Gps Street Names

[gryphix]

I give up - where is the setting that turns on all the street names? I almost always use my iPhone when I need directions because of google maps. I find it to be a much faster/easier alternative. I've tried using my GPS system to find specific streets when driving, but it always looks like the picture below. I'm usually pretty good with this kind of thing. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! B)

[silvercorvette]

What year is your car, I just traded in my 07 RX for an 08 GS so I can't go outside to look at it but my NAV didn't look anything like that. There is a button you can push to show what version of software you have maybe that info would be helpful.

[gryphix]

What year is your car, I just traded in my 07 RX for an 08 GS so I can't go outside to look at it but my NAV didn't look anything like that. There is a button you can push to show what version of software you have maybe that info would be helpful.

It's an 08 RX400h with version 7.1. I have route trace turned on so that's what the dotted lines are. I just can't get more than one or two major street names to show up on the map no matter what zoom level I'm at.

[silvercorvette]

I am stumped, I had an 07 RX400H (I don't know what version)but the display didn't look like that, it was a white background. I just walked out to my 08 GS450H Ver 7.1 and I spent more than a 1/2 hour in the car and pushed every button I could think of but couldn't get mine to look like yours. I figured if I could figure out how to get mine to look like yours I could push the same button to make it return to normal. My only guess (I doubt this but I Can't think of anything else)is that you may be in a remote area where the streets are all on the map

[gryphix]

I am stumped, I had an 07 RX400H (I don't know what version)but the display didn't look like that, it was a white background. I just walked out to my 08 GS450H Ver 7.1 and I spent more than a 1/2 hour in the car and pushed every button I could think of but couldn't get mine to look like yours. I figured if I could figure out how to get mine to look like yours I could push the same button to make it return to normal. My only guess (I doubt this but I Can't think of anything else)is that you may be in a remote area where the streets are all on the map

I appreciate your looking into this. I'm also stumped. The black background is from a shot taken at night. My display changes from the standard white to the black background you see in the photo.

This shot was taken in the middle of the Las Vegas valley. So far the street names are minimal no matter where I go. Maybe the streets of Vegas aren't mapped very well yet?? Does your GPS display all the street names in your area when you're driving around? I'm going to stop by the dealership this week and get their input. I'll post my results.

[silvercorvette]

I have driven my 07 RX400H between LI NY and Lake Conroe TX where I owned a house, I also took it to the JFK museum in Dallas, I also drove the RX between Lake Conroe and Anderson SC, and SC back to LI NY again, I have never had a situation where the street names did not show. However while driving the interstates I did zoom out to the point where the street names were not visible. The RX NAV will stay in day screen mode if you adjust the dashboard light switch. As far as the new GS450H goes I got it in NY and towed it to SC so I haven't used the NAV except for local streets, and it only has about 140 miles on it in 2 weeks. At the 150 foot scale you should be able to see the streets, I would take it to the dealer, something seems very wrong.

[remcat]

I appreciate your looking into this. I'm also stumped. The black background is from a shot taken at night. My display changes from the standard white to the black background you see in the photo.

This shot was taken in the middle of the Las Vegas valley. So far the street names are minimal no matter where I go. Maybe the streets of Vegas aren't mapped very well yet?? Does your GPS display all the street names in your area when you're driving around? I'm going to stop by the dealership this week and get their input. I'll post my results.

How do you get your display to change to the black background at night? Mine just stays white- which is too bright for night.

[silvercorvette]

I traded in my RX two weeks ago so I have to go from memory, I am pretty sure that if you turn the dash board light to max brightness the NAV will stay in day mode

PS I think that when you turn the dashboard dimmer to max you need to turn it a bit further till you feel a click

[remcat]

I traded in my RX two weeks ago so I have to go from memory, I am pretty sure that if you turn the dash board light to max brightness the NAV will stay in day mode

PS I think that when you turn the dashboard dimmer to max you need to turn it a bit further till you feel a click

Thanks for the reply. I think I have the dash board light up all the way. I will test this tomorrow evening with the dash lights down.

Do you know if it automatically changes to dark mode at dusk or if the headlights come on. My husbands G35 does this and it is nice- easy on the eyes too.

[silvercorvette]

Yes it changes by itself, the first time it happened it took me by surprise. I have trouble seeing it in the night mode.

[Step Hen]

Perhaps you don't have the correct region of the US selected? If you are in the incorrect region, only major streets and interstates would show up and perhaps looks like that. Make sure the region you select is for the west coast area.

[silvercorvette]

Perhaps you don't have the correct region of the US selected? If you are in the incorrect region, only major streets and interstates would show up and perhaps looks like that. Make sure the region you select is for the west coast area.

Last night I spent a lot of time in my car trying to muck up the display, and that was one of the things I tried to do to intentionally muck it up, I figured that if I knew what to do to make the streets not display all I had to do was do the reverse to make them show. I am in SC and I tried to duplicate the problem by setting the map to the wrong area but it had no effect. As a matter of fact I have driven through 2 or 3 zones without changing zones between NY and SC and the streets all displayed, I also drove to TX from NY without changing zones and it did not effect the display. I think the only reason to change zones is to narrow the search data base when you search for a street or business.

[RXREY]

My screen showed that when I was dating a lady out in the sticks. It was the only time that I had been in an area that didn't show street names. The development was only about three years old but still should have registered on my fancy GPS. I didn't like this. I had no choice but to break up! Problem solved...next! Rey in L.A.

[silvercorvette]

I guess he should try driving in another more established neighborhood before he goes to the dealer. Whoops I just changed my mind for this reason. If this was a new area I would think that the streets would not show and the area would be blank. But you can clearly see where the streets are, you just can't see the names.

[RXREY]

Yes, you are right...maybe I should call that lady again....

[gryphix]

So I stopped by the dealership today. A "Product Specialist" came out to take a look at my system. After several attempts at sidetracking me, I finally got him to answer my question directly. He said that the company that developed the navigation system keeps the street names to a minimum in order to reduce clutter and save memory. He showed me how I could touch the street on the display and the name would pop up on the screen. I guess I'm going to stick with my external TomTom navi unit that I had in my previous vehicle. I love my Lexus, but what a serious disappointment. It didn't even occur to me when I posted this thread that the GPS system was unable to display street names.

By the way, I don't live in the sticks. I live in Las Vegas. While there are new areas in development, the entire city is like this on my system. I also double checked the region and I'm in the correct one.

Do the displays on your 7.1 systems look as minimal as mine? I'm going to take a trip to LA in a few weeks. I'm curious to see what that is going to look like.

[silvercorvette]

Nope, if you want me to I can take a picture of the NAV and post it. You can take it to the dealer on your next trip because something is wrong with your NAV

[RXREY]

So I stopped by the dealership today. A "Product Specialist" came out to take a look at my system. After several attempts at sidetracking me, I finally got him to answer my question directly. He said that the company that developed the navigation system keeps the street names to a minimum in order to reduce clutter and save memory. He showed me how I could touch the street on the display and the name would pop up on the screen. I guess I'm going to stick with my external TomTom navi unit that I had in my previous vehicle. I love my Lexus, but what a serious disappointment. It didn't even occur to me when I posted this thread that the GPS system was unable to display street names.

By the way, I don't live in the sticks. I live in Las Vegas. While there are new areas in development, the entire city is like this on my system. I also double checked the region and I'm in the correct one.

Do the displays on your 7.1 systems look as minimal as mine? I'm going to take a trip to LA in a few weeks. I'm curious to see what that is going to look like.

I'm really sorry, the "Sticks" remark was in reference to the only time that I saw what you displayed, and I WAS in the sticks... I meant no disrespect to you or Las Vegas...which EVERYONE knows is not the sticks! I was just trying to be funny about my experience. Anyway, you should never have had that problem in Las Vegas! As a matter of fact, the whole thing that you experienced sounds fishy to me. I think there's something wrong with your GPS and they don't want to admit it. Rey

[s10]

The GPS does indeed not show all the street names, in certain areas more in other less... not only to reduce clutter, but also because it is not meant to be used as a map??

If you use the turn by turn instructions to a certain address, there is no need to see all the street names.

[silvercorvette]

I dissagree, I have driven though more than a dozen states and Have never had my map look like that. This is the street I live on, some my consider it to be the sticks

my back yard

I can see all the streets on my map

[gryphix]

Nope, if you want me to I can take a picture of the NAV and post it. You can take it to the dealer on your next trip because something is wrong with your NAV

If you could post a pic that would be great. I have a friend with an LS600 that I'm going to visit this week. I'm going to compare our systems and see if they look the same.

I'm really sorry, the "Sticks" remark was in reference to the only time that I saw what you displayed, and I WAS in the sticks... I meant no disrespect to you or Las Vegas...which EVERYONE knows is not the sticks! I was just trying to be funny about my experience. Anyway, you should never have had that problem in Las Vegas! As a matter of fact, the whole thing that you experienced sounds fishy to me. I think there's something wrong with your GPS and they don't want to admit it. Rey

No need to apologize, Ray!! If my response had a grouchy tone to it, it was only because I was irritated with my experience with the dealer.

[silvercorvette]

Nope, if you want me to I can take a picture of the NAV and post it. You can take it to the dealer on your next trip because something is wrong with your NAV

If you could post a pic that would be great. I have a friend with an LS600 that I'm going to visit this week. I'm going to compare our systems and see if they look the same.

I'm really sorry, the "Sticks" remark was in reference to the only time that I saw what you displayed, and I WAS in the sticks... I meant no disrespect to you or Las Vegas...which EVERYONE knows is not the sticks! I was just trying to be funny about my experience. Anyway, you should never have had that problem in Las Vegas! As a matter of fact, the whole thing that you experienced sounds fishy to me. I think there's something wrong with your GPS and they don't want to admit it. Rey

No need to apologize, Ray!! If my response had a grouchy tone to it, it was only because I was irritated with my experience with the dealer.

Most areas look like this but I did drive through some that were not as bad as yours but were not as good as the screen shot

[RXREY]

Nope, if you want me to I can take a picture of the NAV and post it. You can take it to the dealer on your next trip because something is wrong with your NAV

If you could post a pic that would be great. I have a friend with an LS600 that I'm going to visit this week. I'm going to compare our systems and see if they look the same.

I'm really sorry, the "Sticks" remark was in reference to the only time that I saw what you displayed, and I WAS in the sticks... I meant no disrespect to you or Las Vegas...which EVERYONE knows is not the sticks! I was just trying to be funny about my experience. Anyway, you should never have had that problem in Las Vegas! As a matter of fact, the whole thing that you experienced sounds fishy to me. I think there's something wrong with your GPS and they don't want to admit it. Rey

No need to apologize, Ray!! If my response had a grouchy tone to it, it was only because I was irritated with my experience with the dealer.

Oh good, because I never intend to be disrespectful. I have to tell you though, even the time that my GPS didn't register the street names, it actually didn't even have the streets at all...no lines, grid, nothing, so I don't know what's up with your GPS and I am surprised that the dealership has been of no help. Good luck.

[gryphix]

Most areas look like this but I did drive through some that were not as bad as yours but were not as good as the screen shot

Thanks for posting the picture for me - I appreciate it. I have an appointment tomorrow for an alignment. I'll have them take a closer look at my system to see if there might be a problem.