new car's navigation system

[takwong]

those navigation systems in a new car, do they require monthly fee?

On average, how much do they charge per month?

 

[Cerebus451]

Navigation systems do not require a monthly fee, but try to find a DVD-based system instead of a CD-based system. They do charge for the DVDs/CDs that contain the map database the system uses to provide navigation system, and obviously they can fit more info onto a DVD than a CD. You have to purchase additional DVDs/CDs if you want navigation data for an area not covered on the disc that comes with the car.

OnStar is the service that requires a monthly fee. However, it isn't a navigation system. Rather it is a link to the OnStar office and they can give directions if you get lost, call emergency vehicles for you when you are in an accident, etc., etc. The OnStar system also knows where your car is at all times, not necessarily a good thing.

 

[takwong]

i was riding on my boss's car the other day, he got the navigation system installed.....he can set an address and the computer will speak and tell him, "UP COMING LIGHT, MAKE A LEFT"...."YOU MADE A WRONG TURN, PLEASE MAKE A U TURN NOW".....

those navigation system operates on a CD?? Then how does the computer know where the car is?? B/C on the map, it shows the car as a red dots....as you drive on the street, the red dots keeps on moving...
isnt that some kind of satellite or something????

thanks.

 

[Cerebus451]

There is a GPS system built into the car as well, but those do not cost anything to operate. They simply read the information coming from the GPS satellites in order to tell where the car is, then it plots that onto the navigation map that is based on the CD. It's the same as if you bought a handheld GPS system at the store. You don't have to pay a monthly fee to use it, you just have to pay for the hardware. The US government foots the bill for maintaining the GPS satellites since the military also uses the system.

 

[diskop]

Originally posted by: takwong
i was riding on my boss's car the other day, he got the navigation system installed.....he can set an address and the computer will speak and tell him, "UP COMING LIGHT, MAKE A LEFT"...."YOU MADE A WRONG TURN, PLEASE MAKE A U TURN NOW".....

those navigation system operates on a CD?? Then how does the computer know where the car is?? B/C on the map, it shows the car as a red dots....as you drive on the street, the red dots keeps on moving...
isnt that some kind of satellite or something????

thanks.

I heard they operated on a DVD