TomTom 940 first experiences

jonstatt · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 140

So I have been using a 930 and just received a 940 this week.

The 940 is slightly bigger than the 930, so it will not fit into some of the cases. The leather case that TomTom make for the x20 x30 and One XL should still fit, but newer cases specifically for this model are not available to buy yet.

The speaker on the 940 is much clearer and louder than the 930. In fact, at the default volume it almost gave me a heart attack the first time I used it in the car. I rushed to turn the volume down. This is a significant improvement.

Would you believe, finally a TomTom with an orange light on it when it is charging, and a green one when fully charged! It was not possible to know if the battery was fully charged or not previously without switching it on.

Stingy sods at TomTom only gave the cheaper active dock with the 940 that has a USB connection for a charger or USB TMC receiver, but no iPod connection or line out. However, the dock is MUCH MUCH better than the x20 and 30 range. I had a couple of close calls with the 930 where the mount gave way without warning. The active mount sticks to the screen much more tightly. And the best bit? You can actually dock the 940 onto the mount while it is in position easily without fiddling. All previous TomToms required some really difficult and careful handling to dock while the mount was already on the screen. Also with the new dock it holds the 940 VERY steady preventing road/car shake causing it to vibrate/wobble.

When I first docked the 940 on home, it gave a device installation error on Vista. But a re-dock seemed to cure this. TomTom immediately offered to download
1) European speed cameras
2) UK premium cameras
3) An update to the Kate voice
4) Fuel prices
5) MapShare

I am not sure what the update to the Kate voice provided, but I would love to know what is wrong with the UK premium cameras. On a drive round the M25, it failed to pick up ANY of the gantry cameras around Heathrow (yes there are shiny new ones there...but they have been installed for some time).

Either RoadAngel is giving TomTom an intentionally broken supply of camera coordinates and there is something deeply broken with TomTom's server provision.

In a journey around the M25, the Traffic HD service did pick-up the one and only traffic issue I hit. It also correctly worked out the time delay associated with it. In fact I arrived at the exact minute it originally estimated for the journey when I left home. Rather impressive!

A test to find the nearest cheapest super unleaded fuel revealed what I believe to be the correct answer in my area (from my own research), so it looks like that feature is working well.

I also noticed that the feature whereby the TomTom will switch off when the power is disconnect (AKA engine off ) is back!! I know this will make some people smile. This was removed when TomTom had a bad design mount on the x10 series that caused it to prematurely lose power connection while driving. Nice to see it back.

There do seem to be some HOME issues right now as the software is not offering me the HD subscription or allowing me to check with map guarantee, or subscribe to the quarterly map update subscription.

Bluetooth handsfree phone operation still works at a fair level. Somehow the sound is never wonderful despite the better speaker and bluetooth reception range is not great.

The voice control feature allows you to do much more without touching the screen. Tap the microphone on the main screen and you can ask it to go straight to the navigate to options or to do something like "call home". It doesn't seem to be able to dial a telephone number read out to it though.

Incidentally, the memory used was about 3.26GB of 4GB provided storage.

Obviously much more experimenting to do. Really the x40 range are for those who will make use of the built-in live services. The ability to do this without having to pair with a mobile phone, or to run extra cables for a TMC receiver are very welcome. But the improvements to the mount, the speaker and some of the enhancements/features provided by the interface really make this a solid product release.

Guinness2702 · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 23, 2008 Posts: 156

jonstatt · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 140

Interestesting Traffic experience tonight.

After an accident on the M25, there was clearly a bunched amount of traffic. However, as it cleared, the congested traffic moved further around the M25. This is to be expected as the bunched up cars all move in tandem around the M25.

When I started my journey, it warned me of some bad traffic, but as I got closer to the incident, the delay time kept reducing, and it kept getting further away!

Eventually I came upon where the traffic was still slightly congested according to the TomTom, but actually there was nothing there. BUt then just a half mile further down I hit the congestion...while I was in it, the TomTom reported I was in congestion...but it fell slightly short of reality.

Clearly what was happening is that the congestion was moving around the M25 faster than the updates for the Traffic HD...but the great thing is, it was clearly adapting and recognising the shift.

The GPRS traffic or TMC traffic, would not be able to adjust in the same way, or at least not in any time feasable manner.

Jonathan

algypan · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject:

Hi jonstatt
I too have purchased a 540 and i thought that the mount would at least have a connection point for the rds tmc altho the live is pretty good it will be rather expensive at over £90 a year if the user is not a high milage user and as you stated the rds tmc dock is an extra at nearly £50 Quite a lot if the thing is as bad as the old type i cannot to date find anyone that has one and i cant find any reports on how good it is. So hopefully sombody might just give us some feedback on it

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

mikealder · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:10 am Post subject:

About the only thread to date containing information about the RDS x40 mounts reception can be found Here - if you have the older RDS receiver with the round barrel type connector that can be used with an x40 if you purchase one of the accessory mounts (it needn't be one of the RDS receiver mounts).
There are two types, one secures to the windscreen, the other you attach to a Brodit Pro clip designed to match your vehicle.

If you have the Mini USB equipped RDS receiver simply connect it to the supplied car dock and it will work fine - Mike

Andy_P · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:20 am Post subject:

Didn't someone (I thought you, Mike) in the last day or so post some links to Maplin or RS showing the parts required to do a neat job of y-cording into the car aerial lead? Can't find it now...

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