My TOMTOM 3 Bluetooth GPS setup - MINI2

RDMac · #1 (**permalink**) Mar 27th, 2004, 02:36 PM

For your viewing pleasure

or just for your info ....

I bought the portable TOMTOM 3 Bluetooth GPS system with UK maps which came yesterday for £187 (I am a GPS virgin

)

It worked instantly out of the box with my XDA II handheld PC / mobile phone and my Bluetooth headset works in harmony with the GPS!! which I was suprised about

I have the GPS receiver on the rear parcel shelf and was thinking of 're-charging' it from there. The XDAII is on a magnetic windscreen mount.

But I have tried the receiver next to the cigarette lighter on the floor and in the drivers cubby hole and it works fine !! I'm well impressed !

Does anyone else have this setup, and if so, what charging combination do you use ?

Full gallery of pics here ..... http://www.myfonepics.co.uk/rich/

Cheers

Rich

AidenL · #2 (**permalink**) Mar 27th, 2004, 04:15 PM

Looks like a nice set-up...............

harveyjoseph · #3 (**permalink**) Mar 27th, 2004, 06:12 PM

Great setup....how do you like the tomtom software....I use Mapopolis and was thinking of switching to tomtom as it looks a bit more robust..

MarkW19 · #4 (**permalink**) Mar 27th, 2004, 09:07 PM

Good setup mate! I've got the Navman 4400 with my iPAQ 1940. Works great too.

Nice compact setup u've got there :-)

FatPete · #5 (**permalink**) Mar 28th, 2004, 05:55 PM

Similar setup here - using the iPaq H4150, Fortuna bluetooth gps receiver and TomTom2

I think I'll get TomTom3 in June when my new Cooper S arrives - sold my Cooper 2 weeks back and now have no car for another 10 weeks

Is it true that the M6 toll-road isn't in TomTom3? One of the few annoyances I have with TomTom2 is that the maps are quite old, but overall I really like the software.

Magnetic holder seems quite smart - might look into getting one of these to replace my big unwieldy holder. Is it really magnetic? Doesn't it affect the PocketPC?

Looks like a nice setup.

Pete

MarkW19 · #6 (**permalink**) Mar 28th, 2004, 06:00 PM

I've got the magnetic holder too - see my gallery. Works great, it's a VERY strong magnet so it holds the iPAQ really well. Doesn't affect the PocketPC in the slighest (even with the bluetooth).

harveyjoseph · #7 (**permalink**) Mar 28th, 2004, 09:33 PM

I mounted my CruxII BT/GPS in the boot in the left side behind the opening for the tool set and powered it fron the rear cig lighter (I hooked up an additional cig liter receptical behind the trim). I then hooked up an external intenna and snaked it up the C piller to the rear of the sunroof and attached it with double sided stickey tape. Put the cover back on so you can't see it. It picks up at least 6 Sat's all the time and you can not even see the external intenna and it has power all the time.

RDMac · #8 (**permalink**) Mar 29th, 2004, 08:32 AM

Thanks for your comments guys, .... in answer ....

I think the tomtom software is great, the 3D view is really easy to use and the voice prompts are great. However I have not used or even seen any other GPS software to compaire!

Not sure about the M6 toll-road, currently I have traveled to and from work in Derby

but am going to Cornwall on Fri

I searched for comments on magnetic damage on the PC or Lith battery and everyone seemed fine with it. It has a small plate that you stick to the back of the PC (Or some stick it under the batt cover)

Thanks for the idea MarkW19 :d .... it was you that gave me the product link :d

harvey, your setup sounds good, I think I might mount the GPS UNDER the rear parcel mash, It still gets a good signal and I could run a wire to the cubby hole. However my Cooper S didn't come with a rear cigerette socket only a blanking plate

I'll tap into power when....

1. I know what wire to tap into in the cubby hole ... and
2. When I find a car charger for the GPS unit that doesn't come with a holder

(I do have a 'bulky' 12v to 240v power converter for emergencies while i'm away from the home

)

mark-wiz · #9 (**permalink**) Mar 30th, 2004, 10:00 PM

Just what I am looking for.

Could you let me know where you purchased TT3 & Blootooth for £187?

The cheapest I have been quoted on the internet is £259!

P.S. How do you power your XDA in the car?

RDMac · #10 (**permalink**) Mar 31st, 2004, 07:01 AM

Hi,

I get all my stuff from Expansys, next day delivery if the item is in stock.

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=TOMTOM3BTUK

As for powering the XDAII I'm going for this ...

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=108736

But only because my GPS is in the boot and powered seperately, otherwise I would get a combined GPS / XDA charger.

Something like this ....

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=111504
(which has a holder too, if you havent got one - but check if it's XDA 1 or 2)

However I do prefer the compactness of the magnetic holder

Spoogey · #11 (**permalink**) Jan 9th, 2005, 06:00 PM

i have my ipaq 4150 setup with bluetooth gps and tomtom3. I have the gps receiver powered at the front and runs from the dash bracket for my ipaq which connects to the front cigarette lighter and bluetooth receiver put in driver compartment by ignition.

However I like the idea of having in the boot out of the way - i assume you have in on constantly or do you turn it off and on?

any pictures of boot receivers?

thanks

RDMac · #12 (**permalink**) Jan 9th, 2005, 08:56 PM

Hi,

I have the BlueTooth reciever in the boot soon to be powered by the boot socket. I will leave it on all the time when the ignition is on, battery life is not an issue as I don't use it for walking or mountain bikeing etc.

The XDA in the front is powered by the USB/Cigerette socket.

venox22 · #13 (**permalink**) Jan 10th, 2005, 01:49 PM

I have a HP ipaq 3715(dark drey and silver which matches interior) which is mounted using newministuffs no holes mount, which works very well. Never thought of putting the receiver on the p/shelf!!

I personally use the new Copliot 5, which is excellent, much more professional than TomTom and better after sales advice etc. If you read a few PC mag previews of it they all prefer it to Tom Tom.

Spoogey · #14 (**permalink**) Jan 10th, 2005, 03:11 PM

Both software are good I think personally Tomtom3 has a few more tweaks and graphically superior - there are more add-in written for it too. CheckPOint being one I use a lot.

I was originially going to mount my ipaq down there but realised it wasn't best for viewing as you have to actually move your head. I have mine in the top right hand corner like RDMax which for driving is ideally and it means the power wires tuck neatly behind the speedo and rev counter (i have both as I have chrono package) and feed down to the cigarette lighter.

My only concern is can the tomtom reciever handle being left on 365 days a year? I personally don't like it in the cubby hole by the ignition......

MD1 · #15 (**permalink**) Jan 13th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RDMac

Hi,

I get all my stuff from Expansys, next day delivery if the item is in stock.

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=TOMTOM3BTUK

As for powering the XDAII I'm going for this ...

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=108736

But only because my GPS is in the boot and powered seperately, otherwise I would get a combined GPS / XDA charger.

Something like this ....

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=111504
(which has a holder too, if you havent got one - but check if it's XDA 1 or 2)

However I do prefer the compactness of the magnetic holder

Rich, i know this in an old thread but can you tell me where you got your magnetic holder from - was that expansys too?? Your set up looks so neat and ideal to go in our cooper convertible and then swap to our Skoda Fabia VRS for those longer journeys where the diesel economy comes in!!
Cheers
MD
PS do you use some sort of speed camera detector as well through tomtom3 and your PDA?