ZR/Kakadu voice recognition doesn't work

[mazza]

Hi all,

Has anyone else discovered that the voice recognition on their ZR or Kakadu model doesn't work? If you program a single voice tag, everything works fine and it displays the contact you name, but the moment you've got more than one voice tag recorded it always says something like "Multiple possible contacts found. Please press the button and say the name again". The stupid thing is that before it says this, it plays back the tag you said, every single time, so it's recognising it fine. My car's been back to the dealer and they reproduced it with 2 other phones, and then with their phones on the dealer principal's Kakadu, so it's not unique to my phone or my car. They've since raised a Dealer Product Report, but that was a month ago and Toyota still haven't got back to them with an update.

Surely I'm not alone with this problem???

Cheers,
Mazza

[Blackjack]

Hi Mazza,
I assume you are talking about the new Prado's ability to provide voice dialing even if your mobile-phone does not have that capability ?, ... if that is so then I can say that it does work very well, certainly that is the case with my 'VX' model and it's a neat feature.

But it was a bit of a PITA to set it up as the manual does not explain the procedure very clearly, and I had the same problems you are seeing but after a lot of effort I figured out how to do it. I now have several numbers voice programmed in and I will set up more in the next few days. When I do this I'll refresh my memory on how it was done and get back to you if you don't solve it in the meantime. Also I wouldn't rely on the Toyota dealer staff to know how to do it unless they have previously set one up themselves, and that 'message' you hear about 'multiple contacts found' is precisely what happened to me, until I figured out how to use the selection dial correctly on the audio/radio controller,.......suggest you play with that a bit more and see how you go !

Rgds, Rob

[rumy]

I have the same problem, I say "skip truck" and it comes up with multiple choices like "donna home" or " donna mobile". I would hate to have all ten contacts in there. The blue tooth works great and is crystal clear but the voice tags are crap. If you can enlighten me also that would be great.

[mazza]

Blackjack,

Thanks for your feedback. Believe me, I've tried everything I can think of, without any joy. From what the dealer tells me, the problem seems to be isolated to the ZR and Kakadu models, which have a different phone/audio system to the others. Having said that, I'm willing to try anything, so please post the exact method you use and I'll give it a try.

Cheers,
Mazza

[Blackjack]

Mazza,

You may be right that the Kakadu (VX Ltd in NZ) has a slightly different system due to the addition of the Navigation accessory and some other audio stuff for back seat passengers. Anyway, this morning I entered another 10 numbers with voice dialing tags, the system in the VX will hold 20 numbers.

Now what I suggest you do is firstly delete all the existing telephone book entries, you do this by pushing the 'off-hook' button on the steering wheel and then by using the 'tune-select' knob on the radio you can select the 'phonebook' and then select 'delete entry' and then delete all existing numbers individually. Note that the 'tune-select' knob is both a push-button switch and a rotary selector, and it takes a bit of practice to use it properly. Having successfully done this you can now add new phone numbers.

To add new numbers, again push the 'off-hook' button, then on the audio controller select 'phone-book' and then 'add entry'. Now there are various ways to add entries but I only use the 'manual input' option so select that and input a phone number by rotating the 'tune-select' knob for each digit and pushing the 'tune-select' knob to advance the cursor to enter the next digit. When you have finished entering the entire number then push the 'tune-select' knob TWICE. You now have the option to record a name for the number just entered, so select 'record-name' and the display will show 'listening', say the name clearly and then push the 'tune-select' knob whereupon it will show 'confirm ?' ............push 'tune-select' knob again, and it should show 'stored'.

You'r done, you should have one number stored and voice tagged. Test by pressing the 'off-hook' button and then the microphone button on the steering wheel, audio display will show 'listening' then say the name you recorded and push the 'off-hook' button AGAIN,
now after a few moments it should dial your stored number. Note that you must have your BT phone in the vehicle and paired to do all this (I'm sure you know that !).

See how you go.......Cheers, Rob

[rumy]

Kakadu is different to the above mentioned method.

[mazza]

Hi Blackjack,

Yep the process you went through is functionally the same as what I did on my ZR, but as Rumy says, the actual system is very different. It's all done through the touch-screen and it sounds a fair bit easier to use. Now, if only it actually worked....

Let's hope Toyota come up with a fix.

What about other Kakadu owners out there? Has anyone actually got it working???

Cheers,
Mazza

[Walker]

Just picked up mu ZR yesterday. I loved the way I could get my entire address book over via bluetooth, but I have exactly the same problem with the voice tags. It is really weird because it recognises the name you say, just messes up actually picking it out of the contact list.
I guess if enough people complain they will fix it.

I have not done a lot of testing, but I did notice that when I had 6 voice tags programmed in, it still only gave me 3 multiples contacts every time and the contact I had spken was always one of the 3, so I guess it is better than sifting through the entire contact list. Since I brought over my entire contact list from the Iphone, it means I have over 150 contacts to look through.

[rumy]

I couldn't send over my contacts, forget the reason but it said something wasn't right?

[Alastair]

Howdy all
Mine is exactly the same as Mazza.
It has been a while since his original post, does any one know if there a fix for this fault yet?

regards Alastair

Edit: I use a Sony Erricson Xperia . The bluetooth and contacts work as advertised, ie all automatic connection on start up, speed dials are fine, caller id works on screen ect just the voice dial fault as above.

[rumy]

I have a Nokia 6120 classic, works get for the hands free but still can't send my contacts over ... comes up with an error message every time.
I have tried other Nokia phones and the same thing happens ... I would like to hear what models and brand names actually do allow contacts to be sent over so I can buy that phone.

Please mention brand names and models of phones if you post here .....

[Matt Codrington]

Hi Mazz
Our Kakadu is only a week old and although I haven't had a good play I have noticed that it all worked fine with only one voice tag, but with multiple it is not even recognising the original tag. When we get our first service will enquire with the dealer.

[mazza]

Hi Matt,

Yep, that's the same problem. The issue is not in your unit, but in the software itself - ALL Kakadus and ZRs have the same problem. Feel free to mention to the dealer that Clintons Toyota in Narellan raised a DPR (Dealer Product Report) in March, with no resolution as yet.

Cheers,
Mazza

[Alexee]

Hi All,

I got a new GXL a few months ago. As per the manual instructions, I was able to enter 10 phone numbers in the phone book. When I activate voice recognition, the window displays the intended name, but for some reason, my phone (iphone) does not make the call. I've tried several times and different phone numbers and it still displayed the correct name, but no phone call was made. Also, when my phone rings, the window displays the phone number of the person calling, but it does not display the name, which is stored in the phone book.

Does anybody has the same the problem with the iphone?

[ANMBLM]

First timer.
Just purchased a Kakado & about to purchase new mobile.
Seaking guidance re best type for use with Kakado, prefer Telsta.
Telstra Tough T90 being considered.
All advice welcome.
Thanks in anticipation
ANM

[shadow75]

iPhone on the Kakadu has the same problem. I'm guessing there isn't a fix yet

However, with iPhone the built in voice recognition works well through the system, just have to hold down the button on the phone.