| Carcomm TomTom x40/x50 Cradle Available
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 4 Nov 2009
 Carcomm now have a cradle solution for TomTom's x40 and x50 range.
We're huge fans of Carcomm products and I've chosen their cradles as my default mount for some years. Until recently I have continued using my 720 as the daily use nav system because it sat in my dash mounted Carcomm cradle.
Now that the x40 version is available I can retire my 720 and switch to the 940.
In common with other Carcomm cradles that we have reviewed, this one supports 12/24v power and has the drop down conversion to 5v incorporated in the cradle.
This means that should you choose to hard-wire the installation you can simply chop off the cigarette lighter plug and connect to a fused supply. They even supply the fuse.
Other systems have the converter in the cigarette lighter plug. If you were to discard that you'd feed 12v into your device and fry it so this is a welcome feature.
Carcomm even supply a pigtail on the power lead and a plug-in mini-USB socket for use with TomTom's RDS-TMC antenna. If you don't subscribe to TomTom's LIVE service you can still receive TMC broadcasts with this optional antenna without buying the x40 mount from TomTom required to add the TMC support.
There are two cradle models, one with stereo line-out and one without. if you want to hook up to a car stereo or use an iPod then you would need the model with line-out.
Carcomm supply all you need in the box, a windscreen mount, fuse, swivel mount and screws. if you prefer a permanent or semi-permanent cradle with the simplicity of a drop in cradle then this ticks all the boxes.
www.carcomm.eu
| Comments
|
 Posted by Darren on Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:21 am |
 |
For anyone looking to purchase in the UK, www.totalpda.com are the Uk distributor.
The cradles are superb quality, more akin to OEM car-kits than cheap sat-nav mounts.
I've just received the x40 cradle and the 940 just drops in. No more fiddling with the release mechanism. Also a good solution for cars where the windscreen is steeply sloped as the gooseneck windscreen mount supplied gives you more reach.
I plan to install mine to a Brodit ProClip using a MOVE mount and retaining the cigarette lighter plug. That way I can remove it and hide when parked and leave only the fairly anonymous ProClip with the plain MOVE clip attached.
Darren Griffin |
|
| Posted by CP on Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:13 am |
|
Cradle looks great. Do you need an additional aerial with tomtom 750 mounted that low?
|
|
| Posted by Darren on Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:20 am |
|
Not at all, but it depends a lot on where you mount it. On the dash either high up or even low down I have never had an issue with reception. They are pretty sensitive these days.
I've left mine in a glovebox before now (naughty I know, quick stop at petrol station) and it has continued to give guidance as I drove off so if it works in there it'll work pretty much anywhere you would reasonably place it.
Darren Griffin |
|
| Posted by CP on Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:36 am |
|
That's very helpful - many thanks. I was planning on mounting on the airvent with a Brodit mount & cradle you recommend. Previously I have had it much lower by gear stick, which means looking down rather far.
|
|
| Posted by Darren on Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:49 am |
|
I've never been a fan of the air-vent mounts but can wholeheartedly recommend the Brodit ProClip solutions.
Have you looked at them? They've got clips for most vehicles and they are a no-holes mount but more importantly they offer a stable solid mounting platform for a cradle.
Darren Griffin |
|
| Posted by SpikeUK on Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:47 am |
|
Does "Live Mount" mean that the Tomtom will switch on and off with the car's ignition? I've been trying to find a way of installing a 930 in a Range Rover Sport, by removing the existing sat-nav, and putting the 930 in the resulting hole.
Tomtom 930 - excellent
Tomtom 700 - retired |
|
| Posted by Darren on Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:55 am |
|
| SpikeUK Wrote: | | Does "Live Mount" mean that the Tomtom will switch on and off with the car's ignition? I've been trying to find a way of installing a 930 in a Range Rover Sport, by removing the existing sat-nav, and putting the 930 in the resulting hole. |
"Live Mount"? Not sure what you are referring to there?
But it still won't switch on/off with ignition which is such an annoying omission. Particularly when it was a feature way back. It was removed when they had an issue with the x10 mounts but why they can't put it back I don't know. Pleaded for it many many times now.
Darren Griffin |
|
| Posted by SpikeUK on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:02 am |
|
Sorry, I meant permantly hard wiring it.
Tomtom 930 - excellent
Tomtom 700 - retired |
|
| Posted by Darren on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:05 am |
|
Ah ok, in which case, no, hard-wiring won't enable that functionality saldy.
Darren Griffin |
|
| Posted by CP on Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:52 pm |
|
I, too, am not totally convinced by mounting on the air vent, but it is more secure than the windscreen. Anything below air vent height seems rather low, but does have the advantage of being able to hide most of the lead to the lighter socket.
|
|
|
| Click here to view more comments... |
|
 |
|
