Lexus IS Bluetooth and Navigation
I'm interested in the AWD version, don't want to spend the extra $ for NAV, but I'd like to have the bluetooth option.
Does Bluetooth only come with the NAV option?
(I believe it is included in the premium pkg on the new ES350- without NAV)
Can you owner's clarify the IS' Bluetooth availability for me ?
Does Bluetooth only come with the NAV option?
(I believe it is included in the premium pkg on the new ES350- without NAV)
Can you owner's clarify the IS' Bluetooth availability for me ?
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The phone system being integrated into the Nav would be useful to me. I understand that only a few digital phones work with the bluetooth option.
Do some phones interface better than others?
Thanks a bunch!!
My wife and I just bought a new 2006 IS 350 with a nav system, which we'd like to make extensive use of. Does anyone know where there might be a list of all the voice commands it understands? They're not in the user manual or on the CD-ROM that came with it. Thanks in advance for your help.
-Dennis
What kind of phone do you have? Is it on the list of tested and approved phones on the letstalk website? If not, that may be your problem.
I too, had, and still have, the same problem. There are so many commands it knows that's it's tough remembering them all. The one audio command you should commit to memory is "help". Push your audio command button on your steering wheel and use that command. On your nav screen will pop up a list of all the commands your voice command system knows broken down by category (Audio, Climate, POI, etc...). You can use the nav touchscreen to navigate to the category you want and see what commands your car knows. NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DO THIS WHEN YOUR CAR IS STOPPED.
The exception to this rule are the name tags you create for your stored phone numbers. Those you record and I'm guessing the voice command system matches up to that recorded name.
Good luck finding your "help"
http://lexusbluetooth.letstalk.com/product/findProducts.htm?pgId=100&dontshowdef- view=1&model=IS
Thanks,
E
My salesperson recomends the Motorola PEBL U6 phone. He says that this has newer software (MotoSpeak) that links better to the IS bluetooth system. He says some of the RAZR phones have older software which don't work as well.
My question: Does anyone out there have first hand experience with the PEBL phone and how it might "pair up" with the new IS ????
I too have a Razr phone and it works like a champ with my bluetooth. Perhaps the problem could be the cellular provider. I was told by my local Lexus service department that the cellular provider also makes a difference in phone compatibility. I specifically asked them which phone they would recommend and the resounding answer was a Razr V3 from CINGULAR. They said the Verizon Razr didn't work as well. Not sure if it's a software issue or profile issue, or what. I'm not sure what to advise you to do. Perhaps get with some of your friends who might have bluetooth phones and try pairing them up with your system to see how they work. Looking at the letstalk website might provide some insight, but I'm sure the Razr phones will be on the list of compatible phones.
OK, you might want to calm down and pull out your owners manual before you start ranting away. The Nav isn't disabled while driving, only certain features of the nav system. Likewise, your statement about your bluetooth phone not working while you're driving is completely in error. You can place and receive calls "hand's-free" with a paired bluetooth phone. For the same safety concerns as the Nav system, they've disabled some of the features of the hands-free system. For example, you are limited in the ways you can place calls with your bluetooth phone while driving. Specifically, if the method would require you to stare at your nav screen for an inordinately long amount of time, that method would probably not be accessible while driving. Personally, I think this is a good thing. You still can assign name tags to stored phone numbers and use the audio commands to place calls. You can also use the speed dial method of placing calls. Like I said earlier, try pulling out your owner's manual and giving it a read. You'd be amazed at the stuff you can learn from just reading.
What does this even mean? Okay, they don't give you the manual until you buy the car. Did you buy a car or not? If you did, then you got a manual. If you got one, open it up and read it. You'll see that you can use your phone while driving.
If that fails, try doing what it says.
On the touch-screen is the last place your digits should be while the car is moving. Can you not program your frequently-dialed numbers for voice activation? Is true "hands-free" operation not the whole point here? Of course calls can be placed while in motion.
They're right: the book will give you all you need to learn to use the system.
I also found the Nav system to be very helpful finding my destinations and "Points of Interest" along the way.
What a great system !
I almost bought one without the Nav / Phone feature. That would have been a huge mistake. (and no, I don't work for Lexus)
I find the voice activation as a safety feature and although I've only owned the car for less than a month, I use it all the time (along with the speed dial feature. I take calls in the car frequently and find the system VERY useful. It saves me time during my commute and is clearly safer than using a cell phone directly.
I wonder if the reason that some find the phone system doesn't work well for them is that they:
1) haven't read the instruction manual and experiemented with the system and
2) may not have a proper blue tooth phone "paired" to the system.
They may want to visit Lexus.com and search out the list of recommended cell phones under the BlueTooth link. Personally, I use a Motorolla PEBL phone which took me all of 2 minutes to do the inital "pairing" and has worked great ever since.
Press the menu button, then choose system option. Then press the top left of the screen, then the bottom left of the screen, then the top left again, then the bottom left again, then finally touch the bottom right of the screen. It will bring up a system menu. Choose the override button, then hit back. If you do this while moving, you won't be able to edit until you stop the first time. If you are stopped when you do this, then you can continue to edit while moving. You can do some other crazy stuff as well, I copied my DVD from my nav system and I am going to see if I can figure out how the thing works to modify it, so that this is enabled permanently, but until then, here you go....
The phone system is wonderful. In fact, it's so wonderful that it won't allow people with impaired judgment to add further distractions to their fleeting attention spans by encouraging them to take their eyes from the road to punch buttons on a screen. It's called a safety feature. Have you not noticed the appalling statistics concerning the rise in traffic accidents since the introduction of cell phones? Is it inconceivable to you that using a nav system while the car is in motion endangers you, your passengers, and everyone around you? Can you not envision how much more efficient it is to to tell your phone to "Call Bob" than it is to look up his number in your address book, then key it in to your phone?
I don't want you to employ the hack that will allow you to use the touch screen while the car is in motion.
Hey, everyone, what say we all chip in and get this guy his Mercedes back? I think it'll be worth it.
Dennis gets today's first "BINGO!"
While we're at it, what moak would actually hack to play movies on the screen while the car is moving?
Morons like that are the reason we end up with over-restrictive laws that morons like that end up complaining about...
IMO, of course.
Rick gets today's second "BINGO!"
Well done.
Be sure you have an approved Bluetooth handset by visiting:
http://www.lexus.com/models/bluetooth/index.html
To place or receive a call use the Voice Recognition (VR) system. Press the VR switch on the steering wheel and say, "Dial by number." After the display switches to the telephone screen, press the VR switch again and say the individual digits of the telephone number. For example, 800 555 1212 is dialed by saying, "8,0,0,5,5,5,1,2,1,2." Don't use eight hundred since the system ONLY recognizes single digits.
Lastly, be sure to reduce interior noise in the cabin. Any noise will prevent the system from understanding your commands.
Just touch the control "buttons" on the side of the screen. One is for Map. One is for Audio. One is for Climate. Just touch one and adjust as you desire from the plasma screen. Alternatively, use the old fashion radio/CD knobs and temp up or down buttons below the Navi screen. The beauty of the Navi is it's handsfree operation. Use the voice controls to do the work for you. Use it to guide you to your selected destination. Use it to make a phone call, etc.
Wonderful electronics. I use it all the time.
Someone from this website talked me into adding the Navi to my list of options on my IS250AWD and I am very glad that I did.
My current car is the first I've had with navi and I'm surprised at how much I like it. I don't think I'll ever be able to get another car again without one!
also - can you change the guidance voice?
Hope this helps.
kgk3
Netwon
Netwon
and for owners having used lexus navigation/gps, is it very accurate (in terms of directions and up-to-date maps)and does it have fast response time?
any complaints about the lexus nav/gps system ? thanks!