Hey guys

Just thought that I would start a thread telling everyone how to get their voices heard by alpine.

There's always something about the nav system that annoys us, and you think should be changed. Like how it is EXCESSIVE in its reliance on U-turns (the cheap and easy way out- it should be used as a last resort) , instead of other methods of getting you back on track when you make a wrong turn.

Well, you can have Alpine know about your frustrations by calling the order desk, and having the idea fowarded to "research".

When you call the order desk(1-888-549-3798 ), you'll probably get someone who doesn't know how to do much else besides order the nav DVD's.

Just tell them that you'd like to make a suggestion for product improvement. When they say that they don't know where you should call to do this, just tell them that their supervisor will pass it along to the "research group", and ask them (nicely) to write it down and give it to their supervisor.

The rep will then note your name and contact info. Thank them for their time, and that'll be it.

I personally dealt with the rep named Olivia, so if you get her, she'll know what to do.


I wanted to write more, but I am about to run to the mall.

BTW, please don't request something stupid like "No nag screens on startup", or "THe nav chick should refer to me by name, or give me a BJ". You'll just be ruining it for the rest of us with legit comments.

 

My expierence with the u-turn issue is that if you don't make the u-turn in a short period of time after going off route the system recalcuates a new route to get you back on track. Give it a try sometime.

 

The U-turn issue (i've got 3.40A) is only one of the list of things that I would like changed about the Nav system.

And the nav is incredibly "lazy" when it comes to recalculating routes. It'll tell you to make 4 or 5 U-turns before it --MAY-- decide to recalculate. And it has tons of side streets to choose from...

 

A few things off the bat:

1. I'd include the ability to speak out addresses instead of typing them in
2. An icon on the upper right that shows the number of satellites available (at least 4 is needed for an elevation reading, which I haven't been getting lately in San Jose, CA)
3. Ability to program/override the directions given for a certain route (could possibly be done by "adding" streets/offroads, or "deleting" off-limit/invalid streets, so that it doesn't tell you to do cartwheels in order to get where you need to go..

I'm sure I can think of more, but to be honest, I'd be fine the way it is now..

 

1) is availiable in the RL or Odyssey

2)Is really only for geekier users, besides, you can see the # of satelites in the diag menu.

3) you currenly have the ability to delete streets, but

THe ability to add a preferred street to a route is a great idea that Toyota has in their nav.

The Nav voice should (just like the toyota system) distinguish between "slight right turn" and "Slight right turn onto the freeway entrance".

The system knows the freeways, and this shouldnt be too hard for alpine to add.

 

Another function to add would be a direct command to cancel navigation directions. Once you get to familiar territory you don't need to continue directions.

The only way I know how to do it now is "Display menu" followed by "Cancel current route"

And of course, an upgrade to use the traffic routing.

 

The biggest enhancement needed is when you type in the name of a location it gives you the most likely entry first.

Example: If I type in Target, I don't want a BBQ restaurant 6 states over.

That eliminate the multiple entries for corporate holdings.

Example: Lowes, Lowes Inc, Lowes hardware and supply.

Just lump them together.

 

I'd like to be able to have preset searches. For example, if I want a Starbucks coffee and I'm in a new area, I'd like to be able to tap on a preset button to recall a favorite search instead of going through the conventional means.

Add to this the ability to auto-search favorite things, too. Using the Starbucks example, allow me to assign an icon to all the auto-search results and pepper the map with them in the same way restaurants and gas stations are indicated.

Another feature I'd like is the ability to use the crosshairs to plot a route on the map. I would like to be able to click points along the desired route and have them be waypoints to my destination.

The reason the system is so persistent about U-turns is that, after recalculating, it has determined that a U-turn is still the best fit for the specified routing criteria. Only after it finds that it is now more prudent to do something else will it suggest it.

 

How about fixing my issue of the Navi being off by a good hundred feet or more all the time. Updated maps would be nice too. There is a road that has been around for probably 7 years or more, and it still doesn't show correctly on the Navi or mapquest...etc.

 

the u-turn issue can sometimes be fixed by switching from 'Direct Route" to "Easy Route". i find that "Easy Route" takes whatever road youre on and calculates a path using your current direction to your destination. try it!

 

Try reporting it to navteq ...

 

I think that I am going to complain about the nav voice rarely saying exit numbers...

Nothing is worse than vague directions when you don't know where you are going

 

Can someone delete my above post? Thanks

I think that I am going to complain about the nav voice rarely saying freeway exit numbers...I think that exit numbers should be announced at all times, and if the exit has no number, just say "the exit" in place of the number.

I also think that the system should differentiate between "slight right turns" and freeway entrances, like our highlander does. It should say something like "Take the next slight right turn, onto the freeway entrance". Hey, the system can already tell what's a freeway vs. a regular road, so why not say it?

Nothing is worse than vague directions when you don't know where you are going

 

I totally agree with this suggestion and would like to add that the CLOSEST location be noted. I discovered this bug accidentally. The wife typed in Applebee's (yeah, we like this chain...so sue me) while I was driving and the first hit was--no joke--in TEXAS, and wasn't even a restaurant! This suggestion would make sense, since the GPS system knows where we are at all times.

Even though I know how to access the navi service menu, it would be kind of cool, as noted above, to know how many satellites are active...just to know.

Or to add the trip computer to the navi screen rather than having to reach up behind the steering wheel to the MID--that request has been in since this car first came out in '03!

 

I am new to Nav System, so some of these things could be available.

1. I agree that there should be an easier way to cancel current routes easier. It seems like you should just be able to hit the Cancel button. They probably didn't want the route cancelled so easily if it was by mistake. How about hitting it twice then or hold.

2. I would like to see the exit number on the "direction list".

3. I would like to have a way to specify that I don't want to travel on portions of a road.

4. I would like to have the option of getting rid of the User1, User2 selection. or at least let me customize the wording.

5. Being able to get to my predefined destinations from Voice Commands would be nice. e.g. have it recognize, "Show Saved Routes", "1". Each saved route would need a number by it. So, the above commands would route me to the first item on my list

6. Being able to specify different default zoom values for City driving vs. Highway driving.

7. Avoid recommending U-turns unless going into area with No Outlets.

8. Never going to happen, but would like to see a way of updating the maps/data off cycle without a dvd update. e.g. pay a $30 subscrption service and have an interface into the pcmcia card slot.

9. Also Never going to happen, but an SDK like palm does that would allow developers to create their own software would be what everybody here wants and seems like it would he a huge selling point.

 

UMfan....Haven't seen you here before. Welcome! UMass alum here...long time ago, though.

 

Repecat, Thanks for the welcome. Picked up a new Silver Acura TL w/navi last week. It's been great so far. I just took it in to get my inspection sticker at the dealer and had good service, including a free car wash.

BTW: The UofM in my name stands for University of Michigan, not Mass, but I could see the confusion as I live in Boston.

 

Congrats on your purchase. You will love it. The navi should help you get around beantown. I wish I had navi when I lived in Boston, which was around the time of Sam Adams. lol BTW, the "make a U turn" instructive drives me nuts, as I'm always deviating from the chosen path.

 

How about a new database entirely, with chains that are actually put into the same category! I hate having to go through 3-4 categories just to find the location closest to me.

It'd be nice if there was some sort of customization as well. You should be able to add/modify destinations.

 

Have any of you guys called up alpine with your suggestions?

What kind of response did you get from them?

 

My experience with the navi is that the "points of interest" and addresses need to be more precise. The "points of interest seem to be around the area where they're supposed to be, which may be on the opposite side of the road or down the street. Another thing is that there are too many unverified roads. It has all the roads in my area, but alot of them are unverified. It knows all the names, so I don't see why they are like that. I think that only dirt roads should be unverified roads. The reason I say this is that when you program a route it says "Some of the routing my be missing or incomplete. Stop and view the route before precceding", and when going onto an unverified road it tells you to be cautious because you are entering an unverified zone. These statements are very annoying. Plus, It doesn't show a route on an unvrified road, so you don't know which way to go. Some roads also need to be fixed. My neighborhood street is way off. My only complaint with the navi is the mapping, which can be fixed with a new DVD. The system is fine though, with no complaints.

 

Ok, so I called up and suggested that they give us the ability to add a preferred street to the routing...and a Bridge/tunnel selector would be nice too

They said that they'll "pass it along" so hopefully they consider it in the nest release

Oddly enough, she said that my issue with the nav voice being vague on the freeway, should be sent to Navteq

 

Has anyone attempted to write Navteq about errors with street names or calculating routes? I found a place on their website to provide feedback and I was wondering if they ever get back to you or promise to fix the problems. Like others have said there is a street along the route to my office that is incorrectly named and for some reason the navi cannot find a route to my office. It tells me route incomplete. I wanted to tell Navteq about it and see if they can get this corrected. This street has been there for at least 3 years.

 

update.navteq.com and they usually email you back with their findings

 

Yeah I found that website and planned to submit a correction. I was just wondering if anyone had ever gotten a meaningful response and what they said. Do they really fix things or is it some form response saying "Thank you for writing us. We'll take your comment into consideration."

 

^I've recieved an email update for almost every time I fill out the form online, from Navteq.

I spoke to Olivia again today, and I gave her my suggestions about the system being so over-reliant on U-Turns for reroutes, and about the nav voice not being specific all the time when referring to freeway exits.

She also gave me a couple clues into how the navi people operate- they try to keep the new releases in line with the new model year veichle production... meaning that your suggestions will likely make it into next (calendar) year's navi dvd release, if you make the suggestion early enough.


Bottom line- call the order desk and ask to make a product update suggestion. If you get transfered to Olivia, you're likely talking to the right person

 

I actually did receive a reply to my email, but I really didn't understand the person's explanation. We'll see if the correction makes it into the next release. I'm not holding my breath as there are numerous inaccuracies with the roads here. The database is missing many roads that have been completed for years.

 

Like when I pull up in front of my house, press [Go Home], and have the voice resopnd with:
"Make U-Turn, Destination Is On The Left"


.
.
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Well, they should make the changed in the disk of Fall '06, since this year's new disk is likely now in production.


Anyway, the only way to get changes done to the map database in a timely manner is to contact Navteq.

Similarly, the only way to get useful new additions to our navi system is to call Alpine.

No, you can't add navtraffic to the TL nav system, but it'd be great if they added the Zagat ratings to our database

 

Birdview

 

I'm thinking about going back to my dealer and seeing if I can sit in an '06 and check the navi maps to see if any of the roads that I have problems with are corrected before I drop $200 on the new disc.

 

I'd like to see an "find nearest on route option" I want to find fast food along the road in the route, so I don't have to backtrack of scroll down the list for one thats on the way.