upgrade maps

[elle717]

hi, ive searched throughout the forums and could not find a solution to upgrade the maps. is there a way to make it more 3D and more details. anyone have screenshots of an upgraded map? thanks

[vng0]

did you ever find a solution to this? i have x920bt and find the 3D maps do not provide enough detail on screen

[Jefe21]

Also curious

[ma_ttcald]

All I wanna know is where do I go the see the latest map software available? I was told when I bought my X920, it was upgradable, when new stuff comes out for it. I assume Pioneer's website but where?

[tru-blu]

"Upgradable" means that Pioneer may come out with a major firmware update, of which you will have to pay for (until someone figures a way around it). These firmware updates can have map updates - as in the case of the F90/900 3.0 update last year. That update ran anywhere from 120 - 200, depending on where you got it from.

 

They'll push out free maintenance updates to the firmware. In case of the X series, that was going from 2.0 to 2.003 and addressed Bluetooth and VR issues with the units.

 

Map updates are normally in a major firmware update, which means we're payin' to get it.

 

Tru

[JohnnyDepp]

 

Map updates are normally in a major firmware update, which means we're payin' to get it.

 

Tru

 

Not entirely correct...

 

Yes, you definitely pay for ALL map updates with Pioneer, which does suck. For example, Pioneer charges $120 for a map-only update, whereas Garmin charges $50 or $80. Moreover, Garmin offers a FREE map update period on some models...and a lifetime map subscription for $90.

 

Also, Pioneer tends to be delayed in releasing map data updates. The first update for the D3 was nine months old by the time it hit shelves....and the data itself were practically a year old...useless, basically.

 

However, contrary to your assertion, Pioneer has tended to keep map-data updates SEPARATE from firmware updates (not always, but generally). For example, on the old D3, they released a number of map-data and XM-logo updates that did NOT include firmware updates to the basic operating software or navigation features.

 

In any case, the problem with Pioneer is that BOTH types of updates are far too infrequent. As these forums attest, tons of really unprofessional, almost-comical bugs on the AVICs...especially the F-series....went on forever before being fixed with a firmware update (if they've been fixed at all).

 

Here...look:

 

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Accessories/NavigationUpgrades/

 

vs.

 

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/buymaps.do?products=Nivi+1390T&pId=

 

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/maps/numaps-lifetime

[Bill K]

How do we tell what map version we have now on the 920?

Thanks.

Bill

[VBLUE42]

Ok here is how it actually works. First of all you guys need to understand the difference between updates and upgrades. Per Pioneer's previous track record, they have only released updates to address issues with the units firmware. Features that came on the unit that are buggy or didn't work properly or issues causing the units to not operate properly in extreme conditions. The most numerous updates for any units were to the F series simply because those units were a complete travesty and never should have been released with the issues present on release. Updates never or almost never offer "new features that weren't already on the unit upon release so forget about it if you want a feature that the unit doesn't already have. You will have to wait for the next unit to get new features and even then maybe not.

 

Now upgrades deal with new map data for a yearly series and only come out once a year and are never up to date as of now. Upgrades on occasion will include a new firmware that may add or introduce new features but rarely do for a unit in the same series. The biggest exception to this rule was with the Z120BT upgrade released this year. The upgrade released for the 110 not only offered updated maps (although questionable how updated) but also added new features as well as a redesigned AV interface that was not on the 110 when it was released. The features added were the Pandora interface, Eco Graph, and Music Sphere. The navi software was not updated with new features with the acceptation of an added map view and a new icon added to the map screen to show the eco progress of your driving habits.

 

So there you have it. The map version is absolutely irrelevant on the Z120/X920 as this is the first version of these units and you will not see any map upgrades for these units until around summer time when Pioneer releases the first map upgrades. It remains to be seen what the Z130 or whatever its called will have but I wouldn't expect much other then new map data.