paulmooney

All 1999 Acura TL3.2 owners with navigation systems...

I just tested the theory that the files on the navigation pcmcia hard disk are accessible. I removed my drive from the nav system and it has a serial number on it showing it is a Culluna 540Mb PCMCIA hard drive. I plugged it into my notebook computer's pcmcia slot and found it was formatted as a DOS FAT drive and you have complete access with Windows Explorer. I copied all the files off to the hard disk, for my region about 400Mb of files, and the zip down to 250Mb.

I then found a bunch of brand new Calluna drives on ebay and bought one for $35. Any pcmcia drive of this type should work. Including larger ones if we find a way to put two regions on one drive!

I got it and plugged it in the notebook, extracted the zip files to it, installed in nav system and it works perfectly. If all the files are present on the drive the nav system loves it.

This means it would be possible to copy to disk every region's files and when needed, for example having the notebook computer on the trip, and then copying the region's files to the drive and away you go. You don't even need two or more drives, you can just update the one. But for $35 investment in a second drive I can keep my original region on one disk and one drive for another region I travel to.

Now how do we get all the sets of nav files for other regions?

Option 1, have an acura dealer install a region on a drive, archive it off, install a new region, repeat for all 7 in addition to the original one. I've paid the royalty for the latest updates and investigating what charges for labor to install other regions.

Option 2, owners from different regions archive off their files and then we share them with each other either by burning a CD, FTP, or file sharing such as winmx, kazaa, napster, etc.

Option 3, anyone have a set of Acura disks from the dealer? Any dealership employees out there able to borrow them?

Option 4, the map maker is Navigation Technologies. They provide the files to most automakers. This includes ones with just two regions, east and west, or fewer regions for systems with bigger disks. Can these be used to setup an Acura system.
http://www.navtech.com/

Option 5, suggestions?

I believe there are no ownership issues. We have paid for the right to one set of data to be installed on the drive. Only one can be present at once, so as a per occurence software license that will still be the case. The only reason the data has been split is to accomodate the small drive. Otherwise we can go to a dealer and get the data for any region that we live in as needed in the first two years. After that the charge is not for royalty but for labor to reload the files at the dealership.

Any one interested in working with me to get a complete set?

You can find out what is the latest data files at www.4acura.com
http://www.4acura.com/service/naviga...tem_update.asp

Paul

bigmonkey70

First Welcome to the board,

We found out about other PCMCIA drive work with stock unit awhile ago.

Option 5: Upgrade to DVD unit and save all the hassle loading regions.

Firebird_EOU

Did they stop updating the map for the 99 Nav? Last update is 12/2001? Weren't new updates coming out every 6 months?

I have ADB0717, need ADB075x for NE.

paulmooney

I'm get busy on archiving my files on to an ftp site. I'll post the location. If everyone else can zip theirs with the name of the file containing the version and region we can slowly build up a collection to share. I'll update this posting once it is up there and the url. Perhaps we can get the latest 2001 files as well as 2000.

I've gotten several emails from people in different regions wanting to get other regions and offering theirs. If you all can get to getting the files on to a PC and ready for sharing we are one step closer.

Anyone know if the DVD-based system's files can be utilized?

Paul

paulmooney

I have my area 9 ready. It's in a 263Mb zip file. It's the latest version.

If you use an instant message program we can do a file transfer and as long as you have a fast internet connection such as cable, dsl, T1, et al it shouldn't take too long to transfer.

An older version of Area 7 and 8 are promised soon by other folks I am in contact with.




Send me an IM and let me know what area and version you have ready to transfer. I'll send you mine.

Also if you use the file sharing program WinMX I have a shared folder with the file ADB0758 - SE DEC2001 ACURA TL 1999.zip

When you search be sure to set the search to find archive files ie zips.

Paul

Firebird_EOU

We should just collect the latest version for Dec 2001.

http://www.4acura.com/service/naviga...tem_update.asp

Have it sent to me via CDR and I will combine and put it on DVD+R and mail out at cost.

paulmooney

Hey we need some activity out there. Please get your nav system updated to the latest. Please copy your nav files to your notebook. Please contact me so we can exchange file sets. Let me know how I can help you accomplish this.

My Acura dealer wants $80 labor charge for every region update.

My wish list is GA all the way to CA, and GA to ME. The best addition for me is the one region that includes New Orleans! Going there in June.

I've sent my SE region to one other person with great success for them. I'me hearing people buying up to 4 Calluna's. The new activity on ebay is keeping the price around $20 each.

Thanks Paul

Firebird_EOU

When is Dec 2002 update supposed to come out? If update ceases to exist can we write to Acura for a $2,000 rebate towards the new TL with nav?

JeffNY

The other day while search the net for GPS info I think I read somewhere that NavTech was about to release a new DVD shortly that contained much more map data...sorry, I don't have the web page on my machine here at home. If I don't forget I'll look up the page Monday and post it. Don't know if future HD maps will include the expanded data in the next DVD release.

Jeff

JeffNY

Found it while at home here looking for something else...

http://www.gpsinformation.net/alpine.htm

"Navtech apparently has completed mapping the entire USA street by street and is now in the process of sending these maps to various companies. Hopefully, in the fall of 2002, Alpine will offer the most exciting DVD release ever, with full street detail of the entire USA."

Firebird_EOU

http://www.4acura.com/service/naviga...tem_update.asp

Updated for 2002 Dec. map.

Firebird_EOU

Anyone updating to the 2002 Dec. Nav. data for TL 99? We can share cost for NE region.

Dealer says $69.

paulmooney

Anyone in the South want to go in with me?

Firebird_EOU

Anyone got the 2002 Dec. NE update?

paulmooney

FYI...I went to the dealer and paid to get the latest Dec 2002 updates for all but two regions.

I now have CA009, NM005, SC006, SET07, NE007 (arriving soon on CD from Scott).

I still need OG005 and MG005. Anyone out there have it to share.

If you share a region I don't have I'll send you what you want on CD. If you just need a region I may have to charge a modest copying and distribution fee.

Paul

paulmooney

Just got back from a trip from Atlanta to Santa Fe, R/T and used 3 regions. Learned a couple of things. I had set the file attribute of each region's files on my notebook to read-only to prevent an accidental delete of them. Mistake, I copied them to the pcmcia drive with that attribute coming across, plugged it in and the navi unit says "hard drive read error". So I had to put the drive back in the notebook and set the file attribute off. Worked then.

Second oddity was that I would get "hard drive read error" on the first use of a drive that was "cold", ie switching from the active drive to one in storage. I had to turn off the car, pull the drive out, stick it back in, then it works. Don't know if that is a physical problem with the connector, or cold drives having problems such as spin up speed for example. There was not a big temperature difference.

Paul

paulmooney

One more oddity, there must be some code that tries to update the clock to the timezone matching the location of the nav files. It got it right twice, and wrong once. Just be note you may have to go to setup-others-clock and set the timezone manually.

Larry Chisum

Paul, I live close to the boundry of two 99 Acura regions. I have switched them several times, and never had any problems. I always do it with the key off, and maybe this is the difference.

Larry

Jyamuzu

I have two regions to share - not sure how up to date they are but they are the NE region and the region that had TX in it.

I am in the SE looking to trade if possible.

I will get the region ID's and post them here.

JW

paulmooney

News, I have the OG region coming to me on CD very soon from a forum member.

Someone send MG and we have the whole US!

Anyone ever investigate if Canada files can be made to work on this system? I'd love to drive to Vancouver some day. May need the nav to locate a Tim Horton's donuts.

Once I have them all I'll master a set of the US and send out for small paypal shipping and handling fee. I'll post when they are ready to go.

Paul

tl511

Luckily, my 99 TL came with the DVD navi system. However, I would love to find a deal on the updated map for DVD.

paulmooney

The last region is now in hand. That's for the whole US Dec 2002 for 99 TL with 500mb hard drive. Thanks to all those that contributed.

If you have contacted me before I'm emailing you now to exchange details. If you shared a region then I'm factoring that into the divided cost. If a new request paypal me $50 to cover cost to pay for dealer, making and mailing the CD set. paypal is

paulmooney

I created a web site to save this information...

http://www.angelfire.com/ga4/99_acur...avi/index.html

Paul

paulmooney

The posting broke up the url, the rest is...

99_acura_tl_navi/index.html

paulmooney

An update...we have about a dozen or so users now sharing the file sets for the whole United States. Also I've revised the information on the web site.

http://www.angelfire.com/ga4/99_acura_tl_navi/

Paul

vgalani

hi I just bought a 99 3.2 TL. The hard hisk has Texas information. I'm ready to share this inorder to get california files.

Any body who can share the california region files?

thanks
vg

paulmooney

I'll mail you a CD with all regions for $50. Or FTP you a single region for $20. paypal to with mailing or file xfer instructions.

Paul

corey415

i got AcuraHDNavi_CaNv_ADB0711_201.
ill mail u a cd for 5 bucks.

vgalani

let me know where I can send the 5 bucks. vg9@sbcglobal.net

humeidan

Hi everyone

I am heading from Ohio to New York City this weekend, does anyone know where i can get the NYC files.
Since i am short on time i would prefer to download of FTP it.

Thanks

Jad@humeidan.com

paulmooney

Anyone know if there will be a Dec 2003 update for the hard disk files?

I still have Dec 2002 for the whole US available on CD.

paulmooney

I just tested the Kingston CF/512ADP CompactFlash card and it works great. Faster data access, no moving parts, cost $129 with tax and free shipping from Kingston direct. A test of the calc to a frequent destination went from 45 secs to 30 secs. The entry of text where it reloads the key map with keys that do not apply to remaining entries gets greyed out is much faster.

Paul

paulmooney

We have now put together the latest map update file sets for the 96-99 3.5 RL with hard disk navigation system.

ou sig

Are these the correct drives to replace the drive in the '99 NAVI??? I think I have a bad disk, because it doesnt load much more that half of the time. So if I get a new disk and have it programmed, by the dealer or somewhere else I believe this should help my prob.
We shall see, good luck all

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=43467

paulmooney

Use this link to buy at Kingston and get 10% off

www.shop.kingston.com/save

The one I tested is the Kingston CF/512ADP which is the normal speed 512Mb flash card paired with the pcmcia adapter you have to have.

It's $121.50 and free fedex shipping.

Other manufacturers items of the same type item should work. If you can get it on ebay cheaper go for it. When I looked at the time I bought the Kingston site was cheapest and the item new.

Don't buy the "faster" memory compact flash, waste of money and the actual data transfer time is slower.

That ebay listing is for only the compact flash card so you still need the adapter to plug it in a pcmcia slot. Also nothing special about that price. But in theory you should be able to find a cheap 512 CF card on ebay and the pcmcia adapter.

paulmooney

Major update made to

http://www.angelfire.com/ga4/99_acura_tl_navi/

paulmooney

LIMITED TIME ONLY - I'm parting with three extra Calluna's.

I'll install the region you want on it.

$60 each includes shipping.

Let me know if you also want a set of CD's with all regions, if so send only a total of $100.

Please confirm you have a TL or RL and your mailing address in the PayPal.

Thanks
Paul

axeman

Paul,

I would love to have the latest disk for the mid atlantic region (I am in the DC area).

PM or respond back to this post or write me an email at axeman@acura-tl.com and we can arrange the paypal payment.

Thanks a bunch,
Axe

paulmooney

Did another revamp of the web site.

http://www.angelfire.com/ga4/99_acura_tl_navi/

paulmooney

I'm made major changes to my web site and added some interesting new info ...

1) no more Royalty charges

2) schematic and parts list for nav units

3) coming soon - results of trying a dvd unit in my TL and information on the various dvd versions

http://www.angelfire.com/ga4/99_acura_tl_navi/

Paul