2005 Avalon Nav DVD Revision

[PDR99]

The DVD version number on my menu screen ("DVD" is upper rignt icon)
screen says "Ver.04.1". I saw a version 4.2 referenced somewhere but
cannot relocate.

Does anyone have any info on a later DVD version? If so, is there any
way to find out changes from previous revision?

[05Limited]

I asked the salesperson when I bought the car and they thought the revision CD's were about $80.00. I live in a new subdivision and we are not on the mapping system. I was thinking of just visiting the dealer every six months or so and playing with a new car to see if my street is listed. Then I'll buy that release.

[peekpoke]

Where do you insert the new DVD once you get it?

Does the DVD stay in the unit or do you use it to load new data onto a internal harddrive or flashram?

Is it a standard DVD that could be copied?

[SiennaSC98]

Originally Posted by peekpoke

Where do you insert the new DVD once you get it?

Does the DVD stay in the unit or do you use it to load new data onto a internal harddrive or flashram?

Is it a standard DVD that could be copied?

The version of the data DVD that came on my 2005 Camry Navigation unit (from oemvalue.com) is v04.2. I think the latest version in now v04.3. Don't know the details of the updates/changes. The DVD map stays in the navigation unit's DVD drive. On newer ( 2005->) Toyota vehicles with Navigation, the CD player and DVD drive are in the same 2-DIN unit. They are used to be separated, the CD in the dash and the NAVI DVD for the map is located somewhere ( glove compartments or under the front passenger seat).

You might be able to copy it if you have a DVD writer and software that supports dual layer burning.

[05Limited]

The CD NAV unit for the 05 Avalon is in the trunk under the mat. THe CD stays in the unit all the time. It looks like a normal CD but I have no idea if it can be copied.

I have often wondered how much information comes from the CD vs. how much comes from the GPS satellites.

[peekpoke]

The GPS satellites provide no data beyond the location.

All the maps, listings, street names, freeway ramp details are on that Disc (which I assume is a DVD, not a CD).

I'm going to go look in my trunk right now! (the dealer said it was part of the unit in the dash, which did seem a bit crazy, hopefully the upgrade process is easy).

I do have a DL DVD Burner.

If the software is also stored on the DVD, then it's quite possible we could patch it to remove the "I Agree" notice, and allow full use of the navigation system when the car is moving!

[peekpoke]

I just took a look in the trunk.

On the drivers side of the trunk, there is a small raised platform. Under that platform is what looks like a black CD changer. I assume this is the navigation unit.

It's mounted inside a steel cage.

It has a wide slot, not wide enough for the old style CD trays from SCSI drives, but much wider than you would need for a disc alone.

It has a slide switch which appears to open and close a door over this slot. When the door is closed there are noises from inside the unit that sound like a Disc being loaded or accessed. I found no other controls on the face of the unit (which faces away from the side wall twords the center of the trunk).

My guess is there is either some way from the NAV control screen to tell the unit to stick out a drawer. Or they use a slimline caddy to hold the disc.

Based on the noises from inside the unit, it may hold multiple discs. I'll have to try switching regions and see if I can hear it swapping discs.

[05Limited]

It boggles my mind to wonder how every street, freeway ramp, restaurant can all fit onto that media. And how and the heck is all that data collected and stuffed onto the media for me to use. NO, I don't think I really want to know. I'd rather think of it as magic

[preskev]

What I'm really interested in is if you put a dvd moving in the nav player, will it play a dvd movie in nav mode on your screen?

[drzeller]

A lot of funky info in this thread. First, for those that reference a CD - it is a DVD, which is how it manages to hold all the info (versus older systems that held single regions of the country). Next, there is no tray to the unit in the truck. Once you slide the lock to the side, there is an eject button you can hit and it spits the DVD out. Regarding the sounds - it is not the unit changing CD's - it holds just the one DVD. The DVD is easily copied to a PC, and I have heard (but not tried) that you can create a new one with DL burner. I think the 05 Avalons all have the latest DVD right now (as of Aug 2005). Regarding playing movies -- sorry, but the Nav system does not include any enertainment functionality, so it's not like you just need to enter an unlock code through the head unit or something. Plus, it's hard to get to in the trunk, and the Nav would not work without it's DVD.

D.

[SiennaSC98]

Here is the 2005 Camry Navigation (1-unit 2-DIN size with CD DISC player and DVD drive for the MAP) that I installed on my 1998 Sienna. I'll be adding my existing external DVD player and reverse camera to the system using this audio/video interface from coastaletech.com - ViewTech 2005 Controller.