Navigation Hell
01-11-18, 05:53 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Navigation Hell
"Find a Sprouts"[lists Sbrarros]
"Find a Fry's"[lists TGIFridays] (Only off by four syllables!)
Out of dozens of attempts, the navigation system of the LC500 has successfully located a grand total of one place I needed by voice command. The only other way to locate a destination is to type the characters of the name or address by moving a mouse cursor via mouse pad, which is not even practical while parked, let alone while driving. It's more tedious than T9 texting.
The voice command "Go home" does reliably start navigation home. However today when I used this, it led me on a 40-minute odyssey down every under-construction back road it could find. Google Maps had brought me to that location in 23 minutes via the highway.
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
It's also very difficult to move the map around. Sometimes map flicks work, most of the time the cursor just moves around and nothing happens. Recently the map started dragging with my finger instead of moving the cursor, which was great, but who knows how that happened. In order to figure this out I will likely have to park somewhere and mess with it for a half hour.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
"Find a Fry's"[lists TGIFridays] (Only off by four syllables!)
Out of dozens of attempts, the navigation system of the LC500 has successfully located a grand total of one place I needed by voice command. The only other way to locate a destination is to type the characters of the name or address by moving a mouse cursor via mouse pad, which is not even practical while parked, let alone while driving. It's more tedious than T9 texting.
The voice command "Go home" does reliably start navigation home. However today when I used this, it led me on a 40-minute odyssey down every under-construction back road it could find. Google Maps had brought me to that location in 23 minutes via the highway.
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
It's also very difficult to move the map around. Sometimes map flicks work, most of the time the cursor just moves around and nothing happens. Recently the map started dragging with my finger instead of moving the cursor, which was great, but who knows how that happened. In order to figure this out I will likely have to park somewhere and mess with it for a half hour.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
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NJDRIVER (09-28-19)
01-11-18, 06:14 PM
#2
"Find a Sprouts"[lists Sbrarros]
"Find a Fry's"[lists TGIFridays] (Only off by four syllables!)
Out of dozens of attempts, the navigation system of the LC500 has successfully located a grand total of one place I needed by voice command. The only other way to locate a destination is to type the characters of the name or address by moving a mouse cursor via mouse pad, which is not even practical while parked, let alone while driving. It's more tedious than T9 texting.
The voice command "Go home" does reliably start navigation home. However today when I used this, it led me on a 40-minute odyssey down every under-construction back road it could find. Google Maps had brought me to that location in 23 minutes via the highway.
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
It's also very difficult to move the map around. Sometimes map flicks work, most of the time the cursor just moves around and nothing happens. Recently the map started dragging with my finger instead of moving the cursor, which was great, but who knows how that happened. In order to figure this out I will likely have to park somewhere and mess with it for a half hour.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
"Find a Fry's"[lists TGIFridays] (Only off by four syllables!)
Out of dozens of attempts, the navigation system of the LC500 has successfully located a grand total of one place I needed by voice command. The only other way to locate a destination is to type the characters of the name or address by moving a mouse cursor via mouse pad, which is not even practical while parked, let alone while driving. It's more tedious than T9 texting.
The voice command "Go home" does reliably start navigation home. However today when I used this, it led me on a 40-minute odyssey down every under-construction back road it could find. Google Maps had brought me to that location in 23 minutes via the highway.
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
It's also very difficult to move the map around. Sometimes map flicks work, most of the time the cursor just moves around and nothing happens. Recently the map started dragging with my finger instead of moving the cursor, which was great, but who knows how that happened. In order to figure this out I will likely have to park somewhere and mess with it for a half hour.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
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nodeal (01-12-18)
01-11-18, 06:24 PM
#3
"Find a Sprouts"[lists Sbrarros]
"Find a Fry's"[lists TGIFridays] (Only off by four syllables!)
Out of dozens of attempts, the navigation system of the LC500 has successfully located a grand total of one place I needed by voice command. The only other way to locate a destination is to type the characters of the name or address by moving a mouse cursor via mouse pad, which is not even practical while parked, let alone while driving. It's more tedious than T9 texting.
The voice command "Go home" does reliably start navigation home. However today when I used this, it led me on a 40-minute odyssey down every under-construction back road it could find. Google Maps had brought me to that location in 23 minutes via the highway.
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
It's also very difficult to move the map around. Sometimes map flicks work, most of the time the cursor just moves around and nothing happens. Recently the map started dragging with my finger instead of moving the cursor, which was great, but who knows how that happened. In order to figure this out I will likely have to park somewhere and mess with it for a half hour.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
"Find a Fry's"[lists TGIFridays] (Only off by four syllables!)
Out of dozens of attempts, the navigation system of the LC500 has successfully located a grand total of one place I needed by voice command. The only other way to locate a destination is to type the characters of the name or address by moving a mouse cursor via mouse pad, which is not even practical while parked, let alone while driving. It's more tedious than T9 texting.
The voice command "Go home" does reliably start navigation home. However today when I used this, it led me on a 40-minute odyssey down every under-construction back road it could find. Google Maps had brought me to that location in 23 minutes via the highway.
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
It's also very difficult to move the map around. Sometimes map flicks work, most of the time the cursor just moves around and nothing happens. Recently the map started dragging with my finger instead of moving the cursor, which was great, but who knows how that happened. In order to figure this out I will likely have to park somewhere and mess with it for a half hour.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
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asinow (12-12-19)
01-12-18, 02:48 PM
#4
General Ex. ATMS, BANKS, AIRPORTS it can find
Specific Ex. McDonalds, Starbucks, Bank of America, Chevron
By default on my system, there were so many POI icons that the entire map was covered in fast food logos so that the roads were totally obscured. Fortunately these can be turned off. But it still shows thousands of little dots everywhere, because it is really important to have a visual indication of all fast food restaurants at all times.
This navigation system is so bad it is shocking. I think if there were an easy way to enter a destination (that works) that would be a start. I almost wish I could just use my phone's keyboard to enter text. Or even spell out words via voice command.
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
Are there any tricks that would be helpful? Any software upgrades in the pipeline? Has anyone hacked the system (or maybe other Lexus systems) to add functionality? Are there aftermarket systems that could replace this god-awful thing?
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nodeal (01-12-18)
01-12-18, 05:50 PM
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
The touchpad system takes time to become comfortable with. It's not the navigation system that sucks... It's learning how to make the user interface work for you that takes some time. Once you get the defaults to where you want them, and you get your destination info entered, it works reliably - like any other Toyota Nav system.
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NJDRIVER (09-28-19)
01-12-18, 05:59 PM
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Look into 'Beat Sonic USA .com'. They tend to specialize in Toyota / Lexus with modules that plug into the infotainment that simulate the car is in park when it really isn't, allowing you to use all the locked out features. They are a vendor on these forums if i'm not mistaken.
Last edited by nodeal; 01-13-18 at 09:17 AM.
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NJDRIVER (09-28-19)
Trending Topics
01-12-18, 07:46 PM
#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
How? I messed with it for a few minutes, but could not get it to connect. Subsequent research yielded no evidence that it even works with the LC.
Edit: "Scout GPS Link is available on select 2017 model year vehicles (NX, RX, RC, ES, IS)" http://lexus2.custhelp.com/app/answe...kw/scout%20gps
Edit: "Scout GPS Link is available on select 2017 model year vehicles (NX, RX, RC, ES, IS)" http://lexus2.custhelp.com/app/answe...kw/scout%20gps
Last edited by nodeal; 01-13-18 at 03:04 PM.
01-14-18, 01:25 PM
#9
The establishments I'm searching for do appear in the database when I type them out. But by voice command it never finds them. And it will reliably find TGIFridays, for example, when I ask for Fry's. That's weird. Of all places it worked when I asked for Kohl's. Are they bigger than Fry's?
Huh. Interesting. I just spent a while messing with this thing and I'm pretty sure I tried turning that off and it didn't make a difference. I'll try again. The utility of ten thousand dots on my route is definitely lost on me though. Doesn't it also highlight the route like Google? Edit: Turning off "Route Trace" has made the map so much less chaotic. Huge improvement! Thanks.
Scout is only available on Non-Navigation equipped models. LC's come with NAV. But yeah it's really only available on the IS, NX, ES, RX. It's junk though, very misleading as there is no 'navigation' it's simply turn by turn directions aka arrows on your screen pointing left, right, and straight. Basically it's mapquest.
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nodeal (01-14-18)
09-28-19, 11:18 AM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Update
I have since purchased a cheap/used iPhone 5 SE ($60 on Ebay) to get Google Maps on the screen via Apple Carplay. (Update to LC nav required.) I leave this phone in my LC permanently, as my normal phone is Android. Now I reliably have Google Maps on my screen at all times. Aesthetically, this has improved my life because at least I don't have to look at that eye-bleach Lexus navigation anymore.
However, this phone does not have a data plan. My other phone has a hotspot quick-toggle if I want to actually use the Carplay features other than a basic Google map. It's pretty easy to get them connected without looking. But that's obviously not ideal. Siri is ok with voice direction, but doesn't always understand the address I say. I still use my Android for navigation.
Unexpectedly, Siri turned out to be an excellent way to manage music. Turn on the data connection, say a song or artist, and it plays. Too bad I don't listen to music in my LC often.
However, this phone does not have a data plan. My other phone has a hotspot quick-toggle if I want to actually use the Carplay features other than a basic Google map. It's pretty easy to get them connected without looking. But that's obviously not ideal. Siri is ok with voice direction, but doesn't always understand the address I say. I still use my Android for navigation.
Unexpectedly, Siri turned out to be an excellent way to manage music. Turn on the data connection, say a song or artist, and it plays. Too bad I don't listen to music in my LC often.
09-28-19, 02:31 PM
#13
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
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NJDRIVER (09-28-19)
09-28-19, 02:40 PM
#14
Man, I really hope Lexus listens to their customers and seriously attempts to retrofit older models (post 2018) containing Enform 2.0, (like our LC's) with Android Auto. I'm in the same boat, and hoping they get this done by this year.
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NJDRIVER (09-28-19)
09-28-19, 06:19 PM
#15
Can not imagine actually using the onboard nav in any car on earth.
Forgive yourself for trying and use something designed by people who do software, not cars.
Forgive yourself for trying and use something designed by people who do software, not cars.