Evaluation of new NAV firmware DVD version 7.1

[wileetundra]

I recently evaluated the new NAV firmware DVD version 7.1 to determine what was new or different from the previous 6.1 version. Here are my findings:

1. The “I agree” screen is no longer mandatory on startup. It has been replaced with a simple Caution statement that automatically switches to the map view after 5 seconds. This is a small but very nice change indeed. See attached photos.
2. The map views show slightly more detail including driveways for all known addresses or buildings. This might be helpful if you are looking for a specific turning point but it seemed trivial to me. See attached photos.
3. There is sure to be at least some new map data as well but I didn’t notice any in my area. You may not notice it either unless you drive in rapidly developing areas that are not currently mapped in the 6.1 version. You won’t know for sure until after you purchase it and drive around for a while so you might be disappointed.

That’s it.

I was expecting a whole lot more for a $295+ product upgrade. Maybe additional audio and video options, or possibly control over the Rear Camera, Rear DVD, or AUX inputs. Maybe manual adjustments for the map display and backlight colors. And what about a bypass for the annoying function lockout while the vehicle is in motion? Sadly all of these functions must remain on the wish list along with many others. Perhaps some of them will eventually make it into a future upgrade, however this doesn’t seem likely and future versions are sure to take quite a while, cost just as much, and be similarly disappointing.

In one last desperate query I accessed the diagnostic menu to see if any new configuration or bypass functions were included for use by the service department. Sadly it looks exactly the same. It is possible that the new version does contain some hidden functions, and if so then the access tricks are sure to leak out eventually. We can only hope. Until then the determined owners are left with the option of paying a small fortune for a minor enhancement or continuing to experiment with various hacks or modifications such as my NAV speed pulse generator that enables all the functions while in motion.

And just in case you are interested in getting the new 7.1 firmware DVD, these are the only options that I am aware of:

• Buy it from a dealership (expensive and may not be available at the parts counter for several months yet)
• Buy it on ebay (I have seen several for sale already)
• Borrow it from a new vehicle on the dealer lot (with the dealer’s permission)
• Borrow it from a new rental vehicle (with the agency’s permission)
• Borrow it from the owner of a new vehicle (terms are up to them)

If you borrow the DVD then you can insert it into your NAV and the firmware will be upgraded automatically in just a few minutes. The new functions will remain even when you replace your old DVD but you will still only see the old map data. Note: it may or may not be legal to copy, borrow, or use the new DVD depending on how you obtain it. You will need to check with Toyota or a qualified copyright attorney to be sure. Please keep your legal opinions to yourself unless you are qualified to speak with authority – this is not a law forum.

Whether or not you decide to get the new DVD version, you will probably still want to make a backup copy of your original DVD and then use the backup in the NAV. You wouldn’t want to fork out another $295+ just because the original disc was scratched or stolen. The process to make a backup copy has been widely discussed on numerous forums and posts just like this one. I have successfully backed up my original DVD with the ImgBurn software and it does work but you need to have exactly the right combination of software, hardware, settings, and DVD media or you will just be frustrated and make a lot of nice shiny coasters.

If anyone is aware of other new functions that are contained in the 7.1 version then please share those by posting to this thread along with pics.

Here is a quick technical comparison for those that are inclined to look under the hood:

6.1 Version:
212 files
7 folders
Total Size on disk: 7.36 GB
Size of Loading.KWI file: 70.0 MB

7.1 Version:
226 files
9 folders
Total Size on disk: 7.62 GB
Size of Loading.KWI file: 115.0 MB

The new folders are “314” and “398”. The new files are as follows: (listed by folder)

314:
LDM.BIN

398:
LDM.BIN

Coverage:
05ETG_12.BMP
05ETO_12.BMP
05VLB_12.BMP
05VLD_12.BMP
05VTG_12.BMP
05VTO_12.BMP

IDX:
ARCSR012.IDX
FWYDT012.IDX
FWYSR012.IDX
ITSDT012.IDX
ITSSR012.IDX
POISR012.IDX
SADSR012.IDX

[blaster21996]

uummm CAN I JUST BORROW YOURS FOR 5 MINUTES?

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by blaster21996

uummm CAN I JUST BORROW YOURS FOR 5 MINUTES?

Sorry, but I don't have the 7.1 disc. I only evaluated it with a disc borrowed from a Toyota dealer for a short time (with their permission) to determine if it was worth the $295 price. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for the 7.1 version so I still have my original 6.1 DVD.

[dsmonline]

Originally Posted by wileetundra

I have successfully backed up my original DVD with the ImgBurn software and it does work but you need to have exactly the right combination of software, hardware, settings, and DVD media or you will just be frustrated and make a lot of nice shiny coasters.

Or you can just use any newer Mac (with Double Layer burning capability) to copy the 7.1 DVD, which they can do out of the box without any additional software or hardware. Most Macs sold within the last year or so can do this and it is very easy to do.

[WT]

Well I decided to go grab my big 2007 navigation system owners manual since I recieved the 7.1 DVD with my truck...

Well looks like toyota just stuck stickers in the manual in areas of changes and looks like WileeTundra hit it on the head no major changes other than the agree screen from the begining and probably updates of the maps and details and that just what I can gather since I never seen 6.1 working. So I went and thumbed through the manual and looked for any stickers they added and it looks like its just 3, 2 about the screen agree msg and another one for languages.

With that said, would it be worth the upgrade if you had to pay full price for a new 7.1 DVD I say no. I also think toyota should give any 2007 owners with a 6.1 DVD as a free upgrade as long as they can produce a valid 6.1 DVD to trade in maybe since its more a fix/enhancment and not a mojor update release. Thats just my thoughts on the mater.

I am also working on backing up my 7.1 DVD now but ran into some issues made a few costers with my last set of DL DVD so I have to go pick up a few more this weekend but I think I have a handle on what I need to do next. After research and reading information here and other sites I think I have the process down and just need to test my idea out.

[ag4ever]

If you do the software update, will it loose that data if the power is cut from the radio for an extended period of time?

I know I forced a software reload in my camry by pulling the radio fuse for 30 seconds when I switched from my 6.1 disk to the 5.1/6.1 hybrid disk.

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by ag4ever

If you do the software update, will it loose that data if the power is cut from the radio for an extended period of time?

I know I forced a software reload in my camry by pulling the radio fuse for 30 seconds when I switched from my 6.1 disk to the 5.1/6.1 hybrid disk.

Yes, it might be possible to lose the firmware during an extended power loss.

Firmware normally stays resident in the EEPROM chips unless/until the chips are damaged or it is overwritten by new code, even when the power is out which is why it is called "firmware" instead of "software". When you first turn on the vehicle the NAV unit checks the disc for a file which contains the version number of the firmware. If the disc has a newer version than the existing firmware version number then it automatically upgrades the firmware for you.

When you want to downgrade firmware you have to remove power to the NAV unit for a while to clear out the existing version number which will force the NAV to upgrade from the disc regardless of what version it contains.

It is possible that the firmware will still be retained during a power outage, but since the NAV will always attempt to reload from the disc after a power outage then the only way to test this would be to insert a disc which only contains map data (no firmware at all) and see if the NAV still works when power is restored. My assumption is that you could just remove the Loading.KWI file for the test since I think this file is only used on a reinstall but I am not sure.

If anyone tests this then please let us know.

[Cliffy1]

Good info here. I agree that the upgrade isn't worth the money. I did however, find some map updates that are valuable. Here in VA, we have what is called the Mixing Bowl interchange. Its a very difficult to navigate interchange that is the only big North-South highway on the East coast. This interchange recently underwent a massive change and the 6.1 disc kept trying to send me in the wrong direction. I haven't driven the interchange yet, but I can see that they changed the map.

[bugchucker]

Originally Posted by WT

Well I decided to go grab my big 2007 navigation system owners manual since I recieved the 7.1 DVD with my truck...

Well looks like toyota just stuck stickers in the manual in areas of changes and looks like WileeTundra hit it on the head no major changes other than the agree screen from the begining and probably updates of the maps and details and that just what I can gather since I never seen 6.1 working. So I went and thumbed through the manual and looked for any stickers they added and it looks like its just 3, 2 about the screen agree msg and another one for languages.

With that said, would it be worth the upgrade if you had to pay full price for a new 7.1 DVD I say no. I also think toyota should give any 2007 owners with a 6.1 DVD as a free upgrade as long as they can produce a valid 6.1 DVD to trade in maybe since its more a fix/enhancment and not a mojor update release. Thats just my thoughts on the mater.

I am also working on backing up my 7.1 DVD now but ran into some issues made a few costers with my last set of DL DVD so I have to go pick up a few more this weekend but I think I have a handle on what I need to do next. After research and reading information here and other sites I think I have the process down and just need to test my idea out.

So, did they charge more for nav with the 7.1 upgrade? If not, those of us who bought the 2007 Tundra with the earlier version should be given the upgrade for free.

[WT]

Originally Posted by bugchucker

So, did they charge more for nav with the 7.1 upgrade? If not, those of us who bought the 2007 Tundra with the earlier version should be given the upgrade for free.

Not to my understanding, I hope they didn't charge me more. I pulled out my sticker and its shows a MSRP price of 1650.00 for the DVD nav system with backup camera. So I would say if you payed the same we got charged the same price which is what I would think since its the same option for 2007, so is should have the same MSRP prices.
I agree if you can show ownership of a 6.1 DVD and show a invoice of you buying it with your 2007 tundra you should get it for free or small fee for covering media cost (say $5.00 - $10.00). I think that would be considered fair but we all know the world is not fair.

I would say someone should post up the ISO but that would end up causing all sorts of legal issues and can of worms I rather not even want to consider in the future for who ever did that.

[GGWOODY]

If anyone has the 7.1 version and they want to make a copy. PM me, I'll buy it from you...not for too much though, I'm a poor man.

P.S. I'm not concerned about the law, so no one tell me that that practice is illegall....duh

[zpaul]

I just think it is completely unfair to 07 owners to offer that disc for $300. It should be a free upgrade for at least a year. That is what I had with Garmin. Only one year later they offered me to buy new maps. This is ridiculous man!

[ag4ever]

I agree the upgrade price is way too much. The 7.1 is NOT worth $300.

But those that bought their truck with the 6.1, got a fully functioning NAV system. There was no other disk available at the time.

Then they released the 7.1

They did not have you test a 7.1 NAV disk and then sell you a 6.1 disk, so they did not steal from you or cheat you.

They are however trying to steal from you by charging $300 for a disk that is worth maybee $50.

I was happy to get the 7.1 in my truck, but if it had the 6.1, I would have still bought it.

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by ag4ever

They are however trying to steal from you by charging $300 for a disk that is worth maybee $50.

They should have offered the upgrade for free or at least a very steep discount to anyone that purchased a new vehicle within 6-12 months of the upgrade being released. Most major software vendors offer upgrades at a discount, some of them without any time limit, and Toyota was well aware of the release date for the new version when these vehicles were being shipped and sold with 6.1. If you got stuck with 6.1 it is sort of like buying a stale donut when the baker behind the counter knows full well that he has a rack of hot donuts fresh from the oven which he is going to put out on the shelf as soon as you leave the store.

Plus the 6.1 version contains a very annoying "I agree" feature which is clearly a design flaw so they should have offered the upgrade as part of a TSB. Even if they didn't want to give you all the new map data for free they could at least have offered you to come in and upgrade your firmware to 7.1 from a disc at the dealership for free. This wouldn't cost them anything and they would get you back into the dealership, then they could always sell the upgrade discs to those that wanted the new map data and were willing to pay for it.

[bugchucker]

Originally Posted by ag4ever

I agree the upgrade price is way too much. The 7.1 is NOT worth $300.

But those that bought their truck with the 6.1, got a fully functioning NAV system. There was no other disk available at the time.

Then they released the 7.1

They did not have you test a 7.1 NAV disk and then sell you a 6.1 disk, so they did not steal from you or cheat you.

They are however trying to steal from you by charging $300 for a disk that is worth maybee $50.

I was happy to get the 7.1 in my truck, but if it had the 6.1, I would have still bought it.

We all bought the same model year Tundra and all paid the same amount for navigation. Toyota should provide a free upgrade to all who purchased the nav with the 6.1 software. This is only fair.