tommyr

I just took delivery of a 2008 S550 and when I use the nav system it shows me real time traffic updates on the screen. I've never seen that before; can anyone explain how it works? There is so much detail its hard to imagine that they can do with roadside sensors. I'm wondering if somehow the gps equipped cars are reporting back in or something.

As far as I know, there is no subscription fee. In case you haven't seen it, the map displays symbols to show where traffic is backing up. Red symbols indicates stopped traffic, yellow means slow moving. Gray indicates it is slow in the other direction. I've found it to be amazingly accurate (and useful).

Diesel Benz

I don't know any details about the US system but the cars do not report back to the service centre.

The service isn't free in all countries but the fee is then paid by MB, the customer pays it on the price of the navi-DVD.

Normally the info comes through FM radio. Some cell phone applications request it via packet data. Normally there is a national centre that keeps track of accidents and then feeds the information to the system, to be passed through FM radio data to the car.

In big cities the information about slow traffic must come from roadside sensors, accidents have to be reported "manually".

kevine310

I believe the info comes from a variety of sources, inculding traffic cams, reports and road sensors. Major cities usualy monitor the traffic quite extensively.

regarding the MB system, can you post some pictures? Does the navigation also suggest alternate routes away from traffic?

dadesidon

i was under the impression that traffic data is delivered through the satellite radio system =/

Chucky300

Is there ANY WAY you could photograph your navigation screen while you have it in that mode? I am going to flash my navigation software at the dealership - just curious to see what an 08 model navigation setup looks like. The actual images.

MercPlease

Yes, please post pictures!!

wman

Sounds like a pretty cool upgrade to the navigation system on the 2008 S

trumpet1

Damn it!!!! I hope we can upgrage our 2007s to get this. Hopefully it is a software thing and not a hardware upgrade. This should've been on the 07's anyway.

srice

Don't count on it. This is a hardware thing.

Chucky300

im not so sure about that...... my service advisor told me that he thinks its just a software flash..... not a complete overhall.

I am going to go in and have mine flashed probably in a month.

I asked him about it a while back and i guess they are going to start flashing at that time.

If it is a complete overhall - it would cost a fortune, and i would never go down that road.

openwyder

Ladies and gentlemen, This is a very important "flash" report. Let's keep this thread alive and updated. We need this nav upgrade.

Diesel Benz

This is a shot from the Euro user manual. Dynamic navigation has been supported by the devices from 2005, when they first appeared.

It does support the option of dynamic route selection, e.g. changing to a different route if an accident blocks the current one.

Odd if they broadcast the TMC info from satellite radio, then you would need that option too while RDS from FM radio is already on the car and I know some US FM stations have been broadcasting TMC data.

trumpet1

I hope you're right. How did you find out it is only a flash update?

Eddie Knopp

According to Rob Allan @ MBUSA there is no software solution for adding this functionality. I had asked knowing that by receiving an early '08 S63 I would not get it, but heard rumors that there may be software solution.

tommyr

My original question was where the data comes from; no one has come up with an answer yet. I've found it to be fairly useful.

Here are a few photos. The various traffic icons appear automatically. I hope they are useful.

Chucky300

Thanks Tommy!!!

I definitely heard from my Service advisor at MB Manhattan that there is a software flash that can be done - has been delayed till the next month though.
I will keep u guys posted...... as soon as its done to mine, ill report on.

trumpet1

I called my service advisor today and left a message asking if it is a software thing or not. Haven't heard back yet from her. Hopefully I can confirm the same answer you got. I also would like to know about any costs this might have. A "flash" almost sounds like a warranty or regular scheduled maintenance procedure.....something that might just be done whether you ask for it or not. Surely to God they had enough forethought to make it a software issue and not a hardware issue. Acura has had this feature for years so it's not like this is brand new state of the art technology.

Can Drive 55

That is real nice. I wish my car had it. I am thinking that in Acuras and Infinitis the data is sent by XM radio to "Traffic Capable" nav units. Since MB does not have XM and I do not think Sirius has the traffic feature, I guess it is just German Magic.

srice

MB does use Sirius, and while XM does have traffic data, I believe MB is using Clear Channel's service, which is broadcast over FM radio band. If you go to Clear Channel's web site, do a search for "Traffic."

kevine310

here ya go

tommyr

I'm in Boston. Now there are those from across the pond who might like to think that we are part of the UK, but I can assure you that we are not!

cyclerider

Here is a link to the announcement of the partnership between Navteq and Sirius to deliver Real Time Traffic Data to in-car navigation systems. Note the news release date of December 14, 2004.

http://investor.sirius.com/ReleaseDe...leaseID=152836

Incidentally, the BMW site says their new system uses ClearChannel Traffic delivered via radio data service (RDS) instead of satellite, which is also how the European system works. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any info on the M-B site, even though the real-time traffic system is up and running.

trumpet1

I went to my dealer today and they talked directly to MB and said that it is a flash update and that it does not require expense hardware. However, it is not a free upgrade. You will have to pay to have this feature. I imagine this shouldn't cost more than $500 out of pocket for the update but that is strictly an uneducated guess from me. It might be less than $150 or it might cost over $1000.
He said you must have satellite service and that it gets it's info using sensors along the highway. FM signals apparently has nothing to do with it.

This sounds very encouraging for us '-07 owners.

Now if they could just add satellite weather radar, we'd all be done. I wish I had that on my Honda Goldwing nav system!!

Diesel Benz

If it is a service CD, it should not cost more than the one they talk about at the W211 forum, the one bringing the ETA to the main display mode. If it comes with a NAVI DVD (combined updates have existed in the past) along with a new map data base, then $500 might do but aren't navi DVD updates cheaper than $500 in the US?

This satellite radio approach for TMC data is probably better for you, I've understood that the FM radio coverage for TMC isn't very complete while it is 100% in European countries (those that do support TMC).

trumpet1

Well as soon as I get it, I'll report in on my success, likes /dislikes, cost, etc.