Add on sat nav units are naff

[Shude]

Does anyone know if it is possible to download a list of "known accident blackspots" into the Comand unit?

It's possible, but so far seems pretty unlikely.

If someone busts open the POI database on the disc then you can technically put anything in there.

EDIT:

I should add that the inspector-gadget look is popular among sales-reps and white-van-men because no-one wants to add the £2k to their commercial or company car tax liability. IMHO it looks a bit cheap when you see a shiny new executive saloon with a small silver box glued to the screen, most noticable at night when the car appears to have a bright, white square hovering above the dashboard

 

[wongl]

Done for BMW sat nav - as additonal POI

It's possible, but so far seems pretty unlikely.
If someone busts open the POI database on the disc then you can technically put anything in there.

This has already been done for one of the BMW factory fitted SatNav click here (http://www.zen102337.zen.co.uk/nav/addingpoi.htm) for the details of this "open" project and how they did it. (The camera maps were added as an overlay as additional/upgraded POI). It wasn't particularly difficult - well at least once the group determined which of the "root" files needed to be hacked to add the new POI files!

I seem to remember there was some talk about doing it for the Merc Command SatNav, but I couldn't find any progress on this (and haven't looked recently), presumably due to a lack of interest from the readers of what is an essentially a BMW forum. Maybe it belongs here? Any Merc hackers out there willing?

I would, but I have cut any embedded software code for over 7 years, not that this matter as 1) It is almost certainly similar to the BMW, and b) I don't have a command for my W202 (mainly because I am not brave enough to cut-up the dash in order to fit one as per the howto!).

 

[glojo]

We are all in agreement about the costs of upgrade DVD's, but we must all realise that this is very much a technological age. The new S-class I believe has a new hard-drive based system? I wonder how long it will be before we can link a hard-drive COMAND system to the mobile telephone and then download new 'POI'

It does get tiring hearing folks describe the COMAND as JUST a navigation system!! Shude has mentioned some of the other options which make it an option that is worth considering.

For those that might be considering this as an option there is a member on this forum that is capable of offering this service. Excellent bloke, with an excellent reputation.

John

 

[Shude]

This has already been done for one of the BMW factory fitted SatNav click here (http://www.zen102337.zen.co.uk/nav/addingpoi.htm) for the details of this "open" project and how they did it. (The camera maps were added as an overlay as additional/upgraded POI). It wasn't particularly difficult - well at least once the group determined which of the "root" files needed to be hacked to add the new POI files!

I seem to remember there was some talk about doing it for the Merc Command SatNav, but I couldn't find any progress on this (and haven't looked recently), presumably due to a lack of interest from the readers of what is an essentially a BMW forum. Maybe it belongs here? Any Merc hackers out there willing?

On the same thread we already looked at the discs and found it looks totaly different to the BMW ones, that's the basis for my earlier comments

 

[Rory]

The new S-class I believe has a new hard-drive based system? I wonder how long it will be before we can link a hard-drive COMAND system to the mobile telephone and then download new 'POI'

This is MB we're talking about, so it will be a *very* *very* long time.

It does get tiring hearing folks describe the COMAND as JUST a navigation system!! Shude has mentioned some of the other options which make it an option that is worth considering.

What else will it do? The built in phone can work without COMAND

For MB, it's a business thing - they must make an absolute fortune on the COMAND systems that are bought (and the ugrade DVD's). Guessing at the numbers: halving the price might cut their profit by 75%. There might be some saving in the increased volume but they'd have to sell 4 times as many to make as much money as before.

 

[glojo]

What else will it do? The built in phone can work without COMAND

Hi Rory,
I'm a bit 'tetchy' today so hopefully your question is one of curiosity. The manual for the E-class COMAND is only in English and comprises of 212 numbered pages. The radio and all its facilities are part of the system, DVD films, Address book and all the other telephone options, of course there is also Mp3 displays. The actual alphabetical index is eleven pages in length so telling you what it can do would be a very lengthy process and if I were totally honest..... I am still learning about all the different things it can do. I am NOT trying to sell this feature, it is very much a horses for courses thing. I like the idea of a portable system, but I personally have made a different choice. We have COMAND in the car and a Pioneer DVD system in the 'stretched limo'. I do like the idea of a portable system and for anyone that is a high mileage user, then the ability to update 'points of interest' can be a licence saver

If you have any particular query about the 211 DVD COMAND system then please feel free to ask.

Regards,
John

 

[calum]

hi John,
The manual for the E-class COMAND is only in English and comprises of 212 numbered pages. The radio and all its facilities are part of the system, DVD films, Address book and all the other telephone options, of course there is also Mp3 displays.

Yes, but I think the point is that many - although not all - those options are available at much less price, some as standard options (e.g. radio, MP3 CD player)

I liked the COMAND in my W211, but now that's gone back, I had to investigate something for my wife's W169, for when I drive it Braybrookes reckoned it would be £2K+ to add COMAND.

I got the Garmin nuvi 360 for £400. It has full voice prompts, and will read the names of streets, which COMAND can't. It speaks Bluetooth to my Nokia phone - no costly pre-wiring needed - and will access its address book, and dial. Full integration with POIs, just like COMAND.

The POI format is open, and POI databases are available on the internet, or you can create your own. Garmin updates their maps (which are the same ones that COMAND uses: Navteq) for £75. The unit comes with all Europe to street level.

It supports TMC (althugh need to buy an optional extra receiver). The unit in general is much more configurable than COMAND, although the screen is smaller, of course; 4" diag. The unit is very portable: about 15m thick, perfect pocket size.

The Garmin has European EGNOS satellite (WAAS) reception for improved precision, to below 10 feet accuracy. COMAND doesn't, I tihnk.

Astonishingly, given that the COMAND has a gyro, the Garmin - which doesn't - seems to be much more accurate. No "position lag". Perhaps that's EGNOS in action?

The routing supports postcodes *and* street numbers, and the latter is amazing: it pinpoints my house precisely, just from a street number.

The Garmin plays MP3s, talking books (from Audible.com), and also acts as a JPEG viewer for your photos, using an internal 2GB flash, and an external SD card slot. It has available software for multi-lingual dictionaries and phrasebooks, and guidebooks, with voice support.

And it's one fifth of the price. Not bad

Downsides? No DVD. I don't see the point of viewing DVD films in car, as a driver, especially when it's disabled by default, but I liked to have an enormous DVD MP3. Still, I can have 2GB of MP3 on the Garmin, via the SD card, so that's half as good, almost.

I really liked COMAND very much. I love the Garmin.

 

[Rory]

I've got COMAND in a W203 (I bought the car 5 mths old) and Calum's thoughts accord exactly with mine.
It's 'majority' function is as a Sat Nav, and it really doesn't even do that very well, or very completely.

 

[glojo]

I really liked COMAND very much. I love the Garmin.

Hi Calum
Nice specifications but I got lost reading the different items. Is it a DVD navigation system? Or is it seperate CD's? If it is CD based then how many would you need for the equivalent coverage? Price wise it is a clear choice, but from a price point of view how can anyone justify what they have?

Braybrooks are not the best of folks to quote on prices, did you obtain a quote from Alfie and if so was it as extortionate? Is there much difference between the C-class COMAND and the E class regarding features? I totally agree about the Video, plus we do not even have the TV feature in our COMAND.

Of course the COMAND has navigation and some folks mistakenly always refer to this as its main function. I put this down to lack of knowledge rather than anything else. I say this simply because we are one of the few countries that have the full blown COMAND with the navigation OPTION as standard?? In other words most other countries can have COMAND without having the optional navigational upgrade, some members like to accuse me of making things up but as usual the truth is out there In this country we simply tend not to look at the bigger picture?

It's 'majority' function is as a Sat Nav, and it really doesn't even do that very well, or very completely..

I would put my house on the fact that the main usage of COMAND in this country might actually be the radio\hi-fi??

In the UK COMAND stands for...... Cockpit Management and Navigation Display, yet everywhere else it is ....... Cockpit Management And Display. No mention what soever of the navigation system??

Again I am NOT advocating the COMAND option, in fact if you really want the system on the 211 to work in the way Calum outlines then I am told that Linguatronic offers greater pin point accuracy. I can neither confirm or deny this as I do NOT have this option so it is NOT a fact, but I was told it will accept full postcode (or was it street numbers??) either way it is even more expense and my Pioneer navigation certainly offers differing options including voice control, but no telephone interface.

John

 

[garystu1965]

I've got COMAND in a W203 (I bought the car 5 mths old) and Calum's thoughts accord exactly with mine.
It's 'majority' function is as a Sat Nav, and it really doesn't even do that very well, or very completely.

What the hell are you talking about ? It works perfectly.

 

[fuzzer]

im sure like a few of you , ive had both.

Built in ones are great , but too expencive.

The latest tom tom units are every bit as good and fast as built in DVD systems. Ive got a tom tom 910 and it absolutely rocks!! Hard drive is like lightning at re routing.

Has built in ipod control , built in bluetooth hands free ,built in blackspot and TMC and a remote control and all for £429

Now , if that doesnt make comand obsolete , then i don't know what does. The ugly sucker on the windscreen is just the general public not being imaginitive. Ive built a custom , portable dashboard mount for mine. No sucker marks.

 

[Rory]

What the hell are you talking about ? It works perfectly.

It *seems* to work fine, if you actually already know where you're going, and you're just using it for fun.

However the lack of full post-code input is just ridiculous. To pick up on John's point, why on earth would having Linguatronic make any difference?

It also lags (I know there's some disagreement about this, but mine lags, and other - like calum - say their's did too) so navigating around a totally unknown place (as I did in Cambridge recently) can be fraught as it keeps missing turns.

 

[uumode]

It *seems* to work fine, if you actually already know where you're going, and you're just using it for fun.

However the lack of full post-code input is just ridiculous. It also lags (I know there's some disagreement about this, but mine lags, and other - like calum - say their's did too) so navigating around a totally unknown place (as I did in Cambridge recently) can be fraught as it keeps missing turns.

My system also lacks post code input (probably because it's European geared, and not all regions have post codes maybe). My main gripe with my system is it can't find retail / industrial parks, large office buildings, or industrial units which don't have a street numbers - is a post code based system any better?

It's also fairly dumb in that you HAVE to specify the city, then the street name. Would be handy to be able to specify the street name and choose the town.

 

[sym]

Ive built a custom , portable dashboard mount for mine.

Pics ?

 

[andrewcliffe]

I use TomTom on my XDA Mini S mobile phone and a bluetooth gps sensor. Totally portable.

 

[Doodle]

Pics ?

Ditto...would be v. interested in this, as in the Integra the TomTom mount is nearly 2 feet away! Almost need binoculars to see it

 

[calum]

Garmin nuvi 360

hiya John,

Nice specifications but I got lost reading the different items. Is it a DVD navigation system? Or is it seperate CD's? If it is CD based then how many would you need for the equivalent coverage?

No, it's not CDs. It has an internal 2GB flash memory, and comes pre-loaded with all of Europe to street level. It also has an SD card slot. Map updates are provided on SD card, I believe, to be copied into the internal flash, and the SD slot can normally be used for MP3, talking books, JPEGs, extra maps, etc.

Braybrooks are not the best of folks to quote on prices, did you obtain a quote from Alfie

Ah, no, sorry, I didn't.

I would put my house on the fact that the main usage of COMAND in this country might actually be the radio\hi-fi??

I think there's the possiblity for confusion here. Whilst technically correct, I think the above misses the point. I'm assuming that in this thread we are discussing COMAND APS, not just COMAND. People don't spend 2K on an option just for the radio/hi-fi

In the UK COMAND stands for...... Cockpit Management and Navigation Display, yet everywhere else it is ....... Cockpit Management And Display. No mention what soever of the navigation system??

right, but we're talking about COMAND APS, aren't we?

Again I am NOT advocating the COMAND option, in fact if you really want the system on the 211 to work in the way Calum outlines then I am told that Linguatronic offers greater pin point accuracy.

I understood L*ic to be the voice control system for COMAND; I didn't think it actually changed any functionality?

 

[calum]

No, it's not CDs. It has an internal 2GB flash memory, and comes pre-loaded with all of Europe to street level.

By comparison, I see my v4.1 COMAND APS DVD has 1.6G of data.

 

[glojo]

I understood L*ic to be the voice control system for COMAND; I didn't think it actually changed any functionality?

Hi Calum,
Your unit certainly sounds the business, and hopefully one day!!!, one day Mercedes-Benz might come into the 21st century?

It is confusing to discuss the functionalities of the different Mercedes-Benz COMAND installations. As far as I am aware, the E-class COMAND that has DVD operation is the same externally world-wide??? We in the UK have as standard the navigation option, but it definitely is NOT a world wide standard, nor is the video option? To you and perhaps me, it might seem strange not to have this navigation option as standard, but folks are paid to make these decisions on what goes into what car and what goes to what country?? I can never understand why the 320CDI estate was never exported to the US, and as far as Americans were concerned Merdedes-Benz simply never made this model. Things are hopefully changing.

Regarding the Liguatronic function it is difficult for me to be catergoric on something I have no experience of, but.... An infrequent member of this forum is a gentleman called 'Oslo', he is an extremely knowledgeable chap, and someone whose opinions I hold in very high regard. He has Linguatronic and assures me that the system takes advantage of the FULL postcode unlike the basic system?? I certainly have no reason to doubt this, but I do know that my system will not accept the typed full code, it will go down to approximately four house numbers when plotting in a new address?? When checking last night it went down to 8 - 12 The High Street, Toytown!!! Our Pioneer system though accepts the full post code and is first class. I am NOT saying the COMAND comes anywhere near your excellent system and clearly there are numerous systems with far more bells and whistles on them.

I suppose COMAND is convienant, looks nice and has the clearly visible arrows that appear within the drivers vision?? Having nice, 3D birds eye view graphics are all very nice if you have a passenger, or you are stationary, but are they a distraction for a driver that might be unsure of their location and might look down to get a better idea of their location? I' m not sure on that issue?

John

 

[w124coupe]

I have Nav in the S211 and have a £245 Tomtom One from before.

Being a bit sad, I have set both up for a number of journeys and mostly they find the same route.

The Tomtom overall is far better, the biggest differences in usability are:

the lack of door-to-door nav in the built-in system - it gets you to the street but not to your destination. Tomtom does the door for both businesses (postcode) and houses (house number). Touch screen input is far better and faster too.

the ability to take your stored addresses, favourites etc with you in other cars and to other Tomtoms. The memory function in the S211 is pathetic by comparison.

the ability to add POIs (speed cameras, wifi spots, company locations etc) and then to easily find them by name, location, "nearest" etc.

the new Buddy system that allows you to "talk to" other Tomtoms inclusing sending destination data - used this yesterday to set up an impromptu meet at a remote pub.

Nav with TMC is very valuable and it would be great to see manufacturers support a built in version of Tomtom or the other leaders rather than taking £2k for systems whose functionality is 3 years behind the state of the art. I'm sure it would help them sell more cars!