RDS Travel News - Radio 2?

[MB]

Has Radio 2 started to use the RDS flags for Travel News?

I was driving up the A82 alongside Loch Lomond on Monday. A Travl News
report came on, it seemed to be for somewhere near Stoke so I thought it
must just be a bit of ANAPROP.

But then looked across at the radio and I am sure it read something like
"Radio 2 Travel Information".

Also realised I was sure it was the irritating, camp Travel News reader
from Radio 2.

A bit later it briefly indicated "Radio 2 Travel News Information" again
but failed to switch over properly.

[Woody]

Post by MB
Has Radio 2 started to use the RDS flags for Travel News?
I was driving up the A82 alongside Loch Lomond on Monday.  A Travl News
report came on, it seemed to be for somewhere near Stoke so I thought it
must just be a bit of ANAPROP.
But then looked across at the radio and I am sure it read something like
"Radio 2 Travel Information".
Also realised I was sure it was the irritating, camp Travel News reader
from Radio 2.
A bit later it briefly indicated "Radio 2 Travel News Information" again
but failed to switch over properly.

More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).
We drove from Harrogate to Frome a few weeks ago. We got Greatest Hits
Yorkshire travel bulletion just as we got onto the A1(M) at J47 (A59)
then not a sausage until we heard BBC Wilts then BBC Somerset. Coming
back a few days later exactly the same (opposite sequence of course) but
with just one C&W thrown in.

Today we have been up to Bishop Auckland and we got just one bulletin
from BBC York just before we got home. Normally here we can get York,
Leeds, often Sheffield, and Tees - so where have the rest gone??

[Mark Carver]

Post by Woody

Post by MB
Has Radio 2 started to use the RDS flags for Travel News?
I was driving up the A82 alongside Loch Lomond on Monday.  A Travl
News report came on, it seemed to be for somewhere near Stoke so I
thought it must just be a bit of ANAPROP.
But then looked across at the radio and I am sure it read something
like "Radio 2 Travel Information".
Also realised I was sure it was the irritating, camp Travel News
reader from Radio 2.
A bit later it briefly indicated "Radio 2 Travel News Information"
again but failed to switch over properly.

More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus
DAB data).
We drove from Harrogate to Frome a few weeks ago. We got Greatest Hits
Yorkshire travel bulletion just as we got onto the A1(M) at J47 (A59)
then not a sausage until we heard BBC Wilts then BBC Somerset. Coming
back a few days later exactly the same (opposite sequence of course)
but with just one C&W thrown in.
Today we have been up to Bishop Auckland and we got just one bulletin
from BBC York just before we got home. Normally here we can get York,
Leeds, often Sheffield, and Tees - so where have the rest gone??

BBC Local Radio has been emasculated of localness, and is being turned
into a quasi national service.
Hence all the recent strikes at the stations, and BBC regional TV

[Andy Burns]

Post by Mark Carver
strikes at the stations, and BBC regional TV

Had genuinely not noticed ...

<https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/keepbbclocalradiolocal.html>

[Mark Carver]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Mark Carver
strikes at the stations, and BBC regional TV

Had genuinely not noticed ...
<https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/keepbbclocalradiolocal.html>

 Few have to be honest, the public are not as obsessed by the BBC as
the BBC would like to think

[Brian Gaff]

Yes the excellent night shows that run from 10pm to 1 AM are going sometime
in August and already many of the presenters are on commercial stations or
retired or doing the cruises rounds.


Brian
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Post by Mark Carver

Post by Woody

Post by MB
Has Radio 2 started to use the RDS flags for Travel News?
I was driving up the A82 alongside Loch Lomond on Monday. A Travl News
report came on, it seemed to be for somewhere near Stoke so I thought it
must just be a bit of ANAPROP.
But then looked across at the radio and I am sure it read something like
"Radio 2 Travel Information".
Also realised I was sure it was the irritating, camp Travel News reader
from Radio 2.
A bit later it briefly indicated "Radio 2 Travel News Information" again
but failed to switch over properly.

More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).
We drove from Harrogate to Frome a few weeks ago. We got Greatest Hits
Yorkshire travel bulletion just as we got onto the A1(M) at J47 (A59)
then not a sausage until we heard BBC Wilts then BBC Somerset. Coming
back a few days later exactly the same (opposite sequence of course) but
with just one C&W thrown in.
Today we have been up to Bishop Auckland and we got just one bulletin
from BBC York just before we got home. Normally here we can get York,
Leeds, often Sheffield, and Tees - so where have the rest gone??

BBC Local Radio has been emasculated of localness, and is being turned
into a quasi national service.
Hence all the recent strikes at the stations, and BBC regional TV

[MB]

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).

I hear them occasionally but not often.

Not sure about DAB data, a text message is not much use when driving.

[charles]

Post by MB

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).

I hear them occasionally but not often.
Not sure about DAB data, a text message is not much use when driving.

My Skoda reads text messages to me.

[Tweed]

Post by charles

Post by MB

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).

I hear them occasionally but not often.
Not sure about DAB data, a text message is not much use when driving.

My Skoda reads text messages to me.

DAB carries traffic information for Sat nav devices. My Ford’s integrated
sat nav uses it. If anything, it has become too informative in the last
year or so, popping up messages about some rather trivial roadworks in
addition to the normal traffic jams.

[Woody]

Post by MB

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).

I hear them occasionally but not often.
Not sure about DAB data, a text message is not much use when driving.

Traffic News is broadcast on FM, so if it is relevant in terms of area
there is a data message within the DAB stream that instructs the radio
to change to the FM broadcast of a specific local radio station.

[AUBTU]

Post by MB

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).

I hear them occasionally but not often.
Not sure about DAB data, a text message is not much use when driving.

And me too....I also heard this news
<https://aubtu.biz/22-weird-yet-funny-things-found-on-google-maps-thatll-make-you-burst-into-laughter>

[Brian Gaff]

Economised out of the picture I'd imagine.
Everyone assumes you get it from other sources these days as most cars have
the internet.
Brian
--
--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Post by Woody

Post by MB
Has Radio 2 started to use the RDS flags for Travel News?
I was driving up the A82 alongside Loch Lomond on Monday. A Travl News
report came on, it seemed to be for somewhere near Stoke so I thought it
must just be a bit of ANAPROP.
But then looked across at the radio and I am sure it read something like
"Radio 2 Travel Information".
Also realised I was sure it was the irritating, camp Travel News reader
from Radio 2.
A bit later it briefly indicated "Radio 2 Travel News Information" again
but failed to switch over properly.

More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).
We drove from Harrogate to Frome a few weeks ago. We got Greatest Hits
Yorkshire travel bulletion just as we got onto the A1(M) at J47 (A59) then
not a sausage until we heard BBC Wilts then BBC Somerset. Coming back a
few days later exactly the same (opposite sequence of course) but with
just one C&W thrown in.
Today we have been up to Bishop Auckland and we got just one bulletin from
BBC York just before we got home. Normally here we can get York, Leeds,
often Sheffield, and Tees - so where have the rest gone??

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Brian Gaff
Economised out of the picture I'd imagine.
Everyone assumes you get it from other sources these days as most cars have
the internet.
Brian

For some value of "most". Like "most" people have a smartphone and an
always-on infinite data contract.

I think all _new_ cars have at least a (G2 is it?) tracker, but the
proportion of cars on the road older than when that became true I would
imagine is more than 50% (I don't know what year it became true).

[MB]

Post by Brian Gaff
Everyone assumes you get it from other sources these days as most cars have
the internet.

I doubt very much whether most cars have the Internet.

[Andy Burns]

Post by MB
I doubt very much whether most cars have the Internet.

You might be surprised, since 2018 cars are required to detect
collisions and make an automatic call to an emergency assistance centre
(e-Call), my 2017 car has it.

To do that, cars have a 4G "phone" built in (hopefully none have 3G
only), once you have that you can have 4G data capability essentially
for free, and cars tend to have a MiFi equivalent included as a feature
(you see, the vauxhall mokka adverts weren't just about making boys with
cars popular with girls hanging around in car-parks).

[MB]

Post by Andy Burns
You might be surprised, since 2018 cars are required to detect
collisions and make an automatic call to an emergency assistance centre
(e-Call), my 2017 car has it.

My car has that (I pushed the button once when trying to find the light
switch). But it is not the same as 'having the Internet'.

VW cars have Car-Net which gives limited access to a few things but
never been able to find what network it uses, occasionally there is a
message to indicate that it is connected to something but most of the
time not connected. It also connects to my WiFi when parked outside so
I can send locations to the Sat Nav - it is a poor system though, it
appears to store the location in the car and on their server but when
you delete one, the other is left which can mean the memory is full even
if only a handful of locations stored. Deleting locations is a real PITA!

[Woody]

Post by MB

Post by Andy Burns
You might be surprised, since 2018 cars are required to detect
collisions and make an automatic call to an emergency assistance
centre (e-Call), my 2017 car has it.

My car has that (I pushed the button once when trying to find the light
switch).  But it is not the same as 'having the Internet'.
VW cars have Car-Net which gives limited access to a few things but
never been able to find what network it uses, occasionally there is a
message to indicate that it is connected to something but most of the
time not connected.  It also connects to my WiFi when parked outside so
I can send locations to the Sat Nav - it is a poor system though, it
appears to store the location in the car and on their server but when
you delete one, the other is left which can mean the memory is full even
if only a handful of locations stored.  Deleting locations is a real PITA!

Can't speak for VW but Skoda Car-Net is run by Cubic Telecom on the VF
network.

[Andy Burns]

Post by MB

since 2018 cars are required to detect collisions and make an
automatic call to an emergency assistance centre (e-Call)

My car has that (I pushed the button once when trying to find the light
switch).  But it is not the same as 'having the Internet'.

All the technology is there, some manufacturers may sell it as an
option, but every brand I searched for has its own name for it.

Post by MB
VW cars have Car-Net which gives limited access to a few things but
never been able to find what network it uses

My car uses an eSIM, at one time the T&C screen did show which provider
it used (some pan-european provider a bit like manx or jersey) but then
it changed, now it doesn't say.

Post by MB
occasionally there is a
message to indicate that it is connected to something but most of the
time not connected.  It also connects to my WiFi when parked outside so
I can send locations to the Sat Nav - it is a poor system though, it
appears to store the location in the car and on their server but when
you delete one, the other is left which can mean the memory is full even
if only a handful of locations stored.  Deleting locations is a real PITA!

The "free" internet access ended after 3 years on mine, but it still
gets google maps and traffic updates, but all other features such as
being able to remotely check how much petrol I have, or unlock the doors
would cost a stupid fee per month.

It's just easier and cheaper to use mobile data hotspot on the phone,
than on the car.

[John Williamson]

Post by MB

Post by Brian Gaff
Everyone assumes you get it from other sources these days as most cars have
the internet.

I doubt very much whether most cars have the Internet.

Very many drivers now have access to the internet. I use the traffic
information overlay on Google Maps on my phone to avoid severe holdups,
and I have noticed that a lot of drivers seem to be doing the same as
the rat runs it comes up with are now approaching the same journey times
as the delayed routes.

The info is live, and updated every minute or so from location data
automatically supplied by users. You can actually watch the jams as they
progress along the motorways. As a joke, I have been known to tell
foreign guides and tourists what the live traffic is like in their home
town.

[Andy Burns]

I use the traffic information overlay on Google Maps on my phone to
avoid severe holdups, and I have noticed that a lot of drivers seem to
be doing the same as the rat runs it comes up with are now approaching
the same journey times as the delayed routes.
The info is live, and updated every minute or so from location data
automatically supplied by users.

Or you can use a bunch of phones to fake a snarl-up ...

<https://www.boredpanda.com/fake-traffic-jam-99-smartphones-google-maps-simon-weckert>

[John Williamson]

Post by Andy Burns

I use the traffic information overlay on Google Maps on my phone to
avoid severe holdups, and I have noticed that a lot of drivers seem to
be doing the same as the rat runs it comes up with are now approaching
the same journey times as the delayed routes.
The info is live, and updated every minute or so from location data
automatically supplied by users.

Or you can use a bunch of phones to fake a snarl-up ...
<https://www.boredpanda.com/fake-traffic-jam-99-smartphones-google-maps-simon-weckert>

I saw that when the story first came out.

[AUBTU]

Post by Andy Burns

I use the traffic information overlay on Google Maps on my phone to
avoid severe holdups, and I have noticed that a lot of drivers seem to
be doing the same as the rat runs it comes up with are now approaching
the same journey times as the delayed routes.
The info is live, and updated every minute or so from location data
automatically supplied by users.

Or you can use a bunch of phones to fake a snarl-up ...
<https://www.boredpanda.com/fake-traffic-jam-99-smartphones-google-maps-simon-weckert>

<https://aubtu.biz/22-weird-yet-funny-things-found-on-google-maps-thatll-make-you-burst-into-laughter>

[MB]

Post by John Williamson
Very many drivers now have access to the internet. I use the traffic
information overlay on Google Maps on my phone to avoid severe holdups,
and I have noticed that a lot of drivers seem to be doing the same as
the rat runs it comes up with are now approaching the same journey times
as the delayed routes.

Most seem to do it my linking to their mobile phone so the vehicle
itself does not have a connection to the Internet.

[Andy Burns]

Post by MB
Most seem to do it my linking to their mobile phone so the vehicle
itself does not have a connection to the Internet.

I think I have the option to do the reverse (let the car use the phone's
SIM) but there was a downside to that, something like Android Auto could
no longer use data, can't remember now, so yes I mostly use the phone's
data not the car's. I use google maps on the car's screen most of the
time, but do have the option of using the car's own satnav, but it's
clunkier.

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by MB
Most seem to do it my linking to their mobile phone so the vehicle
itself does not have a connection to the Internet.

I think I have the option to do the reverse (let the car use the
phone's SIM) but there was a downside to that, something like Android
Auto could no longer use data, can't remember now, so yes I mostly use
the phone's data not the car's. I use google maps on the car's screen
most of the time, but do have the option of using the car's own satnav,
but it's clunkier.

Does the "car's own satnav" get updates, traffic info., etc., or is it
just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav unit?

[MB]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Does the "car's own satnav" get updates, traffic info., etc., or is it
just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav unit?

My VW does not get map updates online, I believe that was added on a
later version.

You can download the maps free from their website and then transfer to
the car Sat Nav but I never managed to get it to work. You also can
only transfer to a genuine VW memory card so if you screw things up then
you could lose your maps.

[Woody]

Post by MB

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Does the "car's own satnav" get updates, traffic info., etc., or is it
just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav unit?

My VW does not get map updates online, I believe that was added on a
later version.
You can download the maps free from their website and then transfer to
the car Sat Nav but I never managed to get it to work.  You also can
only transfer to a genuine VW memory card so if you screw things up then
you could lose your maps.

It took me a while to fix it, but I got round it (using a Discover Media.)
You just download the file but it comes with instructions - which if you
follow them exactly it will work. Alternatively you can get an updated
SD card on eBay for a tenner of so. The code on the card label will
change - the first three characters (one number, two letters) - but the
following six numbers (919866?) should be the same.

[charles]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Andy Burns

Post by MB
Most seem to do it my linking to their mobile phone so the vehicle
itself does not have a connection to the Internet.

I think I have the option to do the reverse (let the car use the
phone's SIM) but there was a downside to that, something like Android
Auto could no longer use data, can't remember now, so yes I mostly use
the phone's data not the car's. I use google maps on the car's screen
most of the time, but do have the option of using the car's own satnav,
but it's clunkier.

Does the "car's own satnav" get updates, traffic info., etc., or is it
just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav unit?

On my Skoda I get live traffic info on the built-in SatNav

[Mark Carver]

Post by charles

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Andy Burns

Post by MB
Most seem to do it my linking to their mobile phone so the vehicle
itself does not have a connection to the Internet.

I think I have the option to do the reverse (let the car use the
phone's SIM) but there was a downside to that, something like Android
Auto could no longer use data, can't remember now, so yes I mostly use
the phone's data not the car's. I use google maps on the car's screen
most of the time, but do have the option of using the car's own satnav,
but it's clunkier.

Does the "car's own satnav" get updates, traffic info., etc., or is it
just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav unit?

On my Skoda I get live traffic info on the built-in SatNav

It might be obtaining the data from the TMC streams that are carried on
Classic FM transmitters, and also the D1 national mux, I've never quite
worked out in my car whether it's coming from that, or the embedded 4G
device, or from my phone being tethered (or a mixture of all) !

Modern car radios have multiple SDR based receivers, so you don't need
to be listening to the broadcasts or muxes the the TMC data is carried on

[Andy Burns]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Does the "car's own satnav" get updates

It previously got the annual map updates over 4G, but it's no longer
entitled to those.

Post by J. P. Gilliver
traffic info

It can display google's red/amber traffic status overlay, I don't
remember if it ever did offer re-routing around problems.

Post by J. P. Gilliver
etc., or is it just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav
unit?

It's a couple of years out of date now, some of its speed-limits are now
wrong, but I don't drive anywhere than new roads are missing yet.

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Does the "car's own satnav" get updates

It previously got the annual map updates over 4G, but it's no longer
entitled to those.

Ah, so it has the hardware; that's what I was trying to establish.

Post by Andy Burns

Post by J. P. Gilliver
traffic info

It can display google's red/amber traffic status overlay, I don't
remember if it ever did offer re-routing around problems.

So the link is still operational (unless it's getting that information
from DAB or RDS which I think unlikely).

Post by Andy Burns

Post by J. P. Gilliver
etc., or is it just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav
unit?

It's a couple of years out of date now, some of its speed-limits are
now wrong, but I don't drive anywhere than new roads are missing yet.

Have you been told they could be if you pay a limb?

[AUBTU]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Andy Burns

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Does the "car's own satnav" get updates

It previously got the annual map updates over 4G, but it's no longer
entitled to those.

Ah, so it has the hardware; that's what I was trying to establish.

Post by Andy Burns

Post by J. P. Gilliver
traffic info

It can display google's red/amber traffic status overlay, I don't
remember if it ever did offer re-routing around problems.

So the link is still operational (unless it's getting that information
from DAB or RDS which I think unlikely).

Post by Andy Burns

Post by J. P. Gilliver
etc., or is it just preloaded maps like you get with any cheap satnav
unit?

It's a couple of years out of date now, some of its speed-limits are
now wrong, but I don't drive anywhere than new roads are missing yet.

Have you been told they could be if you pay a limb?
--
No. I demur. Let it [the Royal Variety Performance] glitter ridiculously on, to
affirm that other people's pleasures, even ghastly ones, are part of the great
mouldy patchwork clown-trouser of the nation. - Libby Purves, rt 2022/12/17-23

[JMB99]

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus DAB
data).
We drove from Harrogate to Frome a few weeks ago. We got Greatest Hits
Yorkshire travel bulletion just as we got onto the A1(M) at J47 (A59)
then not a sausage until we heard BBC Wilts then BBC Somerset. Coming
back a few days later exactly the same (opposite sequence of course) but
with just one C&W thrown in.

Certainly seem to be less being heard from Radio Scotland, this was a
week ago from a friend.


"The A82, A83 & A85 are all closed due to flooding / landslips but Radio
Scot only mentioned a few restricted roads in Ayrshire and around Glasgow.
R. Scot is supposed to be the source of information in adverse weather
but there will be no more travel bulletins for the rest of the afternoon
(even if they are a waste of time)."

"Everything in Argyll south of Loch Creran and west of Loch Fyne
including Jura & Islay has been cut off for over 24 hours now but hardly
a word in the news.
A national emergency would have been declared if it happened south of
Watford!"


I certainly did not hear any travel news that weekend even though I had
to stay in a hotel overnight because of a blocked road.

[Woody]

Post by JMB99

Post by Woody
More to the point, what has happened to travel via RDS and EON (plus
DAB data).
We drove from Harrogate to Frome a few weeks ago. We got Greatest Hits
Yorkshire travel bulletion just as we got onto the A1(M) at J47 (A59)
then not a sausage until we heard BBC Wilts then BBC Somerset. Coming
back a few days later exactly the same (opposite sequence of course)
but with just one C&W thrown in.

Certainly seem to be less being heard from Radio Scotland, this was a
week ago from a friend.
"The A82, A83 & A85 are all closed due to flooding / landslips but Radio
Scot only mentioned a few restricted roads in Ayrshire and around Glasgow.
R. Scot is supposed to be the source of information in adverse weather
but there will be no more travel bulletins for the rest of the afternoon
(even if they are a waste of time)."
"Everything in Argyll south of Loch Creran and west of Loch Fyne
including Jura & Islay has been cut off for over 24 hours now but hardly
a word in the news.
A national emergency would have been declared if it happened south of
Watford!"
I certainly did not hear any travel news that weekend even though I had
to stay in a hotel overnight because of a blocked road.

Curious:
I sent a mail to BBC Complaints and their attitude was that it had to be
a receiver fault despite the fact that (1) I told them I am a retired
broadcast transmitter engineer so I know what I am talking about, and
(2) that it was the same in our last car (Passat Estate) as it is now in
our Skoda Karoq (new 9/22.)

Curiously traffic news on both BBC R York and BBC R Leeds (our locals)
seem to have suddenly reappeared.

Hmmm.......

[JMB99]

Post by Woody
I sent a mail to BBC Complaints and their attitude was that it had to be
a receiver fault despite the fact that (1) I told them I am a retired
broadcast transmitter engineer so I know what I am talking about, and
(2) that it was the same in our last car (Passat Estate) as it is now in
our Skoda Karoq (new 9/22.)
Curiously traffic news on both BBC R York and BBC R Leeds (our locals)
seem to have suddenly reappeared.

Before I retired, RDS switched travel news stopped working several times
and even then it was difficult to get it fixed!