Info on Mazda Navigation System (aka DVD Nav)

[gdkenoyer]

There was very little info on the Nav system while I was researching purchase of a Mazda 3. Now that I've made the plunge (and got a fully loaded M3s with Nav) I thought I would share a bit of data.

The DVD-based GPS Nav system is from NAVTEQ. All of North America lives on the single DVD. The DVD reader lives in the glovebox, attached to the top (see first attached image [and forgive the blur])

The system gives verbal direction ("right turn in 1/4 mile") out of the driver-side speaker, but does not take verbal commands. It is controlled by the console to the right of the shifter (see second attached image).

Pressing the 'open' button on the dash (to the right of the closed display) will open the screen (surprise!). The tilt button will change the angle of the screen to reduce glare. Upon booting (which {I think} is every time you start the car with the DVD in the reader) the display will sequence thru 3 screens (startup, dvd-boot, and warning) and remain at the warning screen until you acknowledge it by pressing the 'enter' key. (see third attached image).

Is it worth it? I think so; I've not had the car a month yet, but the Nav has both come in handy locating an address and is a real kick just to have up and tracking your map position.

Searching on Nav or GPS will yield more info, including "how do you like it" reviews such as the following.

Link to "how do you like it?" posting.

I know this is brief. Other DVD owners - please add your comments & info!

 

[ChopstickHero]

nice setup.

 

[tsunami]

really wish i could have ordered one with the nav.. more and more.... shouldn't have been so impulsive... eh oh well... just have to do my own i guess... though i love that stock look... nice choice man....

 

[gdkenoyer]

Easter Eggs...?

I could have sworn this info was in here, but I've searched 3 ways from sunday...

Does anyone have the link to the post that detailed how to get to the Nav screen that showed Location and speed?

 

[timt]

I know this is brief. Other DVD owners - please add your comments & info!

Single best car option I have EVER purchased. I actually bought this option by accident---it just happend to be in the car I wanted. I really didn't think I'd use it much. Wow was I ever wrong.

Its so much more than a map or how to get to where I'm going device. Here's how we used it this past week at my daughters basketball tourny.

We get to our hotel and are hungry. Where to eat? We would usually take the easy way and go to the usually crappy in hotel restaurant because I wasn't in to mood to beg directions at the busy front desk or to write them down, etc then get lost taking a left when I should have gone right...you know the drill. By the time I get to eat I'm pissed at everyone around me.

The new drill: get in the car, turn on the magic and say, hey, what restaurants we got around here? Pull up restaurants by type or name or distance, whichever you prefer,....select the one of your choice, select "shortest distance" option, up comes the map, a friendly voice that says "guidance starting".....start to drive out of parking lot....wait for friendly voice...."slight right ahead"......"turn left in 1/4 mile"....."destination is on the right"......

What I didn't expect from all this is that its not that I can just find my way to where I want to go now....its that we now go where we never would have had the confidence to go before. Parks, theaters, restaurants, hotels, etc...its like there's a whole new world out there.

Man this was a good choice. I don't know if I want a car without this in the future. (spin)

 

[Prodigy]

hmm... I want to do a carputer install now...with a nav system.
*ponders* what happens when you press the "POS" button? (lol2)

 

[gdkenoyer]

And the easter egg goes to:

Ha! I knew I'd seen it somewhere:

Navigation Secrets

 

[mazda3zoom]

Ha! I knew I'd seen it somewhere:

Navigation Secrets

That link has some pretty interesting codes for the nav system. i put them in and it actually worked. It shows your altitude, speed (not very accurate tho) and other stuff. (headbang)

 

[gdkenoyer]

... It shows your altitude, speed (not very accurate tho) and other stuff. (headbang)

My speed showed as 0 both on the Satellite and Vehicle screens; pretty inaccruate as I was tooling along at ~35...

Did the 3rd one work for you, the RX-8 one? (UUU-DDD-UD) nothing here...?

 

[elhapero ei ole]

This 8 inch touch screen 800*480 Mazda 5 DVD is well designed for Mazda 5 series, it is built in GPS system, with tv tuner and bluetooth function. It will impress your friends and entertain your family. What is more, it will let your driving be more convenient and happier! (laserp5)