TomTom Go 520 & Ipod Connection Question

RichDem

My wife has a TomTom Go 520 with the Ipod connection cable, the whole thing works wonderfully apart from what seems to be one big flaw. When the Ipod is connected a message is displayed on the Ipod's screen and the backlight is on, no matter what I do on the Ipod I cannot get the backlight to turn off and as the Ipod does not charge while it is connected obviously the battery runs down very quickly.

Does anyone know a way to turn the backlight off on the Ipod while it is connected to the TomTom Go.

Richard
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If it ain't broke then fiddle with it until it is!

Darren · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:04 am Post subject:

I occasionally use my iPod Video with the 920 and the backlight does not stay on on mine? Which iPod do you have?

It is a glaring omission that the the unit cannot (easily) be charged when connected though. There is a charger with a pass-thru connector which may work but I have not tested one.
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Darren Griffin

RichDem · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:59 am Post subject:

Hi Darren,

Thanks for the reply, I have an 80GB Classic which is about 3 months old

Hope this helps

Richard
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If it ain't broke then fiddle with it until it is!

Darren · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

Hmm, the latest classic has very different firmware to my Video, are there any options to disable backlight when connected etc?

I'll have a Touch soon so can re-test with that but i don't know what else to suggest.
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Darren Griffin

RichDem · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Darren,

In the setup of my ipod I tried turning the backlight off, this worked until I connected it to my TomTom and then the backlight came back on.

I will have the chance to test this with a colleague's earlier Ipod in the morning so I will let you know what happens.

I have also noticed today that if I use the Line Out option and feed the voice commands & music from the ipod through the Aux in on my car stereo I get a lot of engine interferance if the TomTom Go is plugged in to the cigarette lighter socket. If I un plug the power from the Go everything works without any interferance.

Can some sort of filter be fitted to stop this?

Richard
_________________
If it ain't broke then fiddle with it until it is!

Darren · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Almost certainly a filter would resolve this but its not my area of expertise (if I have one!). A ferrite ring may be all that is required on the GO's charge lead.
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Darren Griffin

mikealder · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

The problem is known as "Ground Loop" this can be removed from the system by fitting a "Ground Loop Isolator" such as This between the TomTom and the Aux input of the car deck - bear in mind you will also need some adaptors to go from the 3,5MM connections to the isolation device but they are available such as These - Mike

RichDem · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

Thanks very much for your help Mike, Looks like I will be off to Maplins this weekend Very Happy

I just have to solve this backlight issue now, maybe I will try emailing both Apple & TomTom to see what they say.

Richard
_________________
If it ain't broke then fiddle with it until it is!

Andy_P · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:13 am Post subject:

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