Navigation System
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
Likes: 13
From: Houston, Republic of Texas
Denso Corp., the manufacturer of the Lexus navigation system among others, has merged two databases to produce the map files. See "SAE Automotive Engineering Online", Issue August 2000 http://www.sae.org/automag/focus_electronics/08.htm
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 776
Likes: 3
From: Illinois
The system itself (hardware and software) is made by a company called DENSO. They've been working with Lexus for several years, and all RX nav systems are made by them.
The map data is combined from two sources. All RX nav systems use NavTech (now known as Navteq) map data for areas where the map is GPS-accurate and supports turn-by-turn driving directions.
The rest of the area is filled in using a secondary source. I can't remember the name of the company that provided such data for the first-generation RX 300 DVD system. They were difficult for Lexus / DENSO to deal with, and they delayed the release of an updated DVD for a long time. The problem was finally resolved by changing suppliers. On the more recent updates, including the RX330, the data comes from GDT.
The combination of Navteq and GDT data is pretty common now, and it powers the maps for most of the GPS mapping products and Web sites.
Points-of-interest come from yet another source, currently infoUSA.
The map data is combined from two sources. All RX nav systems use NavTech (now known as Navteq) map data for areas where the map is GPS-accurate and supports turn-by-turn driving directions.
The rest of the area is filled in using a secondary source. I can't remember the name of the company that provided such data for the first-generation RX 300 DVD system. They were difficult for Lexus / DENSO to deal with, and they delayed the release of an updated DVD for a long time. The problem was finally resolved by changing suppliers. On the more recent updates, including the RX330, the data comes from GDT.
The combination of Navteq and GDT data is pretty common now, and it powers the maps for most of the GPS mapping products and Web sites.
Points-of-interest come from yet another source, currently infoUSA.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 776
Likes: 3
From: Illinois
Although they're not really committed to anything, Lexus has tried harder to stick to a schedule now that the manufacturing issues have been settled. There has been an "annual update" around September for the last two years. So far, there's no reason to believe it won't happen again this year.
The list price of the update has been around $250 (through the dealer's parts counter), but you can usually do better than that on the Internet. You can replace the disc yourself - the dealer doesn't have any special tricks. You just have to get to the DVD reader under the floor in the cargo area.
The list price of the update has been around $250 (through the dealer's parts counter), but you can usually do better than that on the Internet. You can replace the disc yourself - the dealer doesn't have any special tricks. You just have to get to the DVD reader under the floor in the cargo area.
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Sewell
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Dec 2, 2009 05:07 AM
