Review by Dave Burrows

TomTom have been around on the Pocket PC GPS scene for quite some time, previous releases of their GPS software include TomTom RoutePlanner, TomTom CityMaps and the award winning TomTom Navigator.

TomTom announced just prior to CeBIT in Hannover Germany that TomTom Navigator 2 will be released in early April 2003 after the commencement of the upgrade program for existing TomTom Navigator 1 users in Late March. 

TomTom created Navigator nearly a year ago which has been the choice for many European GPS users.  This is partly due to the aggressive pricing structure that TomTom have created, no hardware or software locking to their software in any way, and that the TeleAtlas maps provided are very clean and vibrant.  Unfortunately TomTom Navigator 2 changes this.  Although as many have experienced TomTom's lack of responses via email support can still be non-existant, TomTom do listen, and since we created the TomTom Navigator forum here at Pocket GPS, TomTom have been monitoring faults within their program and wish lists and have brought these altogether into the new 2003 version of their award winning software (TomTom Navigator 2).

TomTom Navigator 2 like it's predecessor is not only a reasonably priced complete GPS product, but TomTom had thought long and hard about what they are going to include with their product.  Included in the box are TomTom Navigator Software CD, a universal PDA Mount, a windscreen suction mount with a huge suction cup to stop it falling off the windscreen, a vent mount, a dashboard sticky mount, and also a windscreen sticky mount if you'd prefer not to use a suction cup.  This has to be the most complete GPS product on the market today, and we have to commend TomTom for thinking about what the average user may want or even require in their vehicle.

TomTom Navigator 2 with GPS Receiver,

Compaq iPAQ 3950 and windscreen mount

Pocket PC Windscreen Mount

We've tried a large combination of Pocket PC's and iPAQ sleeves including Casio E105, Casio E125, Compaq iPAQ 3630 naked, with CF sleeve, with PC Card Sleeve and also a 3850 with PC Card sleeve, and all these combinations work well.  There should be no need to use the dual PC Card Sleeve with the TomTom Navigator as you are not taking up a CF or PC Card socket, TomTom Navigator plugs effortlessly into the ActiveSync port (Serial socket) and not only provides GPS signals to the Pocket PC, but also powers the Pocket PC at the same time!

The Navigator mount has a large suction cup on the end of the mount arm, and we must say is the biggest suction cup we've seen to date.  There's no worry whatsoever of this falling off the windscreen every five minutes!  One problem we have noticed and that is when the mount has been left in hot sunlight in-car for a short period of time, the rubbery sponge sidings that protect your Pocket PC from being scratched and also aid in gripping the Pocket PC, tend to go a little soft, and because there's nothing to stop the Pocket PC from sliding out the bottom, you might notice the Pocket PC sliding or moving in the cradle slightly.  What we did here was to prop the bottom corner of the iPAQ up against the dashboard which aided in resolving this from happening.  Most companies do say with the windscreen mounts that you should rest them on the dashboard, but with Navigator's serial connector, it does make this a little tricky.

Compaq iPAQ 3850 with TomTom Navigator mount

When you open the Navigator box, it's just like opening Pandora's box, there's a plethora of fixtures and fittings that can be used to secure your Pocket PC to the car's windscreen, dashboard and car's air vents.  Here you'll see the air vent mount.  This is totally adjustable, the long arms that go into the air vent, can be moved from the bottom, to the middle or to the top of this mount, giving you a perfect fitting.  You'll also notice on the bottom horizontal foot at the left there is a square block. 

Air vent mount 

This can be moved left to right to move it along the clip to allow for a tighter and snugger fit against your air vent.  Pure ingenious! 

You'll see from the front view of the air vent mount.  This has a 4-way locking system that locks onto the back of the Navigator cradle, and is a very tough lock with a solid click at the end of it once you've locked it in place.  This makes sure that the whole mount will not come apart when driving over potholes in the road, or driving down those rickety country lanes.

If you don't feel secure in using either the air vent mount, or the windscreen mount as you've had bad problems with suction mounts falling off the windscreen with other products, you can use the suction cup onto the bottom of the disc pictured right and then use the industrial strength adhesive to stick to the windscreen.

You can also do the same thing with the far right hand mount in this photo as this will allow you to stick the mount again to a window, or to the dash board and has a ball joint that allows you to angle the mount.

Navigator complete mount kit supplied in box

New GPS Receiver

Pictured right is the new GPS receiver bundled with TomTom Navigator 2.  This is believed to be a Leadtek 9532. 

TomTom Navigator 2 still has the Y type adapters.  These not only give power to the GPS Receiver but also power to the Pocket PC and will charge the Pocket PC whilst you drive. 

It does mean that you will have more cables in car, but personally I prefer this option as you then don't have to purchase accessory socket splitters. 

TomTom Navigator 2 GPS Receiver

You'll see here the moulded accessory plug.  The cable then extends in a coil to avoid a tangled cable to the Y-socket.

The cable that comes out of this on the same side is the Serial cable that plugs into your Pocket PC and there are several feet of cable here allowing you to position the Pocket PC virtually anywhere in the front of the car. 

The cylinder block you see on the cable houses ferrite, which is a known filter for electrical interference and will help avoid receiving electrical interference from other nearby cables.

TomTom Navigator iPAQ 3850 cable

GPS Specifications

• Based on SiRFStarII Architecture

• Acquisition Time: Cold/Warm/Hot Start: 45/38/8 sec typical TTFF 

• Reacquisition Time: 0.1 seconds  

• Support Standard NMEA-0183 v2.0 and SiRF Binary protocol

• Support Accurate 1PPS Output Signal Aligned with GPS Timing

• Trickle Power Enabled for Power Saving

• Superior Sensitivity for Urban Canyon and Foliage Environment

• Magnet base for mounting on the car

• Operating temperature: -40 ºC to +85 ºC

• Power: 5.0 +-5%V DC input internal rechargeable 3V lithium battery

• External Power: Universal connector for Pocket PCs

• SiRF Binary plus proprietary messages NMEA-0183 v2.0 GGA, GSA, GSV, RMC, VTG, GLL

• Baud Rate: 4,800 to 38,400 bps

GPS Hardware TTFF (Time To First Fix)