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Well during the initial few months with our navi.. I guess I would agree. however a year later I can say it is not distracting and really allows more concentration on the road and traffic around you!! We no longer have to concentrate to find the road signs and instead listen to the voice prompts... I have had 2 handheld gps's and they cannot compare to the function of the Ex_Navi's built in system. As far as playing with the system while driving... any adult should be able to decide that it is a really bad idea to drive and push buttons... I have pulled over several times to quickly enter a destination in the system so as to find where I wanted to go...
iikagen: handhelds can de everything you asked except reroute. the delorme street atlas 8.0 will vocalize directions, though its not loud enough on my laptop to know what happens when/if i make a wrong turn. but that is the current state of software. when gps signal is blocked briefly, my lowrance gm 100 will approximate bearing and speed based on last data, then resume when signal reacquired.
Just called the NAV DVD Order Line. They said that a new DVD will be available by the end of the month or early October. 2001 EX-NAV Odysseys are shipping with the new DVD. They don't know the version number.
Thanks, I posted the same question in other group. Dealer called me yesterday and said they were building my SS EX-nav yesterday. Don't know if that means its done or just starting. I didn't want it until end of Nov. Wouldn't you know it. If I needed it now it would be Jan. but since I don't its soon. Ordered it on Aug.27 was told 3 to 4 months. Boy does time fly.
Some people have all the luck. I'm waiting for my 2001 GG EX-NAV and I was concerned whether I would get the latest NAV DVD. It sounds like we are both OK on the point. Can you post the version number when you get your Odyssey? Thanks.
toys4iq: I sent a letter into Honda and called to see if they had a response yet. The answer was no but a nice rep called me back less than five hours later. He didn't give me the miracle answer I was looking for, though. It looks like for now we're on our own as far as getting a viable cassette solution for the EX-Navi. I got off the list for the Navi and got on the list for a regular EX today.
Everyone: Has anyone thought of simply putting the cassette player under the driver's seat. I hear that there is a power point there. Didn't I read somewhere in the townhall that someone put a six-disc changer there? Some people like toys4iq experienced problems with the voice prompts and steering wheel controls when switching to the LX cassette head unit. What if we leave the stock AM/FM/CD that comes with the Navi and simply add the accessory cassette deck under the driver's seat? Thanks.
Don't forget Honda also had to leave room for the Satellite Navagation System with its about 5 or 6 inch display under the radio. They even had to include the heat/air buttons on the touch display.
There is an error about 150 feet from my house. Every time I go anywhere from home, the system directs me to take a shortcut through a block wall to get to a nearby street.
I guess for me this is really harmless, since I know how to get out of my neighborhood, and it will then recalculate the route. But if friends using their own Navi try to visit anyone in my neighborhood, they will come to that brick wall and be lost.
It also makes me wonder how good the database really is. If I happened to find an error so close to my house, what other errors might I run into in strange cities?
I have to admit, though, that it has taken me everywhere else I have wanted to go (about 5 - 6 places just playing around today).
I was talking to my brother about the navigation system in my new EX-NAVI, and he told me that he uses a handheld GPS with a laptop to achieve the same functionality.
I've read lots of similar posts here, so I smugly replied that with one DVD, I can get most major USA cities and many points of interest without having to swap CDs.
His reply surprised me. He has the whole USA (including all the cities and small towns that are lacking from the Honda system), plus all the restaurants, grocery stores, ATMs, etc. that I have, and it all fits on a single CD. Check it out at www.delorme.com. His system will even respond to his spoken commands if he has a microphone attached; commands like "Zoom in", "Where am I?", and "What's the next turn?"
Now we all agreed that having it installed in the dash and integrated with the radio speakers is a great advantage, and to me that outweighs the shortcomings. My city is covered, and every city I plan to go to in the near future is covered. But why is it so limited? If they can put so much more data on a single CD, why does the Honda DVD contain less?
I really hope that Honda (or Alpine, or Navtech, or whoever provides this for them) gets the gaps filled in on this thing soon.
The biggest difference is that the NavTech maps are actually digitised from road maps... if the road makes a 130 degree bend... so does the NavTech database... this is not the case with delorme maps! I have used them on my pc for years, and yes they have every street(mostly), but their recalculation sucks and my wife would never be able to use a pc for this purpose... not to mention the times when the Navi system warns you to stay in the middle of the road... or move to the right for the upcomming turn.
Has anyone with the 2001 Nav. compared it to the 2000. I understand it is ver. 2.xx. What have they added if anything and have they changed it. I take delivery Sat. of a 01 nav and when I test drove it on highway a little window in left corner popped up with my next exit highlighted. Don't remember seeing it on 2000 I drove. Sure hope they added more cities.
Here is the latest information I have. I started with a list of covered cities that was previously published here for 2000. I have added cities that are now covered in the 2001 database (as indicated in the Navigator manual), indicated by an asterisk * at the beginning of the line.
It's an improvement, but at this rate it will be many years before the whole US is covered.
Daryl
************************************************
Alabama: None
Arizona: Phoenix Metro Area
Arkansas: None
California: Los Angeles/San Diego Metro Area Sacramento Metro Area San Francisco Metro Area *Fresno *San Luis Obispo
Colorado: Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs Metro Area
Connecticut: Brideport Danbury Hartford Metro Area New Haven Metro Area Norwalk Stamford
Delaware: Wilmington Metro Area
Florida: Fort Myers Metro Area Jacksonville Metro Area Miami/Ft Lauderdale West Palm Beach Metro Area Orlando Metro Area Tampa Bay/St Petersburg Metro Area
Georgia: Atlanta Metro Area
Idaho: Sun Valley Ski Resorts
Illinois: Chicago Metro Area (to Wisconsin border) East St. Louis Metro Area
Indiana: Gary/Hammond Metro Area Indianapolis Metro Area Kokomo Metro Area
Iowa: None
Kansas: Kansas City/Leavenworth Metro Area
Kentucky: None
Louisiana: New Orleans Metro Area
Maine: None
Maryland: Baltimore/Washington DC Metro Area Ocean City
Massachusetts: Boston Metro Area Springfield Metro Area *Cape Cod Area
Michigan: Boyne City Charlevoix Detroit Metro Area (inc. Ann Arbor, Pontiac, and Flint) Elk Rapids Grand Rapids Metro Area Harbor Springs Lansing Metro Area Petosky Traverse City Metro Area
Minnesota: Minneapolis/St Paul Metro Area Moorehead
Mississippi: None
Missouri: Kansas City Metro Area St Louis Metro Area
Montana: None
Nebraska: None
Nevada: Las Vegas Metro Area Reno/Lake Tahoe
New Hampshire: Manchester Nashua
New Jersey: Atlantic City/Cape May Metro Area Camden Metro Area Trenton Metro Area Northern New Jersey
New Mexico: Albuquerque Santa Fe Taos Ski Resorts
New York: Cooperstown New York City Metro Area *Buffalo *Rochester
North Carolina: Charlotte Metro Area Raleigh-Durham Metro Area Winston Salem/Greensboro Metro Area
North Dakota: Fargo Metro Area
Ohio: Columbus/Marysville Metro Area Cincinatti Metro Area Cleveland Metro Area
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
Oregon: Portland/Salem Metro Area *Eugene
Pennsylvania: Gettysburg Philadelphia Metro Area Pittaburgh Metro Area *State College
Rhode Island: Providence Metro Area *All of Rhode Island
South Carolina: Myrtle Beach Metro Area Rock Hill Metro Area *Greenville;/Spartanburg
South Dakota: None
Tennessee: Knoxville/Farragut Metro Area Memphis Metro Area Nashville
Texas: Austin Metro Area Dallas/Ft Worth Metro Area Houston Metro Area San Antonio Metro Area South Padre Island
Utah: Park City Salt Lake City Metro Area
Vermont: None
Virginia: Alexandria Arlington Charlottesville Fairfax Falls Church Fredericksburg Manassas Manassas Park Richmond Metro Area Williamsburg/Norfolk/Va Beach Metro Area *Winchester
Wow thats not much. Maybe all us Honda/Acura owners should start a email campain at Honda demanding a better update. Does someone have a email address for Honda. I mean each week until we see an improvement in the software. If they get tired on thousands of emails each week they may improve it. As my buddy says, "The squeeky wheel gets the grease."
Dmathews, I believe you have a good idea regarding the e-mail campaign. May not hurt to also have everyone with Navi system or planning to get the Navi system send at least one "Pony Express" letter to the Honda HQ.
I do not know what is entailed to enlarge the database in the Navi system, but with the technology available for portable Laptops, GPS systems, etc. each Navi system should have the capability of displaying anyplace within the United States, if not the whole North American continent.
Guess I won't be getting an Ody with a Navi system soon. Couldn't find my way from the Front Range to the West slope or the ski areas in Colorado, according to the table listed by DLafferty. That seems kind of pathetic to not have any more detailed areas in the US than what is listed.
Am I right that there is no navigation to the numerous National Parks? I did not see any listed including such large areas as Yellowstone, or such congested areas as Yosemite.
The highways are included throughout the US. Even unlisted cities (such as Tucson) have a few main streets and all the freeways and highways through town. It's just the details of the smaller streets that are missing.
I checked Yosemite and Yellowstone. All the highways leading to them are included, and the main roads through the parks. However, it doesn't show any of the streets in Yosemite Village, for example.
For those of you with the Nav. in your Odyssey the Honda site is now advertising the new version of the software, V2.03 See post 276 for coverage areas. Some additions and of course they should have updated the places, resturants, etc. too. They have not updated the discription for it yet.
Just picked up my 2001 EX-NAV this weekend. I expected the NAV DVD to be the same version available on the Honda website, Version 2.03. However, my DVD is 2.02. Did anyone receive 2.03 with their Odyssey?
Sorry, false alarm. The DVD has V2.02 silkscreened on the disk but checking the system information shows a software version of 2.03. Thanks to those who responded.
Besides the additional cities with V2.03, what upgrades have been made to the software itself? Does anyone now what specific improvements have been made? Just trying to justify $152 for the upgrade, or waiting a couple years before upgrading.
I just returned to Phoenix after a trip to LA in my 2001 EX/Nav.
I went to visit my brother in his new house -- I had never been there before. I didn't even take a paper map with me, just entered in his address, and the system routed me through the freeway system and deposited me at his door step. When it works well, which is most of the time, the navigation system is excellent.
However, there were a few times when it makes mistakes. The mistakes seem to fall into three general categories:
1) Wrong info in the database. Sometimes the system doesn't know that a street has been closed, or changed. There is a street near my house that was planned to connect to another street. Before it was ever completed (6 years ago) the plan was changed and there has always been a brick wall blocking the access. However the nav system tells me to drive through that brick wall every time I leave home. On my trip to LA last week, I was on the 134 heading west where it meets I-5, when the system told me to "Keep right for 134 West". I looked up at the signs above the freeway, clearly telling me to stay left for 134 West, which I did.
2) Screwy routings. Sometimes I will be going down a residential street, when the system will indicate a path that goes around an adjacent block, then return me to the street I am currently on, like this: | |_ | _| | | There is absolutely no reason not to continue on the main street. The detour seems very strange. The system will often route you in circuitous routes -- I think the routing algorithms need some work!
3) Incorrect Positioning. Sometimes the system will locate me on an adjacent street. For example if two freeways come parallel and close together, sometimes the system will jump me over to the other freeway, and then start to tell me how to get back to the freeway I am already on. It especially has problems confusing freeways with access roads, since they can be very close. It's disconcerting to be driving down the freeway and have the system suddenly tell me to turn left on the next street so I can get back on the freeway I am already on!
I had several of these quirks occur on my recent trip to LA, but even so, by being reasonably alert I was able to go directly where I wanted, without any wrong turns or errors. It passed the test, but probably rates a B instead of an A.
Some of the incorrect position errors are undoubtedly due to additive latitude/longitude location errors in the database maps and in your GPS-reported position. Both have margins of error and these can cause the system to "think" you are suddenly on a different street/road/highway. It will not have a problem with you suddenly being somewhere other than where you were a moment ago, since it undoubtedly was not programmed with any "common sense" (not even possible) nor true physics knowledge. Its is not to reason why; its is only to provide location within X tolerances....
Joel I agree that the database is bring updated way to slow, but the problem might not caused by Honda. it is my understanding that both the Honda and alpine databases are from Navtech. The coverage of their database as described on their website http://www.navtech.com/is essentially the same as Honda's. I think the discrepancy between the Alpine coverage and that listed in the Honda manual, is that Honda list 130 areas of coverage, but each area contains may cities (about 200 in the LA area alone). Pressure to expand the database should be directed to Navtech, as well as Honda. Apparently you bought the new upgrade. Were there any software improvements besides the increased coverage that would justify spending $152?
You are correct that the list of 130 locations includes metropolitan areas and named suburbs - fewer than 3 per state on average. That leaves most of the country uncovered, however. 8 states have no detailed coverage at all. In New York state, for example, there is no detailed coverage between Rochester in the West and New York City in the East (roughly 300 miles apart). 8 states have no detailed coverage at all. Comparing Alpine and Acura, Alpine in their aftermarket DVD NAV system covers a list of locations that is 48 pages long - twice that of Acura's which is 24 pages long in the same format. There were no obvious software improvements in the update to justify the cost. Just 30 more cities.
Actually, there was *one* notable software improvement: You can now click on a restaurant, ATM, or gas station icon on the map and get the name and address information for the corresponding item. Duh.
It seems that, as a new feature, the NAV naturally leaves many areas bare. Does anyone have data on release of add'l areas? Are there any other mfgs offering similar aftermarket units that will seamlessly integrate with the Odyssey as a head unit/NAV?
While a few posters are complaining about the coverage area, I am very happy with the Nav system in our 2000 EX NAV DVBP Odyssey. If you are in a detailed coverage area, it works very well.
Of course, some newer streets are omitted and some house addresses are off by a little, but it generally gets me where I'm going easily without using maps.
It is better than most other built-in Nav systems -- most are still using CD-ROMs instead of DVDs -- requiring nine or more CDs to cover the country. Each CD usually costs about what one Odyssey DVD costs, and they generally don't provide any better coverage.
As far as I can tell, the Odyssey coverage is comparable to that in the Alpine DVD sold directly. The 2001 DVD covers the to 100 metro areas in the US representing thousands of cities and towns.
its better than most but check out delorme street atlas. It has ALL THE CITIES. And I upgrade it for $25 a year. Don't get me wrong, I have a 01 nav. but it could be a heck of a lot better. A couple of people have posted that the Alpine system you can buy has 10 times the coverage as the Honda one.
What's really frustrating is that you can go to MapQuest (or yahoo.com maps) and find virtually any street in the country online.
If the data is there, what's the big holdup for releasing a DVD with full U.S. coverage? It would seem to me that Honda/Acura/Alpine simply needs to purchase a license and download the information for use in our NAV systems.
I personally use my NAV system almost weekly. My wife uses it all the time. Fortunately, we live in an area with detailed coverage and absolutely love it. Even traveling to areas without detailed coverage is easier with the NAV as the vast majority of interstates and routes are in the database... I just wish they'd get their act together and put the entire U.S. on the DVD.
Oh well, looks like I'll be waiting another year before I upgrade... the few additions to the 2.03 database is not worth my while or money.
The difference may well be that the MapQuest and most other electronic maps are not actually tied to longitude/latitude. IOW, they do have little lines in a picture format, but they do not necessarily have those lines in a database with the associated long/lat for any (or enough) points along those lines.
That is usually accomplished by "layering" the data and isn't trivial nor cheap to accomplish. Without that data the GPS-provided location would not overlay accurately (i.e. you might frequently find yourself apparently driving on the wrong street, in a river or through a building). It is a little more complicated and much more expensive to develop and maintain a sufficiently accurate digital map containing all the necessary location specifics. I'm guessing that it is unwillingness to pay for that level of data that prevents more detail from being made available sooner.
How the heck are you?? Seems you have no limit to expertise or knowlege!! Great answer... Also the guy above that quoted street atlas... I have it also, and have noticed many times that the maps are mostly acurate, but they are just lines , while when the nav routes you around a sharp(greater than 90 degree corner... it will display it as such , while SA will display it as a 90 degree turn. I think we are also being used as a revenue source for updates!!
I'm doing great, thanks. et tu? This particular odd bit of knowledge comes from the years that I supported an E911 system. Getting accurate digitized maps for the Police/Fire/Ambulance Nav systems was the subject of several meetings I was involved in. Since the topic was interesting to me, I've remembered the details (I hope, accurately!).
It isn't cheap to get those maps done, BTW. And there are several levels of accuracy available with costs skyrocketing with the increasing detail/accuracy. Perhaps surprisingly, there are at least two distinct tasks (generally with different vendors) involved in the process: the gathering of the aerial images on which the maps are based (usually done by plane although I suppose satellite data may now be becoming available for a reasonable cost) and the digitizing/verification of the mapping data into a database (remember that all that data must be added that makes the maps of any real use: street names, addresses, city/county/state names, one-way street directions, on/off ramps, as well as business names and other points of interest).
My guess is that the Nav system companies are buying their data from the localities (or digital data vendor) who have already paid to have their digital maps created. That would help explain why some areas you might well expect to have details are absent (cheap local governments?).... FWIW
You would be correct. Nearly all GPS manufacturers buy the map data from Navigation Technologies and then compile it with their own GPS system software. Hence, it is up to the GPS manufacturer to release the actual map CDs and to choose the areas of coverage that they wish to include.
So, if there is a delay in getting the updates, blame the auto manufacturer (since sometimes they control the release dates and areas of coverage) or the GPS manufacturer.
Drew/aling Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference
I have some experience with other GPS/NAV software, and this one is OK - just OK, nothing more. I am pretty much in agreement with other people's comments. It could have been better for that extra $2K they are selling it for. Besides, it makes the A/C-Heating controls a bit confusing and not intuitive.
I have tried to email Honda to get an answer to the following question to no avail. My question is: Why can I change the time? I know that GPS provides a very accurate clock. So, why am I able to change the minutes on the clock.
I just got the update and noticed one very visible change. The icons for a gas station have been changed from a generic icon to a brand specific icon. You see the Texaco star, the 76 ball and so forth. It is a nice change actually.
Also, If I use the joystick to move about the map, I can double punch the joystick to bring up a "navigate to" page. I can then select the method to navigate to that selected point. I don't think ver. 1.95 had this capability.
I just figured out my own question. You can adjust the minutes and hours of the clock but if you then select a time zone (Pacific for example) the time jumps back to GPS time. Ah! At last I have the answer and it's nice to know I have the worlds most accurate clock on my dash board. A far cry form the old days when the first thing to break (and never work again) was the clock.
I just got my navi system 2 days ago and am learning about my new toy. I'm figuring out most things but have a stupid question. If you decide that you do not want to hear the navigation system instructions, how do you turn the instructions off? While playing, I entered an imaginary destination and then couldn't figure out how to shut off the instructions.
I also cannot figure out how to shut down the navigation system without turning off the van. I'm probably missing something obvious. What is it?
Go to the setup. You will see that in the lower right corner of screen. There you can turn off the voice and at display where you have a choice of brightness like day, night, or auto and also off. Touch the off button and the unit shuts down. This is pretty close since my screen is not in front of me.
If you just want to cancel a destination without shutting down the system, press the "Menu" button, then press "Plan New Trip" (worded something like that -- too lazy to go see!). You can then return to the map screen without the previous trip.
Comments
handhelds can de everything you asked except reroute. the delorme street atlas 8.0 will vocalize directions, though its not loud enough on my laptop to know what happens when/if i make a wrong turn. but that is the current state of software.
when gps signal is blocked briefly, my lowrance gm 100 will approximate bearing and speed based on last data, then resume when signal reacquired.
Thanks.
Everyone: Has anyone thought of simply putting the cassette player under the driver's seat. I hear that there is a power point there. Didn't I read somewhere in the townhall that someone put a six-disc changer there? Some people like toys4iq experienced problems with the voice prompts and steering wheel controls when switching to the LX cassette head unit. What if we leave the stock AM/FM/CD that comes with the Navi and simply add the accessory cassette deck under the driver's seat? Thanks.
> Peter:
> The disc states it is the 2.02 version. Talk to you soon.
> Monica
There is an error about 150 feet from my house. Every time I go anywhere from home, the system directs me to take a shortcut through a block wall to get to a nearby street.
I guess for me this is really harmless, since I know how to get out of my neighborhood, and it will then recalculate the route. But if friends using their own Navi try to visit anyone in my neighborhood, they will come to that brick wall and be lost.
It also makes me wonder how good the database really is. If I happened to find an error so close to my house, what other errors might I run into in strange cities?
I have to admit, though, that it has taken me everywhere else I have wanted to go (about 5 - 6 places just playing around today).
A lot of fun, and potentially very useful.
Daryl
I've read lots of similar posts here, so I smugly replied that with one DVD, I can get most major USA cities and many points of interest without having to swap CDs.
His reply surprised me. He has the whole USA (including all the cities and small towns that are lacking from the Honda system), plus all the restaurants, grocery stores, ATMs, etc. that I have, and it all fits on a single CD. Check it out at www.delorme.com. His system will even respond to his spoken commands if he has a microphone attached; commands like "Zoom in", "Where am I?", and "What's the next turn?"
Now we all agreed that having it installed in the dash and integrated with the radio speakers is a great advantage, and to me that outweighs the shortcomings. My city is covered, and every city I plan to go to in the near future is covered. But why is it so limited? If they can put so much more data on a single CD, why does the Honda DVD contain less?
I really hope that Honda (or Alpine, or Navtech, or whoever provides this for them) gets the gaps filled in on this thing soon.
Daryl
It's an improvement, but at this rate it will be many years before the whole US is covered.
Daryl
************************************************
Alabama:
None
Arizona:
Phoenix Metro Area
Arkansas:
None
California:
Los Angeles/San Diego Metro Area
Sacramento Metro Area
San Francisco Metro Area
*Fresno
*San Luis Obispo
Colorado:
Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs Metro Area
Connecticut:
Brideport
Danbury
Hartford Metro Area
New Haven Metro Area
Norwalk
Stamford
Delaware:
Wilmington Metro Area
Florida:
Fort Myers Metro Area
Jacksonville Metro Area
Miami/Ft Lauderdale
West Palm Beach Metro Area
Orlando Metro Area
Tampa Bay/St Petersburg Metro Area
Georgia:
Atlanta Metro Area
Idaho:
Sun Valley Ski Resorts
Illinois:
Chicago Metro Area (to Wisconsin border)
East St. Louis Metro Area
Indiana:
Gary/Hammond Metro Area
Indianapolis Metro Area
Kokomo Metro Area
Iowa:
None
Kansas:
Kansas City/Leavenworth Metro Area
Kentucky:
None
Louisiana:
New Orleans Metro Area
Maine:
None
Maryland:
Baltimore/Washington DC Metro Area
Ocean City
Massachusetts:
Boston Metro Area
Springfield Metro Area
*Cape Cod Area
Michigan:
Boyne City
Charlevoix
Detroit Metro Area (inc. Ann Arbor, Pontiac, and Flint)
Elk Rapids
Grand Rapids Metro Area
Harbor Springs
Lansing Metro Area
Petosky
Traverse City Metro Area
Minnesota:
Minneapolis/St Paul Metro Area
Moorehead
Mississippi:
None
Missouri:
Kansas City Metro Area
St Louis Metro Area
Montana:
None
Nebraska:
None
Nevada:
Las Vegas Metro Area
Reno/Lake Tahoe
New Hampshire:
Manchester
Nashua
New Jersey:
Atlantic City/Cape May Metro Area
Camden Metro Area
Trenton Metro Area
Northern New Jersey
New Mexico:
Albuquerque
Santa Fe
Taos Ski Resorts
New York:
Cooperstown
New York City Metro Area
*Buffalo
*Rochester
North Carolina:
Charlotte Metro Area
Raleigh-Durham Metro Area
Winston Salem/Greensboro Metro Area
North Dakota:
Fargo Metro Area
Ohio:
Columbus/Marysville Metro Area
Cincinatti Metro Area
Cleveland Metro Area
Oklahoma:
Oklahoma City
Oregon:
Portland/Salem Metro Area
*Eugene
Pennsylvania:
Gettysburg
Philadelphia Metro Area
Pittaburgh Metro Area
*State College
Rhode Island:
Providence Metro Area
*All of Rhode Island
South Carolina:
Myrtle Beach Metro Area
Rock Hill Metro Area
*Greenville;/Spartanburg
South Dakota:
None
Tennessee:
Knoxville/Farragut Metro Area
Memphis Metro Area
Nashville
Texas:
Austin Metro Area
Dallas/Ft Worth Metro Area
Houston Metro Area
San Antonio Metro Area
South Padre Island
Utah:
Park City
Salt Lake City Metro Area
Vermont:
None
Virginia:
Alexandria
Arlington
Charlottesville
Fairfax
Falls Church
Fredericksburg
Manassas
Manassas Park
Richmond Metro Area
Williamsburg/Norfolk/Va Beach Metro Area
*Winchester
Washington:
Seattle/Tachoma/Olympia Metro Area
West Virginia:
Harpers Ferry Metro Area
Wisconsin:
(None before)
*Kenosha
*Milwaukee
Wyoming:
Jackson Ski Resorts
I do not know what is entailed to enlarge the database in the Navi system, but with the technology available for portable Laptops, GPS systems, etc. each Navi system should have the capability of displaying anyplace within the United States, if not the whole North American continent.
Guess I won't be getting an Ody with a Navi system soon. Couldn't find my way from the Front Range to the West slope or the ski areas in Colorado, according to the table listed by DLafferty. That seems kind of pathetic to not have any more detailed areas in the US than what is listed.
Am I right that there is no navigation to the numerous National Parks? I did not see any listed including such large areas as Yellowstone, or such congested areas as Yosemite.
I checked Yosemite and Yellowstone. All the highways leading to them are included, and the main roads through the parks. However, it doesn't show any of the streets in Yosemite Village, for example.
Daryl
Honda site is now advertising the new version of
the software, V2.03
See post 276 for coverage areas. Some additions
and of course they should have updated the places,
resturants, etc. too.
They have not updated the discription for it yet.
I went to visit my brother in his new house -- I had never been there before. I didn't even take a paper map with me, just entered in his address, and the system routed me through the freeway system and deposited me at his door step. When it works well, which is most of the time, the navigation system is excellent.
However, there were a few times when it makes mistakes. The mistakes seem to fall into three general categories:
1) Wrong info in the database. Sometimes the system doesn't know that a street has been closed, or changed. There is a street near my house that was planned to connect to another street. Before it was ever completed (6 years ago) the plan was changed and there has always been a brick wall blocking the access. However the nav system tells me to drive through that brick wall every time I leave home.
On my trip to LA last week, I was on the 134 heading west where it meets I-5, when the system told me to "Keep right for 134 West". I looked up at the signs above the freeway, clearly telling me to stay left for 134 West, which I did.
2) Screwy routings. Sometimes I will be going down a residential street, when the system will indicate a path that goes around an adjacent block, then return me to the street I am currently on, like this:
|
|_
|
_|
|
|
There is absolutely no reason not to continue on the main street. The detour seems very strange. The system will often route you in circuitous routes -- I think the routing algorithms need some work!
3) Incorrect Positioning. Sometimes the system will locate me on an adjacent street. For example if two freeways come parallel and close together, sometimes the system will jump me over to the other freeway, and then start to tell me how to get back to the freeway I am already on. It especially has problems confusing freeways with access roads, since they can be very close. It's disconcerting to be driving down the freeway and have the system suddenly tell me to turn left on the next street so I can get back on the freeway I am already on!
I had several of these quirks occur on my recent trip to LA, but even so, by being reasonably alert I was able to go directly where I wanted, without any wrong turns or errors. It passed the test, but probably rates a B instead of an A.
Daryl
The address should be:
Smog Free Torrance, Ca. 90501
(I know, I live 2 blocks from Honda) (grin)
I agree that the database is bring updated way to slow, but the problem might not caused by Honda. it is my understanding that both the Honda and
alpine databases are from Navtech. The coverage of their database as described on their website http://www.navtech.com/is essentially the same as Honda's. I think the discrepancy between the Alpine coverage and that listed in the Honda manual, is that Honda list 130 areas of coverage, but each area contains may cities (about 200 in the LA area alone). Pressure to expand the database should be directed to Navtech, as well as Honda.
Apparently you bought the new upgrade. Were there any software improvements besides the increased coverage that would justify spending $152?
As much as everyone is complaining about this system, I wonder how much worse these others that ranked below are?
http://www.jdpa.com/studies/pressrelease.asp?StudyID=480&CatID=1
Of course, some newer streets are omitted and some house addresses are off by a little, but it generally gets me where I'm going easily without using maps.
It is better than most other built-in Nav systems -- most are still using CD-ROMs instead of DVDs -- requiring nine or more CDs to cover the country. Each CD usually costs about what one Odyssey DVD costs, and they generally don't provide any better coverage.
As far as I can tell, the Odyssey coverage is comparable to that in the Alpine DVD sold directly. The 2001 DVD covers the to 100 metro areas in the US representing thousands of cities and towns.
So I would recommend to anyone who asks me.
If the data is there, what's the big holdup for releasing a DVD with full U.S. coverage? It would seem to me that Honda/Acura/Alpine simply needs to purchase a license and download the information for use in our NAV systems.
I personally use my NAV system almost weekly. My wife uses it all the time. Fortunately, we live in an area with detailed coverage and absolutely love it. Even traveling to areas without detailed coverage is easier with the NAV as the vast majority of interstates and routes are in the database... I just wish they'd get their act together and put the entire U.S. on the DVD.
Oh well, looks like I'll be waiting another year before I upgrade... the few additions to the 2.03 database is not worth my while or money.
That is usually accomplished by "layering" the data and isn't trivial nor cheap to accomplish. Without that data the GPS-provided location would not overlay accurately (i.e. you might frequently find yourself apparently driving on the wrong street, in a river or through a building). It is a little more complicated and much more expensive to develop and maintain a sufficiently accurate digital map containing all the necessary location specifics. I'm guessing that it is unwillingness to pay for that level of data that prevents more detail from being made available sooner.
It isn't cheap to get those maps done, BTW. And there are several levels of accuracy available with costs skyrocketing with the increasing detail/accuracy. Perhaps surprisingly, there are at least two distinct tasks (generally with different vendors) involved in the process: the gathering of the aerial images on which the maps are based (usually done by plane although I suppose satellite data may now be becoming available for a reasonable cost) and the digitizing/verification of the mapping data into a database (remember that all that data must be added that makes the maps of any real use: street names, addresses, city/county/state names, one-way street directions, on/off ramps, as well as business names and other points of interest).
My guess is that the Nav system companies are buying their data from the localities (or digital data vendor) who have already paid to have their digital maps created. That would help explain why some areas you might well expect to have details are absent (cheap local governments?).... FWIW
So, if there is a delay in getting the updates, blame the auto manufacturer (since sometimes they control the release dates and areas of coverage) or the GPS manufacturer.
Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference
Also, If I use the joystick to move about the map, I can double punch the joystick to bring up a "navigate to" page. I can then select the method to navigate to that selected point. I don't think ver. 1.95 had this capability.
Daryl
I also cannot figure out how to shut down the navigation system without turning off the van. I'm probably missing something obvious. What is it?
You can then return to the map screen without the previous trip.
Daryl