Voice recog: voice activated satnav

RichRob · 27th December 2006, 09:55

What is the general concensus on the voice activated sat nav etc

Anyone had any problems ?

Ancient Nerd · 27th December 2006, 11:02

Voice activation

Mostly this is pure gimmick. In practice it is quicker and more reliable to use the conventional controls. The main exception is for POIs that you use enough to justify learning the correct command. In my case Find nearest petrol station is 90% of my usage. The remaining 10% is Go home although mostly I use the manual controls even for that. The joke command is What is the time, which speaks the time that is permanently visible on the dash display.

General Satnav

Not a bad system overall but:

As with other OEM systems, you can't add POIs e.g. speed cameras
Supplied POIs are often of poor quality. I think Honda just licensed a few at random without bothering to look at the quality e.g.
- Restaurant data is totally useless. My nearest Indian Restaurant is over 50 miles away, ignoring the hundreds that are closer. There is no fast food in the UK - nearest McDonalds is in Calais!
- There is a non-existent Honda dealer within a mile of home. I'll use them for my next imaginary service.
- There is a petrol station shown within a mile of home that has never existed.
Some of the navigation options are quirky, although not a problem once you've read the manual carefully and used it for a bit.
Some route finding is really quirky. For example, I have a local route where instead of turning left onto a busy A road, I am told to turn right (across the traffic) and then to do a 360 degree turn at a roundabout half a mile down the road.
The map display is really basic. If you are used to the 3D view given by TomTom, then you will find nothing as effective here. If you are expecting the general geographic information provided on VDO Dayton systems (e.g. urban areas, rivers, lakes etc) then mostly they aren't there.

On the other hand, coverage is good (full European maps), TMC data is provided by RAC/Trafficmaster - far from perfect, but much better than the alternative data provided by AA/ITIS.

Conclusion: if it comes as part of the car (EX), It's a good deal. If you have to pay for it as an optional extra, then buy a Tomtom

RichRob · 27th December 2006, 11:06

Thanks for the feed back.

pjelsworth · 27th December 2006, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichRob

What is the general concensus on the voice activated sat nav etc

Anyone had any problems ?

I'm not sure whether your main interest is the voice controls or the sat nav. As Ancient Nerd says, there are a few quirks with the sat nav, but in general it works well; much better than I had on my previous Renault.
I actually don't find the voice control a gimmick, and I believe it is intended as a safety feature, taking away the need to remove your hands from the steering wheel.
Some of the voice commands are useful; as mentioned "Go home" is good as is finding petrol stations and dealers. Also "traffic event list" is one I use a bit and some of the non sat nav commands such as "CD play" are easier than scrolling through the mode options on the steering wheel or leaning over to find the tiny CD button on the head unit

3rd Honda · 27th December 2006, 17:58

I would agree with pretty much everything Ancient Nerd says. I have a similar local route where tries to make you go the wrong way then turn 360 degrees around a roundabout!

I cannot comment on the 3D view on others as I have no experience of them. I also use the manual entry - and that works well, rather than the very variable voice control.

pcr · 27th December 2006, 21:02

For me voice activation is a pure gimmick and never gets used. It there to compete with other cars.

AubreyS · 27th December 2006, 21:26

I agree with what you say about the fitted sat nav, Ancient Nerd. I also have a Tom Tom 510 and there is no comparison. The Tom Tom is by far superior.

Having a fitted sat nav in the car was one of the reasons that I went for the EX. If I knew then what I know now, I think I would have gone for the ES instead.

I think Honda should produce a much more up-to-date DVD and issue it either free or as a very cheap replacement for something that I regard as very poor.

We can but hope.

DUNCAN · 27th December 2006, 22:21

I also think honda should replace the dvd for a more up to date one. why should we pay for it again,

RichRob · 27th December 2006, 22:55

Yes so do I. I wonder how often they do issue updates ?

czechplastik · 29th December 2006, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichRob

Yes so do I. I wonder how often they do issue updates ?

Updated DVD's, the 06/07 disc is supposedly available, have to pay for it though!

czechplastik · 29th December 2006, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ancient Nerd

- There is a non-existent Honda dealer within a mile of home. I'll use them for my next imaginary service.

Probably do a better job!

RichRob · 29th December 2006, 23:16

Are the poi better on the new disc ?

AubreyS · 30th December 2006, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Updated DVD's, the 06/07 disc is supposedly available, have to pay for it though!

Well, I won't be paying for it, I shall use my Tom Tom instead. I can't ever see the Honda sat nav being better anyway unless they have made some drastic improvements.

czechplastik · 30th December 2006, 09:57

The Honda has its advantages, big screen fairly good features, i don't need to use it very often but hasn't let me down yet.

pjelsworth · 30th December 2006, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechplastik

The Honda has its advantages, big screen fairly good features, i don't need to use it very often but hasn't let me down yet.

I agree. This has drifted onto the same topic as a previous thread on built-in vs add-on. The conclusion there was that there are advantages to both; the built in more secure (less likely to be nicked) and integrated with the car whereas the add-on is cheaper and more easily updated/replaced.

czechplastik · 30th December 2006, 10:40

Each to their own PJ!

pjelsworth · 30th December 2006, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Each to their own PJ!

I ws agreeing with you

I have the EX

czechplastik · 30th December 2006, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjelsworth

I ws agreeing with you

I have the EX

I know you were, i was talking about the non-believers!

RichRob · 30th December 2006, 14:03

Does anyone know who we could contact at Honda to ask questions with regard the sat nav system and future up grades etc ?

I would rather use the on board system than spend even more money on a Tom Tom especially if Honda have or are planning to re vamp the system in use at the moment.

Type S Bournemouth · 30th December 2006, 15:33

i cant see how anyone thinks the tomtom is better. I have a tomtom 910 with the latest software and its years behind. It frustrates me no end.

27th December 2006, 09:55	#1 (permalink)
RichRob Valve Cap Join Date: 26th December 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	voice activated satnav What is the general concensus on the voice activated sat nav etc Anyone had any problems ? Last edited by RichRob; 27th December 2006 at 10:22.

27th December 2006, 11:02	#2 (permalink)
Ancient Nerd Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 5th May 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 347 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Voice activation Mostly this is pure gimmick. In practice it is quicker and more reliable to use the conventional controls. The main exception is for POIs that you use enough to justify learning the correct command. In my case Find nearest petrol station is 90% of my usage. The remaining 10% is Go home although mostly I use the manual controls even for that. The joke command is What is the time, which speaks the time that is permanently visible on the dash display. General Satnav Not a bad system overall but: As with other OEM systems, you can't add POIs e.g. speed cameras Supplied POIs are often of poor quality. I think Honda just licensed a few at random without bothering to look at the quality e.g. Restaurant data is totally useless. My nearest Indian Restaurant is over 50 miles away, ignoring the hundreds that are closer. There is no fast food in the UK - nearest McDonalds is in Calais! There is a non-existent Honda dealer within a mile of home. I'll use them for my next imaginary service. There is a petrol station shown within a mile of home that has never existed. Some of the navigation options are quirky, although not a problem once you've read the manual carefully and used it for a bit. Some route finding is really quirky. For example, I have a local route where instead of turning left onto a busy A road, I am told to turn right (across the traffic) and then to do a 360 degree turn at a roundabout half a mile down the road. The map display is really basic. If you are used to the 3D view given by TomTom, then you will find nothing as effective here. If you are expecting the general geographic information provided on VDO Dayton systems (e.g. urban areas, rivers, lakes etc) then mostly they aren't there. On the other hand, coverage is good (full European maps), TMC data is provided by RAC/Trafficmaster - far from perfect, but much better than the alternative data provided by AA/ITIS. Conclusion: if it comes as part of the car (EX), It's a good deal. If you have to pay for it as an optional extra, then buy a Tomtom

30th December 2006, 14:03	#19 (permalink)
RichRob Valve Cap Join Date: 26th December 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sat Nav DVD UPDATES Does anyone know who we could contact at Honda to ask questions with regard the sat nav system and future up grades etc ? I would rather use the on board system than spend even more money on a Tom Tom especially if Honda have or are planning to re vamp the system in use at the moment. Last edited by RichRob; 30th December 2006 at 14:08.

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This thread is about: voice activated satnav, it's in Electronics at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; What is the general concensus on the voice activated sat nav etc Anyone had any problems ?...

27th December 2006, 11:06	#3 (permalink)
RichRob Valve Cap Join Date: 26th December 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the feed back.

27th December 2006, 17:58	#5 (permalink)
3rd Honda Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 24th July 2006 Location: Tewkesbury Posts: 325 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would agree with pretty much everything Ancient Nerd says. I have a similar local route where tries to make you go the wrong way then turn 360 degrees around a roundabout! I cannot comment on the 3D view on others as I have no experience of them. I also use the manual entry - and that works well, rather than the very variable voice control.

27th December 2006, 21:02	#6 (permalink)
pcr Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th September 2006 Location: Shropshire Posts: 830 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	For me voice activation is a pure gimmick and never gets used. It there to compete with other cars.

27th December 2006, 21:26	#7 (permalink)
AubreyS Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 12th August 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 316 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree with what you say about the fitted sat nav, Ancient Nerd. I also have a Tom Tom 510 and there is no comparison. The Tom Tom is by far superior. Having a fitted sat nav in the car was one of the reasons that I went for the EX. If I knew then what I know now, I think I would have gone for the ES instead. I think Honda should produce a much more up-to-date DVD and issue it either free or as a very cheap replacement for something that I regard as very poor. We can but hope.

27th December 2006, 22:21	#8 (permalink)
DUNCAN Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 7th June 2006 Location: tameside Posts: 316 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I also think honda should replace the dvd for a more up to date one. why should we pay for it again,

27th December 2006, 22:55	#9 (permalink)
RichRob Valve Cap Join Date: 26th December 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes so do I. I wonder how often they do issue updates ?

29th December 2006, 23:16	#12 (permalink)
RichRob Valve Cap Join Date: 26th December 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Are the poi better on the new disc ?

30th December 2006, 09:57	#14 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,492 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Honda has its advantages, big screen fairly good features, i don't need to use it very often but hasn't let me down yet.

30th December 2006, 10:40	#16 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,492 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Each to their own PJ!

30th December 2006, 15:33	#20 (permalink)
Type S Bournemouth Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 3rd October 2006 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 958 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i cant see how anyone thinks the tomtom is better. I have a tomtom 910 with the latest software and its years behind. It frustrates me no end.