FM Transmitter

mikealder · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject:

Tap the sat strength meter (lower right corner) followed by the version box and the page the unit will display contains the application and current map information - Mike

RedTomato · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 05, 2008 Posts: 3

batties · Lifetime Member Joined: Jul 07, 2006 Posts: 111

Below is the reply I got from TomTom when asked the same question.

With reference to your device not being fit for purpose and the refund of your map, the FM Transmitter function being removed does not stop you using a map you have purchased, the following is the statement are giving to all our customers:

'We understand that you are concerned about the recent change to the TomTom application which has disabled FM Transmission of navigation instructions. We deeply regret that it has become necessary for us to implement this change, as our FM Transmission technology was a unique innovation at the time of its release.

Unfortunately, due to recent legislation, it is no longer allowed to occupy an unused FM frequency unless audio transmission is constant. Because the signal that carries your TomTom's voice instructions is not constant (voice instructions are only given occasionally, as needed) it has now become illegal to transmit this kind of audio via FM radio transmission.

We regret that this feature can no longer be offered under the current legal restriction.'

If you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With Best Regards

The TomTom Customer Support Team
_________________
TT Go 720 v8.204
Western Europe Map v8.45
8 GB SDHC card
TT Home version 2.7.5.2014
iPhone 4S with CameraAlert

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:22 pm Post subject:

...which is exactly what I said a month ago in the fourth post on page one of this topic Confused

You have a few options...
1. revert back to v8.010 software
2. Use an external FM transmitter (Good ones are available for around £15, I've seen them for as low as £4.50 in petrol stations)
3. Invest in a Bluetooth loudspeaker or a Bluetooth capable car headunit, and use BT instead.

vtraveller · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 2

TomTom's decision seems somewhat like throwing the towel in to me. You could easily tackle the problem by:

a) Allowing voice instruction over FM if music is playing (and auto-pause)
b) Periodically emit a low-volume 'click/tick' sound just like a clock or beacon
c) Both [a] and [b] when appropriate

I wouldn't mind if I could find a decent Bluetooth Stereo adapter for the car. My experiences of what happens to the audio when they connect is somewhat undesirable (loud ping as amp kicks in) plus BT doesn't have the concept handling multiple audio sources (useless for a car).

I guess if TT supported BT mono-headsets then that would be a useful alternative but I have to say the TT930's speaker is decidedly poorer than the TT910's boom box and in need of the car stereo or some such other fluid non-cabled replacement.

Calomax · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:37 am Post subject:

I replaced my car radio with one that has an iPod socket for about £90. Now I can connect the Go to it by cable. That was before the update that removed the FM option but I found the FM so unreliable as to be virtually unusable.

I got fed up with local radio stations breaking in as I travelled round and it is a pain to have to keep stopping to retune both the radio & the Go.
_________________
TT Go Essential

Zebb · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 55

I asked OFCOM about this and they said;
The relevant standard (ETSI EN 301 357) for this type of apparatus was updated recently to version 1.4.1. In this revision, the requirement to turn the transmitter off when there is no audio signal was better defined (Section 8.1).

I cannot find this document on the internet but I suspect it should apply to commercial broadcasters not to PNDs of the 50nW kind. They suggested it was Tomtom that has decided to disable this function as there is no law to stop them.

Rick-uk · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject:

mikealder · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

I would like to see the FM Tx re-introduced with a slight change to stay within the "regulations"

If a user were to select FM Tx for mp3 playback and the mp3 player were active then it should be possible to play directions via the FM as the input would be continual due to the music, same should apply to audio books.

Easy way around the need to have music playing would be a silent mp3 audio track stored on the device - this way you would get the FM Tx back.

If no mp3 were playing the Navigation voice should default back to the built in speaker - I fail to see how this would be TomTom that were supplying a device that was breaking the law, it would take a deliberate action by a user to configure the device to only play the nav voice via FM with a silent mp3 track "playing" at the same time - any thoughts on this idea? - Mike

Zebb · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 55

I think a petition or something could get this policy changed.

Andy_P · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:22 am Post subject:

uffe73 · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Has anyone else had the problem that FM transmission on a 720 stops working (including the Jukebox) after installing the 8.204 application? When reverting back to 8.300 it works fine again, but then you get other problems that have been heavily discussed in various forum threads...

/Ulf

mikealder · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't expect all functions to work on the device when you install software intended for a different model, to be honest I am quite surprised it even runs at all on the unit.

With the 8,300 related problems on your x20 you have a couple of options:

1/ Roll back to Navcore 8,010 and v810 mapping
2/ Put up with the issues and wait for a fix running the new v815 maps - Mike

uffe73 · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

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