TomTom's Official WM5 Position - March 8, 2006

axjax · 03-10-06, 04:47 PM

Just thought this should be in a thread heading versus buried inside other threads.

I've been struggling for 2+ weeks to get TT5 Navigator to work with my Dell Axim X51v running Windows Mobile 5 and a GlobalSAT SD-502 SDIO plug-in GPS. I've called TT Tech Support twice, and just a few things we all should be aware of:

1. TT has a Primary and Level 2 Tech Support setup. Your first call is to the primary tech center where they take a lot of information down regarding your system, but don't offer a whole lot more than the basic oerational or install information. If it gets complicated in any way, they tell you that you're being referred to a Level 2 Technician and you _may_ hear from them in two business days.

2. The Level 2 Tech is more knowledgeable, but when he finds out that you're using a WM5 device, it gets a little more involved with all the questions about COM ports Serial Connections and such.

3. The Level 2 Tech called me back Wednesday afternoon and told me that TomTom does not officially support WM5. He said testing is underway, but they are not 100% comfortable with WM5. He also noted that there was a v.5.2xx upgrade patch for Navigator on their web site that I could try, but basically... I'm on my own. Then he said that he has heard of some success out in the field, so I should try and find what COM ports work with my particular GPS, and maybe I'll get lucky.

4. The Level 2 Tech also said he was suprised that resellers are bundling/selling TT5 to be used specifically with WM5 PDAs like the Axim X51v, and that he would contact his sales/marketing people so perjhaps they would advise the resellers about the "Windows Mobile 5 incompatability" issues. All things being said... the guy was super nice on the phone and sincerely wished he could help me out.

I bought from BuyGPSnow and I have to admit that their tech support group is doing their level best to help me find out how to pair up the TomTom, the Axim X51v, and my GlobalSat SD502 SD-Card GPS. The only downside is that you have to post issues, wait for a response, and perhaps try what they suggest, then post results and wait for a reply on what to try next. They don't have a real-time solution to troubleshooting... but I'm willing to try anything they suggest.

Bottom line is that if you're considering TomTom and you have a WM5 Axim, it may or may not work right out of the box. I know my GPS works fine with Mapopolis, so I know it's not the GPS. Where things go bad is when you try to configure TT5, with a WM5 device, and I don't know if having two mapping programs installed on one PDA is a problem. I think it's all in the COM ports and GPS utility programs.

Bagelsnbrew · 03-10-06, 09:23 PM

TomTom's support is known to be extremely poor. I've personally caught them in a lie/misstatement. It's not that there's a problem with TomTom 5.21 and WM5, it works fine on my X51v and many many other WM5 device owners here use it without incident . The problem for you is that TomTom has limited official support of CF devices and no support of sd devices. They only officially support bluetooth , wired GPS and recently some CF devices. That the TomTom support staff didn't tell you this demonstrates their incompetence. They told me there would be a cf patch available in a couple of weeks back in 2004, the patch never materialized. It took a lot of email and phone calls to eventually get them to admit this. Eventually they stated it in their web site. There are workarounds for supported cf GPS's but they generally make you reconfigure the GPS receiver every time you start the program and in my experience leave the program unstable. The best advice is to either exchange the sd GPS for a bluetooth model or consider another nav package. I know that Mapopolis supports CF GPS with WM5 and I believe OCN5 now has a patch to make it work. Whether either works with an sd device, I don't know, very few people choose that route for GPS.

**ksong12** · 03-10-06, 09:35 PM

Ok, note to self, dont get TomTom.

marksj · 03-10-06, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Bagelsnbrew

TomTom's support is known to be extremely poor. I've personally caught them in a lie/misstatement. It's not that there's a problem with TomTom 5.21 and WM5, it works fine on my X51v and many many other WM5 device owners here use it without incident . The problem for you is that TomTom has limited official support of CF devices and no support of sd devices. They only officially support bluetooth , wired GPS and recently some CF devices. That the TomTom support staff didn't tell you this demonstrates their incompetence. They told me there would be a cf patch available in a couple of weeks back in 2004, the patch never materialized. It took a lot of email and phone calls to eventually get them to admit this. Eventually they stated it in their web site. There are workarounds for supported cf GPS's but they generally make you reconfigure the GPS receiver every time you start the program and in my experience leave the program unstable. The best advice is to either exchange the sd GPS for a bluetooth model or consider another nav package. I know that Mapopolis supports CF GPS with WM5 and I believe OCN5 now has a patch to make it work. Whether either works with an sd device, I don't know, very few people choose that route for GPS.

I am not sure if Mapopolis really does work after using my cf globalstat337 which is stated to work in wm5 devices, it will lock up and ask for a soft reset after awhile if it loses signal.The "fix" has just to reinsert my cf gps card again.It has been talked about here
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/t...93&whichpage=2

axjax · 03-13-06, 02:19 PM

Well, I'm awaiting a RMA# from BuyGPSnow. Sending back the SD-502 and I'm going to replace it with a BT-338 so I know there should be a good chance of success with my X51v and TT5. If I had to use jumpers once a day on my high-performance car to get it going that would be tedious and unacceptable. Pulling and re-inserting a CF/SD card GPS everytime I wanted to go from one customer's place to another... not as physical, but just as tedious.

I'm probably spoiled. My old iPaq/Navman sleeve was virtually bulletproof. Of course, I was running WM2003 and not WM5.

03-13-06, 02:23 PM

Yeah, I'm clearly not going with Tom Tom.

pyramid · 03-13-06, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by kulnet

Yeah, I'm clearly not going with Tom Tom.

can someone give some good alternatives to X51V GPS systems

axjax · 03-13-06, 07:27 PM

Pyramid...

I think you phrased that wrong. The X51v works with a variety of GPS units, including Bluetooth, CF, and to a lesser degree... a SDIO GPS. The klinker is the software; first you have to know its WM5 compatible, and then you have to hope it's compatible with the GPS you've selected.

We all have different ways to measure whether something is "compatible" with these devices. Some folks don't mind a soft reset every time they need to change/add a new stop on a route. Others expect it to work like a dedicated GPS, you turn it on, it is recognized, and you plug in your destination(s) and forget about it. If you go to TomTom's site, I don't theink there's a disclaimer stating that TT5 won't work with a particular type of GPS, but if you talk to the TT techs like I did, they clearly indicated no support for a SD GPS, and no "official" support for a WM5 device... but then they immediately direct you to the v.5.21 patch and tell you that some folks have made WM5 & TT5 work with this patch.

FWIW, I can occassionally get TT5 to work with the SD-502 GPS on my Axim X51v, and it's a pleasure to use. But I honestly can't seem to discover what strange anomaly allows the darn thing to pair up. That... in my estimation is a great example of incompatability, but it also says that with a little bit of work, somebody at GlobalSat and/or TomTom... will probably resolve this issue down the line. My problem is I actually need/use a GPS on a daily basis, and I need something to work like a sumagun and not need resets or other nonsense.

So... if you have or are contemplating buying a X51v... there are plenty of GPS units and software that will work. Just ask a million questions before you commit.

JediJJJ · 03-13-06, 08:29 PM

OK, I just checked the TomTom support site. They list an update 5.21 for PPC that says "TomTom NAVIGATOR is now compatible with Microsoft Windows™ MOBILE 5.0 devices." The compatability list shows the 50 and 51.

I just got my TT5 today, an iBlue receiver and a DM320 mount. Give me a couple of days to get it set up and I'll let you know how it works.

Bagelsnbrew · 03-13-06, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by JediJJJ

OK, I just checked the TomTom support site. They list an update 5.21 for PPC that says "TomTom NAVIGATOR is now compatible with Microsoft Windows™ MOBILE 5.0 devices." The compatability list shows the 50 and 51.

I just got my TT5 today, an iBlue receiver and a DM320 mount. Give me a couple of days to get it set up and I'll let you know how it works.

Many people have been using 5.21 successfully with the x51v for months. The op's problem was that TomTom doesn't support WM5 AND SDIO GPS's. Your bluetooth iBlue should work just fine. Enjoy!

JediJJJ · 03-16-06, 08:04 PM

FYI - Received my kit Monday. Loaded TT Navigator 5, then the 5.21 patch before actually starting the program. Have been playing with it quite a bit since then and have not had any problems. Bluetooth connection to the i-Blue worked without issue the first time.

labenske · 03-16-06, 10:19 PM

x51v here. I just ordered the i.trek m3. I was going to order iguidance but it was out of stock. I'm thinking of going with tom tom but i'm not sure which is better.

What would you do?

axjax · 03-16-06, 10:40 PM

My only other experience is Mapopolis... which is a great program. Not a memory hog at all, very accurate and reliable, and very intuitive. One nice thing is getting to a street address... Mapopolis will even tell you that the destination is on your left or right as you drive down the final street.

I was able to use TT5 (with the 5.21 patch) a few times, and there are definitely features I like about TT5, especially it's smoothness in the 3D mode. Now 3D is not really THAT important, but the one nice thing about it is that you can actually see and read the approaching street names. When you get within say 150 yards of your destination, it says you have reached your destination... even though you may be several buildings away. Plus it doesn't tell you if the destination is on the right or left, it leaves that up to your eyes.

My SD-502 went back yesterday and I told them to send me a BT-338. Once I get that, I'll post some feedback on TT5. And yes... as it turns out, while the 5.21 patch is supposed to work with WM5, TT does not support (at this point) either CF or SD GPS units... although there are a few folks who have been able to get them to "work". Probably via a lot of insert/remove/insert and soft reset attempts mixed in with some Com Port boggie woggie! I would not recommend either with a WM5 device and TT5.

labenske · 03-16-06, 11:16 PM

Well, I found some other threads on this same topic... and I saw the wm5 compatibility of tom tom is now in place, so I just broke down and bought it from buygpsnow.com. Saturday delivery... oh yeah.

Scrondar · 03-18-06, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by labenske

Well, I found some other threads on this same topic... and I saw the wm5 compatibility of tom tom is now in place, so I just broke down and bought it from buygpsnow.com. Saturday delivery... oh yeah.

FWIW, I'm using the M3 on my WM2003 SE based X30 High, and it works wonderfully with all my GPS apps. Great little receiver.