HISTORY:
Standalone GPS receiver but a bit dated these days and this has created problems for me so this unit is now looking for another owner.
Still fully functional BUT due to the age it is no longer possible (in it's current form) to update the maps, add more voices etc Let's understand these GPS units right up front ...
This means that using this GPS in the Sydney area has reduced usefulness due to all the motorways and tunnels that are being built in the metro area. The map installed in this GPS is Australia wide so this problem will occur in other major cities and I feel its usefulness is no limited to:
Areas where the local roads, motorways etc do not change very often
Areas where using a smartphone for GPS services may not be practical due to no cellphone signal ... the GPS in the phone will still work but with no maps or location data unless these had already been downloaded and run "offline"
This GPS does not use the cellphone network and the maps are built into the unit but the maps can no longer be upgraded or altered ***
*** I believe there is an SD card slot INSIDE the unit, you need to open it up (handy - NOT!) so I guess there is a possibility of upgrading the memory and perhaps being able to access map updates via the Tom Tom Home software (free download)
Actually I used the TomTom Home software on my PC quite often in the past and most recently I did manage to download the GPS fix "patch" but quite frankly it caused more problems than it solved so I removed it again! The TomTom Home is where you can download map updates, corrections etc but as I say, with this particular unit, the Tom Tom Home software says the unit needs upgrading and cannot proceed.
As a guide to how recent the current map is, based on my location here in Sydney ... M2,M4, M7 & Cross City Tunnel are showing on the maps BUT the new M8 is not (takes the driver onto Parramatta Road to get to the airport for example) This tends to indicate that I have not updated (or tried to) the maps since around 2005! My travels around Sydney are pretty straightforward and it is only when all these tunnels started being dug that I suddenly found the GPS map was out of date.
TOMTOM GPS
Model: XL (4ET03)
Basic GPS unit supplied with the mounting bracket & USB charger/data transfer lead
Masses of user options including many many languages for both on screen display and the speaking voice, including Australian.
Demo mode so you can select where you are, where you are going and the unit will run a demonstration of the route it has chosen for you, in real time or speed enhanced (up to 400%)
Tons of "Points Of Interest" can be included in your route. I know a lot of petrol stations show up on the maps but not EV charging stations.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
Clean
NO screen damage (scratches or cracks)
NO damage to the mounting bracket mount or the silicon suction cap
NO damage to the USB charging or data cable
TESTING:
As this had been put aside quite some time ago, I have tested this unit extensively and all looks to be fine.
Charged the battery, just using a standard 5V 1A USB charger - all good
Ran the unit continuously for around 2.5 hours until the battery was nearing the end of it's charge when being used standalone.
Accessing the GPS data took a while from turn-on, these units are not terribly fast and it can take 5-10 minutes to get a decent number of satellite signals indicating Blue (good signal) and a lot of this is to do with how strong the signal is received from the satellites. Inside a building and times can be a lot slower, but then who uses a GPS INSIDE a building? A nice clear view of the sky is the best situation for these - imagine you are way out in "woop woop" with no cellphone signal at all but you need to know where you are ... this unit, whether you are mobile or using it on your person, should be able to show you where it thinks you are.
Voices chosen in the options all worked well and sounded quite human, better than other synth voices I have heard!
After all this, I am happy that the GPS unit is still fully functional albeit with it's modern day limitations outlined above. Actually I see in the Tom Tom Home software that when it detects the GPS is an older unit, it has the facility to access special pricing for a more modern unit - a discount on a new purchase. This might be worthwhile, I really don't know - I just use my smartphone for navigation these days.
