2008 Acura MDX sensor

4Navigation System
Introduction
Manual Overview
The manual is divided into the
following sections:
 Getting started - A basic introduction that discusses the controls and how to
communicate with the system.
 Entering a Destination - How to enter an address or locate a point of interest
(POI).
 Driving to your Destination - An explanation of the map features,
guidance, and cautions.
 Information Features - Message, Voice Command Help, Cellular
Phonebook, Map Legend, Calendar,
Key to Zagat Ratings, Calculator, and
Roadside Assistance.
 System Set-up - How to set up and tailor the system for your personal
use and use the Address Book. The back of this manual contains:
 Map Coverage (page119)
 Cities with Traffic Coverage
(page130)
 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (page134)
 Troubleshooting Guide (page142)
 Glossary of Terms (page143)
 Voice Command List (page146)
 Operation Specific to Alaska and Hawaii (page131)
System Overview
Your navigation system is a highly
sophisticated location system with voice
control that uses satellites and a map
database to show you where you are and
to help guide you to a desired
destination.
The navigation system receives signals
from the global positioning system
(GPS), a network of 24 satellites in orbit
around the earth. By receiving signals
from several of these satellites, the
navigation system can determine the
latitude, longitude, and elevation of
your vehicle. In a ddition, a gyroscopic
yaw sensor and a vehicle speed sensor
in your vehicle k eep track of the
direction and speed of travel at all times.
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Navigation System23
Getting Started
Real Time Traffic Display
The navigation screen can display up-
to-the-minute traffic information when
available including flow (traffic speed),
accidents, and construction on freeways
in more than 40 major metro areas. See
page130 for a list of the current US
cities that offer traffic information.
The display of traffic flow and incidents
on your map screen is optional and can
be turned On/Off by selecting the
“Traffic” icon on the Icon bar (see
Showing Icons on the Map on page65).The current metropolita
n areas that have
traffic coverage can be seen on
page130. For more current metro
coverage information, go to
www.acura.com/realtimetraffic . This
link offers additional information on
real-time information, including the
following:
 The latest list of metro areas that have Nav-Traffic
 Detailed coverage information for each metro area showing what roads
have traffic speed, traffic icons, or
both
 An XM-Nav-Traffic demonstration
 Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Viewing Flow Data
Traffic flow data is displayed as colored
bands on either side of the freeway (see
Traffic Display Legend on page22).
The different color bands represent the
average road speeds as determined by
“under-road sensors.”
While driving to your destination on a
road, that has traffic flow data, your
route line color is used to display the
traffic flow data. This means that when
the map scale is set to one of the traffic
scales (1/2 through 5 mile scale), your
blue route line may appear as alternating
orange, red or blue segments (see
Traffic Display Legend on page22).
NOTE:
A blue route line segment on a freeway
can mean one of two things:
 The under road sensors indicate free flow traffic.
 The road has no sensors, and traffic conditions are unknown (they could
be congested).
2008 MDX

24Navigation System
Getting Started
Naturally, only roads with these sensors
will show traffic information. The
amount of flow data varies considerably
from one city to another. This map
display is refreshed continuously. You
can only view traffic information in the
city where you are located.
NOTE:
 Traffic flow, and incident icons are only displayed the 1/2, 1, 2, and 5
mile scales (800m, 1600m, 3km, 8km
scales)
 Not all freeways within a metropolitan area have traffic flow
data (colored bands on the side of the
freeways) - this is normal, and you
cannot assume that a lack of data
implies no traffic.
 Not all cities have traffic flow information. See c ities listed on
page130.
 Due to freeway maintenance and construction, traffic flow may be
available only for one side of a road,
or to be missing entirely for some
portion of the freeway.  The displayed traffic flow may
disagree with the information from
other audio or Internet based traffic
displays.
 If traffic flow is not showing, verify that the “TRAFFIC” selection for the
Icon Bar is ON, and that the icon
options for traffic are both ON. (see
page65).
Viewing Incident Reports
Incident reports appear as small
diamond shaped icons (see Traffic
Display Legend on page22 for
examples). There are three ways to view
traffic incidents:
 By voice control, say “Display traffic incidents.”
 Select “Traffic Incidents” from the map menu.
 Select an incident icon from the map
screen.
NOTE:
The first method is recommended
because it works on any scale, and
requires the minimum input.
Listing Traffic Incidents by Voice
Control
From the map screen (any scale), say
“Display traffic incidents,” or “Display
traffic list.” A list of all incidents within
the metro traffic area will be displayed.
Incidents are listed by distance from
your current position outward in all
directions. To view an incident details,
select an incident from the list, and push
in on the Interface Dial .
2008 MDX

Navigation System105
System Set-up
I
Recommended Display mode Day/Night settings:
 With the headlights on, select mid range for the dash illumination (see Own er’s manual for location of knob).
 With the headlights off, select mid range for the dash illumination (see Owner’s manual for location of knob).
 On the Setup “Color” adjustment screen, choose White for the map Day display, and black for the map Night display (see
page103). Inappropriate adjustment of these colors can cause the Day/Night modes to appear inoperative.
llumination control Priority Operation Override conditions
Display mode button
(
see page11) 1 Allows selection of
Day, Night or Off display
mode. This button has the highest priority and
overrides all other displa y control adjustments
listed below. When the car is restarted, the display mode
previously selected by th
is button is canceled,
and the display mode is determined by one of
the controls below.
Sunlight Sensor (Middle of
dash near the windshield).
(See Owner’s manual for
location) 2 If the sunlight sensor
detects daylight and the
headlights are turned on, the navi automatically
overrides (cancels) the Night display and
displays the Day display mode once the vehicle
begins to move. If desired, use the
Display mode
button to override this automatic choice.
Dash illumination adjustment
knob (See Owner’s manual for
location) 3 When headlights are turned on, and you wish to
have the Day display mode, then adjust the
illumination to the full bright setting (beeps). When the headlights are turned
ON, adjust the
dash brightness down (counterclockwise) from
the maximum brightness position.
Headlights (On/Off) 4 When turned on, it changes the display to the Night display mode. The previous three
controls listed above ca n “cancel” this function. Use the
Display mode
button , or
adjust the dash illuminati on to full bright to set
the display to your desired choice.
Map Day/Night screen color
choice (
see page103 for the
Day and Night color choices) N/A The user can select the color of the screen that
will be displayed for the Day, and Night
display modes described above. For best contrast
, ensure that the Map “color”
is white for Day, and black for Night.
2008 MDX

106Navigation System
System Set-up
 To allow the Sunlight sensor to function properly, avoid blocking the sensor with loose articles (see Owner’s manual for
location of sensor).
 Remember that once the Display mode button
is selected, the other display mode controls are overridden until the
vehicle is restarted.
NOTE:
Loose articles in the center dash can block or interfere with th e operation of the sunlight sensor. See the MDX Owner’s manual
for additional information regardin g the dash brightness adjustment.
2008 MDX

Navigation System145
Glossary
Unverified Streets - These streets have
not been verified for turn restrictions,
one-way, etc. They are shown in light
brown on the map. Unverified streets
may be missing from the map, shown
in the wrong location, or have an
incorrect name or address range.
Vehicle Speed Sensor - Provides speed
signal to the navigation system for
moving the VP icon on the map.
Verified Streets - These streets consist
of the detailed metropolitan coverage
areas, and all other inter-town
connection roads. These roads are
shown in black on the map.
Voice Control - See VR.
VP - Vehicle Position. When in map
mode, this circular icon shows the
vehicle position on the map. Push in
on the Interface Dial , select Show
Icon on Map , move the Interface
Dial left to select Current
Position . It shows the latitude,
longitude, and elevation of your
current position. VR -
Voice Recognition. This allows
voice control of many of the
navigation functions. The hardware
consists of the microphone, voice
control switch ( NAVI TALK/NAVI
BACK buttons), and the front
speakers.
Waypoint - A temporary destination
you may enter with on route (e.g., a
gas station, ATM, etc.). See page71.
WMA - A Windows media audio file
that can be played from a CD-R.
Yaw Rate Sensor - Senses when the
vehicle makes a turn, which makes
the VP change direction on the map
as you turn.
Zagat Ratings - Restaurant ratings
information prov ided by Zagat
Survey. See Information screen on
page79 for an explanation of the
ratings.
2008 MDX