Technical Sat Nat thingymajig

[Thaidai]

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

No, the cradle is instead of the magnetic holder, & no more trailing wires...

 

[Landofla500]

Thanks Thaidai. I think I will just buy the cradle and then test out a few sat navs. I'm wondering if the Go510 would fit? It's only a tenner dearer.

 

[Thaidai]

Thanks Thaidai. I think I will just buy the cradle and then test out a few sat navs. I'm wondering if the Go510 would fit? It's only a tenner dearer.

It's all to do with the electrical connection on the bottom of the Sat Nav that fits into the cradle. As you say, get the cradle then go into Halfords or similar and try some into it to see if they will fit.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

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.

No, that's not what I meant. The steering wheel controls will work regardless of whether you have a B&M TomTom but the B&M TomTom will allow you to display and control most of the same functions on the satnav screen; selecting music on a USB drive, displaying trip computer information etc.

With a non-B&M unit these functions will only be available from the steering wheel buttons and displayed in the centre of your speedo.

You can control functions of the B&M satnav from the steering wheel controls but it's more fiddly than just tapping the unit's screen directly.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

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.

Mick; you can select 'Satnav' from the steering wheel menu (at least on mine) and control functions of the B&M but it's not worth doing in my book. I got only a short way into it before deciding it was too damn fiddly! Plus you have to pay too much attention to the screen while making selections so it's not a good idea to do it on the move - and if you're not moving you might as well just tap the screen anyway.

No, you can't speak to the satnav via B&M, only directly.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

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.

Lando, you don't need a Bluetooth satnav. All it does is enable hands-free calling through the satnav's little speaker. You can connect your phone directly to your car's built-in BT and take calls through the car's speakers and mic with better volume and which will mute your radio/playback on incoming calls.

 

[Landofla500]

Lando, you don't need a Bluetooth satnav. All it does is enable hands-free calling through the satnav's little speaker. You can connect your phone directly to your car's built-in BT and take calls through the car's speakers and mic with better volume and which will mute your radio/playback on incoming calls.

Thanks for your info. I would prefer to not have a bluetooth sat nav. I need to take baby steps. I'm also not fussed about using the sat nav to access music etc. I still have lots of cds and like the radio. I actually don't have any music on usb! Ahahaha

 

[44sunsets]

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.

The TomTom Go 500/5000 series fits. If you chop the top off the FIAT port 68R cradle, then the bigger 600/6000 series fits as well.

There used to be a really useful thread with photos but unfortunately most of the photo links are broken -- another reason why people should never host photos on a 3rd party site, it's best to upload directly to this forum:
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/328022-new-satnav-options-blue-me-dash-socket.html

I uploaded some photos to the forum which are still available:
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/328022-new-satnav-options-blue-me-dash-socket.html?p=3341173

I would recommend just buying the cradle and the newer TomTom Go 5000 series model, it's faster and you get free map updates etc. Has served me very well for 2.5 years.

Apparently there is a slightly newer Go 5100 model out now and I'm not sure if it still fits, but you could always try one from a store that has a returns policy.

I think if I had to buy a new unit now I would remove the top off my Port 68R cradle and get a TomTom Go 6100. Having the bigger screen is always nicer.

 

[Landofla500]

I like your ideas, thanks 44sunsets! Getting hold of a cradle is seeming a tall feat though.

 

[Joe Dolce]

I like your ideas, thanks 44sunsets! Getting hold of a cradle is seeming a tall feat though.

How about this ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Alfa...824659?hash=item43e7be69d3:g:g3QAAOSwFqJWhmhy

 

[UFI]

No shortage of cradles either:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...TRC0.H0.Xfiat+68r.TRS0&_nkw=fiat+68r&_sacat=0

 

[Thaidai]

I like your ideas, thanks 44sunsets! Getting hold of a cradle is seeming a tall feat though.

If you are an ebayer here is one ending soon...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-F...664841?hash=item2107bbbcc9:g:ERQAAOSwJcZWgjqH

 

[Landofla500]

Thanks Joe Dulce. I've seen those bundles on eBay but I'm only after the cradle; after all the discuss on this thread, I'd rather go for a newer TomTom without Blue&Me.

Thanks UFI and Thaidai, I'll certainly be keeping my eye on those two. Fingers crossed I can get a bargain!

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Thanks Joe Dulce. I've seen those bundles on eBay but I'm only after the cradle; after all the discuss on this thread, I'd rather go for a newer TomTom without Blue&Me.

Thanks UFI and Thaidai, I'll certainly be keeping my eye on those two. Fingers crossed I can get a bargain!

Lando; Be wary about purchasing a 68R cradle on eBay. I just noticed one of the eBay listings for the cradle is actually for a 'DUMMY' cradle! It's the one listed for £29.99. I expect it will mount the satnav properly but, as the listing says, it has no electrical connections and will NOT power/charge the device.

 

[Landofla500]

Thanks Piccolo, I had seen that too and didn't buy it.