Tom Tom Navigation

[fourfourto]

What do you think of the Tom Tom, It has a vent mounting accessory available.Thinking of getting it for wife for Xmas

[fourfourto]

What do you think of the Tom Tom, It has a vent mounting accessory available.Thinking of getting it for wife for Xmas

[DRTYFN]

Kenwood 4100 > all

[Surferjo]

Which model are you looking at?

I was looking into the TomTom but I read it was buggy. Some strange one-time registration issue that caused some people a lot of problems.

I had a Navman PDA based Nav. It worked quite well. I upgraded to the ICN510. It has some nicer features but I don’t think it navigates as well.
http://www.thegpsstore.com/images/largeimages/Navman-ICN-510.jpg
My buddy also had a Navman and he upgraded to the Garman I-Que. He says it’s much better than the Navman.

One plus for the Navman is that if you ever travel to Europe you can get street level maps for both Eastern and Western. Not sure if that is available for the TomTom.

Good Luck

[mannytranny]

I just bought a Garmin 2720. I really like it.

[H3Fan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mannytranny:
I just bought a Garmin 2720. I really like it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did you enable the traffic feature and does that require a seperate antenna? Looking at getting one in a few weeks to go along with my new h3.

[First Hummer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Surferjo:
Which model are you looking at?

I was looking into the TomTom but I read it was buggy. Some strange one-time registration issue that caused some people a lot of problems.

I had a Navman PDA based Nav. It worked quite well. I upgraded to the ICN510. It has some nicer features but I don’t think it navigates as well.
http://www.thegpsstore.com/images/largeimages/Navman-ICN-510.jpg
My buddy also had a Navman and he upgraded to the Garman I-Que. He says it’s much better than the Navman.

One plus for the Navman is that if you ever travel to Europe you can get street level maps for both Eastern and Western. Not sure if that is available for the TomTom.

Good Luck </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I also bought a Dell navigation for my PDA,it worked great the one time I used.My H3 still in shop after a week of waiting for BCM module.Im getting pretty pissed rite about now.

[Okthenbye]

I have a Navman portable unit that I have been using for 2 years and it still is going strong.
I use it for the Western US and it has never let me down.

[Brian H]

I have the Tom Tom Go 700. I love it. No bugs in mine. I really like the bluetooth integration where it actually connects to your bluetooth phone. Got mine from ebuy.com about 3 weeks ago for $705.

[f5fstop]

For on-road, I use the Garmin Ique 3600 PDA, it has never failed. Sits on a bean bag mount that actually holds it in place quite well. However, I only use it when on long trips, primarily for the detour function, that routes a detour around road construction.
For off-road, I use a Magellan Sportrac TOPO. Very small screen, primarily for carrying, but it does have a windshield mount, and when off-roading you aren't going fast anyway.
The TOPO software is fantastic.

[fourfourto]

The Tom Tom is portable it does also use batterys.My phone has bluetooth.I beleve it also has weather / trafic feature available.

Brian H
How do you have it mounted did you buy the vent clip mounting bracket.thats what im thinking of doing.Im thinking the all black one but the trim in silver is nice also.

[mannytranny]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Did you enable the traffic feature and does that require a seperate antenna? Looking at getting one in a few weeks to go along with my new h3. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


I have been playing with it for only three days but you must buy a module for traffic which I haven't. I'm not sure about seperate antennas.

[yat74]

Can the Navman External antenna be run to the stock XM satallite antenna on the H3? I'm looking to get the Navman iCN 520 ($400) great price for a versatile stylish protable unit...but I'm not to sure about the windshield mount as it looks like it could take away from visibility in the H3 any thoughts?

[Surferjo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by yat74:
Can the Navman External antenna be run to the stock XM satallite antenna on the H3? I'm looking to get the Navman iCN 520 ($400) great price for a versatile stylish protable unit...but I'm not to sure about the windshield mount as it looks like it could take away from visibility in the H3 any thoughts? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I doubt you can use the XM antenna.

I used it last week on my way to DC. No problem with visibility at all.

[yat74]

Where did you mount it..center or of to the side?

[fourfourto]

The reason I like the tom tom is you can get a vent mount and run the wires through the vent as it comes off with the radio trim.I would run the lighter plug to a female plug that i will tap in behind the accy plug so you cant see it.It will be a clean look.If possibe I would center it over flasher button bettween 2 vents.I figured all black might blend in better but im also considering the silver trim to match dash trim ? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[JeffW]

I have the Tom Tom Navigator 5 on my Palm Treo 650. The software cost $150, and the bluetooth GPS was ~$100 or so, can't remember. The GPS is Sirf III, so works great through solid objects. I throw it in the glove box and have never had reception problems (whereas my old one had to be on the dash and had trouble through canyons (natural and urban). The only annoying thing with mine is that I have to keep the batteries charged and reach in to turn on the GPS receiver when I want to use it. It shouldn't be difficult to get one that will always be on when the car is on. I need to look into that.

I haven't gone to the trouble of cleanly mounting the treo on the dash anywhere yet. Mainly because the voice directions are so good that I don't really need to look at it while driving, and I think that's an important feature. I just set it in the cup holder for now and peer down at it once in a while to check my ETA.

This Tom Tom software should be equivalent to that on the Go you're considering, and I think the software works great for the most part. I've run into a couple cases where it seemed to get confused and direct me incorrectly, but when I go the way I know is correct, it does get back on track pretty quick. I don't have too much experience with other systems to know if this is better or worse on other systems. I like the different voices, particularly the English bird. I demoed the John Cleese voice... very funny, but I think it would get old quick. I have the maps for the Pacific Northwest and Canada on a high-speed SD card, so routing even long trips is extrememy fast.

One thing I particularly like about using a smartphone like the Treo is that Tom Tom software can navigate to locations in my Contacts. So I can look up a business in the yellow pages on my treo, add it to my contacts with a click, then navigate to that contact. I find this extremely useful when away from home and unexpectedly needing to find a particular store or restaurant.

I also have Pocket Topo on the Treo, which I switch to for backcountry travel (whether in vehicle or on foot). It doesn't give directions, but does show you where you are on the map using the GPS. When hiking or such, I just throw the bluetooth GPS receiver in my pack and keep the treo in my pocket.

So for $250 on top of the cost of a PDA-based cell phone I was going to have anyway, I think the value is unbeatable and the Tom Tom software works well. However, if you are considering spending over $700, I would look into an in-dash system like the Pioneer AVIC-D1, which can be found for ~$1000. That gives you the added value of bigger display (for song artist/title info, not just nav), and the possibility to add a backup cam. And even though I don't really like the look of these aftermarket systems (the small buttons aren't in keeping with the rest of the rugged theme), I think it's much cleaner than something mounted on your vent or on top of your dash.

[fourfourto]

I dont think I can get a in dash one for $1000.00 probobly double that.Then the problems with on star ect as stated in previos threads It would have to be dealer installed or it would void warranty.Plus tom tom runs on batterys so I can use it anywhere.

[Brian H]

fourfourto
I'm using the windshield mount now. It puts the Tom Tom unit right where you need it so you can view it as you drive and you don't need to keep looking down where the radio would be. I like that vent mount also that you had mentioned. I have been eying that as a next purchase thing. Here are some pics and sorry it took so long to reply.

[Brian H]

another view

[Brian H]

just one of the screens from the menu options

[fourfourto]

Brain H How does the silver trim match trim on radio? Im not sure to get that one or the all black.Im defenitly going to get the vent clip it will make a cleaner install. like .Whats with the trafic ,weather,does that cost extra.

[VTSTOMPER]

how does it work in off-road aps?

[Brian H]

The silver looks great!
I don't think this nav system is meant for offroad applications. It only has known roads on it. It comes loaded with the USA and Canada maps

[hummerdonthurtem]

I have the Magellan Roadmate 760. No problems with this unit and I like the portability. I take it with me on out of state trips and it can also be used in Europe.

[DWPC]

I've been using my ancient Palm III with a Rand McNalley GPS (by Navman) for years. I've stuck with it because its compatible with a lot of Delorme mapping software. The GPS add-on is great, but the ol' Palm III has severe memory and battery limits.

I'm finally going to upgrade and I like the looks of the new Magellan Exploris XL;a handheld with a bigger color screen. I've heard many recommendations of Magellen eqpt. I just can't see buying a GPS that isn't easy to move from vehicle to vehicle, or to put in my pocket for a hike. I figure any built-in GPS will probably be a costly white elephant before the H3 warranty expires.