Godsend, retrofitted it to my Omega's and still find it useful. It's all about how you interprotate the information it's giving you.
-
they still cannot make enough money from subscriptions
Who says? ;)
The fact they are shutting it down?
Sky Analogue was still making shitloads when your mob kicked me off shut it down ;)
Its not uncommon, when you get young graduates involved in business decision making roles, to close profitable product lines or business units.
-
they still cannot make enough money from subscriptions
Who says? ;)
The fact they are shutting it down?
Sky Analogue was still making shitloads when your mob kicked me off shut it down ;)
Its not uncommon, when you get young graduates involved in business decision making roles, to close profitable product lines or business units.
Migrate to digital you mean? To increase capacity :P
-
I presume they have developed the Nav based in car units? £250 odd a pop?
They where £350 a pop iirc. Neighbour has one. Says its very good. :)
-
they still cannot make enough money from subscriptions
Who says? ;)
The fact they are shutting it down?
Sky Analogue was still making shitloads when your mob kicked me off shut it down ;)
Its not uncommon, when you get young graduates involved in business decision making roles, to close profitable product lines or business units.
Migrate to digital you mean? To increase capacity :P
The 2 could (and did) run side by side ;).
They made a schoolboy error of assuming that everyone on the older service would pay £100 to 'upgrade' and pay the more expensive subscription for an inferior service when the, still profitable, old service was shut down.
I suspect TM are doing similar, purely becuase, although its likely still to be profitable (based on the fact the expensive infrastructure will have to remain), its not growing. Growth is the be-all and end-all in a public company. Profits mean nothing.
So, I maintain, as somebody has used TM Oracle daily for the past few years, rather than someone who has briefly encountered it, its a shame its going. But ho-hum.
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
I'll get the popcorn and sit and wait.
-
It may use the same sensors, but neither myself or FatherT ever really found it accurate or useful :-\
Trouble is quite often it would report a major issue, but the road continues to be fine. So we never really trusted it enough to re-route!
So if the radio said the m40 had severe delays on, you'd ignore that too ???
TBH, in the 4yrs I've used Oracle daily across 5 cars (Bullet, Tractor, Goldie, TBE and the Rover), I can only think of one occasion where a reported significant delay (30min +) was non existent.
In the Rover, it was particularly good, as reception was astounding - used to pick yup the A43 pole near Tesco from Boots, and the one on Jnc11 roundabout one from the roundabout at the top of the hill near Middleton Cheney.
If its what I'd call a borderline delay (20-30m), I'll get Mrs TB to check live traffic cameras, to get some idea if traffic is crawling, or at standstill - latter always means reroute.
The black units are better as well, as it gives a clue how far away the problem is. The silvers lack this.
I've never once in 25 years of driving found a radio traffic report that's accurate to less than 1 hour.....most times the incident is long over by the time they report it, or wrong direction/road/location
Useless b*ggers
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
I'll get the popcorn and sit and wait.
Has he been on yet? Or he's deliberately not bighting, more likely. ;)
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
I'll get the popcorn and sit and wait.
Has he been on yet? Or he's deliberately not bighting, more likely. ;)
He no bitey yet.
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
I'll get the popcorn and sit and wait.
Has he been on yet? Or he's deliberately not bighting, more likely. ;)
He no bitey yet.
How long has he had that c70 do you rekon? Must be two years at least...?
-
Shove up and pass the popcorn. ;D
-
It may use the same sensors, but neither myself or FatherT ever really found it accurate or useful :-\
Trouble is quite often it would report a major issue, but the road continues to be fine. So we never really trusted it enough to re-route!
So if the radio said the m40 had severe delays on, you'd ignore that too ???
TBH, in the 4yrs I've used Oracle daily across 5 cars (Bullet, Tractor, Goldie, TBE and the Rover), I can only think of one occasion where a reported significant delay (30min +) was non existent.
In the Rover, it was particularly good, as reception was astounding - used to pick yup the A43 pole near Tesco from Boots, and the one on Jnc11 roundabout one from the roundabout at the top of the hill near Middleton Cheney.
If its what I'd call a borderline delay (20-30m), I'll get Mrs TB to check live traffic cameras, to get some idea if traffic is crawling, or at standstill - latter always means reroute.
The black units are better as well, as it gives a clue how far away the problem is. The silvers lack this.
I've never once in 25 years of driving found a radio traffic report that's accurate to less than 1 hour.....most times the incident is long over by the time they report it, or wrong direction/road/location
Useless b*ggers
Thats where TM comes in ;). I agree the radio is shite.
-
(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-basic/popcorn.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
1.5 days solid, albeit with constant interruptions from someone who can't sort a simple phone problem, 1 broken CID (BOLLOCK5 >:() and....
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
1.5 days solid, albeit with constant interruptions from someone who can't sort a simple phone problem, 1 broken CID (BOLLOCK5 >:() and....
What you mucked up now ::)
-
Bloody hooligan.
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
1.5 days solid, albeit with constant interruptions from someone who can't sort a simple phone problem, 1 broken CID (BOLLOCK5 >:() and....
What you mucked up now ::)
As always, the electronics >:(
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
1.5 days solid, albeit with constant interruptions from someone who can't sort a simple phone problem, 1 broken CID (BOLLOCK5 >:() and....
What you mucked up now ::)
As always, the electronics >:(
You safe when de-pairing them ;D ;D ;D
-
So, this TMC malarkey....? ::)
1.5 days solid, albeit with constant interruptions from someone who can't sort a simple phone problem, 1 broken CID (BOLLOCK5 >:() and....
What you mucked up now ::)
As always, the electronics >:(
You safe when de-pairing them ;D ;D ;D
Yeah... ...its when I'm trying to do things they're probably not designed to do
-
Just an update after being on holiday, the TM service is still currently working, despite what it says on the TM website. Probably ceasing at the end of the month :'(
-
Mine was still working this afternoon...
-
And mine. :)
-
I liked traffic master and used it a lot, particulalrly when commuting to Coventry every day
-
End of the month.
Rumour has it, the Radio Agency (Home Office) have been putting TM under pressure to release their UHF National Transmission Licence (the bit that talks to the cars) or make proper use of it (Numbers Game), The Sensors and Receivers use Vodafone's Paknet and Paging so no issues there.
-
It winds me up something chronic to find out that something that is actually useful to me is now going to cease, in the short time ive used TM Oracle, ive found it very useful, radio TP programes are just utter rubbish and in the past ive used tomtom's TMC RDS receiver which i never found good because it was delayed, bearing in mind the last time i used that system was about 2 years ago, so maybe better now, dont know. At least with Oracle, i would know instantly to come off at the next junction to avoid traffic or avoid a major trunk road as its in real-time. Will be sad to see it go :'(
-
Just an update to say that the system is still working as of 30 mins ago, despite saying its going to cease in June, were now in July!
-
Just an update to say that the system is still working as of 30 mins ago, despite saying its going to cease in June, were now in July!
Mine worked yesterday. Other than going to the BP to wear down the rear tyres, I've not been out today.
-
I go past the blue poles every day, so always press the button for the sake of it, A three thirty nine, traffic flowing freely ;D
-
I go past the blue poles every day, so always press the button for the sake of it, A three thirty nine, traffic flowing freely ;D
The Blue Poles as you call it, and the Blue Cameras will stay, there still part of the Traffic Information System, its the Grey boxes with the 2 Poles on top (Sprayed Antennas) at the Junctions that will start to disappear or not work any more.
;)
-
Still remember this on tomorrows world and top gear back in the day. Think the demonstrator used an LCD and it was in a Sierra or similar! I think it was the bearded TG presenter!
-
I can confirm, as of this morning, that parts of the M42 and a huge section of the M6 are now no longer receiving the Oracle service :'(
-
M40 still was getting it though.
-
oh noooooo, TM Oracle is dying a slow death, A339 is still working as of 3:30pm this afternoon.
Well im sure we shall see an upsurge of people buying a new or used dash part without the TM button, once its gone, ill be taking mine out, i dont want redundant equipment in the car that i cant use. And there is no point in trying to flog the unit, button and loom :'(
-
Quick update
Seems as though TM has gone now, as of today, A339 dissapeared, M4 gone, the only one i know of still going is the M25 and a small stretch of the A12.
RIP TM
New dash ordered, box, button and loom being pulled out and thrown, no use to anyone now. Will have to put up with crappy radio traffic reports :'( :'(
-
A43 and A5 still transmitting. No idea if data valid though
-
Ive given up with it now, being ripped out as soon as the new part arrives, and a snotty phone call to TM to get the remainder of my subscription back >:(
-
Ive given up with it now, being ripped out as soon as the new part arrives, and a snotty phone call to TM to get the remainder of my subscription back >:(
I can't face:
In the Facelift Elite: Removing the stereo to get TM loom out
In the prefacelift MV6: Remaking the satnav loom that is a modified TM Loom.
So the box will have to stay for now ;D
-
I shall worry about the loom at a later date, i will remove the black box, tape the loom up to something else so it dont rattle and replace the drivers side glove box and all that bit, o it doesnt have the tm button there, jobs a gudden :y
-
I shall worry about the loom at a later date, i will remove the black box, tape the loom up to something else so it dont rattle and replace the drivers side glove box and all that bit, o it doesnt have the tm button there, jobs a gudden :y
I need to keep box in place due to external audio going through it (bluetooth, telematics)
-
A43 and A5 still transmitting. No idea if data valid though
Same as its always been then ;D
-
I shall be keeping my TM system installed. The loom has other stuff running through it, and the button may well come in handy for another function at some point in the future. :y
-
A43 and A5 still transmitting. No idea if data valid though
Same as its always been then ;D
Until last month, its always been good ;)
-
I shall worry about the loom at a later date, i will remove the black box, tape the loom up to something else so it dont rattle and replace the drivers side glove box and all that bit, o it doesnt have the tm button there, jobs a gudden :y
I need to keep box in place due to external audio going through it (bluetooth, telematics)
Didnt know such a thing could be done :o
-
Yes I found that it has to stay connected, or blu tooth car kit refuses to work.
-
Yes I found that it has to stay connected, or blu tooth car kit refuses to work.
I think your Telematics will fail as well...
-
Yes I found that it has to stay connected, or blu tooth car kit refuses to work.
I think your Telematics will fail as well...
Good. That's one less job to do. :y
-
I didn't manage to read this post first, but e-mailed about subscription and received the following reply:
"Dear Steve,
Thank You for your email.
Unfortunately this service was ceased in June so you will be unable to
renew the license.
I apologise for any inconvenience.
Kindest Regards,
Krissye "
Bit of a shame really - guess there were not enough subscribers to make it pay.
Steve
-
I didn't manage to read this post first, but e-mailed about subscription and received the following reply:
"Dear Steve,
Thank You for your email.
Unfortunately this service was ceased in June so you will be unable to
renew the license.
I apologise for any inconvenience.
Kindest Regards,
Krissye "
Bit of a shame really - guess there were not enough subscribers to make it pay.
Steve
So the TM button is useless in other words now then :-\
-
I didn't manage to read this post first, but e-mailed about subscription and received the following reply:
"Dear Steve,
Thank You for your email.
Unfortunately this service was ceased in June so you will be unable to
renew the license.
I apologise for any inconvenience.
Kindest Regards,
Krissye "
Bit of a shame really - guess there were not enough subscribers to make it pay.
Steve
So the TM button is useless in other words now then :-\
[/highlight]
Yes :'(
-
Although I'm still getting (fairly accurate) traffic info in some places at the moment ::)
Although I know it won't last :'( :'(
-
Although I'm still getting (fairly accurate) traffic info in some places at the moment ::)
Although I know it won't last :'( :'(
Seems as though they are phasing it out in sections, some places still working, others not. :'(