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Prius GPS Street Numbering

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by membluess, Dec 1, 2010.

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  1. mainerinexile

    mainerinexile No longer in exile!

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    The question of whether the 2010 Nav system is good or bad depends in part on your expectations. I don't expect the Nav system to be perfect, because it can't be. I've had issues with it from time to time, and I've resolved them by reading the manual(!) The street numbering amazes me every time because I can't imagine how it can work as well as it does.

    Best of all, I don't have a &^^$# external device with cords and plugs to get in the way and be theft bait and look like hell. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat and I wish I had the system in my '08 Tacoma, because I'm spoiled now with the built-in and can't bear to install the aforementioned &^^S# external nav unit in the truck.

    My only request of Toyota is to use the weight sensor in the passenger seat that controls the seatbelt chime to allow a person sitting there to access all the functions of the system.
     
    #21 mainerinexile, Dec 13, 2010
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  2. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

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    I feel sorry for your dealer - he's between a rock (a dissatisfied customer) and a hard place (he probably can't make your GPS work any better, unless there's a legitimate malfunction in your unit). Personally, I'm fine with the GPS as-is; maybe my region isn't as bad as yours, but mine gets me close enough to my destination that my eyes will do the trick. And it's worth noting that I believe the GPS is designed to tell you you're at your destination a bit early so that you don't drive past it. If you want to see how big of an effect this is, try programming your GPS for a destination, and take note of where you are when it says you've arrived. Then, keep driving down the street a mile or so and turn around. Reprogram the GPS for the same destination, and see when it tells you that you've arrived. This may be speed-related as well - eg it may be designed to say you've arrived 15 seconds before you actually have, rather than 300 feet.

    For my house, it tells me I've arrived about a half block too early. That's probably about the worst I've seen it. Luckily, I use the GPS mainly for its ability to tell me when to turn, not for its ability to tell me when to bail out of the car.
     
    #22 macman408, Dec 13, 2010
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  3. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    Like I said, the 2010 doesnt use Navteq, I cant say about the older Prius. If I am wrong, I would love to know where to go for the documentation. My disk says Tele Atlas, The two arent associated. But hay, show me this in writing not in a "post" and I will gladly say sorry. I find nothing from Toyota that relates to Navteq. But I am open. Would love to have someone else to contact to help me get this problem resolved.
     
    #23 membluess, Dec 13, 2010
  4. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    Hay if you have found a fix, please pass it on. You would be a great help to the rest of us that own 2010 Prius
     
    #24 membluess, Dec 13, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Tele Atlas is the mapping part of TomTom. I haven't read anything about the Prius 2010 Nav, but Toyota is certainly in bed with TomTom for new Nav systems. This article gives some insight into a new line of semi-embedded Nav devices for Toyota:

    TomTom to deliver second-generation semi-embedded portable navigation solution to Toyota; Toyota extends relationship with TomTom to offer consumers unique semi-embedded device with enhanced navigation and safety features. - M2 Presswire | HighBeam R

    Tom
     
    #25 qbee42, Dec 13, 2010
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  6. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    Thank you
     
    #26 membluess, Dec 13, 2010
  7. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I checked my DVD tonight, Ver 8.1, for a 2010. The disk shows copyright information for Denso, Navteq and TeleAtlas North America.

    Does anyone know who does what with the GPS system? If I had to guess based on other postings:

    Denso - head unit
    Navteq - GPS operating system
    TeleAtlas - map data
     
    #27 jdcollins5, Dec 13, 2010
  8. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Teleatlas has this to say about itself.
    I didn't find anything that succint about Navteq, but can tell you that until recently Navteq and Telatlas were competitors (and may still be), which just makes this more interesting.
     
    #28 xs650, Dec 13, 2010
  9. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    I never started this thread to cause any arguments, I do need to rely on my GPS for accurate positioning and house numbering. I want to thank qb42 for the lead to Tom Tom. I gave their tech support a call today. The press release is accurate they are in bed with Toyota and tela atlas. Their best guess is that it is inaccurate data on the disk, but of course they havnt got any idea on how to fix it. The other thing is it could be a firmware problem. They dont have a way to update the disk, and the firmware would come from Toyota. Who actually wrote the firmware they dont know.
    Some say it says they have arrived just a little early I wish mine was that accurate. One guy say his is right on the button, well if its a 2010 Prius, everything in his car should match mine, That leads to firmware usually that is bad and could be re flashed. As i stated the car goes in for the second time for repair on this problem on the 20th. I really am interested with what they will come up with for a solution or will I get it back again finding myself over 1/4 mile from my intended destination. If they really do fix it I will post what they did so others can ask their dealers for the same thing. If your dealer manages a fix on yours, for goodness sake contact me! [email protected]
     
    #29 membluess, Dec 13, 2010
  10. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    I didn't think you did. OTOH, I don't see how that GPS map makes can get everything right without actually traversing every street and plotting the numbers. That will take lot more time and money.

    I live on a street that turns about 90 degrees in one block. On one end of the block at the start of the street, the houses across the street from each other differ by 1, a block away, they differ by 9. My house, on that end of the street is miss-located by a good 200 yards past the nearby cross street in some but not all map data bases.

    The last city I lived in, about 2 hours from here, number spacing between houses was adjusted so houses across the street from each other were off by 1 no matter where they were on the street.

    I guess that mapping outfits will eventually get all that straightened out, but it's big job.
     
    #30 xs650, Dec 13, 2010
  11. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Navteq is owned by Nokia. Denso makes the Toyota Nav system. As for who wrote the software, that's anyone's guess.

    Tom
     
    #31 qbee42, Dec 13, 2010
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  12. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    Magellan never had a problem getting me to the exact location no matter how much the street curved or twisted. If they can do it on a dash mounted. Toyota should be able to do it on a built in. If I had known how bad it was going to be, i wouldnt of spent the bucks on it. But as i stated before I am going to give them another shot at this. The car goes in on the 20th.
     
    #32 membluess, Dec 14, 2010
  13. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    They won't be able to help you unless there is a major map upgrade, then they will most likely charge you for it if you want it.

    it's not a matter of your GPS having a problem, it's a matter of their map database being inaccurate.
     
    #33 xs650, Dec 14, 2010
  14. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I did not think you did either. You brought up a good question as to who was providing the GPS system for Toyota. I know qbee42 has said that Navteq had provided it for the Gen II and you were saying now that it was TeleAtlas. My disk lists both of these companies.

    Like qbee42 said, who knows who wrote what part of the software, other than Toyota.

    Let us know the results of the visit with your dealer.
     
    #34 jdcollins5, Dec 14, 2010
  15. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    As a matter of clarification, my comment about Navteq was for the Gen II Nav system. The Gen III system is still a mystery to me.

    Tom
     
    #35 qbee42, Dec 14, 2010
  16. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I went back and edited my post to add your clarification that Navteq was for the Gen II rather than "in the past".
     
    #36 jdcollins5, Dec 14, 2010
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  17. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    Sent the car off to the dealer today, the 20th. Pulled my disk last night. version 9.1 No mention of Denso or Navteq. Just TeleAtlas. Did get an ad in the mail that version 10.1 is now out. Just 199.99. You obviously have an older disk. Dont be tempted to upgrade. if yours is accurate. Heck you make me tempted to back down a version. Will tell you how mine gets resolved or what the run around is going to be.
     
    #37 membluess, Dec 20, 2010
  18. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    Well the car went in on the 20th as expected. I got back what I expected. Nothing wrong all is within Toyota specs. The specs say that you may be a min of 300 ft off at any tine or more. Toyota uses 3 gps recievers on the car. and it cant be responsible for the satellites that i may not be able to reach at certain times. My poor magellan only has the one reciever. Gets me to the front door proper address every time.
    What is wrong with these people? The gps knows where I am on the road perfectly. It knows when I am making a turn, perfectly. Its not my location on the map that is a problem. Its the address system. The street numbers are way off. 300 ft or more is ok? hell its brought me to the middle of no where on more then one occasion. But it says i have arrived. But there I sit, 300 ft or more from my destination. No houses in sight. But which way? Do I continue on or do i turn around? It cant tell me that either. Toyota says this is perfectly normal. For some of you, hay, you are glad just to be on the correct street and your eyesight will do the rest. Would love to know how you read the numbers on a house 50 or more ft away at 35 MPH on a busy street. I know I cant do it. I rely on the gps to put me where i belong, not sort of maybe close. Tired of going up and down a street with folks attempting to run me over while I attempt to find the correct address. This isnt what I signed up for. Bet the same guy who wrote the software for the gps disk wrote the software for the braking system. I am over it. If you dont care enough to go to your dealer and make them investigate your inaccuracy of your unit. At least have your friends looking at toyotas for purchase to test out the gps in the car, BEFORE they spend the money on it. My bet is they wont spend the money on it once they know it wont get them to the addresses they wish to visit. A couple of hundred for a Magellan or another name brand, a lot even have built in bluetooth for phone, sure beats 2500 for one that wont get you where you want to go day or night.. I will attempt to peruse this further with toyota, but no one seems to know who to call if the dealer cant help. They tell you to go back to the original web listed numbers and go from there. These are the same folks who told me to see my dealer in the first case. Just a quick note, the update 10.1 will not correct any of these issues. However once you load that disk, you CANT go back to a previous release.
     
    #38 membluess, Dec 22, 2010
  19. membluess

    membluess New Member

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    I posted the "results" really made me wonder what specs were ok according to Toyota on the other parts of the systems.
     
    #39 membluess, Dec 22, 2010
  20. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Thanks for posting your results. At least we all know what the Toyota specs are now.

    Also, thanks for the note about once you upgrade to 10.1 you cannot go back to a previous version.
     
    #40 jdcollins5, Dec 22, 2010
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