Nav Map updates

[larrylwill]

Has anybody gotten the email about new Nav map updates 2014? $149 They think there worth as much as a GPS with newer, better, more accurate and free for life updates including the GPS itself.

Has anybody updated from 2013? I would think that if I buy a car in 2014 I should be entitled to at least the 2014 maps, not 2013, So in essence I bought a 2014 car with 2013 maps and have to pay $149 to get current with the car year.

Not very fair.

 

[murphy]

I got an A5 SD card on eBay for $50. It still doesn't know where my house (built in 1957) is.

 

The contents of version.txt from the A4 card

Region=NA
SubRegion=NA_UC
Version=A4
Map=20120813


The contents of version.txt from the A5 card

Region=NA
SubRegion=NA_UC
Version=A5
Map=20120822

The map on the here.com website does know where my house is so the A5 card does not include a current map.

[Sleddog]

Same for me. 50 bucks on eBay.

[acdii]

So the map update is only 9 days apart.

[larrylwill]

The question is, is this really a 2014 map or is it just a hacked 2013? Have you compared the contents of the SD with the old one? Usually the file size is bigger on the new ones. I do not see any A5 updates under $100 Buy It Now just ones for auction. I thought they were paired with your Vin number. The book says they are. Am I wrong?

Edited November 12, 2014 by larrylwill

[md13ffhguy]

Scam. Plain and simple. Not even worth $50.

[acdii]

They used to be VIN tied when they came on a DVD, they no longer are VIN tied on the SD cards.

[GrayStrider]

Do you have to do anything special with the new SD card, or just remove the old one, insert the new one, then start the car?

[larrylwill]

Do you have to do anything special with the new SD card, or just remove the old one, insert the new one, then start the car?

In the 2014, Just pull the old one and put in the new one.

[jeff_h]

In the 2014, Just pull the old one and put in the new one.

 

Same with the 2013 - actually you push down on the card and it will then release, then push the new one in

Edited December 6, 2014 by jeff_h

[ethermion]

Yup. Push, pop, pull out to remove. Push in the new. 10 second install. $50 a5 from ebay. Definitely more current. Worth it to me, err, to my wife that drives it.

[Easy Rider]

I thought they were paired with your Vin number. The book says they are. Am I wrong?

Once inserted into a car they might be.

That date code sure looks suspicious.

Anyone with an "official" A5 willing to pull it and read the version file ??

I don't have time right now.

[larrylwill]

I bought one off ebay. I checked it against my A4 some file sizes are different and the dates are different. I copied it to my HD but when I copied them to another SD card it would not work in the car. I also tried to copy the A4 and got the same problem. I tried several copying with different methods, nothing worked. All I can tell you are they are different and the Nav unit says its an A5.

 

That being said, I have a question about the Nav. I never noticed a red circle blinking around the arrow symbol. Has that always been there?

Edited December 6, 2014 by larrylwill

[SteveB_TX]

There has always been a flashing WHITE circle around the RED arrow on our navs. :)

[larrylwill]

I guess me or the wife never noticed it before.

[GrySql]

I got an A5 SD card on eBay for $50. It still doesn't know where my house (built in 1957) is.

The contents of version.txt from the A5 card

 

Region=NA

SubRegion=NA_UC

Version=A5

Map=20120822

 

The map on the here.com website does know where my house is so the A5 card does not include a current map.

My $50 A5 card is the same.

It does have a newer entry for the Wolverine Global 3rd Party License of 02/14/2014.

 

Plus the Data date is:

[larrylwill]

Mine still says I'm in an incomplete mapped area when I start from the house. This house was built in 1964 and Google streets has been mapping it since before I moved here in 2007. I just do not understand why the most expensive nav unit is the most incomplete, even my Chinese gps has more poi's and map data.

[SteveB_TX]

You can't blame the Ford navigation unit for the incompetence of the mapping company. The hardware can only display what data is provided... good, bad, or ugly. Google has nothing to do with the Ford navigation anyway. If you are going to blame anyone, blame NAVTEQ, as they provide the map data to Ford.

[Easy Rider]

You can't blame the Ford navigation unit for the incompetence of the mapping company.

Except that they have contracted with a company that seems to be totally incompetent.

I just looked at my "official" A5 and the dates are similar if not exactly the same as others have reported from the "grey market" versions.

 

What that shows beyond a shadow of a doubt IS that the data being provided is OVER a year old; closer to 18 months it seems and that's just going by the file dates. The actual data USED to produce those files might be around TWO YEARS OLD.

 

PATHETIC service.

 

AND.......as long as we are on the subject, has anyone actually tried to submit a map correction with their new system ?

Looks to me like that is pretty much inoperative for vehicle nav owners too.

 

Beyond pathetic. ;(

[murphy]

On the Here.com web site I was going to submit a correction for my house location, built in 1957, but it was already correct on their web site. That is absolute proof, IMHO, that the map on the card is way out of date and it appears that Ford doesn't care. I don't know what they are paying to Here.com for maps but whatever it is they are being taken to the cleaners.

[Easy Rider]

I don't know what they are paying to Here.com for maps but whatever it is they are being taken to the cleaners.

Wrong. Ford makes a tidy profit on the crap hardware and updates.

It is US, THE OWNERS who are being taken to the cleaners.

[FordIVTteam]

Hey guys and gals,

 

Updating your navigation maps is completely optional. While not required, a map update ensures your navigation system's functionality is maximized. It can save you money in fuel costs and driving time, and provide thousands of new points of interest along the way. We are committed to ensuring that each map update enhances your navigation experience and delivers value.

 

If you’re interested in purchasing a software update, please visit: www.Navigation.com Enter the vehicle’s information to see if a map update is available. This is the only website recommended by Ford that map updates can be purchased from.

 

HERE, our map provider, is continuously working to shorten lead times and deliver the most current information available. If you notice missing or incorrect map data, I encourage you to report it at: www.here.com/mapcreator

 

Speak with a HERE representative directly at: 1-888-628-6277 if you have questions about a specific update.

 

Kim

[Easy Rider]

 

HERE, our map provider, is continuously working to shorten lead times and deliver the most current information available. If you notice missing or incorrect map data, I encourage you to report it at: www.here.com/mapcreator

 

Have you actually tried that web site to report a map error ?

 

If not, I encourage you to actually try it yourself.........and then come back here and repeat your recommendation again.

 

I found it to be totally useless. And that doesn't mean that I didn't like it, I could not see how people with our nav systems could even use it to report anything.

[murphy]

My house was built in 1957. That's 57 years ago. It is located correctly on the map that is displayed on the HERE web site. It is not located correctly on the map that HERE supplied for my car. That means they are NOT supplying current maps for Ford cars.

[larrylwill]

I live in Section Al. Incorporated in the 20's and anywhere I go I get entering incomplete map date. How can the even be possible. All my stand alone's have no problems, I have both navtek and tela atlas, each has better data for a given area, BUT none have incomplete map data for my city except Fords. Its very Obvious that Ford does not use the stock or best version of the mapping software, They probably buy year old data for cheap so they can sell it for a large profit. The POI's are another story, if you look at portables you will find from 1.5 - 12 million POI's for the US. I have not been able to find how many Ford has I would bet its on the lower side by a large margin.

Its most likely all car manufactures do the same thing.