I'm not going to say any more after this response, robdan, but I can't for the life of me see how "Sorry. Was actually a typo while trying to do two jobs (badly) at the same time. I meant 41xx (more accurately 412x)" (the last lines of his post) make it "quite obvious" that it was intended as a joke.

Ray

No worries Ray, but a start up speed increase of 250%? Voice commands without a microphone?

It could only have been a wind-up in my opinion and his last line admitting that it was a typo did it for me.

It did start as a genuine typographical error on my behalf (not lying) and, in trying to make light of my own stupidity (with what i thought were fantastical claims) I have offended people.

Sorry is the only thing I can say.

I read the speed increase bit and got excited and missed the without microphone voice control bit. That pretty much gives it away, I'd say, so I feel like a right plonker falling for it!!!!

You are not alone it seems....

No one's mentioned the wi-fi hotspot!

It did start as a genuine typographical error on my behalf (not lying) and, in trying to make light of my own stupidity (with what i thought were fantastical claims) I have offended people.

Sorry is the only thing I can say.

Karl, I wouldn't go falling on your sword if I were you. There are some people on this forum who appear to be professional curmudgeons: humourless, irascible, intolerant.

Karl, I wouldn't go falling on your sword if I were you. There are some people on this forum who appear to be professional curmudgeons: humourless, irascible, intolerant.

+1........:-)

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Just a note to say my local dealer said they would update my Columbus firmware and maps for £30 at my next service - due in a couple of weeks.

Do we think this is a good deal?

I specifically asked if they would do both the firmware and maps, to which they said yes - so I am presuming they know what they're talking about...

I would do it myself if I had the 'files' but can't track them down (enough said as I know its frowned upon) and I don't have the 'secret' Service/Settings option available...

It doesn't sound too bad. It really depends if you bought the car from them and how much 'goodwill' they are prepared to give you for doing so. You'd pay about £30 buying dodgy copies - and even downloading the files yourself has a notional cost in your time. Let us know how it goes and what levels your firmware and software (maps) end up as.

Problem is I can't see the service/hidden menu on my Columbus, so can't check current H/W and S/W to ensure I update correctly and don't 'brick' the unit...

For the sake of £30, having it done by someone who knows what they are doing (hopefully) and has the 'tools' to rectify (i.e. older FW and Map versions) on tap, seems like a safer/more sensible option?

I agree - and you should mention that you don't yet have the feature of the Setup button that displays version info as they should be able to fix that too, either by firmware update or their VCDS tool.

Thanks, that was going to be one of my questions (Newbie alert) i.e. can they enable the hidden menu for me!

£30 seems like a very good deal especially if you get the latest firmware (412x) & maps (v.9).

I believe that many of the later firmware versions enable the 'hidden' menu by default.

Firmware is available legally and free (although you need some time and a decent Internet connection to download it).

Maps are copyrighted and licensed by VW in a similar way that the majority of computer software is. In other words, 'borrowing' someone else's disk and putting it on your car (as well as theirs) is illegal.

Not sure if a dealer will have 412x frimware and V9 maps as they are not official Skoda releases AFAIK.

Ian

VW have v.9 maps but I think you are correct about Skoda being on v.8.

Not sure about firmware as most dealers don't seem to have a clue on this one.

Thanks, that was going to be one of my questions (Newbie alert) i.e. can they enable the hidden menu for me!

They should be able to (if they know what it is).

My 3 week old L&K has V9 maps on it and my firmware is 5218 according to the long press of the Setup button display.

£30 seems like a very good deal especially if you get the latest firmware (412x) & maps (v.9).

I believe that many of the later firmware versions enable the 'hidden' menu by default.

Firmware is available legally and free (although you need some time and a decent Internet connection to download it).

Maps are copyrighted and licensed by VW in a similar way that the majority of computer software is. In other words, 'borrowing' someone else's disk and putting it on your car (as well as theirs) is illegal.

If the firmware is free and legal to download, can you point me in the right direction?

Still not sure I'll attempt the upgrade (for reasons stated before) but interested to have a look...

I'm an IT Consultant by trade - converted from an IT Engineer several years ago - so firmware upgrades are part of everyday life for me...and have BT Infinity so download speeds aren't an issue...

If the firmware is free and legal to download, can you point me in the right direction?

Sure. Go to the 'VW Navi' forum (for modified firmware) or better still the 'My GTI' website for proper versions.

The latter has no-nonsense fact and highlights the risks & rewards.

You don't need to be an IT guru, just have balls if steel when the progress bar stalls for 10 minutes....

Perhaps balls of steel should be included in the next firmware version along with the wifi hotspot detector

£30 sounds good to me, some of the mapping on the unit in my 61 plate Superb is now out of date, so might ask the dealer near me if they'll do it for that.

Edited 8 February, 201313 yr by Yearofthegoat

Thanks, will take a look and have a read!

Hi all as a new Superb owner (as of yesterday) can I jump on this thread please as I am stumped! My car was registered on 31/03/10 on a 10 plate with factory fit Columbus (Elegance). There was an unopened copy of v6 maps in the glove box so my guess is that is what I have installed. I don't have 7 digit postcode functionality and holding the setup button only takes me into radio service mode. So I cannot establish what FW version I have. I would be ever so grateful if someone could help me upgrade my FW. Would be happy to come to you or pay petrol and furnish you with as much tea/coffee and biscuits as you can consume and send you home with wine and chocs as a thank you. I assumed updated FW will allow connection to an iphone 5 as this doesnt seem to work either. I am in Whiteley near Fareham in Hampshire.

The lack of 7-digit postcode search indicates that there as a firmware upgrade needed for full functionality. Send me a PM with your telephone number and we'll have a chat about upgrading your firmware.

There is an excellent thread entitled "rSAP Bluetooth to HandsFree - Success!" (pinned as the second thread down in this section of the Forum) which clearly describes the Bluetooth (BT) module(s) required to connect HFP mobiles (which include the iPhone). Read that before you do much else, please.

I'd have thought that your build year might well include a sufficiently-late BT module to allow your iPhone to pair, but to check if your Bluetooth module is suitable, move the driver's seat back as far as it will go, remove the plastic cover over the module and check the module's model number. Compare that with those mentioned in the pinned thread to see if that's where your iPhone 5 problem lies.

If your module is compatible, perhaps you're iPhone wasn't discoverable during the pairing attempt? That's done in the Bluetooth section of the settings menu on the mobile itself. HTH?

Ray

Welcome to the Skoda Owners Club. As far as I know the only two ways to identify the firmware and software levels are via the 'secret menu' or the VCDS tool. So, as you don't have the 'secret menu', you'll need to find someone with a VCDS tool to enable it and/or identify the levels. If you bought your Superb from a Skoda dealer it would be worth discussing with them their policy on Columbus updating and whether they would update (or at least enable the 'secret menu') for free or a nominal charge. Once you know the levels you can decide how to update them. I would imagine that the software (ie. maps) are at v6 considering the year and the DVD you have. It is the downlevel firmware that only permits 7-character post codes.

I'm sure other forum watchers will soon add their views to this also.

Gents, thanks for your replies so far. I put the phone in pairing mode (iPhone 5) and the Columbus could find it but when it tried to pair it said it was not a compatible device. The Bluetooth module is 5NO 035 730 C. Reading the pinned thread I think I need the D module to get it to work with iPhones? If I was to update my FW would V6 maps allow 7 digit postcodes?