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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Most frequently asked questions are listed here. If you don't find
the answer to your question, please contact us. |
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Select the Category: |
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The VDO Dayton navigation system calculates the position of the car by using 3 different methods:
1) GPS information
The accuracy of the GPS position is ca. 25m (75 ft.), but very often the signal is distorted or not available due to trees, tunnels, urban canyons, etc. Using just GPS does not give the accuracy needed to navigate in a car.
2) Dead reckoning
By measuring the driven distance (speedometer signal), the driving direction (reverse gear signal) and the driven curves (gyroscope) the car position can be determined)
3) Map matching
The pattern of the driven road network is compared to the pattern of the digitized road network on the digital map. By combining these 3 calculation methods the average accuracy of a VDO Dayton navigation system is ca. 10-20m (30-60 ft.). |
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There are 3 reasons why a car navigation system is more expensive as a handheld or laptop solution:
1. Robustness
A VDO Dayton navigation system is designed to work also under rough conditions like low or high temperature, high humidity or hard road conditions. It will not break or provide less reliable guidance under those conditions. A laptop will not survive under those conditions in a car over some weeks.
2. Accuracy and reliability
A VDO Dayton navigation system is not just dependant on GPS. Due to the additional sensors like the gyroscope it works also in situations when no GPS signal is available.
3. Ease of use
With a few presses on the remote control a new destination is programmed to the system and it will guide you to your destination. The remote control and the display are designed for in-car use. The remote control can even be used at night (illumination) or with gloves. To make all this possible, VDO Dayton navigation systems comprise a powerful car PC with a 32 Bit RISC processor and 16 Mbyte RAM, 16 Mbyte Flash ROM and a shock proof CD ROM drive. |
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Like home PC's VDO Dayton navigation systems can be updated by loading new system software versions. Also updated map databases are available every 6 month. |
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The navigation system works with 12V power supply, but the signal interfaces (speedometer interface, ignition, reverse gear, head lights, ...) are capable of 24V. To convert the 24V to 12V a converter is required (e.g. 2 Ampere for MS5000). |
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The installation of a VDO Dayton navigation system in a motor cycle is possible. The computer needs to be mounted horizontally. The angle during driving curves is reducing the positioning accuracy, but tests in practical use did not show many problems. It has however to be considered that the VDO Dayton navigation system computer, remote control and display are not water resistant. |
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VDO Dayton navigation systems have an automatic calibration. After installation it takes only 2-8 Minutes to calibrate the system sufficiently. But the calibration works only in free areas (no urban canyons, woods, etc.). Before starting the calibration drive, wait until GPS reception is available. VDO Dayton navigation system might work after 1-2 miles calibration drive but for maximum accuracy longer drives (20-30 miles) at higher speeds (>30 miles) might be required. The fast and simple calibration procedure allows to use one navigation system in various cars. By use of a 2nd car kit a MS3100 or MS5000 can easily be exchanged between the business car during the week and the camper on the weekend. |
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From the driven distance over time the navigation system calculates a very accurate distance per speed pulse signal. Therefore the speed indication of the navigation system is much more accurate than the car speedometer. To avoid that you drive faster than the speed limit, car speedometers show usually a speed + 2...5% higher then real speed. Usually the navigation system indicates therefore a lower speed than the car speedometer. |
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VDO Dayton is offering 4 different types of navigation systems. How can I decide what is the best system for my purpose?
Stand-alone versus DIN products:
MS3000 and MS5000 use stand-alone displays. Those systems are recommended when you have a nice car radio which you don't want to replace or when the position of the DIN hole in the dashboard is not optimal for the use of a navigation system.
The 1 DIN products:
MS4000-series or MS6000-series are combined car radios and navigation systems. In cars where they can be positioned in a good way, they offer not just state-of-the-art navigation functions but also all functions of a high performance car radio system. In case of the MS4000-series the traffic info receiver is already included in the FM receiver part of the radio.
Monochrome versus color display systems
MS3000 and MS4000-series systems are called monochrome systems due their smaller sized mono-color displays. Those systems do not show a map on their displays due to their limited size. Color systems can be extended with e.g. a car TV-tuner or rear view camera. On the color display also a detailed map can be shown which might improve the drivers orientation in some difficult traffic situations. Navigation functionality and also quality of e.g. the planned routes, the given guidance advises, traffic info, etc. is however the same for all four VDO Dayton navigation systems. |
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TMC traffic data is broadcasted by several FM radio stations in Europe. It is digital info modulated on a subcarrier of the FM band. It is transmitted simultaneously to the audio information, that means the information is transmitted immediately when an incident occurs. The information is also continuously repeated, not just sent every 30 Minutes like the audible traffic info. The digital coding is required so that it can be displayed and taken into account for route planning by the navigation system. It makes it also language independent. So you can easily get traffic information in your language even in foreign countries. Today TMC traffic info is available for Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Very soon it will be available for more European countries. To get the TMC traffic info the Dynamic Traffic Info Receiver MT5000 is needed and a map CD ROM containing the TMC codes. In the VDO Dayton systems MS4000 and MS4100 the TMC Receivers are already included. Also without TMC information or without Dynamic Navigation Receiver it is possible to bypass a traffic jam by using the Alternative Route (ALT-R) function on the remote control. Via this function you can entry the distance you want to bypass and automatically the navigation system calculate a new route. |
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