Tom Tom app and iPhone 3G

[ainsley]

I bought this, attracted by the new price and free upgrade to the next version. But....in two days of constant use, after locking on to a signal NOT ONCE did the app have sufficient GPS signal to work. In the car, outside the car, and across a 3 hour drive and back again - always "poor GPS signal" and, of course, no navigation.

Tom Tom weren't interested as soon as they realised that I havn't shelled out for the car kit, but the app (and their website) clearly states that the app does work with a 3G iPhone and without the kit. My iPhone can fix my location in a second using the Maps app in the phone, so I'm presuming that the GPS chip itself is NOT faulty.

Anyone else had this problem and solved it ?

Thanks

[mikealder]

The GPS receiver in my 3G iPhone is pathetic, that said for in car use I have the TomTom car kit holder which works very well, without the holder I probably wouldn't have carried on using the iPhone for in car navigation - Mike

[ainsley]

At least it's not just me, then.

[hailstorm]

The 3GS was a step up from the 3G in terms of GPS reception. If you are not upgrading any time soon I'd get the car kit.

[phil_ellis]

i have an iphone 3g 16gb and find the tomtom app gets gps lock quickly and is useable without the tomtom car kit , its not perfect a bit of lag looses signal every now and again but it always gets it back quickly.

[SSR]

Shame about the 3G. The 3GS is fab. Gets a lock for me while stuck down at the bottom of the dash in a cupholder.

[ainsley]

I think it all seems to prove that the 3G just isn't up to the job. Shame Tom Tom don't admit that upfront. I did actually manage to get a refund out of Apple on the basis that the software simply isn't fit for purpose if they state clearly that it works with one bit of hardware and then it doesn't (faulty hardware aside, accepted).

Upgrading now to a 3GS just isn't sensible even if I was out of contract. My 3G contract runs out in May so I'll be waiting a few weeks after that to see what the next gen iPhone looks like

[nashmills]

I don't have any gps problems on my 3G. I have TomTom, Navigon and Smartnav. They all have their problems in their current incarnations but gps fix isn't one of them.

Like a lot of functions gps wasn't so good while I had it jailbroken but now I have unjailbroken it, it's fine.

[ainsley]

It must simply vary from phone to phone then as my phone has never been jail broken (although I was tempted, just to replace the useless text alert sounds !)

There seem to be about equal numbers of reviews out there citing poor GPS reception or functioning reception. Surely it should either work or not, it shouldn't be a lottery as to whether or not your particular handset is up to the job ?

Anyway, I bought a Navigon so that's the end of my iPhone experiment.

[fifeman58]

You are right. My 3G sometimes works very well on it's own, sometimes not.

I have a notoriously bad car for Satnav (Pug 307), so wasn't expecting much, but i am very happy with the TomTom mount.

[gatorguy6996]

[Darren]

[MaFt]

[SSR]

I get a lock on the 3GS GPS within seconds, and it always seems accurate, even within the car. Not sure what the issue is here, unless it's to do with previous models.

[JoshT]

I have no problems with my iphone 3G either in the car without a car kit

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!