S80 Navigation System

I am planning on buying a 2004 S80 and trying to decide whether to have
the navigation system installed. I would like opinions from anyone having
any experience, good or bad, with regard to the performance of this option.

I live in the US (Florida) and do a little traveling for my business. I
currently use my laptop with Mappoint software and a gps card. It works well
and has the advantage of the large laptop screen. It is a bit cumbersome
though as it has to sit on the seat next to me and has several wires poking
out from it (one for the antenna sitting on my dash and one for power). The
screen on the nav system isn't as large, which is a drawback, but, it is
facing forward and the controls are on the steering wheel (I think) making
it alot safer to use. Currently, I need to take my eyes off the highway and
look down at the seat next to me to see the map. I have to take my right
hand off the steering wheel to type on the keyboard and again my eyes need
to leave the road. Again, not very safe.

I appreciate any information anyone will give me.

Thanks

 

Hi Rick,

I have just got a S80 and it came with sat-nav in, I find it very
good, there are some `quark's with it, but over all a very good
system, and very clear to read, if the sun is on it then it's gets
a little difficult.

The audio is very clear.

I had sat-nave on my previous car, and wanted it on this one.

Gazza..

 

Does the nav system support dead-reckoning? (For those unfamiliar with
the term, this is when the nav system uses spedometer data and onboard
gyros to track the car's motion when satellite signals are lost...such
as in tunnels, urban settings with many tall buildings and/or overpasses
and other situations where the view of the sky is obscured).


Cheers,
-+JLS

 

Don't think so, it has to `see' the sky..

 

Sorry, but the Volvo SatNav system does indeed use a complex system,
including both gyros and the ABS road speed signal to calculate the car's
location. I think (at least in the UK) there's a Volvo information sheet
about it. It is also incredibly expensive here in comparision with both OEM
and other car manufacturers....! I have only seen it demonstrated and not
actually used it, but it looked good.

Phil

 

I'm not at all sorry to hear that. The system is expensive in
the US, too (about $2000), but it has the right features for this
price point if it does, indeed, have the dead-reckoning capability.

Can you point me at the Web site with the technical information?
The US Volvo site barely says anything about it. All I know is that
the system is OEM'd from Mitsubishi Electronics, and the Volvo
dealers here in town do not have a demonstration DVD...


Cheers,
-+JLS

 

Since neither of our Volvo's ('98 V70XC, '02 S60AWD) was fitted with the
nav system, I ended up buying a Garmin StreetPilot III unit. This can
be used in either car or (largely by way of experimentation on my part)
can be taken along when flying to some far away location and then used
in a rental car.

This model has been replaced by a slightly more efficient package which
has a better memory capability (Secure Digital vs a Garmin proprietary
memory chip) and also has a somewhat larger display. Since it talks to
you, gives large print turn instructions and sits securely on top of the
dash, the picture is directly viewable and general convenience high.

Here in open and empty Nevada, the verbal instructions can be a hoot:
"In 162 miles, turn right . . . "

Magellan makes at least one unit that is pretty pricey, but a lot less
than adding a Volvo unit after sale. The Volvo option in after market
mode is a bit over $3K! That Magellan is similar to OEM, with DVD map
disk, etc.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA

 

I've been using the Garmin StreetPilot 3 for over 2 years now... it's
absolutely fantastic. I'm not familiar with the Volvo one, but it's gonna
be so much safer than the way you're doing it now! The Streetpilot 3
doesn't do dead reckoning, but they've just released a second one called the
StreetPilot 2610 and 2650 - the 2650 though expensive is amazing! If you've
got more than one car, consider this, cos it mounts on the dash, and you can
take it from car to car. I've had it in various cars, including hire cars
when abroad. The maps are also excellent, infact I can't say anything bad
about it!

Regards,

Mark

 

Ooops - didn't see your message... Definitely agree with you over the
StreetPilot. You reminded me about one thing though... there's a cheaper
option. Magellan have the Meridian Color out now, and in the US comes in a
traveler pack. It's very cheap, and I just picked it up with a $50 rebate
that just came through. It has a smaller screen, though it's good quality.
It also has new software called "Direct Route", and this'll do routefinding,
and bleeps when coming up to a turn. It's a good economy solution at under
$500US. Still nothing on the StreetPilot's though...

Mark

 

In mNUNb.236$

Not so - my '99 S80 has a gyro. Once it's had a lock on the satellites it
knows which direction it's facing and that it's moving even when in
underground car parks.

 

We actually have a Garmin StreetPilot 2610, and agree that it is
fantastic.

By purchasing an XC70 with the Volvo nav system, though, I am hoping to
have the best of both worlds: an integrated, dead-reckoning nav system
that is not easy to steal for use in (what will be) my wife's car, and
the portable, more techie-oriented 2610 for my car and for when either
of us is using a rental.

For those that have used both Volvo's system (the current model found in
the '04 model) and the StreePilot, I am curious how the two compare,
functionally.


Cheers,
-+JLS

 

There are plenty of options to consider using a Pocket-PC (eg HP
iPaq) with software like TravRoute's Co-Pilot, and a Bluetooth gps.

Worth a thought for those with a need for a pocket PC (who doesn't
;-)) and could use a *portable* NAV solution. I like the fact that
it synchronizes with your Outlook Contacts list!

Cheers,

Jim Kelly


| I am planning on buying a 2004 S80 and trying to decide
whether to have
| the navigation system installed. I would like opinions from anyone
having
| any experience, good or bad, with regard to the performance of
this option.
|
| I live in the US (Florida) and do a little traveling for my
business. I
| currently use my laptop with Mappoint software and a gps card. It
works well
| and has the advantage of the large laptop screen. It is a bit
cumbersome
| though as it has to sit on the seat next to me and has several
wires poking
| out from it (one for the antenna sitting on my dash and one for
power). The
| screen on the nav system isn't as large, which is a drawback, but,
it is
| facing forward and the controls are on the steering wheel (I
think) making
| it alot safer to use. Currently, I need to take my eyes off the
highway and
| look down at the seat next to me to see the map. I have to take my
right
| hand off the steering wheel to type on the keyboard and again my
eyes need
| to leave the road. Again, not very safe.
|
| I appreciate any information anyone will give me.
|
| Thanks
|
|
|

 

Some of these are pretty cool, but safety has become an issue. Some people
try to use laptops and have to take their eyes right off the road to
wherever the laptop's sitting to see the maps... others try to use handheld
PDA's or hiking GPS's, none of which are suited for in car use, often the
displays aren't good enouugh for this. The dedicated ones are usually much
clearer, have proper mounts for dash mounting, and often decent audio to
prevent the need to take eyes off the road. Anything where the screen is
too small/unclear, or is not seated on the dash is probably not safe enough
to use when driving (IMO). Though they're great if there's someone else in
the car to deal with it!

Mark

 

Another thought - - -

If one is considering the use of appropriate software and either a PC or
a PDA, check what the software says about refresh times. My first
effort was using some existing things around the house - PC, Microsoft
Routing software and a Garmin eTrex for the GPS input. The refresh rate
was very slow with this combination and, in fact, makes its use very
doubtful in a trip through a city environment.

Another admonition is obvious: With the exception of the dedicated
units, *any* other package supports safe use only in the hands of your
friendly navigator, not you as driver.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA