Volvo RTI Navigation System Review
Discussion
I know this should be in the Sat Nav forum but as it's a make specific system have put it here, well OK we obviously may get a few Aston owners in here too.
Have been using the RTI system for three years and with the arrival of my new motor have now got the latest version.
Verdict, in short some things better, some not.
The routing algorithm is far far better. True it's like all satnavs in that there is no substitute for good accurate local knowledge but even so. If I whack in the route to the office, the old RTI would try and take me wholly on A roads via the nearest town ignoring a much quicker and more direct section of B road. The only way to stop it doing this was to create an avoid area over the critical bit of the town. My Mrs' Garmin Nuvi 760 has a much better attempt except that it shows the Garmin habit of sending you down scrofulous single track lanes before getting it's act together. The new RTI, bang on the best route, straight out of the box.
A few other experimental routes on journeys that I know very well and the new version is bang on.
The only fly in the ointment I've been able to find is the M6Toll, it has an affinity to that road, and if you set it up to avoid toll roads then it gets its knickers in a twist for a while.
The method of user control is the same, with the mini joystick and entry buttons on the back of the steering wheel plus a remote control so passengers can control it if needed. Best control method of any satnav I have tried.
During routing it has a great system which can advise you which lane to be in well in advance of the junction, very handy for busy motorway intersections.
All of Europe is on one hard drive, no more pratting about with multiple DVD discs on cross border journeys.
Scrolling across the map is better. Previously if you wanted to scroll ahead along a route you had to follow the markked route by using the joystick to move the map in the direction N, S ,E or W. This could be a pain as in this mode the map automatically goes to North up and when the route went diagonally you had to go in a series of steps, eg N then E then N again then E again and so on. Now you just pull the joystick in the vague direction and it automatically follows the route crosshairs locked on.
There are some things not so good though, might be a matter of taste.
There has been criticism of the old RTI that it looked old fashioned, and to be honest the menu system did look as if it was done on an old Amstrad computer from the 80s. It was, however, eminently readable and clear. The menu has now been jazzed up and whilst it looks more modern it just is not as clear to my eyes. However there are so many settings maybe need to experiment more.
The messaging about reroutes due to traffic problems seem somewhat inscrutable, but at least it does not just swap backwards and forwards between two routes. Early days yet, time will tell on this to see if it is worse or better.
The maps on the old one just had single lines for roads, remember the old original Autoroute? To me that is fine, but the new ones use two lines to depict a road and it makes the maps look more fussy, but that is a matter of taste. You can still have a two screen display including maps in 2D or birds eye angled view. Not yet decided which is my favourite.
The system has aspeed safety camera database, it isn't possible to have a ping for a camera without having the voice guidance on. Also the database is crap, do NOT rely on it at all. I have it turned off. The only way of updating it is via very expensive updates from Volvo as far as I can see, so why put it on there.
In summary much improved, but areas where in my opinion they have made it worse it is because of following fashion rather than just application of logic and figuring out what works from a practical aspect.
Of course the big downside is the cost.
Mine came in the comms pack with the bluetooth system for the phone, this works superbly, really superbly.
Also keyless entry which at first I was unsure about but beginning to warm to it. It certainly does not have the problem with losing the key/car communication link that happens a lot to the Fords on our fleet. Plus it is a matter of seconds simply to bang the key in the ignition switch and revert to the old fashioned method.
Hope this is of interest folks. If I find out more features and criticisms will update as we go on.
Cheers all
FiF
Have been using the RTI system for three years and with the arrival of my new motor have now got the latest version.
Verdict, in short some things better, some not.
The routing algorithm is far far better. True it's like all satnavs in that there is no substitute for good accurate local knowledge but even so. If I whack in the route to the office, the old RTI would try and take me wholly on A roads via the nearest town ignoring a much quicker and more direct section of B road. The only way to stop it doing this was to create an avoid area over the critical bit of the town. My Mrs' Garmin Nuvi 760 has a much better attempt except that it shows the Garmin habit of sending you down scrofulous single track lanes before getting it's act together. The new RTI, bang on the best route, straight out of the box.
A few other experimental routes on journeys that I know very well and the new version is bang on.
The only fly in the ointment I've been able to find is the M6Toll, it has an affinity to that road, and if you set it up to avoid toll roads then it gets its knickers in a twist for a while.
The method of user control is the same, with the mini joystick and entry buttons on the back of the steering wheel plus a remote control so passengers can control it if needed. Best control method of any satnav I have tried.
During routing it has a great system which can advise you which lane to be in well in advance of the junction, very handy for busy motorway intersections.
All of Europe is on one hard drive, no more pratting about with multiple DVD discs on cross border journeys.
Scrolling across the map is better. Previously if you wanted to scroll ahead along a route you had to follow the markked route by using the joystick to move the map in the direction N, S ,E or W. This could be a pain as in this mode the map automatically goes to North up and when the route went diagonally you had to go in a series of steps, eg N then E then N again then E again and so on. Now you just pull the joystick in the vague direction and it automatically follows the route crosshairs locked on.
There are some things not so good though, might be a matter of taste.
There has been criticism of the old RTI that it looked old fashioned, and to be honest the menu system did look as if it was done on an old Amstrad computer from the 80s. It was, however, eminently readable and clear. The menu has now been jazzed up and whilst it looks more modern it just is not as clear to my eyes. However there are so many settings maybe need to experiment more.
The messaging about reroutes due to traffic problems seem somewhat inscrutable, but at least it does not just swap backwards and forwards between two routes. Early days yet, time will tell on this to see if it is worse or better.
The maps on the old one just had single lines for roads, remember the old original Autoroute? To me that is fine, but the new ones use two lines to depict a road and it makes the maps look more fussy, but that is a matter of taste. You can still have a two screen display including maps in 2D or birds eye angled view. Not yet decided which is my favourite.
The system has a
In summary much improved, but areas where in my opinion they have made it worse it is because of following fashion rather than just application of logic and figuring out what works from a practical aspect.
Of course the big downside is the cost.
Mine came in the comms pack with the bluetooth system for the phone, this works superbly, really superbly.
Also keyless entry which at first I was unsure about but beginning to warm to it. It certainly does not have the problem with losing the key/car communication link that happens a lot to the Fords on our fleet. Plus it is a matter of seconds simply to bang the key in the ignition switch and revert to the old fashioned method.
Hope this is of interest folks. If I find out more features and criticisms will update as we go on.
Cheers all
FiF
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