Navagation system is disappointing

[jbernardk]

I have had my B9 for two months now and I love it, but the navagation system needs big improvements. In addition to the maps being way out of date, the routes it finds are not nearly the best. The algorithm it uses to calculate routes does crazy things. Many times I will set a destination and then go the way I know is best. The nav system recaluclates OK, and you can see the time and distance go down in a jump when I get it on the correct route. It seems to favor major roads, even when that is not the best. To turn down the street I live on it should tell me to make a left turn, but it just goes a little past the turn and tells me to make a U-turn and then a right. Yesterday I was going down a road to a main road and it wanted me to turn off to a parallel road that was further away to get to the main road.

Any hints would be welcome. Is the firmware upgradable?

I like the convience of the built-in but my portable Garmin is way better and cheaper.

By the way, the back up camera is great and is a must have feature in my opinion.

[Hum]

Hi, I live in Australia and the Sat nav on my Tribeca is always spot on. When you input an address it should give you 2 or 3 route options to get there, a quick way, using major roads, and avoiding major roads. Try having a play with it and see if you can choose options next time. Good luck.

[jrseyshawn]

I have had my B9 for two months now and I love it, but the navagation system needs big improvements. In addition to the maps being way out of date, the routes it finds are not nearly the best. The algorithm it uses to calculate routes does crazy things. Many times I will set a destination and then go the way I know is best. The nav system recaluclates OK, and you can see the time and distance go down in a jump when I get it on the correct route. It seems to favor major roads, even when that is not the best. To turn down the street I live on it should tell me to make a left turn, but it just goes a little past the turn and tells me to make a U-turn and then a right. Yesterday I was going down a road to a main road and it wanted me to turn off to a parallel road that was further away to get to the main road.

Any hints would be welcome. Is the firmware upgradable?

I like the convience of the built-in but my portable Garmin is way better and cheaper.

By the way, the back up camera is great and is a must have feature in my opinion.

I agree... especially coming off a Acura Navigation. yesterday i was going to a different Subaru dealer to get my oil changed and it actually took me on a hidious route... took me about 35-40 mins to get 13 miles... I think the navigation calculates all roads at a highway speed? the route which was calculated told me it will take me about 25 mins but it was off about 10-15 mins. coming back i took a major highway back(did not know the dealer was close to there when i started) and the ride was only 20 mins long.

Also like you said it does not calculate the best route... like you i always end up taking a route i know if i know the general vicinity of the place i'm going to... kinda defeats the purpose of paying about $2000 for the option in my opinion..

Maybe i should move to Autralia since HUM is not having similar issues.LOL

[kooldak]

Anytime I set the nav system when leaving my house, it takes me on an almost impassable country road, through a river and through a gated/locked cow pasture. Obviously, I ignore that route - but nav is insistant that this is the right route.

The system sure has its pros, but it also has its cons.

[morey000]

Agreed. It's not the best system out there- but it does get me where I'm going. I was on a freeway today in Phoenix that wasn't on the map (at all). I've had it take me down streets that are blocked off, and suggest that I drive through neighborhoods instead of staying on the main drags. It sometimes offers confusing instructions, But- in just about all these cases- I successfully used my own judgement to ignore the silly things it was telling me to do, and admired how quickly it rerouted me on the route that I had chosen.

Granted- a Garmin is probably better and cheaper at navigating, but the stock system has a number of advantages. It's built in. It comes with a truly terrific back-up camera, some nifty extra displays, and a touch screen. oh well.

There are continuous rumors of a new navigation DVD- which should solve the 'new road' problems.

[ed@konceptracing.com]

heard SOA is releasing new DVD early 2007, cant confirm. this is my first vehicle w/ navi, and i love it. my mother has a garmin, but seems a bit distracting and you have to remove to ward off thieves. i heard acura navis are the best out in the market right now.

[gsx95]

i may pass on the dvd update and go with this unit kna-g510, from what ive read its compatible with our head unit. it has some features that our units lack. has anyone else considered or tried the kna-g510?

[mls64]

i may pass on the dvd update and go with this unit kna-g510, from what ive read its compatible with our head unit. it has some features that our units lack. has anyone else considered or tried the kna-g510?

The G510 doesn't have a DVD reader onboard, it is only compatible with head units that have integrated DVD, which the Tribeca unit doesn't, so I doubt it would work.

[stryz]

heard SOA is releasing new DVD early 2007, cant confirm. this is my first vehicle w/ navi, and i love it. my mother has a garmin, but seems a bit distracting and you have to remove to ward off thieves. i heard acura navis are the best out in the market right now.

I too also think the Nav on the B9 is horrible. I also have a portable 2 yr old TOMTOM Go. Tomtom is much better compared to the B9's nav. What's sad is tomtom isn't not even the best portable navigation out there:eek: .

My question is; If they upgrade the maps, will the calculation of route be any different from the previous maps? Majority of us lives in an area where no new roads are added. :confused:

So I email SOA about the upgrade on maps, and this is what I got:

Thank you for your message. At this time, there is no estimated
availability for the navigation system map updates. Hopefully, they
will be available within the next few months. Pricing has not yet been
finalized.

Sincerely,

Subaru of America, Inc.
E-contact Group
www.subaru.com (http://www.subaru.com)

[gsx95]

while map upgrade would be nice, i have a problem with the user interface. i dont think the map upgrade would fix it. as for the garmin based kna-g510 going to call kenwood, from what i understand all it needs is a compatible head unit. The kna unit uses the din connection to hook up with the head unit. Its maps are stored on the unit.

[gsx95]

spoke on the phone with crutchfield tech, the kna-g510 is compatible with most kenwood units. He was not sure if it would work with the subaru kenwood based unit. He mentioned that the connection are different.
I am pretty positive that the connections are the same and i think i can verify this by comparing the RGB wiring from the subaru against the KNA wiring. i will need to call kenwood to get the wiring for the kna, i already know the RGB wiring for the subaru.

[morey000]

GSX,
I don't understand. What is it that you are looking to do?

[gsx95]

instead of ordering updated dvd disk from Subaru, i want to replace the gps dvd unit with the Garmin based one. i think the interface on the Garmin is much better than the Kenwood. thats all

[ed@konceptracing.com]

instead of ordering updated dvd disk from Subaru, i want to replace the gps dvd unit with the Garmin based one. i think the interface on the Garmin is much better than the Kenwood. thats all
how is that done? replacing the unit under the seat? how much would that be? i mean, just getting updated DVD from SOA i heard will cost nearly $200, might as well spend a bit more and get a better nav unit.

[stryz]

Guys, is there a way to turn off the LCD screen? Sometimes the brightsness kinda annoys me @ night. I haven't found a way to do it. Thanks

[gsx95]

press the button the the right of the "info" button, lower left look for the word "off"

[gsx95]

update on the kna-g510 kenwood/garmin unit.. so i managed to pick a unit up pretty cheap for testing. it hooks up our nav video display no problem, maps come up, touch screen works. it looks promising as a replacement for our nav dvd system.. i did run into a few issues, hopefully i can sort them out. the screen touch screen locks up after 30 seconds of operation, and there is no audio. will continue to work on it.

[SubOperator]

update on the kna-g510 kenwood/garmin unit.. so i managed to pick a unit up pretty cheap for testing. it hooks up our nav video display no problem, maps come up, touch screen works. it looks promising as a replacement for our nav dvd system.. i did run into a few issues, hopefully i can sort them out. the screen touch screen locks up after 30 seconds of operation, and there is no audio. will continue to work on it.

it's strange that your G510 does not work with B9 OEM screen. There are posts at legacygt.com on successfull replacement of Subaru OEM navigation uni twith G510 and I haven't seen complains about screen problems. I am assuming B9 and Legacy Nav screens are the same, at least they seem to be of the same size.

[andrec]

Is the 08 system the same as the 07 one?

[SubOperator]

Is the 08 system the same as the 07 one?

I do believe so, but don't take me on this - I only test-drove 08 for about 15 minutes.

[jvcjbl]

I work for Avondale Subaru... yes the 2008 Navigation is the same as the Previous years... The only new navigation is the that which has just been introduced in the new 2008 Imprezas. The screen is motorized and will tilt down to allow the dvd disc to be inserted into the deck rather than a dvd drive elsewhere in the car. The only difference the 2008's have over the 2006-2007 is that it ships with the Version 2.0 disc. I just bought a 2008 Legacy spec.B and it also uses the same navigation setup.

[Magic Marker]

I just bought a 2008 Legacy spec.B

How much did you get that for since you work for Subaru?

[jvcjbl]

^^^ Not allowed to disclose employee pricing.... normally I wouldn't care but we have guys in service (our service writter) frequent this board... along with nasioc...iwsti...legacygt and azawd to name a few.

-Jason
Avondale Subaru Sales

[Magic Marker]

What do you do for the dealer? I was contemplating picking up a P/T job.

[jvcjbl]

^^^ read bellow my name

[HB_Dad]

Hi, I live in Australia and the Sat nav on my Tribeca is always spot on.

Yeah, but what kind of directions do you need there... avoid Koala, turn at kangaroo, stop at digereedoo?! :lol: Nah, I'm just f-ing with you! :lol:

[awd_envy]

update on the kna-g510 kenwood/garmin unit.. so i managed to pick a unit up pretty cheap for testing. it hooks up our nav video display no problem, maps come up, touch screen works. it looks promising as a replacement for our nav dvd system.. i did run into a few issues, hopefully i can sort them out. the screen touch screen locks up after 30 seconds of operation, and there is no audio. will continue to work on it.
Did you ever get this worked out?
http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71423