Does anyone know how I can improve the search results that are returned on my Navigation System (DVD version 3.60) so that when I do a search on a name of a place, I don't just get "exact" results?

For example, if I do a search for "Black Walnut", I want to see results that include:

"Black Walnut Cafe"
"The Black Walnut"
“Walnut Café”
...etc

…and if I live in Dallas, TX, I just want to see results that are in my vicinity, or at maximum, my State, not places way out in Alaska somewhere...

Is it even possible, or do I have to wait for some future version of the DVD?

I recently purchased a Garmin NUVI 360 pocket-sized personal travel assistant, and it does a much better job displaying relevant results that match my query.

Please help! Thank you!

 

You are not alone.


NAVI system shows McDonalds at 2300 miles away!

Navigation software is poorly designed

"how-to" navi question

 

Thank you for the links. It seems like this is a major issue, but it doesn't look like they are paying attention to fixing it. At least I didn't find it in the next DVD release 3.70.

I wonder what it would take to make it a top priority for them...?

 

I find it amazing that people have been complaining about this for a while now, and nothing has been done to improve it. I also agree with those who have said that it's a software issue/bug. An improvement in the SQL script (or whatever it uses to query the database) needs to be administered before any future DVDs are released so that the search narrows down the results intelligently.

Unless they are using a database engine that does not lend itself to queries that have some sort of "sounds like" or "contains" script (which I don't believe is the case, or at least I hope not!), it should not be too difficult to fix. This MUST be at the top of their priority enhancemnt list!

I don't believe I should change my 2005 TL to get a better navigation system!

 

Sadly that's what it comes down to.. changing the car, or trying to swap in the newer nav unit. In 2005 the TLs nav was awesome (I still love my nav), but I like the 07 - 08 systems better; in 09 they'll probably go with the Accord setup which is no longer touch screen - just how things work

 

Even if they fixed SEARCH, it would only solve part of the Navi POI issues.

POI's are subject to:

- Random Spelling Variations - sometimes it's WalMart other times it's Wal-Mart, and
- Inconsistent or inaccurate catagorization - Sometimes WalMart is in Shopping Category X, other times in Shopping Category Y.

So, even if search were done "right", you still might not find what you want; Unless the POI DB is corrected.

Also, I've noticed, that the distance used to calculate the "nearest" POI is distance as the crow flies. The actual route to get there may be significantly farther, especially if something like rivers or streams are between you and the POI.

 

and i thought it was just me trying to figure all this out. i am experiening the same thing with my TL. i also had an nuvi 350 and it did do a much better job. the other day my wife and i were traveling for a bit and i did a search for SEARS and it came up with every thing sears from VA to CA.

I just bought my 08 TL so i guess i have the latest software right?



Steve

 

Does anyone know what type of RDBMS (if that's even what it is. It could be Post-Relational DBMS) the NAVI system uses?

I know for sure that both Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle RDBMS systems, as well as others, use function and keyword scripts that allow you to work around spelling issues by using phonetic algorithms. So, based on your example, it wouldn't matter whether it's spelled "WalMart" or "Wal-Mart". Both would produce the same result, because verbally, they both sound the same.

I think the NAVI software lacks these already-in-existence advanced search capabilities that are almost essential in good database query software.

 

Do you have version 4.62? That's the latest version as of today, but it's only available to dealers.

See: https://store.alpine-usa.com/Acuradv.../naviorder.php. For a 2008 TL, it says:

"The fall 4.62 DVD release is currently available to dealers for 2008 vehicles only. A release for customer vehicles will be available early next year."

 

In one of those threads I linked there are tips on getting relavent results when seaching for nearby POI's.

Basically you use a broad catagory or take a bit of a crap shoot that you've got the right category, but my expereience is that it works pretty well. The narrower the categroy, the more likely you get questionable results (POI-wise).

Goes something like this:

Menu --> Find Places -->

Search Category --> All Shopping (or All Restaraunt, etc) -->

Begins with "WAL" --> Sort by Distance to Travel -->

Voila a list of all the nearby "WAL****" Stores -->

Select Item for Guidance Route


( ^^ that might not be exactly right, as I am sitting in front of my PC, not my TL).

 

yeah i do have that version..so i am good for a year.

thanks for the help