Any way to Upgrade Phone/Nav software Q70

[haleakalag]

Hi all. I really loved my 2011 M37. It was the nicest car I ever owned when I purchased it. But as time went on, it was apparent that the voice command system for phone calls and Navigation was horribly antiquated. Too many incorrect responses, need to do extra steps, etc. I would get into a friend's Hyundai and dialing was a single "Call Gary". In 2017 I bought a Q70 sight unseen, expecting an entertainment system/phone/nav return to the 21st century. To my shock and surprise it is identical system as the M37- same need to say 3 separate commands or answers to get a call out. Is there any way to modernize the software so that it is similar to any other brand vehicle?

[Larz]

I'm not familiar with the Q70 but in my M35 there is a voice recognition selection that allows the car to 'learn' your voice. I can just push the voice button on the steering wheel, say "call ___" or "Tune ___" and it works every time. Maybe see if the later models have this in the voice menu?

[haleakalag]

Thank Larz. My M37 and Q70 have that feature. The problem is it goes like this: 1.I say "Call Gary" 2. A list of several names always then comes up- usually numbered 1-5. Often the names will all be incorrect. Most commonly the top one will be the correct one. 3. I have to say the number of the correct name to call- 70% of the time I then say "ONE". Some of the time I have to say "Go Back", and repeat the name. Other times the name is 2nd to 5th on the list, so one is forced to read down the list while driving. 4. After saying the number on the list, it says " DIALING" and finally sends the call out. If I am using my Iphone in the car, I simply say "SIRI, call Gary" and it says "calling Gary and dials out thru the Bluetooth- infinitely better and the way all new cars bluetooth/stereos work. It is a software program issue, never been improved upon, and identical in the M37 and Q70. One can use shortcut settings, but unfortunately that is what I am referring to here. The standard setup is even worse. Its the same for Navigation commands, but thankfully don't use it here on Maui. "Destination Home" is the only one that works with a single command. The others force one into picking categories (like gas station, restaurant, etc), then picking from a similar list of 5. The choices are always the nearest ones, so never works if using Nav for a farther destination. It does not have recognition of places like SIri- Siri, directions to Joe's Diner. That would work immediately. Just frustrating.

[kmiles]

Both my M35 had and my Q70 have the feature. I used the programming function to create the top 10 - like "call home" or "call Jon" and it works well. The bigger pain is that every time you replace your phone, you lose everything and have to start over again. I now no longer program them and just say "call first name, last name" and it comes up with the right person out of the 198 on my phone 95% of the time. I recently ran the last navigation update late last year and it made things better. I mostly use my phone for navigation with traffic data, so I rarely use the Infiniti navigation. It's also kind of funny that the system pronounces names wrong many times. I've found it works best if I use the mis-pronounciation name as it works faster. I rarely dial a number from my phone as it works so well for me. It works the worst when I'm driving fast on a noisy freeway and need to almost yell the name to get it to work.

[haleakalag]

Thanks much. Amazing, you’ve had infinitely greater success than I have. I have to say I have never programmed in a top 10 call list. The closest thing I’ve used is “Incoming calls” which works better than most “Call ….” for me. Now I’m intrigued and heading out to the Q70 to see if this list concept works. My wife has a G37 Vert and her dial out is horrific also. I’ll provide followup (if this actually works and I didn’t know about this after 10 years of these cars I will be embarrassed!

[haleakalag]

No, unfortunately I’ve been using it properly with the Call mode. Example just now- I hit the steering wheel button- it says “Please say a command” I say “Call Alaska Airlines”, it says “showing matching entries”(a list of 5 items comes up). It says “please say a number”. I say “1”, it says”Alaska airlines, dialing”. It drives me insane. My friends junker cars I could say “ call Alaska airlines” with no additional commentary. Any more help?? Am I missing something. Again, I have the setting for limited commands, and have been through the menus for many years.

[haleakalag]

It’s the “Showing Matching entries” 100% of the time that is the problem. Always forced to look at a list, pick a number, and listen to more, assuming the wanted number is on the list.

[kmiles]

I just went and checked and ran through all of my kids names. On all but 1 of the 5, I said their name and it said dialing and their name. On one of them, whose name is similar to a couple of others, it came up with two names and I had to do what you did. As I mentioned earlier, I did upgrade to the last NAV version late last year. I'm using an iPhone 12 Pro and all of my contacts are stored in contacts, but all come from my Office 365 contact list.

Here is my Nav version on my Q70:
INFINITI Navigation Third Generation DVD Map Update Version 12 for vehicles purchased in United States and Canada, Item #: P29YK10-D0120-3001

[haleakalag]

Thanks much kmiles, excellent info. Really appreciate it and your time checking. So for some reason 100% of mine default to always giving a list and "Showing Matching Entries." The crazy thing is many of the names sound nothing like the one I'm dialing. I do have hundreds of contacts, so maybe its a combination of poor speech recognition and the number. I never have a failed call out directly from SIri, or using Amazon products to call in the house. I've done the voice training in the car.I only have about 8 numbers on the call list in the Q70, and no matter what I do, I get a 5 name list to choose from listing many other contacts from my iphone phone book. Heading out to garage for further exploration now.

[haleakalag]

Spent final hour+ on this. Tried every setting, new call number w nothing sounding close, re-download of address book. 100% of the time it goes to “Matching Entries” and lists 5, then asks to pick a number. Never once dialed out without having a list to have to choose from. Out of ideas.

[crrraaig]

Has anyone else tried talking to your car? Seems odd for the car. My M hears me better than my wife (unless I'm talking about her under my breath from a floor away)... not to say perfect, but as our engineers say, good enough.

Is the microphone for this in the upper console? Could it have become dislodged and no longer gets a clear (voice) signal? Is there a troubleshooting path for this? Maybe VStar can offer some possibilities

[VStar650CL]

Is the microphone for this in the upper console? Could it have become dislodged and no longer gets a clear (voice) signal? Is there a troubleshooting path for this? Maybe VStar can offer some possibilities

The Q70 has two mics, both in the roof. The front one is in the map lamp assembly, the rear is under the headliner.

[haleakalag]

It’s the same for me and my wife. It’s not a voice issue, it’s software. For some reason it has never called a number after a single voice command. Ever. Same with my previous M37. Exact same “matching entries”, even though several on the matching entry list sound nothing like the called person. I could say “call Gary”, the list will be 1. Gary 2. Mary 3.Harry’s Sushi Bar 4. Gary Home 5. infiniti customer service. Seriously, it’s that bad and consistent for 10yrs in 2 cars. Unless I’m a complete idiot (possible) there is no setting which ensures a single button push, “Call Gary”, followed by the call going out. It’s always 3-4 lines from the system, and minimum of 2 lines from me.