Carcomm TomTom 520/720/920 Cradle Reviewed

Darren

Based in Holland, Carcomm have a wide range of hands-free car kits, mobile phone cradles, PDA mounts and even mounts for the ubiquitous iPhone. But more importantly for us they have a range of cradle solutions available for PND SatNav devices.

The x20 range from TomTom has had a mixed reception from the early adopters, whilst its slim form factor and extensive feature list is worthy, the basic mount which lacks any form of connectivity is not. For a high end device many users decry the loss of an active mount as was supplied with the range that it replaced, the x10. This is particularly valid if you use the TMC Antenna or iPod Connectivity options as this means you have to connect and remove two plugs every time you dock or undock the device as well as attach it to the fiddly mount thet tomTom chose to use.

Consequently there is a large market for third party mounting solutions that address these shortcomings. We have previously reviewed Brodit's x20 solution but Carcomm have approached the problem of catering for the TMC antenna from a different angle.

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Darren Griffin

AndyVaughan · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

Have you noticed any signal loss on the RDS-TMC with the 90cm extension in place?

Andy

Darren · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:45 am Post subject:

kiwi69 · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 59

This looks like a good solution, but if I don't want to use TMC and I don't want to use the 520/720 fm transmitter, can the TMC pigtail lead be use for an audio hardwire aux connection to stereo (with the necessary stereo connections of course Very Happy

) to get mp3 and instructions through the car speakers?

Thanks Thumbs Up

Darren · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject:

SlimboyFat · Lifetime Member Joined: Jan 27, 2004 Posts: 58

Slightly off topic (sorry), but I have noticed that they do a cradle for the Mio P350/P550. If anybody is using one of these is there any chance of a Review / more pics.

TIA

GpsPasSion · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 10, 2005 Posts: 20

Very interesting mount, thanks for the review...it would be perfect if they had added audio out too, wonder if that can be done for a v2...I can't see it on their site, maybe it's not quite final yet ?

craigrcelica · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 06, 2006 Posts: 3

carl_w · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 242

Any idea if they're going to do a TMC-enabled mount for the ONE XL?

carl_w · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 242

Poor form to reply to your own posting, but it seems that the mount for the ONE XL now also has the TMC plug.

See here for details.

Darren · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:56 am Post subject:

Ah well spotted, I'll update the review to add that!
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Darren Griffin

maffs0 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 16, 2006 Posts: 7

Hi Darren,

I received my Carcomm cradle today- nice piece of kit! Very Happy

I was wondering if you knew who sold the car specific "safety mounts" in the UK. TotalPDA who sold me the cradle didn't know what I was talking about. Alternatively, could the Carcomm be mounted on a Proclip or other such mount.

Thanks,

Matthew.

Darren · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

I prefer Brodit's ProClips. Although ostensibly the same they are in my opinion better. You can get them in the UK from DSLDevelopments and the carcomm can be affixed to it perfectly easily.

The ProClips are un-drilled as supplied but if you use the self tapping screws supplied with the Carcomm cradle and some firm pressure you can affix to them with just a screwdriver.
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Darren Griffin

craigrcelica · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 06, 2006 Posts: 3

Hi,

I have recently bought this as a window mount, but I'm confused or being very stupid. The kit only came with 4 nuts and 4 bolts to screw the suction arm to the mount. How am I supposed to therefore screw the swivel joint on this as well as this also has 4 holes, which require 4 more nuts and bolts?

I appreciate any thoughts or comments.

Regards
Craig

Darren · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

The swivel is supplied for when you choose to install on the dash using a clip or other dashboard mount. This is required to allow the cradle to be adjusted.

Because the windscreen mount is already adjustable, the swivel mount is not used when mounting in this way.
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Darren Griffin

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