Kenwood Navigation DVD v 2.2

[Zelidar]

I have an European 2004 H6 Subaru Legacy with a Kenwood Navigation
system (built-in). It came with DVD v 1.1 2003-2004 (86283AG011) and I
recently gave the newer version a try, V2.2 2004-2005.

What a disappointment. Althout bigger in raw data size (close to 700MB
more data) it did not include any of the latest road changes that I
know of here in Switzerland.

Upon the insertion of this new DVD it started by automatically (a
mandatory action) upgrading the internal Navigation software (Firmware
I assume) and I was expecting changes for the best but again,
disappointment. No new fonctions and, in the contrary, the 3D view I
had under V1.1 fully dissapeared. Still not possible to look up for the
next convenient place to stop before stopping due to the terribly
annoying speed controlled auto-disabling feature.

As anyone made a similar experience with this navigation system, what
was changed? I now consider going back to v1.1 hoping that it will be
possible. Glad I did not buy this costly update.

Zaid

 

[Zelidar]

Damn! Not a single reply on such a Subaru quality/feature issue! Am I
the only person around who somehow compared both these DVDs?

Hmmm! My next car should probably be chosen among the top ten most sold
ones (Toyota, Audi, etc...). At least the number of consumers to share
experiences together will be bigger.

Z.

 

[Zelidar]

Patience pays! This morning I stumbled accross one of the few Subaru
men who handles garantie cases of local dealers.

About the missing 3D view he told me that this year Subaru Japan did
not reach the same deal with Kenwood for the feature set of the
built-in navigation sytem. As a result (or punishment!?) the 3D view
option was removed for the v2.2.

I tried to install V1.1 back but without success and he confirmed me
that there is no known way to return to the older firmware.

Thus my advice: Subaru owners of the V1.1 firmware ('04 models)! Think
twice before upgrading your DVD.

Zaid

 

[tt]

Patience pays! This morning I stumbled accross one of the few Subaru
men who handles garantie cases of local dealers.

About the missing 3D view he told me that this year Subaru Japan did
not reach the same deal with Kenwood for the feature set of the
built-in navigation sytem. As a result (or punishment!?) the 3D view
option was removed for the v2.2.

I tried to install V1.1 back but without success and he confirmed me
that there is no known way to return to the older firmware.

Thus my advice: Subaru owners of the V1.1 firmware ('04 models)! Think
twice before upgrading your DVD.

Zaid

Hi Zelidar,

Good that you made this post, because I been looking around thinking we
did something wrong.

This is absolutely ridicules, we bought some Legacy 3.0.
The one we did test had a much more comprehensive functionality
including the Bird view (3D).

Now when we got there most expensive top of the line cars, they trimmed
the satnav down.

I don't know if you should laugh or cry, we went from very high
expectations to very irritated in no time.

I have asked around if there is a way to downgrade if you might get hold
of the older version but so far no luck.

-tt

 

[Body Roll]

I don't know if you should laugh or cry, we went from very high
expectations to very irritated in no time.

I have asked around if there is a way to downgrade if you might get hold
of the older version but so far no luck.

Buying a car with a built in nav system is a sheer idiocy exactly for
the reasons the
two of you described: you're tied to what the maker of the car is
offering.
Why anyone in their own mind buy something so complicated with no
maintenance plan in mind?
If the two of you haven't been such a pair of idiots you would've
either got

1) An aftermarket stand alone nav system that has a large user base.
(Even then there are reports saying that roadmate 760 is buggier
than 700.)

2) Used a laptop with a bluetooth GPS unit and suffered from
inconvenient
access to the nav functions thru the kayboard (but at least had
control over downgrading the
software to your liking).

Either way, don't blame the manufacturer. It was YOU who paid your
money for this
piece of crap. You did not do your homework: now it's time to pay the
price.
I have no sympathy for you whatsoever.

 

[tt]

Buying a car with a built in nav system is a sheer idiocy exactly for
the reasons the
two of you described: you're tied to what the maker of the car is
offering.
Why anyone in their own mind buy something so complicated with no
maintenance plan in mind?
If the two of you haven't been such a pair of idiots you would've
either got

1) An aftermarket stand alone nav system that has a large user base.
(Even then there are reports saying that roadmate 760 is buggier
than 700.)

2) Used a laptop with a bluetooth GPS unit and suffered from
inconvenient
access to the nav functions thru the kayboard (but at least had
control over downgrading the
software to your liking).

Either way, don't blame the manufacturer. It was YOU who paid your
money for this
piece of crap. You did not do your homework: now it's time to pay the
price.
I have no sympathy for you whatsoever.

Well, it's supposed to be one of the better on the market.
The other thing is the integration into the car, it's perfect when it's
from the manufacture of the car, but less mounted afterwards.

Other than that, you are right that normally a third party is better.

-tt

(and, no reason to be rude ever IMO ;-))

 

[Body Roll]

Well, it's supposed to be one of the better on the market.
The other thing is the integration into the car, it's perfect when it's
from the manufacture of the car, but less mounted afterwards.

Yes. But there is no way to upgrade that unless there is a
single/double din form
factor PC riding in there. Even if that was the case I wonder if there
is any
off the shelf software for PCs that does the same thing that the
dedicated nav systems do
(including support for touch screen, etc). Until that happens for
something as fast moving
target as a gps system I would not ever confine myself to a built in
system.
I have no money to waste. Complex elektroniks must be upgradeable in
both directions.

Other than that, you are right that normally a third party is better.

-tt

(and, no reason to be rude ever IMO ;-))

Well, my apologies. I should've toned down my reply quite a bit.
Anyhow, I hope you did not expect the upgraded firmware to cook you
breakfast in the morning
and bring in the groceries
As local yokels say if it ain't broken don't fix it ;-)