GPS Question

Updates are several hundred dollars after you get to 4.2. At least until some sharp cookie here learns how to crack the data format...

 

All you need is a dull cookie with a dual-layer DVD-ROM burner. The disc is easily copied, and the copy is easily read by the DVD reader.

Not that I would be suggesting anything, of course...

 

Copying an out of date DVD doesn't gain you anything. I'm talking about cracking the data formatting, so you can add and delete POIs, phone numbers for POIS, etc. Businesses come and go even faster than roads, and being able to edit the POI list would extend the usefulness of the DVD we bought. Which I suspect is exactly why the data format is unpublished.

 

I believe that Evan was referring to the free NAV DVD recall that many of us received. Personally I'm waiting to redeem mine until a new version comes out, but this has probably already been discussed.

 

It would be awesome if there were some sort of community contribution based mapping site. Kind of like wikipedia, but for pois instead of definitions. Even better if the information could be ported to work with different types of navigation systems and downloaded.

 

Although the updates are not cheap, I haven't found it necessary to update the NAV in our '02. I did get the free one in our '04. I see little difference between the two in our area. There are some new roads that are on the '04 but that isn't a problem since they are near our house and we know them. If I lived in an area where the update would make a big difference I might update but not annually. I don't think that it is necessary to update every year.

 

Actually, the data format is published -- it's a standard format. I found it last year poking around on a Japanese website. Creating your own data translater for it would probably not be worth the effort. You would still have to buy the data in another format and then translate it.

 

Our friends who own Lexus' get free updates. Do we know definitively if those do or don't work on our NAV's?, and if those updates can be burned?

 

I expect the road data format to be tough (perhaps a string of line segments with a properties list for each?), but the POI database would be MUCH simpler: coordinates, name, phone, address, POI type. Adding text lines to the file, and editing existing lines, would let you keep up with new businesses popping up all the time, and with changing phone numbers. In a growing area, this would be valuable (but not worth hundred of dollars a year!).

 

Lexus updates are free? I don't think so. Might want to double-check that, esp since Lexus is a subsidiary of Toyota.

To just pop in the Lexus DVD into a prius, no that won't work. But it might be possible to properly combine the files. The Loading.kwi file is the program file, which I am sure is model specific.

As for data being published, yes, but different companies have different databases. Toyota (or Denso) changed data providers due to our complaints, that's why we get one free upgrade.

 

How about the audio files for the voice directions? Are they just .wav files? A friend suggested that I replace "you have arrived at your destination" with Uma Thurman's line in Pulp Fiction "warmer... warmer... disco." I have to agree.

For that matter, I would love to delete 80% of the voice command vocabulary so the system would have a half-decent shot at making a correct guess.

 

I upgraded the DVD of GPS-navigation on my '01 Odyssey for about $250 last year. It was very automatic. Just unload the original DVD in the tray and load the new one. Everything starts up by itself just like rebooting your computer. The new version carries many more detailed road maps of rural towns near highway (a choice to turn them on or off). And guess what
- it gets slower because of more roads to search
- it drops my home address completely from database due to some dumb built-in address number auto-complete feature. I have to use my neighbor's number to get home.
- a different voice (and it is better, less computerized)
- some expected updates, of course.

Usually, a new DVD comes with a new software to manage the new database. The upgrade is usually not backward compatible, meaning, you can't go back to your old version if you change your mind.

I would recommend upgrading every 3 years or so. But, it is really up to you and where you live.
Note that my experience was with a Honda-Alpine system. It may differ from Toyota's.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hatfield\";p=\"73183)</div>

Nope, no WAV files. I have to look again what files are on the DVD. I think there is at least one file that clearly indicates it's the voice file by its name, but I don't know what format it is. But it is an 'IT' as in one file, so it has all the audio in it indexed some way.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric\";p=\"73194)</div>

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe some have downgraded from 4.2 on the '04/'05 back to 3.x when they felt the information was worse than what they had. I belive the classic NAV was reported to not be able to go back, but I don't think that was tested by the user.

 

Upgrades for the Classic carry a warning that they obsolete the 2000 disk, but it isn't clear that there's an issue with any subsequent versions. I'll try putting v2.01 back in my 2002 model tonight to see what happens.

The Toyota and Lexus disks for cars with the same system (Gen 3 for the Classic, Gen 4 for the '04-05) are identical. I bought v4.01 (current Gen 3 version) from a Lexus dealer.

Both Gen 3 and Gen 4 disks appear to use the Kiwi-W format, but that format includes proprietary extensions, and the disks may also include software upgrades specific to a particular system. Gen 4 version 3.03 would not load on my nav system. A disk from a Kenwood aftermarket system (also made by Denso) would load, but did not work perfectly. Map data and POIs displayed and routing worked, but voice guidance did not.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"73269)</div>

You're right. I downgraded from 4.1 to 3.2 with no problems. I'm running the 4.2 now with unanswered complaints.

For my area, the 2002 disc was definitely better.