Poor quality FM transmitter on TomTom 520

GAZ2785 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 24, 2008 Posts: 5

I have just upgraded my TomTom ONE for a 520.

However the FM transmitter seems extremely poor. No matter what station I use, there is hissing and crackling. There are mixed results with the power cable plugged in and unplugged, but it's just not possible to get reasonable quality sound.

Is this just the way it is? I have a Jaguar X-type which doesn't have a radio antenna (I think it uses the rear window heater instead) which maybe doesn't help.

To be honest the sound quality and handsfree bluetooth isn't great either, which is making me wish I'd just stuck to the TomTom ONE.

If anyone could offer any advice I'd be most grateful.

Thanks,

Andy_P · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:47 am Post subject:

Yeah, it's pretty poor
For me, at its best, it is "bordering on usable", but even then it is VERY quiet compared to any broadcast station.

Luckily I have a 3.5mm jack input on the front of my car radio so I use the line output ogf the Go, which is FAR better quality.

Johnny_D · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:40 am Post subject:

I think it might also have a bearing on things where the radio antenna is [As suggest by the OP]

I've just changed from a Ford Focus [Arial located central front of roof just before windscreen] to a Citroen [Ariel located at the back of the roof]

The difference is amazing Sad

Amazingly bad Sad

It's still useable, but any cross interference is causing problems much much quicker.

JD
_________________
TTG 300 Died the death of a cracked screen
Navman F20 USB Fell off
TTG 520 Third time lucky?
Bloody Superb PGPSW Camera Database.
Not much else!

PaulB2005 · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:53 am Post subject:

I've used it once, with a Garmin 660, just to demonstrate how bad it is (it's worse in towns like London where the FM band is crowded). We tuned the 660 into the owners home stereo.

I move one pace and the signal had gone.

TonyHoyle · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 26, 2006 Posts: 135

It really is poor... I listened to it for about 10 seconds then went straight on the internet and ordered an MK6000 (which works OK, with a little tweaking).

I think the theory is sound but it suffers from the fact that the car antenna is on the outside of the car, so you'd need a stronger transmitter to do it properly.

GAZ2785 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 24, 2008 Posts: 5

Well I am taking this unit back tomorrow for the following reasons:

1) FM transmitter is poor

2) Bluetooth is ok but not great

3) Voice distorts horrendously when running off battery and volume is at 100%

4) On my way home today the screen started flickering and there were crackling sounds - this was 20 minutes before I was warned the battery was running low. My old TomTom ONE never had this problem even when the battery started running low.

5) The voice recognition is a gimmick - you can only use it to programme an address in one way, that's all it's for and it'd be just as quick to type.

DennisN · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

lamplight · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 13, 2004 Posts: 130

Sorry you've had a duff experience with the 520. I must be one of the lucky ones, as I find FM transmition very clear and at good volume; and bluetooth works well too.

I can't agree that voice recognition is just a gimmick. I frequently have to change course or travel via a particular place in my job, and processing an alternative route via vr is for me a whole lot safer and easier than trying to punch in characters or aim at a town selection on screen while driving along.

Hope you get sorted with something that's right for you, anyway.

GAZ2785 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 24, 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks for the reply guys. I'm not expecting to run it off battery alone, however I don't expect the screen to flicker and it to start to crackle and pop 20 minutes before I even see a low battery warning.

My old TomTom ONE would either work perfectly, or it'd run out of battery and switch off. They'de be no crackle and popping as the battery started to run out.

I don't think the FM transmitter is ever going to be any good for me because the Jaguar X-type does not have an antenna (I think it uses the rear screen heater).

The reason I say the voice recognition is a gimmick is because you have to enter TOWN, STREET and POSTCODE. What happens if you want to enter a city centre? Or a postcode? Or a POI? Personally I think it's too limited.

I have accepted the FM transmitter and voice recognition is what it is, but I am wondering whether to swap the unit due to the crackling and popping, and the fact you can't have the volume at 100% when running from battery (even fully charged). Although I've heard other people have had these problems so maybe it's a design fault in general?

TonyHoyle · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 26, 2006 Posts: 135

DennisN · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

reefman · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 20, 2008 Posts: 16

Just to add my findings since taking delivery of my 520 a couple of days ago

fm transmitter - yes it could be louder but its certainly in my experience lound enough and the reception in my car a c-max (roof ariel central front) is great and as good as a stand alone fm transmitter that I already had. I did have to try a few differnt frequencies to get the best signal but I'm set up on 101 now.

Bluetooth - works fine with my LG Viewty although not listed as compatible- for calls at least - I cant seem to get it to get numbers from my phone - does anyone know a way of transferring the data other than Bluetooth

Johnny_D · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject:

reefman - Try this

In the contacts folder create a file called 'contacts.txt'

Each line for a new contact in the following format :-

"PERSONS NAMES", "0123456790", "DEFAULT"

Save as a plan .txt file.

JD
_________________
TTG 300 Died the death of a cracked screen
Navman F20 USB Fell off
TTG 520 Third time lucky?
Bloody Superb PGPSW Camera Database.
Not much else!

mikealder · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

If you can get the numbers and contacts off the phone and on to the PC then you can make use of the spreadsheet we have available for download within the forum.
This creates a file that can be put on the TomTom which will then display all your contacts, the speadsheet can be found Here - Mike

reefman · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 20, 2008 Posts: 16

Nice one

Now jsut to find out how to get the data off the Viewty the synch software isnt geat - now theres a suprise

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