Updating satnav maps

[BottomScratcher]

The whole unit compared to a $300 Tomtom or Garmin is crap anyway as far as Navigation is concerned

I don't find the unit itself too bad operationally. The voice recognition is a struggle, but if one can set one's frustrations aside it can never be said that it isn't entertaining.

I mainly blame the Sensis (Telstra) mapping for the hassles I have with the AUS Columbus/RNS 510 units. Other satnavs have frequent downloadable updates, but these units are lucky to be updated once every couple of years. I went to Melbourne over Xmas. I was "flying" around Holbrook, because the by-pass that opened in the middle of last year still isn't recognised. Nightmare in Melbourne itself. Roadworks everywhere, and lane changes that can't be made due to concrete barriers between lanes that the unit has no idea about, so wants you to drive through them.

I miss my old TomTom audible speed camera alerts too. Yes, I could plug the old TomTom into a 12V socket, but the question remains, should I need to in what was a brand new $45K+ car with a very expensive intergrated satnav?

For as long as I have this car two things will never change. My gratitude to aussitig, kamold, and others for the work they've done providing firmware, POI's/speed cameras, mapping, and tons of useful information and good advice. The other thing that will never change is my disappointment at not receiving regular notifications informing that my satnave map/speed camera updates are ready for downloading.

[Guest001]

I don't find the unit itself too bad operationally. The voice recognition is a struggle, but if one can set one's frustrations aside it can never be said that it isn't entertaining.

I mainly blame the Sensis (Telstra) mapping for the hassles I have with the AUS Columbus/RNS 510 units. Other satnavs have frequent downloadable updates,

I miss my old TomTom audible speed camera alerts too. Yes, I could plug the old TomTom into a 12V socket, but the question remains, should I need to in what was a brand new $45K+ car with a very expensive intergrated satnav?

For as long as I have this car two things will never change. My gratitude to aussitig, kamold, and others for the work they've done providing firmware, POI's/speed cameras, mapping, and tons of useful information and good advice. The other thing that will never change is my disappointment at not receiving regular notifications informing that my satnave map/speed camera updates are ready for downloading.

Yes the mapping is crap to put it mildly However the lack of full text to speech is the biggest problem. If only it would say "turn left into SMITH st " instead of just saying "Turn now" 25m before it gets to the bloody corner.

If the portable ones can say that why cant a $3000 unit. Its not rocket science.
You don't get regular notifications cos there are no regular maps.
Just piss poor service after charging a premium for a unit that has far less features than a $89 Navig8r from Aldi.

I get 4 maps a year for the TomTom for $48 and get emails to say I haven't downloaded them as well

The other Tomtom unit I had in USA gave free lifetime maps and traffic as well.

Of course none of them will keep up to date with roadworks but when things like the Gateway upgrade and a local interchange take 2 years to appear on our VW maps it is a total disgrace.

Mazda's run Tomtom and give regular upgrades so perhaps VW should change mapping providers and upgrade their operating system.

If my car didn't have the 510 already in it when I saw it I would never have paid the money for such a poor overpriced unit.

[BottomScratcher]

Of course none of them will keep up to date with roadworks but when things like the Gateway upgrade and a local interchange take 2 years to appear on our VW maps it is a total disgrace.

Yes, I didn't word that part of my post well. By "roadworks" I meant completed roadworks/upgrades, such as the Holbrook By-Pass, the Ballina By-Pass, the Geelong Ringroad, and as you mentioned, the Melbourne Gateway upgrade. Sydney's M2 has been upgraded, a major section of the M5 is currently being widened, and I'd wager a fair amount that they'll not appear on a VW map upgrade before 2015. Even with the latest map version I still do a lot of "flying" on the Pacific Hwy heading up the coast to the Northern Rivers on sections that have been finished for well over a year. There's twin tunnels going in between Bangalow and Ewingsdale, works on the Princes Hwy between SYD-MEL, The Great Ocean Road, etc, etc, etc.

With major upgrades being done, and proposed to be done to so many of the country's prominent roads it is impossible to argue that due to the infrequency of the Sensis map updates that the updates are not already out of date when they eventually do become available. Not a lot different to the old hard copy street directories (which at least showed "Proposed Roadworks" in an effort to keep themselves relevant), or the White and Yellow Pages phone books, which are printed by guess who? Yep, Sensis.

Obviously VWA, and Sensis are aware of the shortcomings. As nothing at all has been done to address them since the RNS 510 came out here with the Sensis mapping I can only assume that neither party gives a toss. That one is still expected to fork out an excessive amount for an out of date Sensis map disc all this time later demonstrates more than poor customer service, it's straight out contempt by a company whose web site says they are, "Being tireless in our efforts to understand our customers’ needs and deliver the best solutions". Bollocks!

If there was a fully VW BT/MFSW compatible nav system with TomTom (or similar) mapping that fitted the dash I'd cut my losses and it'd be installed in a heartbeat.

[Guest001]

Ha ha you didn't read my locality I meant the Gateway extension in Brisvegas LOL

[BottomScratcher]

No, I didn't. But that means we can add another road to the list.

It was an easy error to make for me. Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I never venture further into QLD than is necessary. Kirra/Greenmount/Snapper Rocks is about my limit

[Guest001]

No, I didn't. But that means we can add another road to the list.

It was an easy error to make for me. Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I never venture further into QLD than is necessary. Kirra/Greenmount/Snapper Rocks is about my limit

That's good Too many Mexicans here already ROFL

[Skooter]

My unit wouldn't even recognise Bright, Victoria - a rather large town in the Ovens Valley! And I've upgraded the maps to the 'latest' via the link provided in this forum. Bizarre.

[Desmo]

My unit wouldn't even recognise Bright, Victoria - a rather large town in the Ovens Valley! And I've upgraded the maps to the 'latest' via the link provided in this forum. Bizarre.

Ah yes it does, RTFM....when you enter Bright it will display Bright (SA), at the end of the line is a highlighted button with 14, if you press this it will list the 14 entries that start with Bright, Bright Vic is second on the list. There is also a function key to the right, which upon pressing will, and I will quote the manual for the columbus, " ..a list will open with all the destinations containing the relevant parameters selectable from the navigation memory (eg country, city)

Hope this helps.

[Guest001]

Haha the ID ten T syndrome strikes again Rofl

[Skooter]

Ah yes it does, RTFM....when you enter Bright it will display Bright (SA), at the end of the line is a highlighted button with 14, if you press this it will list the 14 entries that start with Bright, Bright Vic is second on the list. There is also a function key to the right, which upon pressing will, and I will quote the manual for the columbus, " ..a list will open with all the destinations containing the relevant parameters selectable from the navigation memory (eg country, city)

Hope this helps.

It will certainly help from this day forward! Many thanks. I had read the Columbus manual but obviously not well enuff.

While I'm here, I also have never had any voice recognition from our unit. When I press the mic icon I get 'Lady Penelope's' (my kids love her voice saying something about no active voice somethings. I'd love to make her obey me - but how?!