Sat Nav - Navigate to Long Lat

[D4D]

Hi,
Just a quick one, does anyone know if you can navigate to co-ordinates on the RNS315 ?

Does anyone have any info on maps updates and how we get hold of them ? Also when/if full postcode support is coming ?

[jonokimber]

I took my new Passat Estate 2011 into the retailer for a few niggles last week. I discussed that the RNS315 satnav was next to useless for use in the UK as you cannot enter full postcodes nor can you scroll the map and select a crosshair location as your destination.

The master technician who was looking after my other niggles said he thought he'd heard that the maps had been updated and now included full postcodes. He checked a bit further and indeed i did see a printout from their official 'tech library' describing this info.

There wasn't a specific part number just yet and there was a statement saying that no upgrades to V2 maps could be given under warranty. There will be a charge to pay and i think from the two article numbers i saw it is 70 pounds or 130 pounds approx, but dont quote me on that!

I am going in again next week probably and will hope to get some more news. Anyone have any suggestions for how to get this update for free? Can i just say the original system was not fit for purpose?

Oh, to answer your other question, you cant navigate to a lat / long.

Jono

[JonMarsh]

Have just taken receipt of Passat CC with RNS315 with MDI and DAB. It accepts full post codes (but no house number) and it can read vCard files from an SD card (giving the destination in Lat Long). I've only had to car since Thursday and have only tested the full postcode on two journeys (got me to within approx 30yds).

Will be playing with vCards this weekend and report back. If they work well, you can get the lat/long of the destinations on a PC (www.getlatlong.com), put them on an SD card and then load then into the RNS315.

[jonokimber]

Hi Jon, thanks for this info, very informative. I wonder if there is anything else we can put on the SD card and it will read it in, custom POI's would be good for speedcams etc. Can you see if you can find the version info on your satnav please? I'm wiondering if the SD card map update also updates the firmware in the satnav itself and i can see what mine is and compare it to yours. I'm going to speak to VW next week about getting mine upgraded as frankly it is awful right now.

I look forward to your next post.

Thanks

Jon

[JonMarsh]

Have had a quick look and it doesn't appear to be able to import POI's, just Destinations. Will investigate further.

Do you know where I find the version info? It's not obvious in the menus.

[jonokimber]

I thought I had seen an information screen with lots of info but I'm probably mistaken. I think I found the map info here though...


Sat nav

Nav menu
Setup button
Scroll to bottom
Navigation data basis
Show nav data basis info

I have western Europe W01


If you could at least confirm what map data you have that would be great. Could you also paste a couple of your lat long destinations here in the forum so I can see the format?

What file do they have to be in and what extension on the file?

I'll update how I get on at vw in the week.

thanks

Jon

[gold1640]

Drove to Sweden last week and used my Tomtom nav unit for directions - the built-in 315 was useful for showing locations of petrol stations and VW dealers.

VW would be far better integrating a Tomtom, like Renault - would be far more useful and cheaper than a built-in unit.

--
Ian

[D4D]

I have western Europe W01


If you could at least confirm what map data you have that would be great. Could you also paste a couple of your lat long destinations here in the forum so I can see the format?

What file do they have to be in and what extension on the file?

I second this !

I have the same version map info, I can't find any where to import any data let alone vCard data. When i put in an SD card with vCard data on it, it's blank

[JonMarsh]

The map version I have is Western Europe 031.

I have to say, the use of vCards overcomes the big shortfall I was expecting - ie, the ability to be able to program destinations via the PC. From the few journeys I've done, it seems to work well.

However, after some googling, I can't find much software to support of vCards for SatNavs (perhaps I'm searching for the wrong thing) - hopefully someone can help here.

In the (apparent) absence of software, I have determined that the minimum info required in the vCard file (.vcf extension - but simple text format) is simply the name and lat/long info. The following are examples of two files I've generated (and which import fine on the 315):

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
GEO:51.159377;-0.153379
FN;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:Airport, Gatwick
End:VCARD

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
GEO:51.877511;0.246141
FN;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:Airport, Stansted
End:VCARD

I've left a Version line in there but it may not need it. I don't fully understand the complete syntax but, by trial and error, have got this to work. I've also put together an Excel workbook with a macro to generate the vCard files from a list of destinations. If nobody can point us towards some good software for doing this then I'll post the spreadsheet here (after a bit more testing).

When i put in an SD card with vCard data on it, it's blank

When the SD card is inserted it provides a short message saying that it's reading the data. When I go to the Destinations selection in Navigation, the bottom left hand soft button gives the option of seeing destinations on the SD Card. It then gives the option to import them.

[Passat Sport]

Software and hardware versions can be displayed by holding down the Setup button on the RNS 315. The main setup appears first, but, if you keep holding the button down, another menu pops up. This contains data on signal strength etc for differrent radio bands, but also a "Versions" page.

vCard format must contain the VERSION, N, and FN properties between the BEGIN:VCARD and END:VCARD entities. Other than that there are some 20 odd main properties that can be used.

May be useful if using this method to know that Google Maps can directly read out Lat/Long. If you display the destination in Google Maps, then "right click" on that destination and select (left click) "What's here?" from the drop down menu, Lat/Long is displayed in the search box.

I can appreciate that VW could justify charging for a map upgrade, but a firmware upgrade to get rid of some bugs and improve functionality should surely be supplied in the same way as an ECU change etc.