Given that many people (me included and DD excluded) don't appear to RTFM, I wonder how many drivers out there have modern RDS radios in their cars and don't realise they also have a Traffic Announcement facility. Driving home on Tuesday I found the service invaluable as we approached and successfully avoided chaos and long delays on the M2. Like many a young lady Mrs V. insists on having all that modern bingy bongy music going all the time so it's an ideal compromise - she gets to listen to what she wants, all the noise keeps me awake at the wheel and I get forewarned of impending doom. A really great service for anyone who hasn't got an all singing/dancing
sat nav or traffic master system. I'm surprised we don't hear more about it.
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welcome to the 21st century VM! perhaps if you RTFM it will tell you about the mark on the rear view mirror?
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I never have that traffic announcement facility on. It never fails to cut in and interrupt one of your favourite records, telling you about a hold up that is not on the road you're on / you have passed / you are stuck in already / you can't do anything to avoid.
Suffered it all the way back from Birmingham recently in a colleagues car. Steve Wright's Golden Oldie spot was decimated.
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And the Audi stereos I had in the past allow you to set two time slots where the stereo will record any traffic announcement whilst you are away from the vehicle, allowing you to replay them on your return before you set off. Cool.
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It's not so much the cutting in that I have a problem with, it's the way that it turns the volume up to eardrum-rupturing level - oh, and the fact that on my cars it always seems to cut in mid-way through the traffic bulletin, by which time the announcer has worked his or her way down from the "Arrghh abort abort" items to the "this was going on about 4 days ago but it's all OK now, just thought you'd be interested" stuff, which is slightly less helpful.
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I use this facility all the time while driving around Oxfordshire. I have some horrendous potential blackspots (A44,A34) and any warning can be useful. I mostly pick up BBC Radio Oxford and occasionally Berkshire, but why oh why at a certain time each day do I get the Poole traffic details?
Ian L.
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why oh why at a certain time each day do I get the Poole traffic details?
Ah ha, so you're the person No Dosh sold that dodgy stereo to then ;o)
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A tractor does a regular run in poole
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The volume of a traffic announcement should be adjustable by the user (RDS specification says so). Consult your manual as it is usually possible, but not that obvious. (Note RDS loves abreviations - might be under TA).
Usually factory set to be loud though, so you don't miss it!
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Knowing ND's dislike for the V40....I doubt it!
Ian L.
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paulb, on 'most' RDS radios the TA volume level is simply set by holding in the TA button until display shows 'vol', you can then adjust the volume using the normal volume control then when you release the TA button it remembers the new level as the default TA volume. Personally I find it useful because when I have a passenger I can turn the radio volume down low so we can hear each other but don't miss any traffic news as volume comes up to the preset level. Just a question really of making the technology work for you not against you.
Cockle
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paulb, on 'most' RDS radios the TA volume level is simply set by holding in the TA button until display shows 'vol', you can then adjust the volume using the normal volume control then when you release the TA button it remembers the new level as the default TA volume. Personally I find it useful because when I have a passenger I can turn the radio volume down low so we can hear each other but don't miss any traffic news as volume comes up to the preset level. Just a question really of making the technology work for you not against you. Cockle
Thanks, Cockle - I might just give it another try, now!
Now, am I just being thick, or do they not actually put this in the manual? If they do - I'll get me coat....
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Some radio stations either send out the TA signal early, so that you hear lots of irrelevant blather from the presenters before you get to the traffic announcement, or they forget to send out the signal at the end of the TA so you are subjected to more blather. I think the guilty stations probably don't realise what they are doing.
and another thing....
Radio Humberside must have one heck of a transmitter - I have picked up their TAs in various cars from all over West Yorkshire and beyond.
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Well RF I was rather hoping that the fabled BackRoom League of Experts would save me hours of tiresome 'translation' but so far everyone appears stumped by the little orange mark on my mirror.
Either that or they're just not telling me :)
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On the MINI, you have to wait until an announcement is in progress, then just adjust the volume to suit. It will remember the setting you choose in future.
I really hate those local stations that interrupt your music and the idiots that interrupt are continuing their conversation about their cat or whatever. Seems to me they should be fined if the RDS interruption gives you anything other than traffic info.
I'm hoping to hook up my XDA II and TomTom 3 using GPRS and TomTom traffic to have a cut price integrated routing/traffic avoidance/camera warning system in the next couple of weeks when the software arrives. I'll post here and let you all know if it works (and works well)
Lee.
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Lee
MINI adventure in progress
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Yes, Citroenman, I may complain to the radio authority, that's the reason why I don't use it....Radio Nottingham use it to gain listeners!
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Asked this before, but does anyone know how to adjust the TA announcement volume on a Scenic radio? Tried everything, even the manual to no avail!
Problem is the volume is too quiet!
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You're right. I think the next time it happens I'll make a note and have a look into it. Will let you know how I get on.
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Lee
MINI adventure in progress
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