I know that I can just look down @ the screen...and that's what it's there for...but the guidance voice is a little late on notifying me of turns. Usually she'll bust out the "in a half mile, turn left"...which is fine, but when she says "left turn ahead", it's often too close to the turn for me to make it (especially if I'm going faster than 40mph). I don't have my VSS wire hooked up and I asked about it in another thread, but other than that I don't know what else could be causing this late notification. Is it just how the system is? Can I set the notification distance at all?

Thanks,

Jeff

It's unfortunately normal. The final turning point is a little late. I would think Pioneer should address this as it does require you to take your eyes off the road and look at the screen.

When I had my NVE-N872A alpine, it worked much better. If there are 3 close streets ahead, it would say, "Turn right at the 3rd street."

yeah, pioneer has always a little last second on turns. alpine and eclipse did a much better job

It does give you more notice, the faster you are going. At freeway speeds (or above ) it will warn you as much as a mile ahead. Maybe hooking up your speed sense would help, maybe not ???

yes , speed sense will help, but there definitely is a difference in the other units

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll be tapping the VSS wire later this week then. I'll see if that helps at all.

Just to follow up, I hooked up the VSS wire in my car to the D3, and now it seems like the map is a little off. On screen, it shows me passing an intersection about 20-30 feet after I actually pass it...maybe the tip of the arrow is supposed to be the middle of my car? I'm not sure, but the navigation turn notifications have gotten better...I'm not whipping 40mph turns anymore =P

I think it has to have time to learn your VSS signal first.

That might be why the map is a little off.

I think it's silly the D3 needs to tap into the VSS to obtain speed of the car...when every other GPS unit i've toyed with is able to obtain speed nearly instantaneously by tracking your location. This is the first GPS device i've seen that needs to tap into a speed sensor wire to get it. It's a really simple calculation.. I have no idea why they chose this route.

Jay

It's not silly at all. VSS is optional, but it improves accuracy for tracking purposes.

According to Wikipedia, there are lots of electronic errors possible in a GPS system making them accurate to only about 50ft. The VSS input eliminates these errors and allows the onscreen tracking to appear smooth and continuous even if errors occur or during momentary signal loss.

I believe most in-car systems have a VSS input. At least the GM OEM systems made by Denso have it too.

It doesn't need the VSS to know your speed, it knows your speed just fine without it hooked up from triangulating it from the satellites. It needs VSS information to gather enough information to calibrate 3D hybrid mode

I think it's silly the D3 needs to tap into the VSS to obtain speed of the car...when every other GPS unit i've toyed with is able to obtain speed nearly instantaneously by tracking your location. This is the first GPS device i've seen that needs to tap into a speed sensor wire to get it. It's a really simple calculation.. I have no idea why they chose this route.

 

Jay

Please note that on most newer Pioneer units, you can "adjust" your location a bit while stopped and parked, to help aid in this calibration a bit more. It's under the menu marked as "Modify Location"

I use an AVIC-88 and AVHP6400DVD in one of my rigs and it's neglible now, but I have had a Z1 and now a Z2 in my other rig, and its spot on for me.

Just go to a known intersection location, stop, put on parking brake, go to menu and modify your location on the screen to where you think your car SHOULD be on the screen. And yes, this works out better in the long run if you have your VSS connected.

The VSS wire is used to make calculations to your location when proper GPS signal is not available. Basically, if you are driving down a road surrounded by mountains, and lose GPS signal from the minimum of 3 satellites, it will use the VSS signal to keep you car moving on the map properly, until it receives valid GPS signaling again.

They also incorporated using the VSS signal to better improve the Vehicle Dynamics Screen, for more accurate information on the speedometer, acceleration, and lateral-G indicators. It's just another part of the mathematical equation for better accuracy.

It is NOT needed for any Pioneer unit to work properly, it just makes it BETTER than the competition units if you choose to connect it.

Well I haven't hooked up my VSS wire yet and navigation seems "good enough" to me.. although I can't find ANYWHERE on the screen where it displays my current speed.. I assume that it will pop up when I connect the VSS wire? Maybe not.. or perhaps I just don't have the right screen up or info up on the screen. The only thing that has bothered me with the navigation is that the tip of the arrow that signifies your location is where I am, not in the middle of the arrow like i'm used to seeing on Garmins or Tomtoms.. Maybe hooking up the VSS wire fixes this and makes it feel like i'm in the middle of the on-screen "arrow".. I'll probably wire up the VSS tomorrow and route my way to work and see if I notice any improvements.

Does the screen track smoother too after the VSS or is it still "notchy" as you move along the map while driving? It would be nice if the screen got smoother, but since my Tomtom is also notchy as you move, I don't expect anything to improve in the smoothness department. I've seen other OEM navigation units look like it was in realtime it was flowing so smoothly.

Jay

To check your speed, you can go into the hardware info screen in the navigation menu, or simply go to the vehicle dynamics display and its the giant circular gauge in the center of the screen

Well I haven't hooked up my VSS wire yet and navigation seems "good enough" to me.. although I can't find ANYWHERE on the screen where it displays my current speed.. I assume that it will pop up when I connect the VSS wire? Maybe not.. or perhaps I just don't have the right screen up or info up on the screen. The only thing that has bothered me with the navigation is that the tip of the arrow that signifies your location is where I am, not in the middle of the arrow like i'm used to seeing on Garmins or Tomtoms.. Maybe hooking up the VSS wire fixes this and makes it feel like i'm in the middle of the on-screen "arrow".. I'll probably wire up the VSS tomorrow and route my way to work and see if I notice any improvements.

 

Does the screen track smoother too after the VSS or is it still "notchy" as you move along the map while driving? It would be nice if the screen got smoother, but since my Tomtom is also notchy as you move, I don't expect anything to improve in the smoothness department. I've seen other OEM navigation units look like it was in realtime it was flowing so smoothly.

 

Jay

Last time I attempted to go into the vehicle dynamics display screen, it said it was unavailable.. but i'll try again.

Well, glad to see it isn't only me.

My z2 install is only a week old. The hook ups check out, I have everything installed by designed (installed by professional installer).

I thought it was a calibration issue, going to call pioneer today after work to see what can be done if anything. It took me a few days to come to the conculsion that it was a little late because I was pretty much testing places I had already been with the acception of one (which did great by the way). But during the testing, I felt as though she was a little late providing I didn't know where i was going or going to fast. Its not enough time to make adjustments in heavy traffic or high speeds. I hope something can be done about it. My friend has a 300c, his navi works ideally...Also, I noticed when I'm not using the navi guidance, it appears to be right on.....

For any of those who didn't already...I would suggest hooking up your VSS wire. I saw a big improvement with the final "____ turn ahead" notification after hooking up the VSS wire. It keeps getting better as the unit continues to learn the more you drive.

As for the calibration...I knew about the "modify location" option...but do you suggest using that supplied stylus to do it? My finger is too fat to accurately set the location =/.

Oh...and is there ANY way to get a QWERTY layout for the keyboard?

Had a similar issue when I had my D3 installed. Couldn't connect the VSS because I needed a $170 interface from Soundgate. Had passed through a couple intersections before indication came. So, I went into the GPS settings and increased the average speed settings. There are three settings, like secondary roads, primary roads and highways. This seemed to help A LOT. I assumed if you increase your average speed (and I do have a lead foot) that the computer could keep up.

Used it last night in Chicago and all the turns came up before the street.

I also heard that the GPS is adaptive and this could just be the learning curve, but figured it didn't hurt to try.

Had a similar issue when I had my D3 installed. Couldn't connect the VSS because I needed a $170 interface from Soundgate. Had passed through a couple intersections before indication came. So, I went into the GPS settings and increased the average speed settings. There are three settings, like secondary roads, primary roads and highways. This seemed to help A LOT. I assumed if you increase your average speed (and I do have a lead foot) that the computer could keep up.

Used it last night in Chicago and all the turns came up before the street.

I also heard that the GPS is adaptive and this could just be the learning curve, but figured it didn't hurt to try.

You know, I thought about that. Was going to try it some time this week when I had a little time to myself.

I was also considering some type of flaw in regards to that dead reckoning, map matching and all that other yadadadad. I and another person mention that the we are off about 50 feet and I think that has a lot to do with why the navi lady is late. According to my readings and their technology, the dead reckoning should put us back on track (and the sytem is suppose to learn) and should adjust accordingly. this is not happening or maybe I'm just a little impateint. I did reset my functions this past week and it seems to make it worst (as far as positioning on the map). I assume it was just as worst before and assume it will get better. But it was never on, even after I drove around. I called pioneer and they said that it should be right on (and I guess that inturn means that the navi lady should be a little more informative in the turn calling) and that if it isn't after I reset, I should turn it back in for a new one.... WTF

Hey guys,

I just installed my Avic D3 this weekend, and I tested it out. Unfortuntely, I don't have the VSS connected, can't really find it but have CF looking at that for me, but satellite tracking seems okay.

My problem is, the D3 is not recognizing turns. I see the yellow flags on the screen and the distance to those yellow flags goes down to 0.0 miles. The voice on the D3 does not come on unless I press the *.* miles button on the screen. When I make the turn, the flag is still there at the intersection that I made the turn at and does not update to the next turn. Any suggestions?

I was in a parking garage where I obviously would loose my GPS signal, but the unit kept functioning as I drove around. I can see this dead reckoning (which reqquires your VSS wire) being useful in areas with mountains and downtown in large cities where you could loose your signal ... the unit keeps pretty good track of where you are until you get your gps signal back again.

I hooked up the VSS wire over the weekend and saw zero difference in the performance of the GPS.. it's still a bit late on turns for me. It's "good enough" though.. Maybe there will be some kind of firmware update in the future for D3 owners.