Thanks to steve's hard work (well it took about 3 minutes). :p I now have DVD capabilities in the command. The european voice sounds nice too.

I wish we could get the dynamic traffic to work. There are some difference to the nav screen. The US version has a home button that allows you to save your home location and recall it using one button. This is gone in the euro version, (but you can still save it using memory, so its not a biggie, just need to access one more screen).

Other change on the nav direction as well. I am getting direction in yards instead of feet, anyway i can change this? No biggie just need to take time to get used to it.

DVD is awesome- yes, I am not watching the DVD while in motion.

Next mod to come would be TV tuner. After that parktronic and active bi-xeon (if i can beg steve to consider this). As i have been told it's going to be major hassle for car that came with halogen and no parktronics.

 

Dynamic Route is based on TMC, and will redirect you according to the traffic information received via TMC. As far as I know, you don't have TMC in the US?

 

that is correct we don't have TMC. So there is no way for this feature to work. I know acura offers dynamic routing based on XM. Not sure if these two are the same,

 

The new Acura RL integrates traffic data (presently, for 20 metro areas) from the XM feed with the existing DVD-based navigation system to present realtime traffic data on the nav display. I read that the Acura system will not present rerouting advice, just visual traffic advisories. I'm not familiar with TMC, but it must be very different from the Acura system, if only because Europe doesn't have XM service or, I assume, any satellite radio service.

Look for realtime traffic advisories on the M-B nav display in the US in about, oh, 2010, with the introduction of the W230 E-class.

 

The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) is a specific application of the FM Radio Data System (RDS) used for broadcasting real-time traffic and weather information. Data messages are received silently and decoded by a TMC-equipped car radio or navigation system, and delivered to the driver visually or as human speech in the preferred language of the user. TMC messages can be filtered so that only those relevant to the current journey are displayed, while a TMC-enabled navigation system can offer dynamic route guidance - alerting the driver of a problem on the planned route and calculating an alternative route to avoid the incident.

Benefits for users

* Updated traffic information, delivered in real time
* Instant knowledge of accidents, roadworks and traffic jams
* Filtered information only for the immediate route
* Information in user's own language
* High-quality digital transmission
* Europe-wide compatibility of receivers
* Free or low-cost services right across Europe

Instant information en route
TMC traffic information offers several advantages. First, it is received via a "silent" FM data channel, which means that users can listen to music or news broadcasts simultaneously with - and without interference from - TMC data transmissions. Second, messages arrive and are displayed immediately, so you don't need to wait for the scheduled traffic news bulletin, or to listen to a specific programme. Also, TMC services are continuous and presented directly to the driver, unlike occasional roadside information services such as variable message signs.

In the user's language
Thanks to TMC receiver technology, users can listen to or view traffic information in their own language. The TMC unit, typically an in-car navigation system or radio, decodes the received traffic information and makes announcements via the vehicle's loudspeakers or displays it on-screen. No matter in what country the user is driving, he or she can understand the local traffic situation immediately.

Across Europe
TMC traffic information systems conform to a global standard that has been adopted by traffic data gatherers, information service providers, broadcasters and vehicle/receiver manufacturers. TMC information is received via the normal FM radio antenna.

All TMC receivers use the same list of event codes, while the location database (on CD-ROM, DVD or smart card) contains both a country-specific set of location codes for the strategic European road network.

TMC traffic data are already being broadcast in Belgium (Flanders region) Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Countries planning services soon are Austria, Belgium (Wallonia region), the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and Portugal.

How does it work?

How does it work?

Data related to traffic flows, incidents, weather etc. are gathered from traffic monitoring systems, emergency services, motorists' calls etc., and are collated at a central traffic information centre. They are then passed to the TMC traffic information service provider, who generates TMC messages according to the ALERT-C coding protocol.

What information is included in a TMC message? Standard TMC user messages provide five basic items of broadcast information:

* event description, details of the weather situation or traffic problem and its severity
* location, the area, highway segment or point location affected
* direction and extent, identifying the adjacent segments or point locations affected, and the direction of traffic affected
* duration, how long the problem is expected to last
* diversion advice, whether or not drivers are advised to find an alternative route.

The service provider sends the coded messages to the appropriate FM radio broadcaster for transmission as an RDS (Radio Data System) signal within normal FM radio transmissions. The TMC data are received by the vehicle radio and antenna, and decoded by a TMC decoder. This reconstructs the original message, using a database of event and location codes, which is presented to the driver as a visual or spoken message.

It takes typically about 30 seconds from the first report of a traffic incident to the traffic information centre until the same information is available in the vehicle.

The user can select the language used to present the traffic information by the TMC receiver, typically a navigation system or car radio. The user can also opt to filter messages, so that only those concerning the immediate route are selected.

New delivery channels are emerging that could carry TMC services, including digital radio (DAB), mobile Internet, paging and GSM/GPRS mobile phone networks.

 

this will probably never going to be offered in us.

Sad, but it would be cool for this to work in us.

 

Perhaps we should all send oslo's detailed description of TMC to the US Department of Transportation. Their "contact us" link follows:

US Department of Transportation (dot.comments@ost.dot.gov)

I just did. My message read:

I encourage everyone to do the same. We may not get any results, but.. you never know until you try.. right?

 

Dont waste your time with Active headlights.. concencus is that its a waste. Just get the regular xenons..

Have you tried playing MP3s burned onto a DVD? I am having a hard time seting up folders in iTunes, etc...

 

Then don't use iTunes. Try using a program specifically made for CD/DVD burning such as Nero or Roxio. Either can't make it any easier.

 

Haha, OK, thank you Captain Obvious. Nero came with my DVD burner, so I'll load that.. thanks.

 

If you are talking about standard xeon compared to bi-xeon, then I'm afraid that I must be one of the minority.

Now that we have them I would never buy a vehicle that does not offer them. They are superb, I can only compare them with our old 210 that had the standard xeon.

They are a generation ahead of those lights. The active issue is down to the individual and is good but not a must have on any future car.

Sorry,
John
Night-time in Torquay

 

i dont know about other parts of the US but here in nyc there are a few places where the TMC works. maybe they are just testing it out. off the top of my mind, theres one spot right before you go onto the FDR from the west side highway where it works. its right before that little tunnel that leads to the FDR

 

As stated in the article above, TMC is transmitted via FM. I find it hard to believe that they are able to isolate the FM signals to a very restricted area. What kind of information do you get? Could it only be that some false signal activate the TMC indicator?

 

Since I am going to upgrade my head light, I will go all the way incase I regret it later. I am going to have change my housing, so I would spend a littel more to get active head light.

I forgot to ask the question though. I have bi-xeon on the E55 and regular halogen on the E500. Would it be easier to move the bi-xeon from the E55 to the E500 and upgrade the E55 bi-xeon to active? or i am smoking pot.

also, the euro command plays DVD-R, +R. Haven't tried RW yet. That is cool.

 

Isn't FM line of sight? If so, a low power transmitter in the right location could be restricted to a certain area.

 

Your'e right about that, but BklyBnez says: "its right before that little tunnel that leads to the FDR". FM signals, as far as I know, are not directional, and from his statement it seems like we're talking about some hundred yards. This would be a very limited area for the purpose of testing. Therefore it could be nice to know what kind of informations he actually picks up. Is it the TMC indicator that lights up for a few second? Does he get any informations on his COMAND display other than the indicator that can be interpreted to come from a TMC transmitter?

 

i was just talking about this with fazooley who was in the car with me when we noticed it, actually we were in his e500 with euro comand and at that one particular spot i think i remember the radio volume dimming and the TMC coming on. he rememberd more than me and said hes gonna post it here

 

regular bi xenons to active bi xenons on the E55 is fairly easy...halogen to regular bi xenons is fairly easy as well (but you will loose the auto levelling feature)...halogen to active bi xenons is a lot of hassle...

You left without the manual for your euro comand btw...

greetingz,

 

RW works, too!

 

OK. Now I get it. I think you mix TMC with TA. TA=Travel Announcement. Because TMC will not give you any indication like that. The only way to see if you have TMC is to engage it in the Navi menu, and select your prefernces. After you have done that, it will tell you if TMC is available or not. Heres is a describtion of TA or TP:

The radio display can show if the station broadcasts travel information. Since most stations do anyway, this feature by itself is of limited value. The Traffic Announcement (TA) feature allows interruption of a CD or cassette tape when there is a travel report from the radio station that is currently tuned-in. The radio will automatically switch from CD or tape to the radio for the duration of the travel announcement.

Commercial radio stations will broadcast three tones or 'bleeps' before and after the travel bulletin. These DTMF tones are used when the transmitter (where the RDS inserter physically is) is located remotely from the studio, and for reasons of cost or practicality there is no control path from the studio to the transmitter to tell the transmitter when to switch on the TA flag. The only link from studio to transmitter is the station audio itself.

In these situations, "in-band signalling" is used. A unit at the transmitter site listens out for the DTMF tones in order to switch the TA flag on and off. The DTMF tones are recorded on the traffic jingles to make life easier for the presenter. For the TA feature to work under any circumstances, however, the function marked TA, TI, TP or 'Traffic' must be switched on.

It is possible to search out only those stations broadcasting the Traffic Programme on some radios.

 

no problem. i am coming back for the tuner anyway.

Regarding the head light. If i am going to lose auto levelling feature, what is the purpose of upgrading the entire housing (other than prevent excessive spread of hid light beam)? I could simply use an aftermarket HID kit. I had assumed that retrofitting bi-xeon would gave me all function including auto levelling? So i guess i am wrong.

therefore i think i now understand what you meant by hassle. I should have never been tempted by the dealer to take a bare stock E500 in the 1st place. Now i understand why i got a huge discount on this car.

 

Another point about TMC is the fact that the vehicle manufacturer has to 'buy' into the scheme. Oslo is very fortunate that he can receive TMC information. Sadly Mercedes-Benz UK are at present 'too tight' and are not paying for the service, BMW, on the other hand can. So my point is TMC can be transmitted but unless your car is entitled to receive it, then as far as I can make out you cannot use TMC???

I think the message reads, "No signal received" or similar.

I have had a reply from Mercedes-Benz UK stating they ar forwarding my letter on to my local dealer??????? What on earth he can do is beyond me.

Regards,
John
From a clear, cool morning in Torquay

 

Not sure about folders in iTunes but have you tried making a playlist? Create a new playlist then add songs to the playlist.

 

i think you are right, i must have them mixed up because like you said i didnt change anything on the nav, it came on automatically