Technical Sat Nat thingymajig

[Landofla500]

Hi all,

If all goes to plan, I collect my (2012) 500 early Jan. I was told it has Sat Nav predisposition and am wondering if the knowledgable folk here could shed some light on the matter.

I have seen the cradle and think it looks nice, but am clueless as to which Sat Nav fits. I literally want the best bargain and unfortunately, can't afford to be buying the top of the range.

I know it needs to be a Tom Tom but that's all... Thanks!

 

[UFI]

Only the Fiat Tom Tom fits the cradle unless you wish to modify it.

I found the above unit absolutely terrible.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

On the other hand I find the TomTom Blue&Me perfectly suited to my requirements, accurate, easy to use and, most importantly for me, loud and clear (especially with Brian Blessed's voice).

However, it is stupidly expensive to buy through FIAT! They occasionally pop up on eBay at almost reasonable prices.

 

[Landofla500]

Thanks UFI. How would I go about modifying it? What does that involve?

Thanks Piccolo, the handset is only called, TomTom Blue&Me? I won't buy through Fiat: they've had enough for now haha.

I am determined to have a Sat Nav without all those dangly wires.

 

[typecastboy]

There's one in eBay at the moment for about £150

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Thanks UFI. How would I go about modifying it? What does that involve?

Thanks Piccolo, the handset is only called, TomTom Blue&Me? I won't buy through Fiat: they've had enough for now haha.

I am determined to have a Sat Nav without all those dangly wires.

Before you get too far into it make sure your car has the socket in the dash-top or all is in vain.

The title on the box says "Blue&Me TomTom 2" and I believe there is a later version called "Blue&Me TomTom 2 Live". These TomTom's have a bespoke connector located in the bottom of the unit that engages with the plug in the mount. Some other TomTom's use a micro USB socket which will not, but as the mount only supplies 12V power it should be possible to butcher a cheap charging cable and solder it into the mount with the plug and a couple of inches loose to run to the socket.

If you purchase a non-Blue&Me TomTom unit you will forgo the interaction between the car and the satnav but it really only duplicates all the functions of your steering wheel buttons in a more convenient format. There have been other threads about adapting the mount to other satnav units - here's one... https://www.fiatforum.com/500/328022-new-satnav-options-blue-me-dash-socket.html

 

[Mick F]

On the other hand I find the TomTom Blue&Me perfectly suited to my requirements, accurate, easy to use ............

Exactly the same for me.

Bought mine via ebay.

Knowing what I know now though, I'd have bought one with Lifetime Maps. Because I didn't, in order to update the maps, I have to pay £50+ a year.

Regards,
Mick.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

You'd think, for the price, they'd have thrown in lifetime maps, but no.

To be honest though it doesn't bother me all that much. Things don't change all that quickly around here and I only updated once after two and a half years - I can live with that.

 

[Mick F]

Yeah, that's my idea too.
Leave it for a few years, then maybe buy a year's subscription to update, the leave it for a few years. By that time, I'll have sold the car and it's be someone else's problem.

Mick.

 

[Thaidai]

I have a TomTom 1000 live that fits the cradle but it does not have bluetooth. However, it is much neater than having wires running down to the aux socket and works well for me. A good one can be had for around £50 second hand now on ebay.

 

[Landofla500]

Before you get too far into it make sure your car has the socket in the dash-top or all is in vain.

Thanks for that info.

It does have that little socket on the dash.

So just to clarify, will I only be able to use the steering wheel buttons with a Blue&Me Tom Tom sat in the cradle?

I'm only looking for a Sat Nav with free map and traffic updates.

 

[Landofla500]

I have a TomTom 1000 live that fits the cradle but it does not have bluetooth. However, it is much neater than having wires running down to the aux socket and works well for me. A good one can be had for around £50 second hand now on ebay.

Thanks! I really don't like the thought of dangling wires either. So a sat nav with bluetooth would hook up to the car system then?

 

[Thaidai]

Thanks! I really don't like the thought of dangling wires either. So a sat nav with bluetooth would hook up to the car system then?

Think that the Blue & me system is the only one that works through Bluetooth. This is another good thread that tells you which non bluetooth TomTom sat nav's work with the cradle. The TomTom 500 has free map updates...

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/328022-new-satnav-options-blue-me-dash-socket.html

 

[Landofla500]

Think that the Blue & me system is the only one that works through Bluetooth. This is another good thread that tells you which non bluetooth TomTom sat nav's work with the cradle. The TomTom 500 has free map updates...

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/328022-new-satnav-options-blue-me-dash-socket.html

Thanks again.

This is all so confusing. I've looked at the TomTom500 and at the mo it comes with the free maps and traffic updates but it doesn't have bluetooth. It also seems to have its own magnetic stand rather than needing the cradle.

So, would a non-bluetooth sat nav in the cradle work with the steering wheel buttons then?

 

[Mick F]

As far as I know, our steering wheel buttons don't control the B+M TomTom Live that we have.

The steering wheel controls do the media player/radio, and the bluetooth phone. In order to control the satnav, you have to use the screen. You can speak to the TomTom via voice control, so maybe you can speak to it via B+M?

............... or am I wrong?
Maybe I'm still learning.

Regards,
Mick.

 

[Thaidai]

The dock in the dashboard that the cradle goes into only gives the Sat Nav power, nothing else. Only the Fiat blue & me units work with bluetooth. All the other TomTom's that fit the cradle do not work with bluetooth. I think!

 

[Thaidai]

Thanks again.

This is all so confusing. I've looked at the TomTom500 and at the mo it comes with the free maps and traffic updates but it doesn't have bluetooth. It also seems to have its own magnetic stand rather than needing the cradle

The magnetic holder is for normal use in other cars but it will also work in the Fiat cradle.

 

[Landofla500]

Thanks Mick, I'm beginning to understand more and more.

Thanks Thaidai. I think a bluetooth sat nav is far beyond me in all fairness so will hunt out the Go500. I've seen that it comes with a magnetic stand, is it hoping for too much for this to charge it also? So if I buy the cradle then I can use the sat nav whilst it charges? As opposed to buying a sat nav and have it die out after 2 hours (I'm refusing to have cables in the car).

Thanks to you both again.

 

[Landofla500]

So you would have it in the magnetic holder and in the cradle at the same time?

 

[Thaidai]

Yes, the cradle keeps the unit charged. Please bear in mind that the GO500 has a 5" screen so apparently is a very snug fit in the cradle. My GO1000 has 4" screen so fits in nicely, but it is an older unit so the maps are not free.