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As mentioned earlier the system will route on the fastest route - freeways, then expressways, surface and finally residential streets. It is a known issue for any navigation system (OEM or aftermarket) to have an issue with route guidance when the suggested route deviates from what drivers call "the best route."
Until navigation systems can learn "the best route" to the house, office, or any other frequently travelled destination, the navigation system will never, ever, live up to the users expectations.
Furthermore, if you asked 10 people to give directions from one location to another, I guarantee you will get at least 5 suggested routes. Which one is best? That is a matter of personal preference.
That does make sense. I take several different ways just for a change of scenery. I do know the fastest route and was expecting the NAV to figure it out. It shows the easy route and the one we usually give people for the sake of simplicity.
maps.live.com also shows dirt roads in their routing program, including the one that our NAV sent us on. The dirt road is between Alpine, CA and Jamul, CA called NF-SD01 which then becomes Sloane Canyon Road, then Beaver Hollow Road. I will try to give you the URL to this satellite view. Fortunately it was gated less than a mile up the dirt road. Use the "Bird's Eye View" to see the actual roads.
Maps live
If the GPS in the TCH was anything close to being as accurate as the Garmin, I would not be driving with the Nuvi on my dash board.
According to AAA's magazine thieves are targeting cars with the suction cup marks on the windshield! I can remember in the late 80s when radar detectors use to make your car a BMW. Same scenario... different device.
As was pointed out, Non OEM electronics attract criminals. That is the main reason I go for top of the line OEM electronics. Toyota is behind the industry. They do not matchup to GM electronics. The Bose system in my 05 GMC was superior to the JBL in this Sequoia. I know I am whining. I am putting down all my complaints on a list to present to the service manager on our first service. It is quite long already.
One piece of advice that I can offer people, is that if you live in an area that changes frequently, good luck finding it on the GPS. For any of you that drive through Houston, you'll know just how much construction is happening on the Katy Freeway right now. I drove back to Austin yesterday and the nav system was freaking out because it thought that I was driving on Old Katy Road the entire time instead of IH-10! A lot of that may be fixed with the 2008 update, but that won't be out for a while. Here is what I think is the problem with the Nav System. The maps that are on the system are at least a year behind. So for example, the 2007 map was probably current as of the beginning of 2006.
Google and Mapquest are really missing on an enormous market by not making their own GPS systems. (Google, are you listening??!!?!?) It would seem like with all of the technology we have today that they could make an Internet based GPS system for cars using Google map data. That way we wouldn't need to pay $300 everytime toyota releases a map update.
I am glad to hear I am not alone in this quest to get Toyota NAVs up to date. Toyota really needs to do some research and put out TSBs for at least the vehicles they have sold still under warranty. I know I am not going to let it slide.
Like Google Earth, Toyota DVD map disc utilize both NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas for mapping information and InfoUSA for the POI data. It is printed right on the DVD map disc in your car.
Lastly, the updates are released every year from Toyota for $250 MSRP.
FYI - Mapquest.com is owned by AOL.
http://www.yourfilelink.com/get.php?fid=255527
click on Proceed to file download page
Then click download file. You may have to look for the button thru all the adds but it is there.
NAV (data version 07.1).
To register your home:
Push MENU > touch MY PLACES > touch REGISTER (of home) . search your home by ADDRESS, select CITY > OK, then, select STREET > OK - touch LISTS: scroll list of streetnames (UP or DOWN) using SINGLE arrow! Using double arrow slows things up, since they scroll by 10's.
After street has been found, touch OK, street will show with range of streetnumbers. Also, "memory Point" screen is displayed (the circle with crosshairs in center and eight (8) directional arrows) somewhere along the street..
Move crosshairs using specific arrows along street to where you think the number might be and click ENTER.
If number still off, touch REVERSE button ("U" on its side!) and start over again with directional arrows and ENTER until correct number is obtained.
Then, click ROUTE PREFERENCE and choose your favorite > OK
Looking at the map, you will find the other "bells and whistles", such as ICON, to show various icons at specific points (usually EXITS).
In the same manner, one can - before embarking on a trip - choose DESTINATION.
I found the map system to be very accurate and helpful! It even shows in near pictorial fashion which lane to enter and which lanes to follow.
Much to my relief and contrary to my first attempts, my house DOES exist!
Bliuetooth:
The bluetooth system becomes clearer when one first finds out if one's cellphone will TRANSFER the contact list via bluetooth to the hands-off device (your car!). This can be found on http://www.Toyota.Letstalk.com. My cellphone did NOT, and so I was forced to laboriously enter all my contacts in the PHONEBOOK!
It appears that AFTER pushing the off-hook button on the steeringwheel one can then push the TALK-switch on the other spoke and proceed as directed in a hands-free fashion.
Good Luck, everyone who has had troubles with these systems!
Thank you for posting the 5.1 loading.KWI file.
I replaced my 6.1 loading.KWI file (on a 2007 Camry Hybrid dvd disc) with the 5.1, burned a dual sided DVD (required a +R disc) with all the other files.
The volume screen upper left touch top/bottom/top/bottom sequence did not do anything.
Any ideas?
What I am doing wrong?
Do I need to disconnect the battery to re-set the system?
Thank you.
I entered my home address and set it up to select all but restricted roads.
My experience with restricted roads in PA is they are not plowed in snow storms.
I used it to go from the DC area and Johnstown, PA.
It worked very well. It's best feature is giving exits far in advance and how to get off for what features you may be interested in food , gas,. motel etc. It even had shopping malls and post offices icons.
A Navigation System is a tool It gets you from point A to point B It is not a substitute for intelligent driving practices.
You have to be observant . It thought our motel was a block in the wrong direction.
We ignored the misdirection when we saw the motel.. I am sure the satellite info is accurate, the NAV map misinterpreted it.
I entered my home address and set it up to select all but restricted roads.
My experience with restricted roads in PA is they are not plowed in snow storms.
I used it to .go from the DC area to Johnstown, PA.and return.
It worked very well. It's best feature is giving exits far in advance and how to get off for what features you may be interested in food, gas, motel etc. It even had shopping malls and post offices icons.
A Navigation System is a tool It gets you from point A to point B It is not a substitute for intelligent driving practices.
You have to be observant . It thought our motel was a block in the wrong direction.
We ignored the misdirection when we saw the motel.. I am sure the satellite info is accurate, the NAV map misinterpreted it.
What's important is exactly how much control over the nav do you have after the car is moving?
I know you have to stop to enter street addresses with touchscreen, but can you do anything related to entering or changing a destination with the steering wheel controls and voice controls?
For instance, if you are driving along on the freeway and need to find someplace to eat or get gas, can you use the voice controls and get routed to restaurants and gas stations in the onboard directory without having to pull over and stop first?
Can you access saved or recent destinations by voice without stopping the car?
I have never seen anyone go into detail on everything that can be done in motion without hacks.
It would be a good Youtube project for someone.
If you can control destinations by voice, it won't be that bad, but if you have no control unless you find someplace to stop the vehicle, then it's pretty useless.
I know it isn't as good as the latest nav system in the 2008 Accord that lets you actually enter full addresses including city and street address 100% by voice, but I'd like to see just how limited the Camry's nav is.
I rented a new Camry a few weeks ago, but it didn't have the nav system.
The NAV sytem comes on with a warning about safe driving. The implication is it's a safety issue not to have the driver mess with the Nav system while driving
The nav system gives you icons for what is at the next exit.
It will tell you how to get off and how to get back on. It gives you plenty of warning. It tells you in tenths of a mile.
The icons include motels, post office, shopping, gas and food.
I have only used it on a trip. I knew my house and way to work.
I have since retired.
BTW there are steering wheel controls for changing the radio station, selecting the mode, and adjusting the volume..
The AC is set for the driver and passenger separately by setting dials near the AC/ Heater. You adjust them by setting a degree. I don't see changing the setting once set.
There is the capability to change displays for monitoring odometer, current tank mileage. outside temp. whether in battery or engine and a few other ways of monitoring the hybrid functions on the steering wheel,
I
Is there anyone here that owns a 2007-2009 Camry with factory nav that has used it and can say how well the voice recognition works for entering addresses and finding points of interest while driving?
Is there anyway to change that default to the way my husband's Tahoe system is set up---
you get the nav screen when you hit destination or something like that--
otherwise you get two lines of info buttons on the audio--so you see the radio station that is playing--and other options for his XM system
you can get half screen map and half screen audio info or whole screen map if you want that
can I program around the system's automatic default--or can it be done in the service dept via computer access?
I did not realize this setup WAS the setup--
thought it would change if we just used a different format allowed by nav screen options--but that does not appear to bethe case--asked the service mgr when I picked my car up after having the XM installed yesterday and he was basically clueless...
any info out there?
sales guy said NOT to put in your own PHYSICAL/MAILING address--to prevent anyone getting the car and finding your home---
my husband did his for his Tahoe NAV's at our corner intersection instead of the house address
You can keep it in your wallet/purse.
you DO have to have proof of current valid insurance if you are stopped--the law used to read that if you left insurance car at home or in another purse maybe you could provide it within a reasonable time period and not have a fine--
but that law was changed recently and now if you don't have proof of current insurance, the car is towed...and we carry that in our billfords
that did not interest us
but there is workaround to have the view screen on the NAV screen--but don't know if a dealer would do it because I think the NAV warranty might be compromised...
I love everything about my 2007 Camry Hybrid except the fact that the Toyota Lawyers will not let customers use the Navigation system while the car is rolling. I have looked at many forum postings on this subject. I have tried many of the secret menu hacks... But none of these software overrides work with the latest Map DVD.
I have found a workable hardware solution. I have installed a switch to temporarily interrupt the speed signal to the Nav system when I need access to the menus. (Don't just cut the wire. There are times when you NEED the speed signal.) I just installed the switch inside the center console storage box. Flip the switch and you get full control of the menus. Flip it back for normal driving. You can find pinout information here: http://www.oemvalue.com/installcamry07.htm#pluglayout (Look for R12 pinouts.)
Touch 'Map View'
Touch 'Stop'
Touch 'Yes' or 'No' to keep or delete the little red dots.
1. Push the push to talk (PTT) button and say, "Address."
2. Push the PTT button and say, "Arizona." Or your state name.
3. Push the PTT button and say, "Phoenix." Or your city name.
4. Push the PTT button and say, "North 34th Drive." Or your street name.
5. Push the PTT button and say, "6322." Or say your house number as single digits. It wont recognize anything but single digits.
6. Touch 'Enter' to get route guidance.
Refer to your Navigation Quick Guide for the exact steps above. Also, remember to close the windows, sunroof (if you have one), stop any conservations inside, dont have any air conditioning vents pointed upwards, and wait for the beep to give your commands.
Also, if you use it enough you can disable the voice prompts to move through the menus a lot faster. To disable the voice instructions for address input only do the follwoing steps:
1. Press the MENU panel button.
2. Touch 'Setup'.
3. Scroll down to page 2/3
4. Touch 'OFF' for 'Voice Recognition Guidance'.
5. Touch 'OK' at the bottom of the screen to confirm your selection.
Good luck and use the Navigation Quick Guide for guidance.
1. Press the INFO panel button
2. Touch 'Screen Setting.'
3. Touch 'OFF' for the 'Automatic transition from Audo to Navigation....'
4. Touch 'OK' to confirm your selection.
The navigation system will now stay on the audio/CD screen if that was the last feature you used.
I find Toyota Navigation system compared to Infiniti system in my case leaves a lot to be desired. It is badly in need of a make over. Also buying a map update which comes out each year in Oct - Nov at $300 is little steep.
I do love my Camry Hybrid
Thanks.
Touch ROUTE TRACE > START
Touch ROUTE TRACE > STOP
Touch YES to delete the red dots.
Its kinda odd but it does delete the older red dots.