ANS-810 / ANS-510 (PROPER RNS-510 alternative)

[starionx]

So I had a bit of a drive today. Here's what I found.

The screen is nearly impossible to see (wearing sunglasses), sitting normally. Move your head a little to the left, and it's fine. I think this is more a problem with the positioning of these centre type console screens, rather than this unit. It was very hard to make out anything on the screen because of the glare coming from the rear left window. I went to **** Smith and bought http://****smith.com.au/product/XB44...verlay-2pk.jsp Even though it's for an Ipad, I just cut it to size. This reduced the glare, but wearing sunglasses, it's too hard to see the screen because of the double anti glare effect. Not sure what to do about that. Luckily, I do most of my driving at night.

I seem to have an issue with the GPS. With cruise control on, the reported speed would fluctuate wildly up to 15km/h either way (and I was doing 55km/h). There were times when I could not get a GPS signal, at all. It kept 'searching for gps' for over 10 minutes. Even after turning off the satnav from the menu and restarting, it would not get a signal. Other times it find it straight away. I have the antenna right under the dash (just below the air vents). I may have to try and relocate it to above the dash... but that would leave the cable visible.

Need food.

edit, so how does one show a link to d i c k smith when this site censors his name??

[DkN]

So I had a bit of a drive today. Here's what I found.

The screen is nearly impossible to see (wearing sunglasses), sitting normally. Move your head a little to the left, and it's fine. I think this is more a problem with the positioning of these centre type console screens, rather than this unit. It was very hard to make out anything on the screen because of the glare coming from the rear left window. I went to **** Smith and bought http://****smith.com.au/product/XB44...verlay-2pk.jsp Even though it's for an Ipad, I just cut it to size. This reduced the glare, but wearing sunglasses, it's too hard to see the screen because of the double anti glare effect. Not sure what to do about that. Luckily, I do most of my driving at night.

I seem to have an issue with the GPS. With cruise control on, the reported speed would fluctuate wildly up to 15km/h either way (and I was doing 55km/h). There were times when I could not get a GPS signal, at all. It kept 'searching for gps' for over 10 minutes. Even after turning off the satnav from the menu and restarting, it would not get a signal. Other times it find it straight away. I have the antenna right under the dash (just below the air vents). I may have to try and relocate it to above the dash... but that would leave the cable visible.

Need food.

edit, so how does one show a link to d i c k smith when this site censors his name??

The screen being hard to see would also have something to do with the dark scheme of the unit, I would imagine that on the GPS software which has a white background during the day you would be able to see better. I assume you already turned brightness up to high instead of normal?

With the GPS signal, did you try the compartment to the left of the space where your unit goes? There's a gap in the wall there, and it's easy enough to reach your fingers around and stick the antenna on the other side of the wall. This worked flawlessly for a MY10 GTI, it shouldn't be different with yours.

The same goes for the cables, as I mentioned when you remove the unit, if you remove the climatronics as well you should see a little shelf-like piece of trim beneath it, which has a small gap at the back (it doesn't sit flush against the trim). If you remove that shelf you can get your wires around, then put the shelf back (it will probably pinch the wires a little) and the wires will be coming out on top of your 12V tray. Again this was for a customer's MY10 GTI so I don't have pictures...

Regarding earlier comments on USB / SD music playback display, I already notified the technician. He thought it was already fixed (to show song name, artist and album) but I think it was just for iPod - I can't confirm since I don't own one, but looks like they just forgot about USB / SD

[DSGVW]

Ok I though of another gripe for the developers. Music volume bar on the NAV screen. All their old radio versions had this and I find it tough to guess sometimes how loud I am rocking out when on the gps map.

[gviddy]

I had a quick look at my glove compartment and it does seem to have that plastic cover, but I couldn't work out how to get it off. May have to use a knife.

I actually popped it off from behind... i was actually able to get my hand around the back from where the unit sits and then pushed the cover off from inside.. there is actually a lot of room back there... ie from where you push the cables around..

[gviddy]

So I had a bit of a drive today. Here's what I found.

The screen is nearly impossible to see (wearing sunglasses), sitting normally.

haha.. you should see how impossible it is to see on a sunny day with the roof down....

[gviddy]

I would really like to see an option thats configurable to set whether you want music to stop playing when you reverse or in my case put the roof up or down.. Its only a small request i know as you are never in these states for long, but it just always sucks when the music cuts out when doing both... supposedly so you can hear the reverse beeps, but my previous radio never stopped and I dont see the need for this 'feature'...

[DkN]

I would really like to see an option thats configurable to set whether you want music to stop playing when you reverse or in my case put the roof up or down.. Its only a small request i know as you are never in these states for long, but it just always sucks when the music cuts out when doing both... supposedly so you can hear the reverse beeps, but my previous radio never stopped and I dont see the need for this 'feature'...

I will make the request. On Audi OEM systems the volume drops (half?) when reversing instead of muting, what would your thoughts be on that?

Interesting that the music stops when you put the roof up or down - what happens on the screen? I wasn't aware that would even affect the operation of the unit. Crazy convertibles

[DkN]

Ok I though of another gripe for the developers. Music volume bar on the NAV screen. All their old radio versions had this and I find it tough to guess sometimes how loud I am rocking out when on the gps map.

I will consult with the tech but I suspect this has something to do with the volume bar obscuring too much of the map on the GPS screen.

[starionx]

I will consult with the tech but I suspect this has something to do with the volume bar obscuring too much of the map on the GPS screen.

From memory, the music screens don't constantly show the volume. It only shows briefly when you change it. This would be what I would expect on the Nav screen as well.

[starionx]

An update to my installation saga

Took it all apart again and found that the gps cable was slightly loose. Tightened it up with some pliers. While I was at it, I thought I would try the plastic cover in the glovebox again. Couldn't get my hand around the back to push it out so I got a knife and tried to maneuver it from behind so I could push the cover off. Needless to say, I now have a lost knife somewhere inside the centre console. God knows what the consequences will be (rattling, short circuit etc).
I then got a small watch makers screw driver and managed to jimmy the cover out from the front. Honestly VW, what's the point of having a removable plastic cover that is so hard to remove? Anyways, I managed to get the usb cable from the console through the opening and into the glove compartment. The ipod cable was to short to do the same, but since I'm not an Isheep person, I don't care. EDIT - Just realised there is an ipod cable I didn't connect. Oh well.
Thanks gviddy for the tip.

Went out for a drive and the gps now works. After putting it all back together, I find that the trim fits on a lot more flush than before.

A couple of more observations. The satnav takes a long time for it to bootup. It would be ideal if this automatically booted up when the ignition is turned on. As it is now, you turn the ignition on, unit boots up and starts playing whatever music source you had. You then have to press the nav button to get it to boot up.
The gps speed on the satnav is still wildly all over the place. I would not rely on this for speed limit notifications at all.
I now have to get some sort of window shade for the rear left window to try and block out the light on the screen.

I know I may have sounded a little negatively about the whole experience, but that is more to do with my ineptitude with cars in general. It was definitely a learning experience. Well worth the purchase!