Carcomm TomTom x40/x50 Cradle Available

Darren

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

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Darren Griffin

Darren · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject:

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.
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Darren Griffin

JockTamsonsBairn · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:08 am Post subject:

Carcomm links:
powered mount with line out
powered mount without
passive mount
TotalPDA aren't listing them yet.
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Jock

TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board)

CP · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 8

Cradle looks great. Do you need an additional aerial with tomtom 750 mounted that low?

Darren · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:20 am Post subject:

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.
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Darren Griffin

CP · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 8

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.

Darren · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:49 am Post subject:

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.
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Darren Griffin

SpikeUK · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 29, 2005 Posts: 140

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.

Darren · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:55 am Post subject:

SpikeUK · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 29, 2005 Posts: 140

Sorry, I meant permantly hard wiring it.

Darren · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:05 pm Post subject:

Ah ok, in which case, no, hard-wiring won't enable that functionality saldy.
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Darren Griffin

CP · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 8

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.

mikealder · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject:

Some of the Brodit Pro-Clips are named as "airvent" but not all actually do secure to the airvent but sit over it, for example:

The above vent mount is very secure and stable in use - Mike

CP · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 8

Excellent photos of an very secure looking mount. Many thanks.

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