Honda Accord Navigation

parviz

The voice actuated operation is not 100% full proof. I would try changing the tone of voice, loudness, etc. to get it understand you. I've had that problem with other commands too but I usually get it done after severl tries.

On a related note, does anyone know what is the difference between "call" and "dial" commands when using the hands free link for calling out (this is a question but for some reason my question mark key is not working!)

shado4

On a related note, does anyone know what is the difference between "call" and "dial" commands when using the hands free link for calling out

If it's anything like the system in my Lancer, "call" is used to phone a person by saying a name that is stored in your address book, as in "call John Smith." Dial is used to phone a person by saying their phone number, as in "dial 867-555-1212".

Try that and see if it works.

parviz

That makes sense. I'll try it in the morning. Thanks.

sunnfun

Try taking the duct tape off the dashboard.....

bvdj84

Does the 08 accord navigation, say your name when you start the car? I am just curious, I have heard others do that...

parviz

No, it does not. Neither does the one in the 08 TL.

viet

Parviz, guys & gals,

It appears my EX-L V6 navi had been acting real strange in the last couple of days, especially today. It received my commands and acted differently. I had to repeat commands again louder. Do I have to reset anything or bring it to the dealer? I have not read much the navi manual.

parviz

Voice actuation is not one of the strong features of the Honda Navi, in my experience. My 08 Accord is the same, so is my 06 Pilot. And yes, so is my friend's 08 TL. The manual has some suggestions to make it work better, such as making it a longer sentence, etc. Check out the list of proposed commands, there is a lot of them, haven't memorized them yet!

viet

Parviz,

So, now I know you are also a Pilot King. Thanks for your feedback on Accord Navi.

parviz

I don't know about the "King" part but I enjoy driving it.
I just updated my profile with a list of cars I've owned over the years, just for kicks!

jaxs1

There are usually videos of almost anything on youtube, but I can't find any good demos of the nav system and no demos of the bluetooth in use at all.

This is the best "demo" of the nav system and it's laughably inadequate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVS9ZEzegwQ

Can someone upload a video of both the nav in use and the bluetooth in use?
I'd like to see how well the bluetooth works for dialing out by voice (preferably while the car is driving at highway speeds).

bvdj84

I need you guy's opinion on the navigation.

I am wanting to get the 08 EX-L Accord, but I would like to know if it is really worth it getting the navigation? Does it offer that many amenities that makes it that much more fun. I will need to make up my mind soon. It is like, live a little and get it all, or just save $$, and still be happy, but possibly miss it later.

rv65

Well you do get a better bluetooth system and is capable of a backup camera. You can retrofit the navi but it's not easy. People have done it on the Acura and Civic forums of the interweb. Having to add more wiring and that can be a problem. The Backup camera is also something you need to get the dealer to do. Voice recognition works very well. Some portables have it but they tend to be more expensive. Hope this helps.

parviz

And there is a lot more that you get with the navi. It may not be of any value to some, but they include, very nice control and listing of the CD and MP3 disks, calendar, calculator, phone book, trip computer, and not to mention the voice command works on all these features, letting you practically play any source or change tracks, etc. by voice command. BTW, I had the rearview camera installed by the dealer, took a little bit of negotiation and at the end it cost me $660 installed. If someone is technically up to it they can install it themselves but after I looked at the installation instruction I figured it is better to have them install it which also gets covered under the Honda warranty.

tallman1

I would like to know if it is really worth it getting the navigation?

I have navi in my 06 and it was well worth the extra price. I use it all the time, even for going to places I've been so that I can tell how far I need to travel and how long it will take me to get there. It's also great for getting to local places when you come from a different direction. Of course, that is in addition to finding places you don't know.

Portable units are cheaper but having the unit built-in and having all the other things integrated (as the earlier person said) makes it worth it to me.

bflanagan

Hello, I recently purchased a 2004 honda accord with a built in navigation system. I like the car and the navigation system, but I have been challenged trying to display certain locations on the system. I drive from Seattle to Los Angeles and I would like to have the system display the Starbucks locatioins along I-5. Does anyone know how or if this can be done? Thanks, Bill

blackexv6

First, check your DVD map version to see if it's the latest. An updated map may help update some of the POI's (points of interest). You can buy one from Honda. However, POI's newer than 5 years old don't expect to see them.

Here's a link to try link title

We hardly use the NAV system on our '06 Odyssey for the reason mentioned above. Just today we tried looking for a McDonalds that was built 4 years ago & it was not there. However, my $150 TomTom has it.

jaxs1

One thing you can do is call 1-800-GOOG411 via your cell phone and have the automated system give you the phone number or address. Then you always have access to the newest data can manually enter the address into the nav.

If you blindly rely on the business addresses in the nav without calling to verify they area still open and at the same address, you will end up occasionally driving to businesses that have closed or relocated.

If you have a cell phone with Google Maps and a mobile data plan, you can also find businesses that are close to your location.

The carmarkers should start offering live POI data. BMW has plans for this already,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFTQIFSGMU

tallman1

If I'm in an area outside of home I tend to use the "Sort by distance to travel" feature. It isn't foolproof and, as others have said, there are errors. However, I can usually find someplace to eat (I hate coffee) that is close to where I am at the time.

BTW, the DVD updates aren't cheap... right around $200.

parviz

You may try "by name" and "on the route" filters to locate the Starbucks along the way. You would need to enter a destination before you do that. Also, that is how it works on my 06 Pilot and 08 Accord, I am not sure the version you have on your car would support it but is worth a try. Updates are about $150 and in most cases not worth it unless yours is way out of date. If you go to the update site that was mentioned earlier first check the list of enhancements on each version compared to yours before deciding if it is worth your money.

jaxs1

I drove a new Camry for a couple days this week and used the bluetooth. It worked well except that it didn't import the contacts from my Motorola Q9C, so I had to manually recreate the ones I wanted to use.

Does anyone know if the bluetooth in the 2008 Accord with nav is compatible with a wider range of phones than Toyota's?

Other portable devices (such as Garmin bluetooth compatible portable nav systems and Blueant portable speakerphones I've used) can either import the phonebook from this same phone or remotely access the phone's address book via voicetags or both. I can actually access the contacts in the phonebook using the voice recognition or voicetags built into my phone with no need to record new voice tags specifically for the device.
The Q9C doesn't use voice tags at all. It does speech recognition to find your contacts. My old phone used voice tags you record. My portable devices worked with both phone's individual ways of accessing the contacts.

It's surprising that the factory installed navs may be compatible with fewer phones than a portable handsfree device.

bvdj84

With the 08 Accord Navigation, am I able to buy a PCMIA card that holds music and place that in the card slot with the unit. Let me know!

Thanks

bvdj84

Okay, I think I answered my own question on my online via some research, that it is possible, if I can go and find the right card for the slot reader. Although it does say in the Honda manual that it is for factory use, but many newer honda models are using this card and it works great, people have loved it. Create folders of music. That alone for me, would be a reason to get the navigation. Having all my music right there would be awesome!! and easy!! When driving I don't want to worry about choosing music when I want to. Just click and play. This will be similar to what other models have, but the difference is they use a hard drive. This is using flash drives.

So, having the flash drive with a couple gigs of music, CD changer, that plays MP3's, wow!! Endless music!!! That right there, alone, without all the other features that come with the navigation, is a winner with me. It is like a entertainment system, my directions when I need them, and my phone, .. I am going to love it!!

If anyone knows where to buy these cards, let me know!!

parviz

I think it is more than just finding the right card for it. The software and menu would need to be updated so that one could access the files on the card through the navi screen. If it is doable, I would be interested, too.

bvdj84

I don't think it is that hard, because I read where people with 06/07 Civic, CR-V, they put the music on the card within the folders, and were able to read them on the screen. Just type in Honda Navigation PCMIA card and it would bring several links about people who have done it, without any modification. They just put it in the slot and it read it, but your right, get the right card and it will work, but it won't be that difficult since many have done it. If they have complications then definitely they would have put that on the reviews of it, people when reviewing don't leave anything out, especially if it was a problem, the only issue they said, is that they didn't find it in the owners manual of honda, and just finding the right card, that is it, and there were many reviews I found saying the same thing. They wouldn't find it in the manual, it states its for factory use, but people put the card in, and it worked. One said they just navigated through the folders on the card and it had all the songs placed in there. This is with the newer model navigations, and I have heard other models other than Honda, do the same thing.

Do a search, and you'll see it is not so uncommon and people are doing it with there new cars today. Only if everyone knew about it.

parviz

Interesting, I'll do some research on it and let you know.

bvdj84

A dealer replied and had mentioned that Honda intended that the navigation have that ability, now why they did not openly mention that you can do this, I am not sure. But, the dealer totally knew what I was talking about. Obviously, they have built it that way, otherwise if they did not, then it would not even read the mp3's and folders on that car and know to play them. This other post mentioned they did the same on their audi navigation. It does all make sense that you can do it, but why they have not put it in the features list for the navi, that is weird. I plan to really check it all out, so how it works.

kene2700

I just purchased a 2004 Accord EX-L with a Navi system. I had it for about a week when the Navi system started to act up. Intially it started by taking a long time (2-3 mins) to engage and within a few days later the system rebooted. After I enter the unlock code the system would work for a day or two and it rebooted again. I brought the car back to the dealer and they found the battery to be bad. They replaced the battery and the Navi system continues to reboot. Now the dealer tells me the head unit is bad and its going to cost 3K to replace.

The car is out of warranty (92K) and the dealer does not want to offer any goodwill.

Has anyone experience the same problem with their navi system?

Any suggestions/advice?

Thanks.

totalsports

Is it possible to add XM Navtraffic to the 2008 Accord Navigation system?....The Nav system looks just like that in the RL which has Navtraffic.....Is the Navtraffic a software component or a hardware issue?

parviz

I know it is a software issue and can be done but not being offered through Honda. RL and TL have it and it seems like Honda wanted to keep some of the goodies for them. I would be interested to see if anyone has any ideas on how to do it.

megan4

I had the car for 2 weeks and the navi would freeze. It was not an area where this should happen. The button commands would not let you go to 'north up', 'voice' or 'directions'. It had no voice at all. I had to turn off the car to get the navi to reboot. Sometimes it works fine, but will freeze at will. Dealer says nothing seems wrong when he drives it, which makes makes sense because it only happens sometimes. Not good when you are lost in DETROIT!!

parviz

Try taking the DVD out and then re-inserting and letting it re-boot that way, maybe that would help. Otherwise, make sure the dealer has a work order and has documented your intermittent problem while under warranty to save you some headache later on if that becomes more prevalent.

eddy711

Can someone tell me if i can run the XM navtraffic on my 06 Pilot. i signed up for it but it doesnt work ?
if i upgrade to a new DVD will it work? or im ot o luck Thanks

rv65

Also hit MAP, MENU and CANCEL. That can get you into the the diagnostic menu. You then hit version then hit DownLoad. That reloads the navi software. Hope this helps.

rv65

Pilot is not compatible with XM NavTraffic. It doesn't have that support.

rv65

Actually on the RL and TL it's a seperate module. I believe it also requires AcuraLink which also is expensive. There you go on navtraffic.

eddy711

i have converted my nav screen to be able to watch a movie wile driving. i went to an after market guy who put in a little switch to be able to go back & forth between the GPS & DVD

thegraduate

Can I have your tag number? I'd rather not be on the road near ya! :sick: :P

srizvi1

wow.. details on this?

pat

Please do not drive anywhere near where I live. :sick:

eddy711

CHILL its "ONLY" for my wife HA HA
I would never wach wile driving NEVER

pat

No, you "chill"... and please be careful. A distracted driver (no matter what the distraction) puts lives at risk all around him.

dolfan1

Don't know where else to post this, hope it's OK.
Looking for recommendations on a portable nav system.
Other than screen size, what is the difference between budget models like Garman 350 vs high-end models like the Garman 760 or top of the line Tom Tom?

dolfan1

Oops. I think it's Garmin, not Garman. Anyway, any recommendations on any models appreciated.

tallman1

You probably will want to post your message here: Navigation Systems

Lots of helpful folks.

dolfan1

Thanks much. I looked for a forum like that but missed it.

daniell999

Two Questions:
1) When the headlights are turned on, the navigation system is supposed to enter night mode with the screen showing white roads on a black background. Any reason why my system would not do this?\
2) When using the navigation system, how can I temporarily turn off the voice directions?

mrbill1957

What year is your Accord?

In my 04, one of the setup screens allows you to turn on/off the night mode. BUT!!, the auto dim mode can be overridden if you have the dash brightness knob turned too far to one end. I don't recall which way it is, but when you turn it all the way up, you will reach a point that you feel a click. You need to back off of the click, otherwise the navi screen won't auto dim.

Check the setup areas again for turning off voice, I don't remember if you can or not, but you can always turn the volume way down.

Mrbill

tallman1

The set up screen lets you adjust all kinds of things like color, brightness, etc. You can have the auto day and night work or always leave it on day. You can turn the voice on and off and even choose between a male and female voice.

parviz

Like the other poster mentioned this all depends on the model year. The 08 Navi's for all Hondas only have the female voice (I have no idea why, cost savings?!!). The 08 also has a button on the dash that lets you change the day/night mode quickly. The software on my 06 navi and the 08 navi (Pilot and Accord, respectively) allows the selection of all day, all night or auto dim as mentioned earlier. It is not a very quick function to disable the voice prompts temporarily as you go, while driving (distraction), but you can turn it on or off through the software set up.