MEGAREDS

I could not get the GPS Vehicle Info screen to display real time information. The speed function stayed at 0km/hr and the direction never changed from due North. This is a bummer, because this screen might actually get used if it were available to me.

MEGAREDS

The wiring check screen was by far my favorite, although I've not checked it out to see if it runs real-time as the car rolls. The icons do change, however, as the lights are turned on, parking break is set, etc...

MEGAREDS

Lots of information available on version, update status, etc., as well as a running clock of the NAV's operation.

MEGAREDS

I was very interested that the NAV seems to be receiving radio signals (as opposed to GPS signals). Is it perhaps sending its data by radio to the computer? If so there are some great possibilities for uploading and downloading data, although I bet it is encrypted...

8_wannabe

Cool stuff. Why would the nav system display info on the cars lights? Does it cause a change in voltage that affects navigation? I'm sure they didn't put it here just for fun...

MEGAREDS

I also checked the license agreement that came with the system. Unfortunately, one of the conditions of the license is that the user not hook up any type of external device to the system, meaning that any useful hack has to be licensed by NavTech or Panasonic. These type of agreements tick me off, but there ya go... check your owner's manual for details.

There's lots of other screens... I've just posted the highlights.

MEGAREDS

The screen dims dramatically when the lights are turned on, to avoid glare for night driving.

8_wannabe

oh yeah, duh...

Slick_Advanced

From what limited things I did with the system it was cool. But, that is limited to "find nearest resaturant/gas station". If you keep it basic then it should be cool.

5Gen_Prelude

I'm betting this is the internal frequency used to communicate between the unit and the sensors, much like some trunk mounted CD changers send out a weak FM signal for communicating with the head unit.

8_wannabe

You're kidding, right!? You mean these aren't hardwired?

5Gen_Prelude

Hell if I know. That frequency is often used in CD changers though

MEGAREDS

It's possible that only the GPS antenna is hardwired, but even that might not be. I can imagine how much simpler it would be to do an install if all the necessary sensors just broadcasted their information and the NAV or received the info directly from the car's ECU. If anyone wants to experiment, I suppose it would be possible to change the frequency and see if the NAV unit can navigate or identify the status of the headlights or parking brake.

By the way, I played with some of these screens last night while driving, and none of them seem useful while moving. The speed graph on the wiring page does move interactively, but it's jerky. It's also in that crazy Canadian "KM/HR" measurement.

8_wannabe

LOL, damn canadians. They gotta do everything weird.

5Gen_Prelude

Yeah, like conforming to rest of the world...

TheDosDog

2nd Backdoor 2 fwd 2 back

quaggy

3rd secret menu: 3 fwd, 3 back, 1 fwd, 1 back

boothguy

The nav sys in the 8 does have some nice features, but I'm not crazy about it always putting the car's position a little short of the intersection where you're s'posed to be turning. It also has given me a wrong position for the house number I wanted on a street. Right street, wrong house - once by several hundred yards. This is something the nav system in my wife's I30 never did, nor even my $700 Garmin Streetpilot CM II

boothguy

One other thing: I wish some of the backdoor features were available on the main screen. my Garmin Streetpilot CM II allows you to inset a window in the main screen that shows compass heading, speed and time. Since the speed and time are both calculated based on the satellite signals, they're dead accurate. You'd be surprised how often these three pieces of information are useful.

MEGAREDS

I suspect NavTech elected not to put that information on the NAV screen because it would contradict the speedometer and clock in the car. There has already been some discussion of how speedometers in the U.S. are deliberately set too fast - to avoid liability for the car manufacturer's for speeding tickets, I suppose (or worse). I don't think the clock in the RX-8 is tied to the NAV, so there would necessarily be a drifting apart of the clocks which would drive people crazy.

TheDosDog

Speaking of the Nav clock, does any one know how to set it. Mine is 1 hour fast.

Murphy

Change the option called DST (Daylight Saving Time) in the System Setup Menu. It moves the clock back/forward by 1 hour.

TheDosDog

Cool, Thanks

WVU RX8

I'm just learning mine after taking delivery of my new RX8 Saturday. It's absolutely amazing. Not just that it shows you exaactly where you are moving on a detailed map. Seems like science fiction has come alive, as you can pick a destination you want to go to by first entering the zip code, then telling it the 1st letter of the street, and it will give you a list of all streets in that zip code the 1st letters you enter. Then you go on to enter the street number, press enter, and a few seconds later it will show a blue path on the as to how to get there.

So you start out on your drive. When on a high-speed highway, a voice will alert you that "turn right half mile", and so forth until you are there. I've still got more to learn about, but it's more than I could have imagined. You'll enjoy it, especially if you go places that are unfamiliar.

MEGAREDS

Thanks quaggy. That's the best one yet, IMO. There is a "record" feature here and what looks like a way to hook the system up to another computer.