ViaMichelin X-970T

Very disappointed! I have the French map only version with the latest software Vs7. I brought it due to the full European life time license for live traffic information including major roads not just the motorways as some have. Unfortunately to receive this information you need to be connected to the car mount and have its external aerial connected. This makes forward planning an testing experience of hanging out a window with a damp finger against ...
...a FM signal.
But back to basics. Version 7 was only released in the UK at end of October I seem to have a pre launch version . I contacted Via Michelin, not easy, and they have added a rushed French manual on line but its poor pictures and layout make it very difficult to use. it seems any changes to try and improve the poor performance of previous versions have failed. I offered to give any advice or information but as yet only an acknowledgement.
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Very disappointed! I have the French map only version with the latest software Vs7. I brought it due to the full European life time license for live traffic information including major roads not just the motorways as some have. Unfortunately to receive this information you need to be connected to the car mount and have its external aerial connected. This makes forward planning an testing experience of hanging out a window with a damp finger against the contacts on the unit while trying to tune to a FM signal.
But back to basics. Version 7 was only released in the UK at end of October I seem to have a pre launch version . I contacted Via Michelin, not easy, and they have added a rushed French manual on line but its poor pictures and layout make it very difficult to use. it seems any changes to try and improve the poor performance of previous versions have failed. I offered to give any advice or information but as yet only an acknowledgement.
Where do I start?
It takes for ever to lock to a satellite usually it needs resetting. Have given up looking for a pin now just remove the SD card. Time is always wrong unable to use GPS clock. No screen saver when walking means ages trying to find the screen brightness to save poor battery.
The simplest navigation takes a myriad of entries. The classic is "Go Home" or go to a favorite. This takes at least 11 button presses! Including a data search. Impossible to do safely in the car. But don't try and get clever and do before you leave or else you will fall foul of the unable to locate a satellite. Unless you live in a tent and hold the unit in the air.
It has 3 modes of transport car, bike and pedestrian. Easy to leave in the later when you return to the car after using for walking then you will get sent the wrong way round roundabouts and one-way streets! You will forget as the unit fails to receive a signal in a pocket so is useless for walking.
This poor signal performance also hampers it in the city, possibly an external aerial will help I am looking for one.
The soft ware seems to be for the wide screen model they make as there is a window giving detailed directions. This obscures much of the map even in its smallest size.
I have managed to work out how to get an estimate of journey time prior to departure 3 buttons but difficult to remember how.
The final problem is the rerouting ability. This is software written by Via Michelin and added to the TeleAtlas maps. This rerouting takes ages to write and is why the maps are so out of date. you can update the maps at Atlas site and view maps with extremely accurate data, but Via Michelin wont pass on the information for 6-12 months. With a traditional GPS you only rarely use rerouting but a "T" one uses it all the time. The traffic data is good but the X970T is not programmed to correctly respond. For example here in Paris when the orbital road, the Periphery is stationary it sometimes routes you down a slip road and back up the returning one excellent saving time but it is not constant. It also fails to make correct correction to the arrival time when it knows you are in stop start or a jam.
All in all a sexy product with an excellent music player, easy to work Bluetooth hands free phone. Many additional features not of much use especially as navigation is so difficult and need GPRS. With potential, although I fear it will never be realized. Mine has developed a faulty headphone socket and I am dreaming of getting my money back.
Update 20 Nov 07
Latest update
An English manual is now on their website. Also new software 7.0.2.
Have downloaded and seems a little better. Has not locked up yet,
started as soon as got out of garage, the 3D view seems faster to
react almost as good as Tom-tom. Still no progress on favourites the
content software still has the pages shown on the earlier model 6
missing. I still cant fathom how to move the MacDonald POIs I have
downloaded in to the device using the content manager. Bizarrely
Michelin don't seem to have the metro stations or major rail stations
in the address or as POIs or even shown on the maps. Have not tried
walking with device since upgrade. It defiantly has the high
sensitivity Rx as I can pick up satellites through the roof of flat at
times. The broken H/P jack causing the speaker to mute has fixed its
self so I will report to Michelin the problems and see if there is any
more progress. I wil also ask them about the missing Metro and rail stations. More to follow. 

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