I am pretty sure my Columbus has never had a firmware / map update 

The hidden menu quotes 
HW version - H08

SW version - 5218 

map version - 7918 

the car is a late 2012 model . 

is it now too late to do both updates as I don't want to buy both discs ( firmware & map ) from the internet ( i/e from satnavishop  etc ) & cause more harm than good , the Columbus is working perfectly , sometimes a bit slow to get going in the mornings ( but aren’t we all as we get older 😁 )  

is it better to leave it alone as if it aint broke don’t fix it or go for it , the last thing I want to do is end up with less features or the unit yo stop working all together  

& if I do what apart from up to date maps what will I gain 

I know this subject is well covered in other threads but as my unit has never had any updates I am not sure if they are relevant 

any advise / recommendations would  be greatly appreciated 👍

 

 

 

 

Upgrade to 5274 & latest maps WEST V17

Im in a similar situation. Ive just bought a 61 Plate superb and the nav doesn't recognise where I live (new build estate)

 

Ive ordered a disk containing the West V17 Maps to update these but have no idea what firmware its running. As P1970 says, I doubt mines ever been updated.

 

How do I go about updating the firmware? and does this have to be done at all/before the map updates?

 

Thanks Pab567 for the response 

excuse my ignorance but how do I upgrade to 5274 ?

can I buy a disc from the internet as not confident downloading myself 

I can only seem to find firmware 5238 on line ? 
Again thanks for the response 👍

You can compare the different firmware versions on this site. From what I can see, I don't think you'll see any major changes or improvements upgrading from what you have, but someone else might have a different opinion. 

 

Generally, with the firmware, most people burn their own disks with downloads from trusted sources. You can of course buy firmware disks online from auction sites etc. but it usually isn't worth the money. If you're unsure about downloading and burning yourself, maybe ask someone you know if they can do it for you. It's not difficult at all, so long as you have a way of burning a CD / DVD.

 

It's worth pointing out that updating the firmware and the maps isn't a risk-free process. It's low risk, but not risk free. With the firmware, you risk "bricking" your unit or, less dramatically, losing the existing firmware and having to start again. It's generally recoverable, but it can be a pain in the arse and can require burning recovery CDs etc. With the maps, you only really risk losing your existing maps and the new maps not loading onto the hard drive. Generally, you can reload the old maps (if you have the DVD) or run the new maps from the DVD and forget about loading them onto the hard drive (it's slower to start-up, but works as normal after that). But just bear in mind that you might end up with no navigation at all (worst case scenario).

 

I've had my Superb (with RNS 510) since 2010 and to be honest I've long come to the conclusion that if navigation working quickly and correctly is important, it's better to use a dedicated sat nav unit or (even easier) your smartphone. If you're going to spend money on firmware disks and map disks (and you don't have to, both are available for free online), then I honestly think you're better off paying for a mount / holder for your smartphone (if you have one) and using that for navigation. I know it's not as neat or as convenient, but it's a better solution. I'm not sure how many more map versions will be released for the Columbus at this point, but we must be getting close to the end of its life span (in terms of maps). Plus, the maps that are released tend to be 12 months old / out of date even at the point that they're released. Anyways, just something to think about and each to their own and all that!

This guy has given a very good overview on this topic.

 

https://paulroberts69.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/upgrading-firmware-and-maps-on-vw-rns-510-satnav/

 

You can download new maps from gpspower.

Edited 28 March, 20215 yr by 26DIPP

Any more information on updates for Columbus SatNav/radio etc?  The link on 26DIPPs post is from 2015. I like the simplicity of the Radio/satnav/phone set up with Columbus although it is a bit clunky. A real shame there are no more map upgrades. I tried an Android unit but it didn't want to do the job - it might do a lot more but I don't want that while I am driving.

Supposedly I need a double-din unit (9" for Skoda Mk2 Superb 4x4) - why?

All info gratefully received or I will continue driving 'off-road'......