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VDO Dayton MS5000 Car Navigation System Product ReviewVDO Dayton MS5000 Automobile Navigation SystemProduct Review draft (9/25/00)by Joe MehaffeyOverview of the MS5000The VDO Dayton MS5000 (5K) is the one of thelatest of VDO's several models of automatic route finding GPS navigatorfor automobiles. VDO is a well known German name in the EuropeanGPS navigator market and has their equipment is optional OEM equipmentin several cars including the Lincoln Navigator and BMW. The 5K isa top-of-the-line model with several interesting features. Theseinclude:1) A 5.8'W x 3.25'H (168 mm x 98 mm) colordisplay.
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The display is bright and EASY TO READ in all light conditionsincluding bright sunlight. It has an automatic brightness controlwhich works well as ambient light changes. The map display can beNorth UP or Track UP as desired.2) The inclusion of a 2 axis Piezo ElectricGYROSCOPE is an important and functional feature of the 5K system.This gyro takes care of the problem of intermittent GPS receptionwhen traveling in built up city areas, mountains and wooded areas.When the GPS signal is inadequate, the system switches over to thepiezo gyro and the signal from the speedometer and 'dead reckons' untilthe GPS signal returns.
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When GPS signals are being received,the GYRO and speed sensors are continuously calibrated.3) The computer/CDROM reader is 180mmW x 160mmDx 51mmH. The computer module includes the 32 bit RISC computer,Piezo gyro, CDROM reader, 16 megs Ram, 16 megs FlashROM, and the 8 channel parallel GPS receiver. An amplifiedexternal antenna complements the GPS receiver.4) An infrared link hand held remote controlcan either be used on internal AA cells -or- it can communicate and bepowered by a plug in cradle if desired and not use the IR link.5) Software capabilities of the 5K are extensiveand include all of the features needed for automobile navigation.The address-to-address routing is competent and we especially like theautomatic recomputation of a new route if you take a wrong turn or decidenot to follow the computed route. Most user operations were intuitive.A few were poorly thought out and counterintuitive.
However,after a learning period, all is OK. (Additional discussionbelow.)What's Different about the MS5000?The 5K definitely has five outstanding features.First, the daylight viewing screen with automatic brightnesscontrol and the ability to automatically turn to night mode when you turnon your headlights are definite display advantages. We have not seena better monitor in direct sunlight. Second, the VDO has agyro element which allows you to continue to navigate during momentary(or even fairly lengthy) GPS signal interruptions is pretty impressive.The gyro used in the VDO Systems is a Piezo-electrical gyroscope 1.6'x1.5'x0.8'and is mounted on the main Printed Circuit Board. Seeing the systemtrack my progress in an underground parking garage was interesting if notespecially useful!
In city canyons in Atlanta, tracking wasfull time even when the GPS signal was intermittent. For fullaccuracy, (i.e. So as not to confuse the navigator whenyou back up), you must hook up your back up light signal andof course the car's electronic speed signal (analog voltage or digitalpulses OK. The system automatically uses 'whichever' and calibratesit against the GPS.).
With these signals, the system is ableto 'dead reckon' navigate for many minutes in the absence of GPS signals.Third, the automatic address-to-address router recomputesthe route automatically if the driver deviates from the computed route.-And- The computer generated routes were routinely 'extremelysatisfactory' and always at least 'acceptable'. I saw no reallyunsatisfactory routes in the areas where the NavTech maps had full coverage.Outside the full coverage areas, you can navigate to town centersor to cross streets.
NavTech coverage is NOT universal in the USA.Make sure your areas of interest are covered.Fourth, Map scrolling is smooth and fast. (Not instantaneous,but faster than other systems we have tested.)Fifth, Coming next year in Atlanta is a road/street/highwaywarning service via radio.
When/Where implemented, anaccessory receiver can pick up these signals and automatically routethe driver around traffic jams, wrecks and construction. Thissounds like a GREAT feature.How do you operate the MS5000?Having a MS5000 with you is a lot like having a humanco-pilot in the right hand car seat with a map book and total familiaritywith your travel area. To use the MS5000, you enter a destinationcity and a destination street address (or two cross streets) and enterclick the GUIDANCE command. The sequence for entering an addressis moderately involved. Using the remote control, the userpresses MENU, then selects NAVIGATION, then ADDRESS BOOK,then RETRIEVE/STORE address, then select PRIVATE/BUSINESS,then enter country, city, street and number.
Then pressOK, then select GUIDANCE and off you go. This procedure ismuch more involved than most other similar systems, BUT, youdo in the end get the job done.
After a delay of perhaps 15to 30 seconds, the MS5000 will begin VOICE GUIDANCE INSTRUCTIONS.Unlike the Delorme SA7 and SkyMap 2000, the available audio levelfrom the MS5000's built in speaker (located in the rear of the display)was more than adequate in a noisy car at 70 mph. In about 1000 milesof travel so far with the 5K, we found it to give extremely gooddirections and best of all TIMELY and clear directions. On RARE occasions,we found the directions a bit late where an exiting expressway rampwas extremely long.
We found that it was really not necessary torefer to the very accurate map display. The voice instructionsare all that is needed to get you from address to address efficiently.If you wish to deviate from your set route for a period, you pressa few keys and PNA recomputes your new route. Otherfunctions allow you to view the map without guidance, retrieve addressesfrom the address book, setup system parameters, operate mapscreen guidance, pointer screen guidance, or combo (split)screen guidance.
An automatic volume control increases volume asyour car speeds up and reduces it as you slow down. This adjustablefeature is GREAT!
I wish my car radio had this feature.(VDO offers the model MS3100 without the excellent color map displaybut with a smaller screen giving POINTER directions and VOICE directionsfor about $1500 compared to the approximate $2500 price tag for the MS5000.(.) The MS6000 is another VDO modelwhich includes the excellent color display of the MS5000 within a standardDIN size radio chassis. It includes an AM/FM radio and disk playerwithin this very compact module. When you want to use the displayscreen on the MS6000, the front of the radio slides out, thescreen rotates and like magic the big display screen appears.)Map AccuracyThe NavTech maps appear (in the Atlanta area) to be the mostaccurate digital maps we have seen.
So far, we have found zeroerrors in the road maps excepting in areas built or changed within thelast year. (That is not to say that there may not be a few!)The one way streets, expressway ramps, are all in the rightplace and pointing in the right direction as far as our checks determined.This was a major contributor to the smoothness of operation we felt whendriving in 'tricky' road areas. Often, 5K would take us oneway going in and another way coming back to take advantage of one way streets.At a glance, you might infer that NavTech Maps provide street leveldetail in all areas of its map coverage. Unfortunately, thisis not true.
Basically they cover 'large cities and metropolitanareas' with extraordinarily detailed maps. Then many areas OUTSIDEthese 'large cities and metro areas' have just state and federal roadsand highways and the better known local arteries. We did notethat when we were outside the metro coverage areas, the MS5000continuously directs you toward a main highway even if this routing wouldtake you considerably out of your way and on lower quality roads and streets.By using the map display, you can easily note this and just drivethe more direct way.Be sure to carefully review the map coverage data for detailsin your area to avoid disappointment. For instance, in theAtlanta area, Cherokee and Hall Counties have no detailedcoverage despite officially being in the Atlanta Metro Area What other features does theMS5000 have?. The 5K includes an address book with upto 100 entries.