VE HSV Senator Satnav q

[mosman69]

Hey guys,

Did a quick google search on the sat nav system in my new HSV senator. I have had tomtom in the past and i loved the fact that i could download a full list of red light and speed cameras as well as regular spots for mobile cameras, all conveniently as POIs.
I know that the HSV satnav uses a whereis map but i am struggling to find a) a new version of the map
b) a new vesion of the map with the addition of the cameras as POIs.
I really dont want to have paid $2k for a sat nav that is not as useful as a $200 unit.....

Thanks in advance
Mos

[Janus]

Sadly you have. The Holden sat nav unit is a joke. Don't worry I have it myself.

a) Check the disk that came in the unit and see what version it is. The early ones, like mine, came with V12 maps. Holden offer a free upgrade to the latest V14, just ask them to do it next time you take the car in.

b) The functionality of the Holden unit a pathetic. It has very limited functionality despite, ask you said, the information is on the DVD and the unit should be able to display it. It is my understanding that it is Holden that limits it so that POI's such as that are not displayed. When I originally got my sat nav unit if you went into the automotive POI's and selected dealerships there was a list of over a dozen companies like Audi, Ford, Jaguar but after it went in for a firmware upgrade some time ago all of those have disppeared from that menu leaving only the Holden dealerships, so clearly the upgrade from Holden removed it.

This reduced funtionality is something that I have complained to my dealership about, saying exactly what you have said that I could get much better functionality from a $300 over their $2000 unit that has caused problems in my car, but unsurprisingly the dealership and Holden doesn't really care.

The other problem I have with it is the poor coverage it has outside of major cities. When you get out of the city some towns are listed but some don't even show up, like a town I had to go to about 90 minutes out of Adelaide, meaning I still need to carry a road atlas for when I go out of the city.

I wish they would get rid of the NZ maps from the DVD, as it is unlikely that someone people are taking their car back and forwards between Australia and New Zealand, and give us more detailed Australian maps.

[CSP]

I fail to understand why people pay $2k plus for any dealer fitted system when Tom Tom are clearly the best portable units around for less than a quarter of the price!

[Janus]

I fail to understand why people pay $2k plus for any dealer fitted system when Tom Tom are clearly the best portable units around for less than a quarter of the price!

I got it because:

a) I prefer in built sat nav in cars as I don't like the unit sitting around in the car waiting to get stolen or having to keep it charged or am just too darn lazy to keep sticking it to my windscreen.

b) At the time I got mine the units had just come out, after waiting 6 months since Holden said it would be available, and people had no idea about the funtionality and performance of the unit. We were being told by the dealership that it would be full funtional with all kinds of things, but basically they had no idea about it.

I just wish Holden would have the guts to say that they rushed it to market and didn't test it properly, open up the functionality to give people what they want and then actually do something about the little problems it has caused in the car instead of telling us all to just put up with them after dropping $2,000 on it.

I must say that if I had the choice again, now knowing all about the unit, I don't think I would spend the money.

[eldan89]

I fail to understand why people pay $2k plus for any dealer fitted system when Tom Tom are clearly the best portable units around for less than a quarter of the price!

That happened to my dad when he got his senator, he ended up getting a further 2.5k off the price of the car and got a $500 TOMTOM instead.

[mosman69]

Wow that is really disappointing..... what a shame. i would have assumed that as they use the navteq software it would have been a simple enough job to go find a new customised whereis map of australia with all the POI's that i wanted. obviously not the case. that is quite stupid. I got a really good deal on my HSV which is why i didnt care. as i said i still have my tomtom on my n95 and i love it but for the same reasons quoted above an inbuilt just makes things so much easier. You never have to worry about getting it stolen (not really the case with mine as its my phone and i dont leave it lying around) and keeping things charged and just the smoother appearance when someone looks into your car and they see a dirty great big screen instead of this poxy looking portable with wires coming out of it and some aftermarket holder keeping it up. Its just not as satisfying to look at. $2k worth of satisfaction is all relative isnt it? for some $2k isnt a prob for others.... as i said i got a great deal on mine so im happy either way.

thanks for your help guys but if anyone knows a way around this then that woiuld be great

[CSP]

i still have my tomtom on my n95 and i love it

WTF?!?!


an inbuilt just makes things so much easier. You never have to worry about getting it stolen (not really the case with mine as its my phone and i dont leave it lying around) and keeping things charged and just the smoother appearance when someone looks into your car and they see a dirty great big screen instead of this poxy looking portable with wires coming out of it and some aftermarket holder keeping it up.

Nothing hard about owning or using a TomTom. The way I have mine setup looks awesome, is out of the way, no cables anywhere (I ran mine through my dash) and it's always plugged in so never goes flat. No wires coming out of it and certainly doesn't look "poxy". Not to mention mounting it at eye level is so much more convenient AND safer as my eyes don't have to be completely off the road. Plus all the updates for speed and red light cameras are simple. Plug it into a USB port on my PC, install, done... Also get all the updates for the maps easily enough (and free - if anyone wants them and has a TomTom, let me know).

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc80/cspbiz/Random/IMG_0244.jpg
*this pic was taken when I had my Calais... I have set it up exactly the same in the Clubsport. Oh, and that's another bonus - I can use it in ANY car and also as a hand held. Load up bike paths and mount it on my bike too (got to love cable ties).


Its just not as satisfying to look at.

I'm more satisfied I can still use all the functions on my sound system and climate control while still getting nav directions.



$2k worth of satisfaction is all relative isnt it? for some $2k isnt a prob for others....

$2k is a LOT better spent on CAI, Tune and part of a decent exhaust :D


i got a great deal on mine so im happy

My TomTom was free :D

[mosman69]

You can get tomtom for symbian operating system, so thats why i have it on my n95, it simply uses the inbuilt gps on the n95 but instead of using the crappy software that nokia gives i get tomtom.

$2k is "better" spent on the above mods but when i say its relative i mean that some people can afford to throw away $2k on satnav and still get whatever other mods they want. When you spend $80k on a car another 2-3 isnt gunna kill you is it?

Your setup looks gorgeous and there is no two ways about it but you still havent solved the problem of someone liking the look of your tomtom and pulling a smash and grab job.

I didnt mean to divide people with this thread as i said i think the way you have done it looks absolutely beautiful but i still think an inbuilt looks cleaner, but then that comes down to personal opinion. I simply wanted to know if anyone had any idea on where to get the whereis DVD preferably with the speed cameras uploaded as POIs.

As you say tomtom is easy which is why i havent asked about it lol i have the speed, red and mobile camera locations australia wide (gotta love FOI act).

Thanks for all the input guys

[Jman]

Sorry all to resurect this thread but does anybody know if Holden have made any meaningful and worthwhile upgrades to their in car satnav system yet??

Am considering getting the factory one but if still no good I wont bother.

Cheers.

[LSX-438]

Sorry all to resurect this thread but does anybody know if Holden have made any meaningful and worthwhile upgrades to their in car satnav system yet??

Am considering getting the factory one but if still no good I wont bother.

Cheers.

I have an October 07 car (delivered in December) and it came with the crappy Satnav described above. I wish they would upgrade it, it really is a joke.

[Janus]

They aren't going to upgrade it. I mean they can barely get this one working properly. They have given me some new reflash they developed to fix problems that some of us, including the Director of Holden, have been having with the unit and I can say that it has fixed that issue....but caused several more.

Really at this stage I think they should lower the price and give people refunds etc of the difference....but they won't do that.

They should at least develop software updates to give us the features that we want.

[D r M u t l e y]

has anyone worked out how to hack the incar sat nav in the calais to see what the underlying OS is of the unit?
if its based on the WinCE OS then surely it wouldnt be hard to put whatever software u liked on the unit?? Similar to how we hack the cheap OS sat nav units and put 4 or 5 different GPS programs (ie TT, Garmin, Navman, iGo etc) on the one unit. U can then choose which ever program u wish to use by a touch of the touchscreen,....

I have just bought a Feb 08 VE Calais V, so might have a little play when i can find some more info out about the Head Unit. Anyone got the DVD? As when i hit the Sat Nav Button on the HDU atm, all i get is FUll Maps Sat Nav Not installed.

[which12day]

I have an October 07 car (delivered in December) and it came with the crappy Satnav described above. I wish they would upgrade it, it really is a joke.

Has anyone seen anything about an aftermarket GPS made by Siemens?

I was looking to see if there was one available and found this article (see URL below) but I haven't been able to find out where to get more info on it.

http://www.ferret.com.au/n/Custom-navigation-system-for-VE-Commodore-from-Siemens-n670351

It sounds like a worthwhile addition if you don't have an inbuilt GPS and like me, don't like leaving the invitation to break a window stuck to the windscreen.

[phantom_gts]

Has anyone seen anything about an aftermarket GPS made by Siemens?

I was looking to see if there was one available and found this article (see URL below) but I haven't been able to find out where to get more info on it.

http://www.ferret.com.au/n/Custom-navigation-system-for-VE-Commodore-from-Siemens-n670351

It sounds like a worthwhile addition if you don't have an inbuilt GPS and like me, don't like leaving the invitation to break a window stuck to the windscreen.
I think this is the VDO Dayton PC 5200. I've just got hold of a new one with my VE HSV GTS. The unit is designed to plug into the indash display. I've posted a thread elsewhere to see if anyone has one.

[CBH Senator]

Need some urgent advice pls.
I have to transfer factory VE SatNav from CalaisV to Senator.

Can anyone take a stab at how much this should cost me?
NO new parts, just swap over. I've been quoted $600 by dealer.

Any ideas of places in SEQld I should get it done?
Thanks