RX8 XTC

well soon am getting the Whole Navi SYSTEM and am Wondering is it going to be Easy task or a hard One and if any one did it , Knows how or can Help me in completing it any help will be great.

thank you.

zoom44

where are you going to put the gps sensor thingies?

epitrochoid

probably very hard...the nav system has alot of sensors and links into other systems like the radio and dsc system...not to mention mounting the LCD and controls into a non-nav interior.

misterwilson007

may the force be w/u........you're gonna need it..........

G8rboy

... not to mention hooking into the vehicle speed sensors and yaw sensor (gyro), which is assuming you have DSC and a gyro to start with. It would be easier to sell the car and buy one with Navi...

EvilBostonRX8

So then the question must be asked, why is it so goddamn awful to retrofit this vehicle with ANYTHING? Its not only thenav system, its the Sirius radio, any type of audio mod, appearance package parts, etc. Mazda designed this car almost so that if you didn't get an option at the dealer when new, you can't put it in down the road.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

That isn't really true at all.

The apearance package is easy to install (I did it myself in just a couple of hours with hand tools) and the stereo isn't hard to mod, it just requires some skills and an understanding of how it is different from other systems. Installing Sirius is real easy - I put and XM unit in an RX-8 just a few months ago and it took about an hour.

The NAV system is dificult because all of the wiring needs to be done while the interior is still stripped of all its soft parts.
Some of the wiring may actually be in place on a non-nav car, Check the wiring diagrams.
In any event, it is going to be an involved installation if not difficult.

Dlrosie

Go buy a hand-held GPS. Not quite the same effect but much easier and less expensive.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Theonly advice I couldtell you is that you need to find someone who has an Rx8 w/the nav system installed that would allowyou to use their vehicle as a visual reference whileyou are attempting to install everyhting --including opening **** up to figure out where everything goes. PersonallyI dont think this nav system is worth it comparedto other nav systems thatare currently available in other cars thathave much more sophisticated systems.

RX8 XTC

this seems to be a lil near Impassible to do from what am reading Except that i can tray and see how much it will cost me if i asked the tech at the Dealer to install it for me if its even possible.

V_for_velocity

Rand-McNally sells good maps . . .

beachdog

From everything that I have read, a $700 aftermarket gps does more, is easier to use, has readily updated maps and features and can be used in whatever car you are in. The only advantage of the OEM unit is that it has a big screen and is built in. If those two things mean that much to you, buy a car with the factory NAV from the start.

If you want a starting point, check out the Garmin 2610.

For everything you would ever want to know about gps, check out:
http://gpsinformation.net

epitrochoid

yeah if i were you, i'd put the time and money into a nice single din pod to go on top of the dash. put an AVIC N1 in there...then you get a better NAV interface, DVD capability, etc

An8inLAS

Dude,
Get a Tom Tom Go Nav portable nav system. It has a rechargable built in battery so if you are just tooling around town you can use the removable and articulated windshield mount to put it in the car w/o any wires. If you are going long distances, then the windshield mount has a place to plug in the charger. Maps are damned accurate (w/i 50 feet of actual position) and they have the whole US in their data base. Voice prompting is available or you can shut the bitchin' Betty off. Best of all it uses a touch sensitive screen so it is easy to program and access the feaures. Save the aggro about putting in a "stock" system. Plus you can always take it with you in other cars or if you are on vacation and using a rental car.
JMHO

G8rboy

Keep in mind there are a lot of benefits to an integrated Nav solution- having the connection to the speed sensors, steering wheel, and gyro give you the ability to stay on track in areas where the GPS coverage is spotty (high trees, city buildings, etc).

beachdog

Some of the portables have gyros and accelorometers to keep track when losing satellite contact.

To me, the BIGGEST drawback to the oem unit is that the maps are not regularly updated and might never be. Most of the aftermarket units are compatible with various mapping technology from several vendors. Want an update, take your pick.

I don't have the oem NAV, but from what I have seen, all of them are still runiing the same maps as serial #1. That's 2+ years old.

G8rboy

I do wish Navteq and Mazda would get their **** together and get an updated disc out... the slightly older maps don't affect me too much, but I suppose if I travelled a lot t would be a bigger deal. It would be nice to have control over the data sources.

Do the portables have points of interest in their database? like find the nearest ATM, golf course, gas station, mexican restaurant, etc. ? That's one of the biggest use of the Nav for me, since I moved to the area 2 years ago.

Overport

If you have very good technical skills with that kind of thing, then go for it. I'm not saying it will be easy for you though. The navigation system has alot of sensors and links into the radio and the Dynamic Stability Control system among other things. Also, mounting the LCD screen and its controls into an interior thats not properly equipped for it will make for a daunting task.

Good luck.

beachdog

The units that are designed specifically for car use like Garmin StreetPilot, Magellan Roadmate, TomTom Go and others all have points of interest.

BlueRenesis82

get the mazdaspeed gauge cluster instead

NomisR

My biggest beef with my navi is that it's not touch screen, how come my friend's mini van's navi's touch screen and mine's not! Also, Mazda Japan seems to give you various Navigation options, why don't we get those?

An8inLAS

Luke, go portable. My portable is never any more than about 50 feet off from where you actually are. The average error of civilian GPS is 20 some feet. And since this isn't a Range Rover and I don't plan to do much off roading, the moving map stays right where I am. With POI (points of interest).

RX8 XTC

well since i have Every thing to make it or you may say convert it to a navi their is nothing much i can do now except Install it. I am sure their is much more use of the navi in the up coming days Iv seen some navi's display Some gauges for some water or oil temp or something like that this is not the reason why i want to install it i just want the OEM factory navi. Like every one has said it is not the BEST in the world but its good enough for Me to Use and Install other things in the future.

JeRKy 8 Owner

RX8 XTC areyou going to install it yourself orhave a shop do it for you

epitrochoid

there is quite a bit of value in the OEM system...mainly that you can actually seek a return on it when you sell the car, but also because of the accelerometers.

besides, every soccer mom minivan has some crappy circuit city DVD rig these days...the OEM setup is so clean.