MMI 3G Sat. Nav. Voice Prompts Timing

**Hippogriff** · 05-10-2009,01:10 PM

I did some long journeys over the weekend and I was using the sat. nav. to guide me.

On more than one occasion - but not all - I noticed what I class as some very strange behaviour relating to the timings of the voice prompts. Let me try to describe it.

I'm approaching a roundabout, and while on approach, the voice prompt says to me something like "at the roundabout, take the fourth exit onto the A999".

The map shows this quite clearly and a quick glance gives me the layout of the roundabout and excellent guidance as to what exit I will be taking.

As I actually get on to the roundabout, before I have even gone past the first exit, sometimes just before I'm about to get onto the roundabout, the voice guidance says "now turn left"... confusing really... poor show I thought, I certainly do not remember it being like this in the RNS-E.

I would think it would be better at timing, somehow using my speed and my direction of travel (it has a compass, doesn't it?) to assess when it should tell me to "turn left" off the roundabout.

Several times my passenger thought I was missing my turn because the A4 was telling me to "now turn left" at the first exit of the roundabout.

The more I use this overall system, the more disappointed I become. Is it something anyone else has experienced?

Also... what is the car's rule for displaying route choices, when you select a destination, sometimes you get options 1, 2 and 3 to choose from, but then sometimes you don't. Is this a very complicated heuristic that only makes common sense when you know what it is?

**ScottyUK** · 05-10-2009,02:05 PM

The turn left off roundabouts caught me out on my recent Cornwall trip. I also did what it said.

The 2009 A4 (2G) didn't do this. The "improved" 3G does.

Regards routes, I think that it's simply a case of if the shortest, fastest and most economic routes are the same then it removes the duplicate from the list.

**MFGF** · 05-10-2009,02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hippogriff

As I actually get on to the roundabout, before I have even gone past the first exit, sometimes just before I'm about to get onto the roundabout, the voice guidance says "now turn left"... confusing really...

Yep - mine's the same too. A8 Tech mentioned there *may* be another software update available soon (no specifics on exactly when, though) so let's hope these quirks get sorted then.

MF.

**Hippogriff** · 05-10-2009,02:17 PM

It's heartening to realise other people have spotted this and find it quirky too.

Sometimes you can feel a little mad (insane) without people to share in the pain. Although I never thought it would be happening to me alone, you do start to wonder whether you're a fussy-britches.

RNS-E to 3G for me is a real pain the backside backwards step in many respects - the 3D mode is a right load of old cack - what an advertising con in terms of usefulness as a feature! Seems the backwards step might be the same for 2G to 3G for a few folk as well.

I was going to write a letter - but if there is a software upgrade coming, it might be wisest to wait for that (how can one find out dates and how to get it - assuming a download?) although there are no guarantees it will be addressed or even known about until Audi are specifically made aware.

**ScottyUK** · 05-10-2009,02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hippogriff

the 3D mode is a right load of old cack - what an advertising con in terms of usefulness as a feature!

Not sure I agree. I've found it beneficial on numerous occasions. I've also found the mode that shows the whole route very useful....but neither are perfect all the time so I change depending on what I'm doing.

The joystick makes a big difference ... unless you have the precise address.

**Hippogriff** · 05-10-2009,02:54 PM

3D mode as a rule I'm not against. Some people, and women certainly, prefer (or need) the 3D view because they find it hard to translate the world they see to a 2D plan view.

However, the added space requirements for the representative buildings (and have you seen the centre of a town - loads of different height grey blocks that tell you nothing) is just useless... so, overall, 3D buildings is something I class as a gimmick - an excuse to use processing power.

Seeing a football stadium in its full 3D glory is amazing... once. After that, just tell me where it is, thanks.

P.S. - disclaimer, I've not driven past the Eiffel Tower yet, so could be too cynical; that might be amazing - however, the tallest building in Sheffield doesn't even appear in glorious 3D.

**A1287210** · 05-10-2009,03:55 PM

I think it is a problem with the resolution of the SATNAV signal. Its relativley easy to anticipate where you are on a straight road going +/- 10 of your speed. Roundabouts are very different and your speed can vary 100% in just a short space, it's no wonder the car sometimes gets it wrong. This is especially true on small to med sized r'bouts when I have turned a second or two ago only for the car to tell me "now turn left".

I use the visual display to understand where I am coming off the roundabout and ignore the "now turn left" as she only hlf gets it right. Remember it all has to do with your speed whether you recieve this command at the right time.

see how far you can get past the r'bout before she says turn left

Damo

**Hippogriff** · 05-10-2009,04:32 PM

Originally Posted by A1287210

I use the visual display to understand where I am coming off the roundabout and ignore the "now turn left" as she only hlf gets it right. Remember it all has to do with your speed whether you recieve this command at the right time.

I do that too - look at the screen - but only because I am now forced to. Please remember that this most definitely wasn't a problem with the A4 RNS-E system (or the TomTom that I had in my SLK, either) and I certainly travelled at different speeds on different roundabouts when using both.

It's an MMI 3G issue in my opinion.

**ScottyUK** · 05-10-2009,04:53 PM

Exactly. This is not a limitation of GPS. My TT's factory fit satnav 9 years ago didn't do it, my TomTom doesn't do it, my MY2009 2G system didn't do it but the MY2010 3G does.

It's need a s/w update

**Geordie Amanda** · 06-10-2009,04:00 PM

Is it not that the Sat Nav lady just doesn’t want you to go the wrong way round the roundabout? I am guessing the SatNav covers LHD and RHD markets with it’s Euro map? i.e. in France it will say, turn right approaching the roundabout.