NZ Navigation DVD for Altezza - Who wants in on this...

[Maximum]

Hi,

I've recently become the proud owner of a Altezza Gita, that happens to come with the navigation system - in Japanese.

I've been doing a bit of investigation into the DVD, and trying to find out about companies that make a DVD for the nav system.

What I've found so far is that Toyota does make a DVD for it. However there are a couple of hitches....

1) They don't have one in stock, and they aren't sure if it will work in an import.
2) Even if it doesn't work, I still have to pay for it
3) its $750!!!

So my question is, does anyone have any evidence of a Toyota nav DVD working in an import - either here, or in Australia?

If so, I'm thinking of cutting back that price tag by getting some other altezza owners to go in on the purchase with me. The DVD is copyable according to this thread: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct ... f0ea49d/92

So how about it? Anyone keen ?

-Rob-

[Maximum]

After doing a bit of ringing around, there is another crowd that does nav DVDs for Toyotas too.

Whereis.com do them - which is what people use in Australia. I rang them, and they said that it will work, if its a Denso or VDO navigation system. I assume its a denso - but ill pull it apart tonight and find out for sure.

They charge $400 for the dvd, so thats not quite such a hit. I'd still be willing to split the cost with others if they are keen...

Still have to confirm it works though, and $400 is quite a lot to find out it doesn't....

[3SGEMAD]

i would go in, depending on how many others. would go thirds as a min.
i have a pioneer nav system, so might work, but not willing to spend $200 to try it

[TRD_ZERO]

Would it only work on toyotas as the navsystems arnt really automotive branded. If they work on other cars i could be keen.

[Maximum]

It's hard to get information on this. I rang Toyota 3 different times and got 3 different stories.

It seems that Toyota has got a "test" dvd in some of their branches, that they can stick in your car and tell you if the $750 dvd would work or not. I will do some more ringing around tomorrow and see if anyone has this test dvd.

I rang whereis again today, and got another different story from the 2nd person i spoke to. They said that they dont sell dvds for cars specifically, instead they only sell the maps, which other manufacturers (i.e. navman, e.t.c) buy and build into their own proprietary systems - which is useless for us.

This is contrary to their website, and the first person i spoke to; who both say that the DVD is available for Denso and VDO based toyota nav systems. When I get a change, ill whip mine out (the nav system i mean) and check its model number.

I agree 3sgemad - $200 is too much. I was thinking more along the lines of $50 each for 8 people. Once I/we can confirm it works, I'm sure we can get some interest.

Would it only work on toyotas as the navsystems arnt really automotive branded

It seems that way. Although I can let you try my japanese CD if you'd like in your nav system. I guess if that works in yours, then the NZ one should too...


Will keep you posted,



-Rob-

[3SGEMAD]

any chance you could make a copy of your jap dvd so i could try in my system?

[TRD_ZERO]

I did a search once on google and they had the dvds forsale on like amazon or somewhere similar. They had it split up into three different dvds just for the North island one for the whole north island one for the upper half and one for the lower half. They were around the $200 mark and they wernt really navsystem specific (thus could mean it works on all of them or they havent stated it cause they dont know. Do a search and see what you can find on google there was quite alot.

Im wanting the Nav DvD for a 2003 Skyline 350gt lets just hop it doesnt make a difference.

[Mr Revhead]

TNZ are only just getting into satnav, so i reckon less than 1% at dealerships have a clue about it

[Maximum]

any chance you could make a copy of your jap dvd so i could try in my system?

Im trying to do that right now

Even if I can't get a working DVD from a company, I've figured out which files on the DVD I need to get for New Zealand. The files are stored in a kwi format, which from what I've read, is a reasonably common format for nav systems.

My thinking is that if I can't find a company that makes one specifically for the altezza system, then I might be able to hodge podge one together

They have done something similar in the states with old/new versioned nav DVDs, for various reasons.

However, the first step in this is making sure that a copyed dvd will actually work in the Nav system...


TRD_ZERO - yes - there are a lot of nav dvds out there. Few are for little ol' New Zealand, and of those, im not sure any will work. $200 is expensive to trial something and find its useless, with no money back guarantee
Hence - the Toyota demo disk will be the first thing I try.


Revhead - can you let us know a bit more about this demo dvd?

[Mr Revhead]

im not part of the 1%

ill ask some questions.. but sounds dubious.
but seeing as new toyotas are now avail with satnav.. id say its possible theres something we can do

[Maximum]

Ok thanks - sounds good

Just been reading a bit more - The australian nav dvd available from toyota is made by whereis. The file format is the same as whats on my dvd - so this sounds hopeful, since whereis do a NZ nav dvd - supposedly for Toyota...

Im ripping my Jap cd right now - 50% complete and going strong

I'm also downloading a UK nav dvd - this is so I can test the theory that a non-japanese dvd will work in a Japanese import - something which people seem to be unsure about.

[Jazza]

Hi,

I've recently become the proud owner of a Altezza Gita, that happens to come with the navigation system - in Japanese.

I've been doing a bit of investigation into the DVD, and trying to find out about companies that make a DVD for the nav system.

What I've found so far is that Toyota does make a DVD for it. However there are a couple of hitches....

1) They don't have one in stock, and they aren't sure if it will work in an import.
2) Even if it doesn't work, I still have to pay for it
3) its $750!!!

So my question is, does anyone have any evidence of a Toyota nav DVD working in an import - either here, or in Australia?

If so, I'm thinking of cutting back that price tag by getting some other altezza owners to go in on the purchase with me. The DVD is copyable according to this thread: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct ... f0ea49d/92

So how about it? Anyone keen ?

-Rob-

Get a Garmin GPS or Ique.... 400 bucks at Harvey Norman on special. Does everything your current nav system does, and it has current maps and it is a pocket PC... Pwned

[Maximum]

pwned indeed

That does sound quite good.

But, I'm a tinkerer - and if I can get this working, it will be cheaper, and make other altezza owners happy since it will allow them to use their nav systems too

[Maximum]

That $400 deal is a hand-held pda - far from integrated IMO

Wrang Whereis AGAIN.... guy was marginally more helpful - he said that Harvey Norman Australia stock the DVD, so Harvey Norman NZ would also stock them. I rang HN, and they said they didn't - so thats a dead end.

The Whereis guy also suggested finding out the model of the nav unit, and giving Denso a call - his thinking is that they will be able to say if the whereis disk will work in their unit.

Sounds reasonable...

So I will have to wait until the weekend to get the model number (I get home after dark). Unless someone else can post what their nav model number is?

-Rob-

[Mr Revhead]

Harvey Norman NZ would also stock them. I rang HN, and they said they didn't - so thats a dead end.

when ringing a place like that.... ring more than one... and try and talk to someone who knows!! chances are the first person to answer the ph will think "hmm to hard" and say no!

[Maximum]

Fair comment - but I basically asked the guy if the sold Navigation DVD's at all. He went and had a look, came back, and said that they only sell the SD flash cards for the Nav systems they sell.

In any case, you could be right - I'll drop by the Wairau park one on the weekend anyway, and see if they do for myself.

[Maximum]

ill ask some questions.. but sounds dubious.

Any progress on this mr revhead?

[Mr Revhead]

am trying to find out who here went on the satnav course

[Maximum]

Got hold of the UK sat nav dvd last night - will burn a disk when i get a dual layer dvd, and see if it works. If not, i'll try to muck around with the kwi files on the disk, and make a 'mix' disk of my jap one, and the UK one...

I have another idea for the nav screen, so if this doesnt work out, all is not lost

-Rob-

[Shel]

am trying to find out who here went on the satnav course

Hey, based on my understanding of the system, I'd be surprised if the TNZ NZ DVD will work properly in an import vehicle. Likely to be an issue with how the NZ software communicates with the Japanese hardware. Could work with some Denso systems but for those that we have tested it doesn't work... and then even if one did work, could be an issue with whether the characters display in English or not.

Having said that, the factory fit system (available in Aurion Grande and Prius) and the accessory AVN are really good and have great coverage.

Best way to check is to ask your nearest dealership if they have a demo disc you can test.