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PCM Sat Nav Maps

Geoff_Fields

Geoff_Fields

PCGB Member
Member
I have now been a dissatisfied owner of Porsche's so called Sat Nav system for 1 year. Leaving aside the TMC issue, which still leaves a sour taste, I have been communicating with Navteq. The main topic being the out of date mapping provided on Porsche cars. Their responses have been up until now quite evasive but their latest offering is quite enlightening!
Thank you for contacting NAVTEQ.
NAVTEQ produces a navigational database to be used in various navigation
system. The raw form of this database is in a generic format, that needs to
be adapted to the various different systems that utilise it. NAVTEQ produces
a new edition of the database four times a year, to ensure up-to-date
coverage of European roads.
Navigation system vendors then purchase this database, and adapt it to work
on their system. How often they do this, and what version of the database
they acquire, is up to them. Therefore, it is entirely possible for various
navigation systems to all use the NAVTEQ database, and still offer radically
different levels of coverage. The Porsche 2005 DVD, for example, uses the
2003 database. Also, it depends on the system vendor or car manufacturer
whether a new CD is made available for their systems at all.
Hopefully, this will shed a little more light for you on the mechanics
behind navigation systems. There are various forums online that discuss this
problem, maybe you can find a solution on one of those.
Click to expand...
So it appears that although later more accurate maps and database are available, Porsche and or their supplier, Harman Becker, choose NOT to purchase them!!![:mad:][:mad:][:mad:]WHY???
 
It's a crazy situation - especially when Porsche want 450 quid for a "new" DVD.
The wife's BMW has up to date maps, so why can't Porsche manage it?

Another daft thing is that the DVD maps in my recently acquired 2005 997 are no more up to date than the CD ones I got with my Boxster in 2003!
 
The second hand marketing power of PCM Satnav is oft quoted as a must have option. I begin to wonder WHY?!!

I have Tomtom running on an Ipaq which has:

Up to date maps (I can find Geoffs house even if he can't find his way home)....Porsche doesn't
3D mapping....Porsche doesn't
Full 7 digit post code routing.......Porsche doesn't

I am figuring that my car is worth much more on the second hand market with an Ipaq included than with PCM
 
I would agree - I suspect most purchasers are not aware of the failings of the Porsche sat nav when they buy the car. If it becomes more general knowledge, then the added value of Sat Nav will probably disappear

It's a real shame, especially as the unit is nicely integrated etc, and the updates seem to be readily available from the original vendor

Maybe the Opel / Vauxhall disks are the way forward? - http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=115643&mpage=3&key=sat%2Cnav&#187210

Pete
 
So £450 for something with an expired licence effectively - total cost to Porsche 30pence for the DVD and may be another 40-50p for distribution etc. No wonder that they are the worlds most profitable car manufacturer....... .
 
Maybe the Opel / Vauxhall disks are the way forward?
Click to expand...
Not for the moment, only the PCM1 16bit type has been cracked by Gerard. He is looking into a possible remedy for our PCM2 DVD systems. He seems to think that Porsche are not keen to buy upgrades from Navteq.[:mad:]

Perhaps another candidate for a group buy ![8|]
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No because the latest 2006 maps are no better[:mad:]

So £450 for something with an expired licence effectively
Click to expand...
Porsche have the sole rights for distrbuting upgrade DVD's, so effectively creating a captured market. wouldn't be so bad if they actually provided the latest mapping available![:mad:]
 
Just a thought but do you think Porsche will be buying the up to date discs for the German market?
Click to expand...
I believe that the European maps supplied are generic for all countries.
I have been trawling the USA forums and there seems to be similar complaints about Porsche mapping being "inadequate" compared to other brands there also.
 
Boy, am I pleased I read this thread!
I have been speaking to my local OPC in regard to a Sat-Nav upgrade for my 2004 997S (£450) as they told me it would offer greater accuracy than my current one and include any new roads in France etc...
Seems like it's so behind the difference it would make would be academic anyway!
Thanks chaps - saved me £450 and no doubt a pile of disappointment![8D]
Rob
 
ORIGINAL: Rob Edwards

Boy, am I pleased I read this thread!
I have been speaking to my local OPC in regard to a Sat-Nav upgrade for my 2004 997S (£450) as they told me it would offer greater accuracy than my current one and include any new roads in France etc...
Seems like it's so behind the difference it would make would be academic anyway!
Thanks chaps - saved me £450 and no doubt a pile of disappointment![8D]
Rob
Click to expand...
Rob,

one thing an update would give you is TMC (traffic information), although I think a firmware upgrade to the PCM unit itself is also required to acheive this. I would have (somewhat reluctantly) paid for an update to get TMC and up to date maps, but if the maps aren't up to date then I won't bother. If TMC is important to you you may think it worthwhile.

I still think, mind you, that the PCM sat nav itself is very good when it comes to actual intelligence of route calculation and ease of use - it's better then other car-integrated systems I've used in that respect. What a shame that such a good system is let down so badly by Porsche's failure to provide updated maps. When you consider how much it costs to spec sat nav on the car even when the physical interface of PCM is already there, and how much they charge for updates, their actions are scandalous IMHO.
 
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