No POI's while driving??

[GrySql]

This is my first in-car Nav system, used Garmin's before and really liked them, they were cheap and got the job done.

I have used in this FFH's expensive Microsoft SYNC Nav system several times and it works, has a nice screen presentation and has been accurate - so far.

I am well aware that ALL consumer Nav/GPS systems can produce spurious data, the same old YMMV again.

 

However, yesterday I had my wife try to use the Sync's POI function to look for a restaurant as we were driving - not allowed, greyed out.

WHAT!

"Some systems are not available while the car is in motion" is the most lawyer driven, nanny state idiocy I've ever heard of.

I was exiting the highway at the time so I pulled over and put it in 'Park' and lo and behold, the POI's were available.

I am disappointed in this (un)feature and wonder if I am not using the right buttons or something.

If someone could point out how to make the whole system work while underway I'd appreciate it.

 

Apparently, my sitting in the car, in the garage, making all the cars systems work was not a representation of how the MS Sync Nav works on the road.

 

Luckily my Garmin GPS's never did that.

I am going to put one back in the FFH so I can have access to an ENTIRE Nav system, not just what MS wants to loan me.

Besides, I had hundreds of extra, custom POI's on the Garmin's that cannot be installed in the SYNC Nav system.

 

 

 

 

[elle]

I was planning on using Google on my phone for navigation in my car; I ended up with the navigation system because it was installed on the car I ended up buying, but never would have ordered it. It works well enough, but I'm not awed by it.

[acdii]

Yep, thats standard DOT mandated you cant use it while driving as its a distraction function. There are unlock devices out there that will allow the use of those functions while on the road, and so far no laws have been written that I am aware of that says you cant unlock them. Just dont be playing a DVD while driving(it unlocks that too).

[rjent]

I know on the F150's with sync nav you could pull the option up that you wanted to use (that is greyed out) press and hold the "phone" button on the steering wheel and it will unlock it. You can even unlock the video playing capability of the unit.

 

Try it and let us know!

[JSKershaw]

You can use voice while driving to pull up restaurants and other POI while driving. It works fairly well once you get used to the voice commands.

[neod192]

Yep, thats standard DOT mandated you cant use it while driving as its a distraction function. There are unlock devices out there that will allow the use of those functions while on the road, and so far no laws have been written that I am aware of that says you cant unlock them. Just dont be playing a DVD while driving(it unlocks that too).

I know the '10 can play DVDs, but I didn't think the '13 was able to - unless you're playing them through a DVD player hooked up to the A/V input.

[acdii]

I know the '10 can play DVDs, but I didn't think the '13 was able to - unless you're playing them through a DVD player hooked up to the A/V input.

AV inputs. I dont think the player is DVD capable.

[GrySql]

Thank you for the help, I'd forgotten about the Voice Commands and will try the 'phone' button trick.

 

I've hooked up my iPhone with component/USB cables to the consoles inputs and played videos/TV shows (in Park).

 

Meanwhile I'm going to install one of my Garmins into the car as backup and for all my Custom POI's.

We travel and I have every MacDonald's and Rest Area in the USA on the Garmin, for potty stops. :fear:

[acdii]

Good move! I use my TomTom when I travel as a backup to the built in, and oh such a good thing to have when your built in Nav sends you across a ferry and then tells you drive with caution, roads unknown. :slapfight:

[Toz]

I seem to remember that in the car I test drove that the voice command "I'm Hungry" would bring up a list of restaurants

Edited April 10, 2013 by Toz

[GrySql]

Bingo! "I'm hungry" works with voice commands while underway.

Thanks!

Maybe I ought to read the Owners Manual a little more.

[acdii]

When you are low on gas, the gas POI will pop up too.

[KingJL]

No destination by poi, address, or city via touch while driving. All are available via voice while driving, albeit not as simple to accomplish as with touch (and don't get her/him confused)!

Edited March 6, 2013 by KingJL

[GrySql]

When you are low on gas, the gas POI will pop up too.

I ran it down to zero miles left, didn't see a POI for gas. Maybe I wasn't in the Nav mode that day.

 

I'm sure happy it works via voice though. :hysterical3: :talkhand:

Thanks for all the help.

 

(My Garmin GPS is still going in the car...)

[acdii]

Oh you do need to have the map up for them to show.

[GrayStrider]

I agree, it's frustrating. We were in Vegas when we first used the POI function. I tried to search for a particular restaurant, while hubby was driving, but instead it showed us a partial list of restaurants, but the rest was greyed out. Same goes for trying to input an address while someone else is driving. You can do it by voice while driving, but the one time I tried it, I wanted to punch the screen because it kept getting it wrong, so I gave up.

 

However, yesterday I had my wife try to use the Sync's POI function to look for a restaurant as we were driving - not allowed, greyed out.

Edited April 7, 2013 by GrayStrider

[acdii]

You know what would be a good improvement, is an unlock feature if there is a passenger in the front seat. That way the passenger can use the NAV and other features. Instead you have to get a 3rd party box to unlock it all.

[GrySql]

My Garmin 5" 2555 works great, now all my special POI's that I've accumulated for years are available.

The power outlet in the forward Console is perfect, the power cable reaches to the far left dashboard where I have the Garmin perched withing easy reach.

Done several runs with both Nav units working, comparing the differences.

After that test I use the Garmin mostly because it's easier to control/retrieve things while driving.

On longer trips to places I'm not familiar with I'll have them both going.

 

With POI's in mind I tried to find out if POI's could be imported to this MFT system.

I searched the SYNC website and it's forum and didn't find any info on how that could be accomplished.

Maybe I didn't look long enough, or like a lot of the potential of this MFT unit - it isn't allowed.