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Canadian map quality w/06 nav DVD?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by cwerdna, Jul 7, 2010.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Hope there isn't a thread for this already...

    I'm still using the original nav disc that came w/my 06 Prius and it's been mostly ok for the times I've used it in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

    But, recently, I drove up to the Vancouver BC area, including Richmond and boy, it seemed like the map quality was lousy. There were tons of businesses that weren't in there and many "house number does not exist", even though it does. I had at least one location that was totally wrong (I believe it was 8888 River Road in Richmond).

    I had to meet w/someone too at a Tim Horton's. They gave me a proper address which also was a "house number does not exist". :|

    Fortunately, I had paper printouts, intersections and a sometimes had to fallback to my Garmin Nuvi 1200 w/a very recent map update from late 09 (which had pretty much everything I looked up).

    Have there just been a ton of changes in that area since the disc was produced (presumably in 05) or are Navteq's maps just lousy for Canada?

    I'm just curious... esp. since I'm an advocate for Navteq map quality in the US.
     
    #1 cwerdna, Jul 7, 2010
  2. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Even though I upgraded my map data by one generation (to get rid of the infamous "I agree" screen) I seem to get "this street number doesn't exist" quite often in Northern Calif. It only seems to happen when I really don't know where the location is. I wish it would default to the nearest number close by instead of just leaving you with nothing. I also have noticed that many rural roads aren't in the data set even though the roads are older than I am.

    I bought a Thomas Guide for Sacramento County because the expensive Nav system never seems to know where anything is.

    I really think they (Toyota) need to rethink this system and go to a user upgradeable data method instead of the $250 DVD that is already obsolete when you insert it in the Nav for the first time.
     
    #2 dogfriend, Jul 7, 2010
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    A lot has changed in the last 4 years.... the main road (No. 3 Road) has been repaved 2 or 3 times already plus the addition of the Canada Line. The area around bridgeport/sea island way (near the Rona) has been redone.


    But also keep in mind that digital map data for Canada has always been spotty at least looking at my Jan 2007 map in my TomTom (TeleAtlas) and my 2009 map in my Prius. The Prius fares better because it's a newer map and has more POIs.


    8888 River Road exists in my TomTom (just checked it).
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Jul 10, 2010
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I see. For me, IIRC, when I put in 8888 River Road, it either didn't exist or was for some place that was TOTALLY wrong. I was looking to use the Park and Ride lot to take the Canada Line to Sheraton Wall Centre.

    Oh well. I know I'll be have to bring my Garmin Nuvi 1200 again the next time I'm up there.
     
    #4 cwerdna, Jul 11, 2010
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ehh... use the one on Capstan Way & Garden City Road. It's one block east of No. 3 (which is where the Canada Line runs)
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Jul 12, 2010
  6. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Hey guys,

    I have an 06 and live in Canada (Toronto), so I guess this thread suits me well. :)

    My 06 originally shipped with 5.1, which I later upgraded to 6.1, then 7.1 and currently using 9.1 (all genuine discs from eBay, never found a deal for 8.1).

    I have found the coverage to be pretty decent, most addresses I have looked up are found in the database, except for newly-built places, but that is to be expected.

    I looked up 8888 River Rd, Richmond BC in my 9.1 mapping and I found it. Seems to be about 500m east of 88 St, if that is right (?). Google Maps seems to give a completely different location, but I have never been to Richmond, so what do I know... Anyway, here are the coordinates from the Prius 9.1 nav;

    N49-9'13" W122-58'36"

    If it's not found in an earlier map DVD, try plotting the destination using these coordinates and see where it takes you.:)

    ***

    Though I never really had a problem with address lookups, I did notice a considerable difference in the POI database with map updates. Particularly Tim Hortons (since the OP mentioned it, but hey, I'm Canadian!)... for some odd reason, they were virtually non-existent in the database up to 7.1, but with the 9.1. update there are many of them (2019 locations across Canada, plus a dozen other "stray" entries), to my delight! :cheer2:

    Interestingly, the Tim Hortons locations are denoted with a restaurant icon which looks like a fish and chicken drumstick; Does anyone know what this subcategory of POI is called? Using the "Coffee House" voice command category shows the Starbucks and Second Cups (and others), but not Timmies. Not really sure which sub-category they are considered as, other than the generic "restaurant". Please let me know if anyone figures this out...

    Sorry for going off on a bit of a tangent. ;)
     
    #6 Sarge, Jul 14, 2010
  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Oh well. Too late. I used the one at 8888 River Road since it was a bit closer to my destination hotel and I could get right on the train there. IIRC, some other park and ride (maybe the one you're referring to) required me to take a bus in order to get to the rail line.

    I was trying to save some hassle, waiting time and potential for error as I had to wanted to grab lunch and be at the Star Trek convention on time. I'd never taken the SkyTrain or any bus in BC, until that day and hadn't been to BC in ~6 years.
    TransLink Park & Ride Locations - Google Maps is the correct location of my intended destination. It's the Bridgeport Station park and ride at TransLink.ca - Park and Ride.

    I'll re-check my Prius' nav system when I have some time.

    The tangent's ok. I was curious about Canadian map quality on Prius nav DVDs, in general.
     
    #7 cwerdna, Jul 15, 2010
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Never mind.... 8888 River Road seems to be a LOT closer than any of the other park and rides that I know of to a Canada Line station.



    @Sarge: Try searching for POI, Name, Type Tim Hortons, OK then Category. That might help find the category (if it fails, just type Tim and list all the POIs then Category)
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Jul 15, 2010
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Never mind.... 8888 River Road seems to be a LOT closer than any of the other park and rides that I know of to a Canada Line station.



    @Sarge: Try searching for POI, Name, Type Tim Hortons, OK then Category. That might help find the category (if it fails, just type Tim and list all the POIs then Category)
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Jul 15, 2010
  10. tableround

    tableround New Member

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    I'm just verifying - can you use Prius Nav disc 8.1? I read elsewhere that the 8.1 disc can only work on 2010 or newer Prii. Anyone have a 2006 Prius and purchase an 8.1 disc that works?
    Thank you.
     
    #10 tableround, Jul 2, 2011
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You just have to get the disc that works with your navigation version (which should be the 5th Gen). Just verify with the parts dealer at your local Toyota dealership for the part number.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Jul 4, 2011
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