Is Voice Command Recognition Getting Worse?

 

I upgraded to the latest software and maps on my 2689 about a week ago and after a 3 day road trip I swear the ability recognize what I say has gotten worse. Seems to happen after every upgrade. Most times when I ask for a street or place it seems to come up with something not even close to what I said.

Anyone else notice Voice Command Recognition getting worse the more you upgrade the software?

not on my 3597

I think voice recognition has been pretty stable on my 3597 throughout the time I've owned it. In most respects it is much better than on my two previous Garmin units with voice input, a 3790 and an 855.

Base on those three, I'd assert that Garmin voice recognition behavior is definitely not the same on all units they build which have some form of it.

--
personal GPS user since 1992

Voice commands

I have a nuvi 2597 and have been very well pleased with the voice recognition .

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

I think, it depends on the

I think, it depends on the unit placement, radio level, and AC fan speeds. Something I did on my phone and I can't repeat it, allowed me to hear what the GPS was hearing, and there was an excess of noise interference on the dash location. Way more than I was aware of. Yet, not enough noise to hinder normal conversation.

Next time you have difficulties, try turning off the fan and mute the radio and see if it performs better.

--
Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Mine has always been spotty ...

... I always make a point to keep the windows up, the radio off, the A/C off, and then speak slowly and clearly directly at the unit, and I'd say about half of the time voice command still gets it wrong, sometimes WAYYYYY wrong.

My niece and I have sort of an ongoing inside joke between the two of us. A while back I took her on a day trip and used voice command to find the "Santa Monica Pier". The unit responded by asking "Did you say Eeeeeee?" followed by an "E" showing up on the screen for directions. I didn't push "E" to see where that would take us, but I guess somewhere out there is a place called "E", lol.

Anyway, ever since then when my niece and I are having a conversation and one of us doesn't hear the other clearly, we always break out into a "Did you say Eeeeeee?".

And here I

thought it was just me.

Yes I also find that I will say something and it queries me back with some outlandish response!!!

I do have the radio on very low, windows up but never thought the fan might interfere too.

--
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

Exit

I get to use Exit a bit on the wife's 2598. Seems it sets off randomly either from radio or us talking. I can't say it annoys me since its not coming on every time. My 3580 hasn't done it that i can recall. Other than that we don't use it. Radio needs to be turned down it doesn't get it right most of the time. If alone we we set it up prior to moving if not then the wife sets it as we drive.

--
2 DriveSmart 65's - We do not live in Igloo's and do not all ride to work on snow mobiles.

Voice

Speed2 wrote:

Radio needs to be turned down it doesn't get it right most of the time.

I've had mine (Voice Command) turn on when something on the radio set it off.

Now the command to turn it on is changed to "Wake up you dummy".

Doesn't come on on it's own anymore.

--
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

hahaha

Melaqueman wrote:

I've had mine (Voice Command) turn on when something on the radio set it off.

Now the command to turn it on is changed to "Wake up you dummy".

Doesn't come on on it's own anymore.

I use mine in my Mack truck, pretty noisy in the cab, I have to holler at it but it works most of the time as long as I speak slow and precise. However I only use the pre-loaded commands, like 'recently found', 'saved places', 'stop route'.

I've never used it for entering route information. I enter route info manually, hit go, then stop, and it becomes part of the 'recently found' list. I may have to enter in several places for my work day.

I may have to use your 'wake up you dummy' command as every now and then the voice command screen will come on when the truck makes a certain noise.

.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Wakeup prompt

soberbyker wrote:
Melaqueman wrote:

I've had mine (Voice Command) turn on when something on the radio set it off.

Now the command to turn it on is changed to "Wake up you dummy".

Doesn't come on on it's own anymore.

I use mine in my Mack truck, pretty noisy in the cab, I have to holler at it but it works most of the time as long as I speak slow and precise. However I only use the pre-loaded commands, like 'recently found', 'saved places', 'stop route'.

I've never used it for entering route information. I enter route info manually, hit go, then stop, and it becomes part of the 'recently found' list. I may have to enter in several places for my work day.

I may have to use your 'wake up you dummy' command as every now and then the voice command screen will come on when the truck makes a certain noise.

.

Yes indeed. My wakeup prompt is "Hey Karen" since she's my navigational voice.

I find that I get false positive wakeups almost always when my FM radio broadcast is interrupted by the NOAA alert tone of three buzzes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdkhyeJ6lZ0

and also found that while playing a CD of Tuvan throat singing that the nuvi would wake up several times per track, particularly when the track is sung in Kargyraa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8hrhBZJ98

Since neither sound at all like Hey Karen it makes me wonder how Garmin devices could think I was trying to make a voice command.

Won't work

Melaqueman wrote:
Speed2 wrote:

Radio needs to be turned down it doesn't get it right most of the time.

I've had mine (Voice Command) turn on when something on the radio set it off.

Now the command to turn it on is changed to "Wake up you dummy".

Doesn't come on on it's own anymore.

I tried that once and forgot what i changed it to.
I rarely use it, and that's being generous.

--
2 DriveSmart 65's - We do not live in Igloo's and do not all ride to work on snow mobiles.

Maybe?

I don't know if its getting better or worse but some of the things I say are definitely not what is heard.

Too funny!

CraigW wrote:
soberbyker wrote:
Melaqueman wrote:

I've had mine (Voice Command) turn on when something on the radio set it off.

Now the command to turn it on is changed to "Wake up you dummy".

Doesn't come on on it's own anymore.

I use mine in my Mack truck, pretty noisy in the cab, I have to holler at it but it works most of the time as long as I speak slow and precise. However I only use the pre-loaded commands, like 'recently found', 'saved places', 'stop route'.

I've never used it for entering route information. I enter route info manually, hit go, then stop, and it becomes part of the 'recently found' list. I may have to enter in several places for my work day.

I may have to use your 'wake up you dummy' command as every now and then the voice command screen will come on when the truck makes a certain noise.

.

Yes indeed. My wakeup prompt is "Hey Karen" since she's my navigational voice.

I find that I get false positive wakeups almost always when my FM radio broadcast is interrupted by the NOAA alert tone of three buzzes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdkhyeJ6lZ0

and also found that while playing a CD of Tuvan throat singing that the nuvi would wake up several times per track, particularly when the track is sung in Kargyraa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8hrhBZJ98

Since neither sound at all like Hey Karen it makes me wonder how Garmin devices could think I was trying to make a voice command.

Although I suppose I could hear it sort of in the first phrase of the throat singing. razz

~Angela

Something to listen to on a rainy day...

GlobeTurtle wrote:

Although I suppose I could hear it sort of in the first phrase of the throat singing. razz

~Angela

...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76psBrEypg&index=4&list=RDq...

I learned of Tuva through Richard Feynman, the theoretical physicist via the internet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qeauwu2uIwM

air dryer

CraigW wrote:
soberbyker wrote:

I use mine in my Mack truck,

~snip~

the voice command screen will come on when the truck makes a certain noise.

.

~snip~

and also found that while playing a CD of Tuvan throat singing that the nuvi would wake up several times per track, particularly when the track is sung in Kargyraa:

~snip~

Not sure if most will understand this but mine activates when the trucks air dryer releases pressure and spits out the water build up, it's sort of a high pitched sound, like some of the throat singing.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

By the way ...

CraigW, I learned about the throat singers a couple years ago when I came across this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76psBrEypg

Definitely cool stuff.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Careful

soberbyker wrote:

CraigW, I learned about the throat singers a couple years ago when I came across this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76psBrEypg

Definitely cool stuff.

Be careful and never play that in your truck with the Garmin active. I loved reading your truck's air dryer experience.

If you haven't watched it yet, check out the movie Genghis Blues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xlbCq0WTw

Funny story...I heard that a group from Tuva was performing in Columbus Ohio years ago and invited a friend and his wife to join me in driving up from Cincinnati for the concert. My friend and I were both tuba players in a community band. As the group came on stage, my friend looked at me and said he thought I had made a typo and that we were going to be attending a tuba concert. True story.

Both my Ford Escape and 2689

Both my Ford Escape and 2689 Garmin have voice recognition. Both are in center of windshield.
Garmin is more accurate than Ford is.
Both have had Software Updates.
Ford voice recognition was obviously better after updates—But it sorely in needed it.
Garmin recognition after updates were less noticeable,
But Garmin was always better than Ford at all times.

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

I Tried

I have noticed the difference in it's recognition ability even sitting with the engine off before I started a trip. You did point out something that may be the latest problem, I move from a dash mount that was slightly below my eye level to a sun visor mount that is above my eye level. On the other hand I moved from a very noisy diesel truck to a relatively quiet gas powered truck and that didn't seem to help at all.

I gave up on mine awhile ago...

ended up being more trouble than it was worth!

Paul Pena

CraigW wrote:

~snip~
If you haven't watched it yet, check out the movie Genghis Blues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xlbCq0WTw

~snip~

Yes, quite interesting and good.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Voice commands

For those reporting problems with speech recognition problems you may want to restore the speech recognition file. See https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=cFc1ueuoRf7ofHjYbWfu9A... .

As I reported earlier in my dealings with the voice commands it has been mostly positive . In my case the car doesn't pick up a lot of noise from the outside, and the GPS unit is located close to me on the dashboard. The voice command "One Shot Address Or Point Of Interest" to me would be a difficult command for the GPS. I have used it several times without a problem. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42810 and also used the command to search for a place. The Voice Command Recognition has came a long ways.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

My results are the same

charlesd45 wrote:

For those reporting problems with speech recognition problems you may want to restore the speech recognition file. See https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=cFc1ueuoRf7ofHjYbWfu9A... .

As I reported earlier in my dealings with the voice commands it has been mostly positive . In my case the car doesn't pick up a lot of noise from the outside, and the GPS unit is located close to me on the dashboard. The voice command "One Shot Address Or Point Of Interest" to me would be a difficult command for the GPS. I have used it several times without a problem. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42810 and also used the command to search for a place. The Voice Command Recognition has came a long ways.

Other than issues with the wakeup command mentioned earlier, my experience with voice command is pretty good. I generally stick with stock commands like View Map, Cancel Route, etc. but occasionally try a specific command like Find Safeway, Find Post Office, Find McDonald's, etc.

I gave up as well

I like to whistle while driving (by myself) and found that the Garmin would wake up.. frequently.. so shut it off and never use it.

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Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

I don't know about it getting worse...

In some respects, I think Voice Recognition is a technological marvel. However, I have never found it good enough to be useful. My GPS devices get it wrong far more often than they get it right. It is usually far easier to push a few buttons rather than endure the frustration of trying to correct a misinterpreted voice command.

Voice Recognition

It's hard to imagine it getting worse.

It's pretty atrocious as it stands now.

Mine has had a few

Mine has had a few challenges recognizing me but it might just be my AC blowing hard. I lean forward and speak directly at it and lower the fan. That seems to work best.