Voice recognition
 

Let me start by saying I love my V90. It's the best car I've ever had, is super comfy, easy to drive and returns great mileage. But the voice recognition is hopeless! Every Volvo I've had since my 13 plate V70 has got progressively worse. I reckon half the time I ask it to "take me to...." it replies with "searching music and radio" and if I ask it to call "Carlisle Volvo" will reply with "Eight, one, zero...please continue to enter numbers". When it does work it often gets it hopelessly wrong; the other day I asked it to take me to Stannington (Northumberland) and its number one option was Dunterton, which I believe is in Devon. I have no speech impediments that I know of other than being a bit Suffolky with a hint of northern thrown in.

It's really annoying that the speech side of things seems to have got worse over the years!

Wonder if your car has the latest 2019 Voice Recognition software installed?
Try this link.........
https://www.volvocars.com/ph/support.../voice-control

HaHa, I'm not the only one then. At the moment I'm not too follicly challenged but that might change soon during my tenure with this car (19 V90CC).

"Play Adele." "Please say a line number, up down or not in list, or select a category." Then Bellowhead comes blasting out the speakers. Grrrr, you stupid woman. OK lets have some Neil Diamond. "please say a line . . . blah blah, and then I'm treated to some U2. Grrr, never mind I'll do it myself it's quicker.
"Take Me To the Madis Gras" . . . "Do you want to set this as your destination." :shocked: To my dearest, 'Don't put tea on yet, I maybe some time, doh.

She's good at putting a log on the fire though if I ask for a temperature change. :confused_smile:

It's not limited to Volvo.
I used for the last few weeks 2 new generation B and C class Mercedes and the command I would dictate after "Hi Mercedes" was never the one I wanted to execute... "turn on reading light", answer "sorry i didn't get that".
The problem is that voice recognition got so good in mobile phones that people tend to think that cars have the same degree of evolution, which is not the case.

I've give up with the voice command, probably my broad Lancashire accent, and it definitely did'nt understand "oh for @@@@s sake":eek:

I seldom use the voice commands. But that's mostly due to the fact that I can't remember the commands. Did try 'call home' then found my phone's contact list had several contacts with 'home' even though they were stored under the proper name. Doh!

So I don't use voice commands. I suspect those who use them a lot get used to them and don't have a problem.

Weird - I find it really good, but, granted, only for certain things. It's great for "go to <postcode>" or "take me home" or "set temperature...", etc. It's more challenging for radio and music, or for taking you to a town name.

Having had VW voice recognition previously, the Volvo one is marvellous though!

It has its moments.
My experience is that if in doubt, ask it to for the relevant category and then ask 'Help'. It will then give a list of viable phrases that work first time every time. The trick is to remember them.

For my part I have little issue with radio for example. I ask it for 'DAB' 'USB' or FM and it never fails. Once there I either toggle the stations through my set favourites using the wheel buttons or I say 'Radio 4' or 'Magic' and it just works. For USB I have hundreds of songs, not well organised, but when in USB all it requires to gather all the randomly stored songs of, for instance, Van Morrison, is to tell it to "Play Van Morrison". It may pop up a list on the dash to choose from and I just say the relevant number and all my Van Morrison songs start playing as it creates its own temporary playlist.

For HVAC all that is required is to say "temperature nineteen" and both sides will invariably change to 19C. If I want to vary my side from the other, just follow up with "I'm hot" or "I'm cold" and different temperatures will be set for either side.

Despite my Welsh accent it works surprisingly well for setting navigation destinations as well. And for "cancel itinerary", which is one to remember. If in doubt, say "navigation, help"

I know what you mean and we all get that line number request stuff from time to time. However, when in USB [you have to select the source first for reliable response], I just say "play Adele" and her mellifluous tones start filling the car and it plays all her songs that it can find, even though mine are not stored in albums or playlists.

Hello Quacker, I can use voice for radio, heating and nav, all work OK. Trying to get it to play selected music from other sources and it doesn't seem to want to play ball. I am a 'I' user, iPhone, iPad, iMac, iPod in fact got the full set barring the watch which I'm not fussed with. Phone is usually connected via bluetooth and should work as far as I can make out. Ask via voice control though and it plays music just not what I ask for. Perhaps I need to investigate further as I have not had the car very long.