Can someone please explain to me my '04 E-500 w/ Nav clock? I can set the clock HOURS on the nav screen, but the minutes don't adjust minute by minute. Is the Comand system receiving some sort of time signal from somewhere so that it knows how many minutes past the hour it is? Also, there is a settings option to link the instrument cluster analogue clock to the nav digital clock. Why wouldn't you want them linked? Who needs 2 different times? And if they weren't linked, how would you set the analogue clock on the dash?

And if there's anyone who works for MB reading this, it should be suggested to MB that a digital clock always be displayed at the very bottom of the nav screen in the blue bar displayed across the bottom of the screen.

 

I believe the command system is receiving the time from a satellite
and the command time can be linked to the dash clock so it stays in synch. Read your owners manual for a complete explanation.

 

The NAV clock is set by satellite. The only control you have is which time zone you are in. That is why you can only change the hours.

Also, the reason the NAV system must know what time it is because of the ETA option. When using the NAV to get from Point A to Point B, there is an option that will display the time of arrival (based on your average MPH and distance remaining).

Hope this helps!

 

Of Course! It makes sense. I had seen the ETA on a trip. I thought the Nav might be getting the time from somewhere, now I know why. Thanks all.

 

The NAV system works using signals transmitted by the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The GPS satellites actually are one of the most accurate time sources available. Each of the satellites transmit a time signal and the signals are transmitted at the same time from all satellites. This allows a receiver to have very accurate time.

As far as navigation, since all satellites transmitted at the same time, the differences in when the timing signals arrive at the receiver are due to the different distances to the satellites. Using the arrival time differences, the position of the satellites, other satellite information and a few other things, the NAV receiver calculates it's location. It must then convert everything to maps, directions, displays and everything else for the driver to use in navigation.

 

Because of daylight savings, I had to go into the command, service, time, set time. For the clock to sync to the ( head unit ) satellite, to control the time synchronization.

 

Barry45RPM -
Where did you see the ETA on the NAV ? Is it updated as you go along ?

Thanks

 

I have the clocks synced and when I drove through a time zone change the dash clock swept back an hour. Took me a minute to figure it out but kind of a cool feature.

 

Car is at the Svc Dept for Sat radio repair. Will look when I get it back for ETA location... Don't remember, but not hard to find.

 

Thanks Barry -

Figured it out - from map press any softkey - brings up listing of items. Press INFO and there it is.

 

Anyone have instructions on setting the clock on a non-Nav car?