[Surprise]

Fantastic equipment. I was on a trip covering different states last week & this MMI VX140 is of great help. That equipment had 4.x version, which itself is very clean on highways

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

While exploring my MMI Lx130 navigator with v6.1 maps today, I found out that in the Settings>Language>Indian English option too in addition to English US. The previous version 6.0 did not have that Indian English option. I observed that while English US had two voice options, viz., male and female, the Indian English has Sangeeta only; no male voice option.

I had purchased the latest version through online and got the link with steps to be followed for installation via email. But didn't tried it out as 4.1 version itself good & do not want to screw up the working of the equipment by doing something wrong. MMI representatives (Sangeetha?) followed up couple of time during my trip to inquire whether I was successful with the upgraded version installation. Have to get that done over this weekend

[kirantp]

Originally Posted by Surprise

Fantastic equipment. I was on a trip covering different states last week & this MMI VX140 is of great help. That equipment had 4.x version, which itself is very clean on highways

I had purchased the latest version through online and got the link with steps to be followed for installation via email. But didn't tried it out as 4.1 version itself good & do not want to screw up the working of the equipment by doing something wrong. MMI representatives (Sangeetha?) followed up couple of time during my trip to inquire whether I was successful with the upgraded version installation. Have to get that done over this weekend

Trust me dude. If you are liking V4.x then you will fall for V6.1 as soon as you start using it. I recently completed my 1st long drive using it covering Chikmagalur->Sringeri->Agumbe->Shravanabelagola->BLR and it did not let me down even for a single moment with 100% coverage and on the run calculation of optimal route as well. Will be posting the travelogue soon.

[kirantp]

Friends,

Here is one more useful stuff that I came across with the MMI today.

I was testing the navigation for my upcoming holiday trip while driving back home from work this evening and I found out that you can actually increase/decrease the volume of the MMI voice when the announcement is being made even though the music from your HU is running in the background.

I found this feature a real plus as I was not aware of it earlier and every time I had to go to the settings-> volume to set the volume so thought of sharing it with you folks.

Regards,
Kiran

[k_nitin_r]

Originally Posted by souravc

Would the SD slot of MMI be similar to Garmin , do these follow any industry standard ?

Almost every after-market portable (the kind fitted to the windshield with a suction cup) GPS device that I have used has an SD card slot and a USB port. Plugging it into USB lets you use the device as a card reader.

The Lexus in-car GPS uses a CD instead of an SD card for storing the maps. The Lexus dealership provides a new CD every year.

[sylvan]

I plan to go for vx140 as well. But when I checked MMI site, there was another vx140s Premium that costs 1k more. I couldnt see any obvious difference between them. Would anyone know what this premium tag is all about?

[kirantp]

Originally Posted by sylvan

I plan to go for vx140 as well. But when I checked MMI site, there was another vx140s Premium that costs 1k more. I couldnt see any obvious difference between them. Would anyone know what this premium tag is all about?

The only difference between the two is:

vx140s Premium - Provides house level turn-by-turn directions.
vx140s - Provides Street level turn-by-turn directions

[sylvan]

Originally Posted by kirantp

The only difference between the two is:

vx140s Premium - Provides house level turn-by-turn directions.
vx140s - Provides Street level turn-by-turn directions

Hmm.
Looks like most people prefer the street level accuracy. I didn't see any premium buyers here. Planning to get one by today or tomorrow.

[kirantp]

Originally Posted by sylvan

Hmm.
Looks like most people prefer the street level accuracy. I didn't see any premium buyers here. Planning to get one by today or tomorrow.

Go ahead dude. Its worth having it around especially when you fell like you are a stranger in any place

[Prithvi]

Am thinking of buying the Vx240 from MMI, is this model a better one than the entry level models, has any forum members used it? Would appreciate some feedback

[k_nitin_r]

Originally Posted by kirantp

Go ahead dude. Its worth having it around especially when you fell like you are a stranger in any place.

My MMI navigation seems to point me in 'random' directions so I wouldn't recommend it as the sole means of getting around in the city but if you have a general idea of where you are going and can look at the screen to figure out where to go (the turn-by-turn voice navigation only helps when you are close; at other times, you're better off using your own sense of direction). The device is pretty useful in figuring out which road you are on and is great for 'browsing' the map to find roads and land marks. You can even search by apartment names! At times, it doesn't accept the latitude and longitude that I typed for search for some reason. I'd say the device is better than nothing at all and helps you most when you are lost on the smaller roads within the city.

[sylvan]

Originally Posted by k_nitin_r

My MMI navigation seems to point me in 'random' directions so I wouldn't recommend it as the sole means of getting around in the city but if you have a general idea of where you are going and can look at the screen to figure out where to go (the turn-by-turn voice navigation only helps when you are close; at other times, you're better off using your own sense of direction). The device is pretty useful in figuring out which road you are on and is great for 'browsing' the map to find roads and land marks. You can even search by apartment names! At times, it doesn't accept the latitude and longitude that I typed for search for some reason. I'd say the device is better than nothing at all and helps you most when you are lost on the smaller roads within the city.

I was using my Android phone google maps to get to ISKCON from electronic city in Bangalore which is almost 25 kms. It gave me the best route and was very comfortable with the passenger guiding me by looking at the phone. When I tried to use this in Chennai and Pondy few weeks later, the phone just refused to get a GPS lock. It was really frustrating in Pondy for us to navigate through the city and find the resort. This for a person who speaks the local language.I feel it is better to hold on to a device which can atleast give you a pointer of where to go.

[k_nitin_r]

Originally Posted by sylvan

When I tried to use this in Chennai and Pondy few weeks later, the phone just refused to get a GPS lock.

That's exactly the reason why I still hold onto my GPS device. My Nokia E72 has good Ovi Maps but the GPS lock ability is questionable - at times, it locks within 15 seconds and at other times it is 10 minutes. On the GPS device, at least it gets a GPS lock and I can save locations as favorites for me to find my way back.

[alexrabbi]

Guys,

Any idea if this is a good device

MapmyIndia Electronic Accessories: Buy MapmyIndia Travelpilot Lucca GPS Device at Lowest Price Rs. 7,300 in India | FutureBazaar.com.

Thanks for your suggestion in advance .

[wildon]

Originally Posted by Kimified

I am from Bangalore and thought i don't really need the maps for now and can manage with a 2g connection and google maps. So put the MMI plan on hold.

I'm using MMI Road Pilot (Map V.6.0) and Google Navigation through my Nexus S.

I can tell you Google Navigation is much better than MMI at the present state too (mind you google navigation is not officially available in India, so you have to use the signed version to get it work)

I have used both these devices simultaneously on my recent trips to Ooty,Guruvayoor and Chickmagalur and here is my take.

Maps : Google Maps wins hands down. Now you can even store the maps offline for your desired route. MMI maps were broken before Salem (New 4 line road), some time after Nelamangala (again new road).

Navigation/Route : You have a choice to choose the routes in Google Maps, if MMI can gives this option it will be very good indeed. On MMI i didn't faced any signal issues and for google navigation the Signal was lost in Mudumalai forest(on the way to Ooty) for couple of times and the navigation was stopped.

Finding POI: its a breeze in Google and MMI needs improvements in search.

Battery : MMI wins hands down as my Nexus S gives overheating Alert. battery wont last in Nexus S even if you put on charge.Keep a fully charged spare battery if you want to use the phone after the Navigation.

Voice: MMI is very good as my Google Navigation app forecloses after sometime if i put the volumn.

Night Usage: Google is very good and it wont distract you .

Cost: I paid around 9K for MMI (no map upgrade done yet) and 23 K for Nexus S Phone plus i have taken Rs.99/- Monthly Data Plan with 2GB free usage from Airtel. The Rs.99 plan from airtel is more than enough for occasional navigation usage plus your other internet browsing.

Attending calls in between through bluetooth doesn't creates any problem and you can make the navigation work in the foreground even if you attend calls.

Originally Posted by Kimified

Maybe when the need arises to goto a different city, I will buy it. I even called them up and asked them if they can give me any discount They simply refused to budge.

Presently i'm using only Google Nexus S with a Fully charged spare battery and Keeping MMI as a standby for Navigation .

[prabhuferrari]

Did you root your phone? Is the hack via Brut maps?