Comand frustration

[tall_jase]

Virgin blog here...

Just acquired a 06 C class **********e estate with DVD Comand system, yet can't seem to be able to enter a full postcode. From checking a few blogs its seems to be a failing on Merc's part, am I correct ? can this be sorted ? So far the Sat Nav's not a match for the tom tom. I don't want to be disappointed with a spanking new motor! Also, dim question here I guess, but does this system play DVD's ? It doesn't play when I put one in, and NO VIDEO is shown on the screen.

Thanks.

 

[television]

Hello and welcome the Comand takes the first half of the post code, then its just a matter of choosing the road and then the number, the directions are exceptionally good

 

[tall_jase]

So you have to know the full address then ? I liked the Tom Tom as you didn't need any further info other than the post code.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Chattonmill]

I put it against my tom tom on a test and the directions were identical, if anything the Merc Lady was a Tad more helpful.
You will have DVD ability if this was bought as an option in the first place.

 

[momomo]

I put it against my tom tom on a test and the directions were identical, if anything the Merc Lady was a Tad more helpful.

Tomtom have been working closely with Teleatlas for a long time now and have even tried to take over the company. Teleatlas provide the mapping and system for tomtom and if im correct Teleatlas also provide mapping for Mercedes comand systems which are avaliable on dvd. It would explain why they were so similar....

 

[raymont]

Routing is OK, once you've managed to get the destination in.

Incredibly cumbersome to enter comapred with previous car (Landrover D3) which had full post code and touch screen.

Designed around a 5 digit German post code I suspect. Bit arrogant to assume the german system is OK for other countries.

 

[jadefox]

I put it against my tom tom on a test and the directions were identical, if anything the Merc Lady was a Tad more helpful.
You will have DVD ability if this was bought as an option in the first place.

THE most frustrating thing is once you know the address you want it's just the same as TomTom, but if say you're going to a place which is on an industrial estate for instance which has no number, then it's a complete pain in the rear!

I wanted to go to my local furniture store; looked up the address on internet, no actual unit number, so all I had was the road name to go by - the road happened to be MILES and MILES long and went through about 2 towns - I got sent to the very far end of it - the actual place was on the opposite end f the road, but because I didn't know exactly where the shop was I had to drive like a complete muppet for miles very slowly whilst looking out for the shop!

The most frustrating about it all is that the technology is there so why not just use it?! I am guessing it's because the Germans aren't thinking of anyone outside of their own postcode style or area? Dunno, but I do find it very frustrating - especially because I am so rubbish at directions!!

 

[Shude]

I wanted to go to my local furniture store; looked up the address on internet, no actual unit number, so all I had was the road name to go by - the road happened to be MILES and MILES long and went through about 2 towns - I got sent to the very far end of it - the actual place was on the opposite end f the road, but because I didn't know exactly where the shop was I had to drive like a complete muppet for miles very slowly whilst looking out for the shop!

If I've got an address from the internet I often take a quick look at google maps to see what the road looks like. If the building is next to a junction then you can tell COMAND this, you can even choose your destination based on a map and put the crosshairs on the exact point you want to be navigated to, helpful if the road has a memorable turn or shape to it.

 

[raymont]

I've had the same problem as Jadefox and have solved it using the methods Shude has described.

The user intereface for Command Navigation and associated functions (telephone, CDC etc.) is truly dismal, not at all intuitive. They should get someone from Apple to do it for them.

For the money charged it should be much better than something costing a couple of hundred from Halfords.

A new DVD costs as much as a complete Tomtom system.

Really impressed with my car in general , but Command is just not good enough.

 

[Rory]

I've had the same problem as Jadefox and have solved it using the methods Shude has described.

Me too - I use postcode in MultiMap to find the the location, then use the map function in COMAND to find the same place, store it, then switch to navigation and recall the stored loacation from memory. How painful is all that!

My beef is that (at least in the V6.3 DVD I've got) about half the roads I look for aren't in the index. They're on the map, but just not in the index.

 

[davidjpowell]

I'm lucky, my mobile has Sat Nav built in. So when Command just can't cut it it is Tom Tom to the rescue. I have found Command struggles with identical road names in very small areas as well, especially if you do not know the area yourself that well.

David

 

[Rory]

I'm lucky, my mobile has Sat Nav built in. So when Command just can't cut it it is Tom Tom to the rescue. I have found Command struggles with identical road names in very small areas as well, especially if you do not know the area yourself that well.

David

Yep - I've found myself in the wrong place a couple of times - gets very confusing when I ring up the customer to ask where they are and they're describing stuff that's completely different to what I can see!

I find COMAND pulls up district or area names from the first part of the postcode that often aren't part of the address I've got.

 

[clegsr]

In the States, if you search for the address on the internet via Google Maps you can miss out the hand keying part in your car as you can send the address directly to the COMAND unit via tele-aid using searchandsend

..seems quite cool

 

[whitenemesis]

COMAND-APS will not play DVD movies

 

[Chattonmill]

COMAND-APS will not play DVD movies

But if you have the DVD player option in the comand unit it will.............

 

[Rory]

In the States, if you search for the address on the internet via Google Maps you can miss out the hand keying part in your car as you can send the address directly to the COMAND unit via tele-aid using searchandsend

..seems quite cool

That certainly is cool! That would be a Godsend for me.

 

[fredfloggle]

In the States, if you search for the address on the internet via Google Maps you can miss out the hand keying part in your car as you can send the address directly to the COMAND unit via tele-aid using searchandsend

..seems quite cool

If you have to use google, then you may as well print out a map.

 

[television]

And one would not need the dog anymore

 

[BTB 500]

Mother-in-law is in the doghouse today ... she accidentally snapped their COMAND disk in half! I think they'd whipped it out to play an audio CD (rather than messing about with the changer). She had it on her lap, leaned forwards to get something, crack!

Replacement (in Germany) is 210 Euros which is interesting ... cheaper than in the UK?