Worked well right out of the box
shoes review TomTom Traveler Portable Navigator Lifetime
I just wanted to provide this small tip to new users of the TomTom. It's about the suction cup for the windshield - I've read review that it doesn't hold well, and one person said that if he wet the cup before sticking, that worked for a while. The windshield mount that comes with the TomTom actually is designed to hold - but the instructions aren't clear. So here's how you get it to hold really tight - you couldn't even pull it off.
You will need to figure out the position of the mount first, then separate it from your TomTom, since you can't do the rest of this with it attached. With the suction cup facing the windshield (away from you), turn the disk that is in the center all the way counter clockwise. Then stick the mount onto your windshield where you want it, and while you push it with your hand, use your other hand to turn the disk in the center all the way clockwise. That motion, turning it clockwise, makes the suction cup really tight. Then you can put your TomTom back onto the mount.
Hope this helps some folks. My mount fell off a couple of times, then I realized what I'd done wrong.
When I went to the web site to set up the My Tomtom account and check for updates, I have to say that it wasn't super intuitive - at first it wouldn't take my code. Not sure why that is, but after going through some stuff I was able to do it. The GPS itself is very nice, I like the choices of voices, and the display is nice. It does reroute quickly when you make a different turn than it tells you.
Category Article silver heels
Easy to use GPS, clear and concise directions provided, easy to see screen. This is my first GPS and I have found it very easy to get set up and learn. However, TomTom Home is extremely slow to update, both when downloading a map update from the web and updating the GPS memory. Total process took over 3 hours! Downgrading to the prior version (2.6) of TomTom Home did not help, so I went back to the latest version (2.7x). So far this is my only disappointment.
It is very accurate and timely showing streets and announcing upcoming turns, even is rural areas. Screen is easy to see, even in bright sun on the dash. Window suction cup works well for mounting unit. So far, I love it.
I just bought it two days back. I was kind of skeptical with the map updates and activation code not working, after reading through so many reviews related with update failure etc.
So I started with a full explorer backup of the device at windows level. It took about 45 minutes. Then I took another backup using Home software. That was another 45 minutes.
Then I deleted unwanted voices to free up some space. It probably removed some 30-40MB of space. There was close to 400MB free after this step.
Then I entered the activation code for lifetime free map updates using the Home software. It worked fine (at least it did not give me any errors).
Then it detected that there is new versions of map available for download. I downloaded the new maps, which took another 20 minutes or so, and took further 30 minutes to update the device.
The downloaded size of new maps was about 1.7GB, whereas the previous versions of maps occupied 1.43GB. Now my device has close to 60MB free out of the 1.9GB memory it has. I think if I would not have deleted unwanted voices, I would have come close to filling up all the space.
I also downloaded the GPSquickfix.
For the safety camera, when I had entered Canada as the home country, it did not show any information available to download. But after I switched it to US (from within HOME software), then it showed the data for US-Canada safety cameras, and I was able to download them.
So overall, I did not face any issues earlier reviewers of TomTom XL/XXL series had mentioned.
Regarding performance, I was pretty impressed with the speed it took to acquire satellite signal. I have a four year old HP-IPaq GPS (which runs TomTom software), and this new one is much faster than the HP one.
Now before I made this purchase, I had bought Garmin 755T last week. I did not like it for one main reason that it did not have up to date maps of my area (especially it didn't show my home even after 7 years it is on TomTom maps). I updated the maps to latest, and still didn't show my home street. Contacting the customer support for Garmin was a pain, with 30-40 min. of wait every time I tried to call them. It was a breeze to contact TomTom support. First time I was connected instantly, and every time after that, it took only few minutes to get connected. Finally, I did not like the colour schemes and sounds which came with Garmin. May be that is my personal preference. But Garmin is not too much customizable, pretty basic stuff you can configure. So it went back within few days.
Hope this review will be useful to you all.
I was skeptical about buying a new product with no reviews but after using it a few times I think I did the right thing. It worked right out of the box and although it would not accept my map update code it did it anyway so I guess the code is not needed if you have the lifetime update model. It comes with a car charger and a USB cable to connect to a PC and also uses the USB's 5 volt power to charge, so you don't need to buy the home charger if you want to do it this way. When connecting to USB you have the option to make a computer connection or just charge. Today I used it to go to a place that I have been before and it directed me to a way I didn't know about that was a few less miles than my usual route. The spoken directions are clear and easy to understand. On major roads it knows the speed limit and shows both your actual speed and the limit, you can choose to be notified with a tone that you select if you get a little heavy with your right foot. The screen is big enough to use a finger to select menu options and type, on my last GPS I had to use a stylus due to it's small size. The only thing that I wish it did but doesn't is when you approach the destination it does not say which side of the street it's on, I found this useful with my Garmin so that you know which lane to be in. So far that's my only gripe.
UPDATE 27 MAY 2010
After extensive use for almost a month and with the two issues resolved I have upgraded my score to 5 stars. It has now accepted my lifetime map code and performed an extensive map download which took almost an hour and my gripe about not showing the destination side of the street is also resolved. I highly recommend this unit.
Although I just got this unit, I am very impressed! It's very quick starting up, very quick in determining my location and seems to be very accurate in terms of exits, roads, etc. My only disappointment is that the "lifetime" map feature is based on the "useful lifetime" of the device and TomTom reserves the right to determine what the useful life is and can withdraw support for it whenever they choose to. That significantly reduces the value of the "lifetime" map offer, but for an extra $30, it's probably still worth it, assuming they don't stop supporting it within a year!
I have owned several GPS units, including models from Garmin and Navman. I upgraded to this model from the TomTom 140S. This model has twice the screen size. The screen is brighter, and the sound is louder and fuller. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Routing is excellent. The Points of Interest database is huge. Advanced lane guidance is very helpful. The large screen makes data input easier. Like all TomToms, you can configure it to your liking.
The only negative is that battery life is reduced because of the larger, brighter screen.
I just wanted to provide this small tip to new users of the TomTom. It's about the suction cup for the windshield - I've read review that it doesn't hold well, and one person said that if he wet the cup before sticking, that worked for a while. The windshield mount that comes with the TomTom actually is designed to hold - but the instructions aren't clear. So here's how you get it to hold really tight - you couldn't even pull it off.
You will need to figure out the position of the mount first, then separate it from your TomTom, since you can't do the rest of this with it attached. With the suction cup facing the windshield (away from you), turn the disk that is in the center all the way counter clockwise. Then stick the mount onto your windshield where you want it, and while you push it with your hand, use your other hand to turn the disk in the center all the way clockwise. That motion, turning it clockwise, makes the suction cup really tight. Then you can put your TomTom back onto the mount.
Hope this helps some folks. My mount fell off a couple of times, then I realized what I'd done wrong.
When I went to the web site to set up the My Tomtom account and check for updates, I have to say that it wasn't super intuitive - at first it wouldn't take my code. Not sure why that is, but after going through some stuff I was able to do it. The GPS itself is very nice, I like the choices of voices, and the display is nice. It does reroute quickly when you make a different turn than it tells you.