I guess this should go in the ICE section, but no-one seems to read that so I'll put it here!
As many of you will know, I have recently retrofitted a RNS-E retrofit in place of my Symphony II+. After having to put the Symphony II+ back in due to a warranty trip to the dealers regarding a Bluetooth fault, I have now decided to stick with that, and have just sold the RNS-E. As I have just done a back to back comparison, I thought I would put down my thoughts on the pros and cons of each system while they are fresh in my mind. Hopefully this might help people if they are thinking of choosing either system.
I have separated the RNS-E functionality into Radio/MP3 player/telephone interface to compare with the Symphony with the MFSW phone control, and the Navigation to compare to a standalone system such as a Tomtom.
RNS-E as a radio/MP3 player/Telephone interface - pros
If anyone ever succeeds in cracking the firmware on the RNS-E, I think it could be transformed, as most of my cons with it could be solved by a decent programmer in an afternoon. Until that happens, I just found that those little gripes continually annoyed me. It is a bit like going on a date with a gorgeous woman, only to find out she has bad breath and supports Man Utd.
As many of you will know, I have recently retrofitted a RNS-E retrofit in place of my Symphony II+. After having to put the Symphony II+ back in due to a warranty trip to the dealers regarding a Bluetooth fault, I have now decided to stick with that, and have just sold the RNS-E. As I have just done a back to back comparison, I thought I would put down my thoughts on the pros and cons of each system while they are fresh in my mind. Hopefully this might help people if they are thinking of choosing either system.
I have separated the RNS-E functionality into Radio/MP3 player/telephone interface to compare with the Symphony with the MFSW phone control, and the Navigation to compare to a standalone system such as a Tomtom.
RNS-E as a radio/MP3 player/Telephone interface - pros
- SD card MP3 playback easier to add/change tracks than burning a new CD
- Larger screen enables more MP3 tracks in list to be displayed
- SD card 400 file limit (per card).
- Slow starting MP3 playback on start-up.
- Poor choice of screen colour schemes. (my pet-hate !)
- Has no start-up volume setting.
- MP3 display playing time covers up part of the title/artist line for the current track.
- Radio does not default to the memory screen.
- Screen sometimes difficult to read in sunlight. (especially low winter sun)
- Telephone system starts in the dial number manually screen. Takes several button presses to get to phone book. No advantage that I have found over using the MFSW to access the phone.
- (Late 2007 onwards vehicles only) Changes to vehicle aerial wiring cause ZF to ground DTC errors and a slightly poor FM signal. This can be solved but costs around £150 to do.
- Screen is easier to read in sunlight (and is the correct Audi red colour!)
- Can store 512 files per CD (although this would have to be at very low bitrate to get onto a 700Mb CD)
- Gives 4.2Gb (6*700Mb) of MP3 storage with a theoretical total of 3072 files.
- Startup volume setting.
- Radio shows presets screen as default
- (MFSW) One button press for access to phone book.
- Does not show CD/MP3 disc title in CD changer screen (just displays either MP3 or CD) so you need to remember which CD is in which location.
- In radio mode (on late 2007 models) the left roller on the MFSW does not scroll through presets, but all possible stations.
- IN MP3 browse mode the left roller on the MFSW does not scroll through the list.
- Factory fit
- Large screen
- Secure
- Displays info in DIS
- No facility to add custom POIs (ie speed cameras)
- Without SDS is a total pain to program.
- Even with SDS is not as easy to use as a touch screen navigation system.
- Only supports 4 digit postcode still have to enter street name.
- Extremely easy to use via touchscreen
- Can be programmed in advance out of car.
- Can add custom POIs such as speed cameras and give warning when approaching them.
- Full postcode support.
- Needs additional mount / wiring.
- Security risk if left in car with mount on show (I have hidden my mount in the ashtray but that is not perfect)
- Smaller screen
- No info on DIS
If anyone ever succeeds in cracking the firmware on the RNS-E, I think it could be transformed, as most of my cons with it could be solved by a decent programmer in an afternoon. Until that happens, I just found that those little gripes continually annoyed me. It is a bit like going on a date with a gorgeous woman, only to find out she has bad breath and supports Man Utd.