RTI 2018 map update for 2012-2014

[Tatsfield]

Well I've tried all three downloads, MCA, SPA and RTI and the system doesn't recognise any of them. It doesn't say it cannot read them but just doesn't acknowledge that there is a flash drive in the USB. It imperiously demands "Connect USB". So now I'm stuck and am waiting for Cubbington (Nick) to send me the loaded flash drive with which he successfully loaded a download into his upgraded 2012 Sensus and we'll see if my system recognises that.

[apersson850]

Come over here and try mine. You'll get a nice trip to the Nordic at the same time!
I do have beer...

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

My confusion revolves around the fact that my 2012 had a brand new Sat Nav unit fitted in 2016 which left me not knowing exactly how to define the system I had. I assumed that if the unit was a 2016 unit with the latest software, then it should be treated as a 2016 car, but this is not the case.

When you repair a car, you normally get it back in working order the same as it was when you bought it. The upgrade that is available to the 2012 cars is the ability to download updates from the internet, just like the later cars could do from the beginning. Well, it should work like that, at least.
Has it already been asked here if you do have the 1100 version of the software in your RTI (or newer)?

[andyg]

This is the second time I have done this update. The first was May 2016 and today for the most recent one. This is the process I suggest:

1. From the Volvo website download the complete data set for your car to your PC's hard drive.

2. Quick format the USB stick FAT 32.

3. Copy the individual folders and files from the download to the USB stick. *** Note: Copy only the folders and files onto the stick. Do not copy the top level folder that is created by the Volvo download called "Sensus Update SPA (Europe)". *** If the files are copied from the website direct to the USB stick (missing out step 1 above) then they are all contained in that top level folder so your car will fail to recognise the update and will sit there doing nothing.

Hope that helps.

[Cubbington]

Originally Posted by andyg

This is the second time I have done this update. The first was May 2016 and today for the most recent one. This is the process I suggest:

1. From the Volvo website download the complete data set for your car to your PC's hard drive.

2. Quick format the USB stick FAT 32.

3. Copy the individual folders and files from the download to the USB stick. *** Note: Copy only the folders and files onto the stick. Do not copy the top level folder that is created by the Volvo download called "Sensus Update SPA (Europe)". *** If the files are copied from the website direct to the USB stick (missing out step 1 above) then they are all contained in that top level folder so your car will fail to recognise the update and will sit there doing nothing.

Hope that helps.

The key I sent to Tatsfield had the files downloaded directly from the website, rather than copying to my hard drive first.

I didn't make a note of what all the files were, but they downloaded straight onto the key, and I didn't notice a folder at all.

Either way it worked, and hopefully Tatsfield will have the same success.

This certainly hasn't been as straightforward as the map updates I used to get for my previously owned Beemer iDrive systems... 3 hours of cycling the ignition on Saturday to keep the maps updating resulted in a low battery warning, and then after the supposed 15 minute wait for it to finish updating after removing the USB key the screen simply displayed 'Navigation, please wait...'. I thought it was bricked until giving up waiting, and coming back to the car about an hour later and starting it up again.

There's something to be said for paying for a physical map update where you don't even have to think about the USB key being formatted correctly, you're supplied with the correct version based on giving the dealer your reg or VIN, and you're supplied with clear instructions on how to update...Volvo's approach, while admirable and pragmatic offering a free download, leaves me thinking whether I'm going to brick the system on the next update and would I rather pay a dealer to do it, so if it does get bricked, at least I'm covered!

Cheers,

Nick

[apersson850]

Do you really need navigation wherever you go? After I got my USB stick in order to accept any files at all, there was no issue. The driving I had to do last Monday was long enough for the update to complete while I was busy towing trailers. No need to wear down the battery.

Download the update to the stick, put the stick in the car, press OK to confirm the update and it does the rest by itself.

As far as my experience goes, it couldn't be much simpler than that.

[Cubbington]

Originally Posted by apersson850

Do you really need navigation wherever you go? After I got my USB stick in order to accept any files at all, there was no issue. The driving I had to do last Monday was long enough for the update to complete while I was busy towing trailers. No need to wear down the battery.

Download the update to the stick, put the stick in the car, press OK to confirm the update and it does the rest by itself.

As far as my experience goes, it couldn't be much simpler than that.

Hi apperson,

No, I don’t need the satnav wherever I go, however I regularly travel the country visiting new places with work, so more often than not do need it.

I also use it to give me an ETA on where I’m heading, and the rerouting if traffic’s bad is useful.

I actually think it’s a bloody good system, especially with it’s route learning function, so I don’t simply blindly follow it!

My gripe was as explained, my expectations from previous BMW ownership was that it’d take about an hour and ping, done! The last update I had in my E60 was finished by the time I’d driven home 20 miles from the dealer...The Volvo experience was laborious and not confidence inspiring... when I plugged the key in, the system informed me that it was going to take 3 hours 5 minutes to update, come on, that’s bonkers!

Both you & I have been successful, but this update has started a three page thread trying to help another forum member get his updated, so it’s obviously not as easy as it should be...a little too open-source for my liking (living in my Apple bubble!) 😁

Cheers,

Nick

[apersson850]

Well, what I meant was that I thought it would be possible to find a period of time where you didn't need the navigator for three hours, and then you're done with it.

[lepicane]

For what it's worth:

1. Sometimes Windows messes up the formatting of a USB. I always format with SD Card Formatter first http://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
2. Download the Sensus maps to the USB directly. Yes I know it's slower, but when I downloaded to my PC and copied over to the USB, the Sensus downloader's check downloaded files failed on the USB, and yes I copied over all the files and folders to the root of the USB.
3. Once the update starts, just leave the USB in the car. My maps updated over the week while commuting, as every time it would pick up where it left off. The Infotainment did have limited functionality, but all I needed was the radio.

Been testing the Volvo sat-nav as never used it before and it seems decent. Still like the speed camera alerts on my mobile sat-nav app though. I guess I could import as a POI into Sensus, but seems a bit of a faff getting the format right.

[Tatsfield]

I plead guilty to being the forum member with impossible uploading problems on the Sat Nav. I borrowed Cubbington's USB flash drive and it worked a charm. I investigated what it was that I was trying to upload and found that his download and mine were completely different files. So the fault seems to have been mine completely, downloading the wrong upgrade for my system from the Volvo site. In my defence I will say two things. Firstly I downloaded every download they had on offer and none of them uploaded to my sat nav and secondly the site is a little confusing. I had a brand new sat nav installed a couple of years ago and so I wasn't sure if the date brackets they give on the Volvo site refer to the sat nav or the car. The sat nav is definitely newer than 2016 while the car is late 2012 and apparently the download I need is the 2010 set. Or so I now think, but the combinations of downloads and the long times it takes to down load them does seem to make it hard for pre-computer man to understand. I'm now probably good for another two years if Volvo maintain their niggardly updating schedule.

[TrueBlue]

I was overjoyed to find this thread - having waited two years even for a yet out of date package (the 2016 MAY update's files were of 2015 vintage. So I fought my way to the "which navigation system do you have" - all prompts seem to direct you towards the Sensus Connect version Wrong, my 2013 model is plain Sensus...
Proceed to the download. Took Seven, yes SEVEN hours. Even though BT have bypassed any chance of a fibre connection to our little clump of house, I could see that my router wasn't running at its normal speed - so it's down to Volvo's *** system.
Copying the files - and there are lots of them - took a further five hours and updating the system took a further 3 1/2.

FFS this is 2018 why is some technology so antediluvian.
Why do I have to install the whole of Europe - do I really need Lithuania and Russian border states. I think not.

Feel better now.
I'm updating The Management's pocket rocket, so reliving the last step above...