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Pioneer Navigation System

Yahoo Message Number: 25563
We P/U our new 07 Magna with the Navigation System. Prior to using this system we had the Alpine on our previous Coach and the Honda system in our Mini Van. I can say with certainity, the Pioneer is by far the least reliable of any system we have tried. At times it attempts to lead you in the wrong direction with flawed commands.
I've tried to talk to Pioneer and they don't seem to care. Anyone else with this system that has found a way to use it reliably? Would an update help?

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25565
This was discussed a while back and the Pioneer did not get too many favorable comments. Our Allure came with the Pioneer system but did not have the navigation installed. I'm glad we didn't spend the $ for it's upgrade. We use an external navigation system that works ok.

Sue

'05, 42' CC Allure quad slide #31254
See where we are---

http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=3792

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25569
We agree about the poor reviews and are surprised that Country Coach didn't change to a different brand 1-2 years ago.
We've wondered if purchasing might be friends with the distributer's sales rep and hisitant to drop the line.
No other reason for a GPS of this poor quality to still be part of a nice coach like a Country Coach.

Russ and Jean
05 Intrigue
11883

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25584
I think that the latest software version is CN-DV60MTP. With a new coach like yours, just make sure that you have the latest..

I haven't used CN-DV60MTP much, but it doesn't seem to be anymore reliable than the older software versions. As far as support, I worked with Pioneer for over a year before I could get them to even admit that there were problems.
During that time, one of their techs made a classic remark.
He said that the units were designed for cars, not motorhomes....like getting lost in a car is somehow ok.?????GGGG

When the chips are down, we rely on our Garmin for accurate navigation. And besides the Garmin can go in the toad when we get to a new town....

Regards

Ray and Rue
05 Allure 31176

Quote from: jbennett2cflrr

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25588
I have the same problem, it was a complete waste of money, no help from the company.

Charlie & Lorraine Zecman
2002 Magna # 6162
Florida

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25603
Catch the Pioneer guy at the next CCI rally and he will help you work thru your problems, unfortunately the Pioneer give you several route chooses and some are not good but once you work thru this you will like it a lot better then most. We have 3 GPS's and we like this the best.

Bill G, 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25604
CCI still uses the Pioneer because some of us like it. Some of the poor reviews come from people who have never learned to fully use it, but I like using the Pioneer much better then a lap top. If you go to Best Buys and check out this unit you will find it is one of the most expensive they sell and only by special order. That does not mean it is great but it works for most of us and no GPS is perfect and we own 3.

Bill G 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25617
Hi Bill,

Our Pioneer GPS has made some major errors.
Simple destinations that we program in have resulted in errors that are hours and miles off "wrong".
Examples:

#1 We asked for directions from Bakersfield CA to San Jose CA and the Pioneer was off (long) by 140 miles and 2 hrs. It took us up Hwy 5 to San Francisco rather then over 152.
#2 We also asked it to take us from Palmdale CA to Paso Robles CA and both the time and distance were off (this time short) by 2 hrs and under by over 100 miles. This time the route was ok, but the Pioneer couldn't add the time and distance correctly.
#3 We have been sitting at home in San Jose and tried to pre-plan a trip with the Pioneer. When we compared the results to Mapquest, the errors have been significant. When we compared the same route in Mapquest to Copilot 9.. they were very close.
Pioneer has a programing error that Pioneer knows about but has been slow to fix. One tech said: "It is for around town, not on the interstate".

Our choice has been Copilot 9 or the old Alpine we had in our last coach.

P.S. One more observation: As computer geaks and system admins at our company, we feel that learning a GPS should be dumbed down to the lowest common denominator and that the Pioneer is not very user friendly. Just our thoughts...

Russ and Jean
05 Intrigue
11883

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25846
Quote from: jbennett2cflrr
>

We P/U our new 07 Magna with the Navigation System. Prior to using > this system we had the Alpine on our previous Coach and the Honda > system in our Mini Van. I can say with certainity, the Pioneer is by > far the least reliable of any system we have tried. At times it > attempts to lead you in the wrong direction with flawed commands.
I've tried to talk to Pioneer and they don't seem to care. Anyone else > with this system that has found a way to use it reliably? Would an > update help?
We have the same nav system in our 2004 Allure. Their people at various rallies are quite helpful regarding use of the system, which greatly makes up for lack of intelligible (to us) documentation. Our system, however, has NEVER worked since we bought the coach in 11/2005. We had the system pulled and sent to the company a while back. It was "repaired" at some cost and returned, but the very next time we tried to use it, the same problem occurred. It won't read the disk and even hates to spit it out. Not much use if it won't work with its own disk. It is, however, telling us something--that is, we should get another system.

s/Terry

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25848
Ditto,

County Coach needs to hear this.

Maybe it is time those of us with these less then reliable "sudo" GPS systems make a little noise.

customer.relations@...
Russ and Jean
01 Intrigue
11883

Quote from: mohowannabee
[quote author=jbennett2cflrr"

>

> We P/U our new 07 Magna with the Navigation System. Prior to

using

Quote
this system we had the Alpine on our previous Coach and the Honda > > system in our Mini Van. I can say with certainity, the Pioneer

is by

Quote
far the least reliable of any system we have tried. At times it > > attempts to lead you in the wrong direction with flawed

commands.

Quote
I've tried to talk to Pioneer and they don't seem to care.

Anyone else

Quote
with this system that has found a way to use it reliably? Would

an

Quote
update help?
>

We have the same nav system in our 2004 Allure. Their people at > various rallies are quite helpful regarding use of the system,

which

Quote
greatly makes up for lack of intelligible (to us) documentation.

Our

Quote
system, however, has NEVER worked since we bought the coach in > 11/2005. We had the system pulled and sent to the company a while > back. It was "repaired" at some cost and returned, but the very

next

Quote
time we tried to use it, the same problem occurred. It won't read

the

Quote
disk and even hates to spit it out. Not much use if it won't work > with its own disk. It is, however, telling us something--that is,

we

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25853
We have the Pioneer Nav system on our 07 Magna and I agree that the problem is not it diifulty of use but the fact that it's estimates are grossly off and it's made completely wrong turns I.E. Deadend etc.
I'll try the pioneer rep at the March Rally.

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25857
IF YOU HAVE ANY LUCK LET ME KNOW, I HATE MY GPS, IS WAS A WAST OF MONEY

Charlie & Lorraine Zecman
2002 Magna # 6162
Florida

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25863
I know that this isn't what you really want to hear - namely, spend some more money. However, I have been using a laptop with a USB GPS receiver for 5 years.

Advantages: (1) Updated map software is available yearly at a reasonable cost, (2) screen is very large making it easy to see, (3) the software can be totally installed on the hard drive - no errors due to bouncing read heads on the CD/DVD drive, (4) the 2 primary map programs (Microsoft Streets and Trips, Delorme StreetAtlas USA) have demonstrated routing and road information reliability - If you use Streets and Trips, you can get updated road construction information from the internet (this is across the US), (5) I also get the Trailer Life Campground Directory on CD each year - thus I have access to all the campground info without dragging out the `big book', (6) I can take the laptop off the dash and get comfortable while I plan out routing (corollary to this is that I can do planning at my desktop at home or work and import the routing to my laptop), (7) I have the laptop for internet access and digital photo storage while on the road, and (8) while it is not a compact solution, I can take the laptop and GPS receiver and put it in my Toad if I need it for local sightseeing.

Disadvantages: The only one I have found is that the unit is not installed in the dash but has to sit on the top of the dash ? however, for me, that is no issue since the large flat dash holds it quite easily and the screen size makes it very easy to see from 3+ feet away.
At SAM'S Clubs, you can usually get Microsoft Streets and Trips WITH a GPS receiver for about $129.00. The receiver that you get with Streets and Trips will also work with the Delorme software and the Trailer Life software (TL will also do routing and map display but it lacks the resolution and road details of the other 2 programs).
You can order Delorme StreetAtlas USA with a Delorme GPS receiver for about the same price (I use the Streets and Trips receiver so don't have any info on the sensitivity, etc., of the Delorme unit). One other advantage for Delorme is that they also have program that you can buy separately that will show topography of the US - I believe that you can import a StreetAtlas route into it and it will show you the vertical elevations of the entire route - but I have not used this so please check it out with the Delorme folks before you take it as gospel.
Software choices: As I said, I have all three software packages. I prefer StreetAtlas USA since I like the map display and the search functions better. However, it does have some errors in the road displays in that the actual plotted position may show up as being off to the side by as much as 200 feet ? this only shows up if you are operating with the map display at high magnification. I frequently plan my route using StreetAtlas, replicate the route in Steeets and Trips and then download the Streets and Trips road construction information to see if there are any predicted problems in my chosen route. One other plus for StreetAtlas USA is that several kind folks have generated map overlays for the entire US that show: (1) locations for all Wal-Marts, (2) all low-clearance road locations, (3) Flying-J locations, (4) TA locations, and (5) Cracker Barrel locations, (6) dump locations, and many other `niceties'.
I don't sell any of these packages, I just believe in them - I don't fire Moby Dick up for a trip without the laptop/GPS fired up at the same time. Please contact me if I can answer any other questions about how I use them.

John, Linda, and Lollipop

`06 Inspire DaVinci #51905 (Moby Dick) `02 Saturn (Pinocchio)

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25876
This Sounds like someone who never learned to use it properly. We have 3 and it took some time to learn each one but they are all very good if you use common sence and get some training. We even like the Pioneer.

Re: Pioneer Navigation System

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25879
LEARNING TO USE IT.

I TURN LEFT AND IT DONT KNOW IT

IT WATS ME TO MAKE A U TURN 5 OR 6 TIME PER 30 MIN.

IT IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK I HAVE EVER HAD

Charlie & Lorraine Zecman
2002 Magna # 6162
Florida

Re: Delorme System

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25883
To Interested parties;

I have a strong dissent from John's prior comment about the Delorme system. When the system was first offered, I was taken with the "Elevation" data, and so purchased the whole system including the associated GPS hardware. As an ex-pilot and boater, I have long used and respected Delorme's charts and maps--- so much so that I went substantially out of my way to visit their facility on my way to Nova Scotia.

The foregoing not withstanding, I found their hardware and mapping system to be very user UNFRIENDLY---so much so that I complained to the company. I quit using the system altogether as did several friends.
Subsequently Delorme wrote me and recommended using their revised "2nd version", which I found equally difficult. I ashcanned the whole system and went back to my old Garmin III and laptop.

I also have the Carin system hardwired in my Intrigue---- and despite the fact that the screen is as large or larger than any of the current offerings, it's not something to try and fathom while going down a busy road. Thus the Carin system is equally a pain---tho' a very expensive and work intensive one.

Thus MS's Streets and Trips coupled with the now nearly 20 year old Garmin and the newest laptop never let me down. In fact, it'll still let me know if the airliner is on track and any other vehicle I place it in.

There are those who will assure us that with patience etc, we can master any given system---but then I didn't retire and start RVing to prove that I can best some outsourced programmer/designer. I've got better things to do with my time.

Rog Wright- Intrigue 10861

rogwright

All best rog

Re: Delorme System

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25898
Quote
You might take a look at ALK CO Pilot 9 if you want something to try. I have used DeLorme since 1999 and Streets & Trips for several years as well and tried Co Pilot about 6 months ago and I think it is far superior to either of the others.
Ron 98 Allure 30185

Re: Delorme System

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25899
Quote
You might take a look at ALK CO Pilot 9 if you want something to try. I >have used DeLorme since 1999 and Streets & Trips for several years >as well >and tried Co Pilot about 6 months ago and I think it is far superior to >either of the others.
Ron 98 Allure 30185
I think we can see a common denominator of thought developing here that keeping all these functions....GPS, systems monitoring(VMSpc), etc. in the PC environment gives one the maximum flexibility and bang for the buck.
Then let those very talented "outsourced programmers" give us some great software in a free and competitive market!!

Tom Fisher
BigD

Re: Delorme System

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25902
How far are we from having a Windows PC as part of a CC as standard equipment?

GPS, System monitor, System Maintanance scheduling, Trip History and anything else the tech guys can think of...

All in one sure makes sense.

Russ and Jean
05 Intrigue
11883

Quote from: Tom Fisher
>You might take a look at ALK CO Pilot 9 if you want something to

try. I

Quote
have used DeLorme since 1999 and Streets & Trips for several
years >as well

Quote
and tried Co Pilot about 6 months ago and I think it is far

superior to

Quote
either of the others.
>Ron 98 Allure 30185

I think we can see a common denominator of thought developing

here that

Quote
keeping all these functions....GPS, systems monitoring(VMSpc),

etc. in the

Quote
PC environment gives one the maximum flexibility and bang for the

buck.

Quote
Then let those very talented "outsourced programmers" give us some

great

Re: Delorme System

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25903
We had a built in PC computer in the Alfa See Ya Gold Motorhome. Nice idea having the GPS, back up camera, Silverleaf, email etc. all in one place. Only problem, it was a nightmare keeping it all working correctly. The switch to override the computer so your back up camera would work always quit. The graphics card in the computer quit. The monitor quit. For a while the only place we could get a back up pix was on the overhead TV so of course we had to make it work when the ignition was on. Alfa never could get us a monitor that would work...they kept changing components and new wouldn't work with old systems. We ended up buying our own computer monitor, doing a vast rewiring and finally got the back up camera to work on the monitor.
When we traded the Alfa in for our CC we re-did all the wiring back to how it was and kept our computer monitor and installed the one Alfa sent. Told the dealer that they would have to rework all the front electronics for it was a nightmare. That coach sat at Beaudry's for 6 weeks waiting on parts to get the front electronics to work right.
If it could be simplified it would be great, but our experience with an on board factory installed system wasn't too hot. Alfa even quit putting them in the coaches due to all the problems of keeping it going.
Maybe CC could figure it out.
Sue

'05, 42' Allure, quad slide, #31254
 

Re: Delorme System

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 25948
Quote
The foregoing not withstanding, I found their hardware >and mapping system to be very user UNFRIENDLY---so >much so that I complained to the company.
Rog Wright- Intrigue 10861
I whole-heartedly agree with you. I kept using an older version of SA USA because I absolutely detest the user interface they use now. I finally upgraded due to outdated mapping information. I do not recall when the change took place in user interface, but I recall it being around 2000 or 2001. The old interface looked and behaved much like a Windows standard interface and utilized all the standard windows keyboard shortcuts. The current interface is most unfriendly. My solution is to use Street Atlas for planning purposes, then duplicate the routes in Garmin's Mapsource program and download the route info into the GPSMAP 276.

Maybe Delorme will eventually get a grip.

Sam Houston

'07 Tribute Sequoia #81002

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon toad