GPS Sat Nav Systems

TomTom One V4 Satellite Navigation System – Western Europe

TomTom is a Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems and is the leading manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe. They are majorly into manufacturing standalone units as well as software for mobile phones and PDAs. TomTom ONE being a base model and a pretty famous one too with automobile navigation. Well, the unit in discussion is of the same series and despite being an inexpensive entry-level Sat Nav, doesn’t really leave any stone unturned in making remarkable impressions.

Simple, but a sturdy design:

One V4 Sat Nav Unit from TomTom has the same basic design as its expensive sibling, the One XL range with a larger speaker at the rear of the unit, a better wide screen mount and a slimmer design, measuring (H x W x D) 92 x 78 x 25 mm . It is made from plastic of very high quality and its square 3.5″ touch screen display is way smaller than most of the latest sat navs, which never seemed to be an issue. The mapping is done in the same way that you will be able to find in some of the most expensive models. The display is colourful and clear looking just a bit simple.

Intuitive and user-friendly interface:

As we always expect from TomTom, the menus are very finger friendly and intuitive. Despite the concentrated dimensions, the menus offer excellent usability. With the TomTom One V4 choosing destination0073 from addresses, post codes tows and points of interest and previous destinations is very easy. The key options are just a tap away with the screen being extremely responsive with address entry kept simple and  easy. Likewise the touch screen keyboard is pretty much usable with options to use it in ABC, QWERTY and AZERTY modes based on your choice.

The TomTom One V4 GPS Sat Nav System is loaded with voice command recognition with the following languages that can be be displayed on screen: Danish, Dutch, Catalan, Czech, Hungarian, Flemish, Slovenian, German, English, French, Norwegian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish, Latvian, Turkish, Lithuanian, and Estonian.

Flexible mounting:

TomTom ONE v4’s EasyPort mount comes in a unique flexible design allowing users to mount the unit securely in the position desired on the windshield with the help of its mechanical locking system. Once the desired destination of the user has reached, the device can be easily and quickly removed with just a single twist. V4 has a very clever design that will allow the driver of the vehicle to fold the mount away neatly and remove the unit and don’t really have to worry about putting away the mount.

Loud and clear:

The independent safety research done by TNO and Tom in 2007 shows the importance of audible navigation instructions to road safety and hence, the TomTom V4 in-car navigation system has been redesigned with no compromise made on the audio performance. The fourth edition of the TomTom One is now sporting a much larger and enhanced audio system and the spoken instructions are louder and has high clarity at all times against any background noise within a typical “inside the car” environment.

POI database and the “Help Me” feature in One V4:

TomTom V4 is having an excellent POI database. It is having most petrol stations, many major supermarkets, quick fire listings of the nearby pharmacies, hospitals, vets and a lot more covered.

TomTom has included its exclusive “Help Me!” feature in V4 and this will give users direct access in terms of safety and emergency services information. The “Help Me” is a very extensive menu and it includes information like directions to get to a nearby hospital, service numbers for breakdown and car repair service. The menu also has a lot of advanced preferences in terms of safety that allow the users to set requirements of their choice, which includes timed driving breaks and speed warnings along with options for accessing the menu. This feature is simply invaluable if you happen to get into trouble somewhere you are unaware of.

The RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver:

The TomTom One V4 can offer the latest and the most up to date traffic information with an optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver that is available for purchase as an accessory. With the RDS Traffic Receiver on board, it receives periodic TMC traffic updates that get broadcasted at frequent intervals. Also the ONE V4 can update traffic information both automatically and on demand suggesting various alternative routes if need be. The One V4 allows you to reach your destination safely and stay a step ahead with the advance notice of upcoming speed camera locations. This feature is pre-installed on your device and with the advanced warning of fixed speed camera locations; you can drive more responsibly with a greater safety and of course, get rid of the hefty speeding fines.

One Map Share technology:

Users of the new version of TomTom V4 Car Sat Nav will get to enjoy the exclusive map sharing technology with periodic improvements and corrections uploaded almost every month and shared by the online community of TomTom. These updates include speed limit, street name modification, road blocks, traffic directions and turn restrictions. And the list of corrections includes the corrections made to point of interests like the phone number changes etc. The Map Share feature allows the driver to enjoy and use the corrections made by some of the other users and improve their own maps instantly on their device too.

TomTom being the world’s largest satellite navigation community with more than 25 million users, the map share feature means that the TomTom drivers will always be having the most updated and up to date maps and will be having local knowledge in their finger tips. The new users are also offered the option to opt for maps exclusively of their region/country or opt for a model amongst the 22 European (western) countries.

Performance of the unit:

As in the case of many other satellite navigational systems, the ONE V4 is no exception when it come to getting a satellite lock and takes a couple of minutes especially when bordered by tall buildings. And once the system is locked on, the GPS chip has no trouble holding the signal throughout and from then, on subsequent attempts, it turns on quickly. The directions proved to be easy to follow and accurate throughout.

Old fashioned but clear large maps, voice instruction is clear enough to not be misinterpreted, swift route calculation with just one hitch though, the One V4 centres on a noticeable position lag. This means that your position on-screen follows slightly behind your real position on the road. Not really a problem majority of the time, but the real trouble arises when you approach large roundabouts or tightly-spaced turnings that requires swift instructions. But fairly speaking, the One also gives you instructions well in advance.

The TomTom HOME:

As in the case of all other TomTom devices, ONE V4 too has the TomTom HOME which is a free software for desktop PCs and Mac which is essential for keeping the device up to date at all times. With the help of this software, users will be able to download new versions easily along with updated versions of maps and database for the safety camera. The users will be able to personalise their unit ensuring they reach their destination in a most relaxed manner. TomTom HOME offers a variety of personalisation options like distinct warning sounds, makes navigational voices real fun, trendy welcome screens along with a variety of POIs. Many of these features can be downloaded for free (except for the premium content) and have been created by TomTom’s HOME community.

Accessories available:

The manufacturer has introduced a wide variety of accessories designed exclusively for TomTom ONE users, which include Sleeves, leather carry case, durable protective cases, USB chargers and additional mounts.

Warranty:
TomTom offers  ONE v4 Satellite Navigation System one year limited warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

The TomTom One V4 car navigation system has a very flexible deign with a clear display. The menus are very intuitive and advanced. Some of the other additional treats are the “Help Me” feature and “TomTom Home”.  Overall, it is nice for once to see an easy to use and unfussy unit that is not heaved down with features that you would barely use. With an ideal compact size, the price of the ONE V4 sure does look to be on the higher side, but it doesn’t make you regret your decision one bit.

TomTom One V4 Sat Nav System – Technical Specifications, Features

Manufacturer	TomTom
Model Name	TomTom One V4 satellite navigation device – Western Europe
GPS Application	Car
Dimensions (W x H x D)	92 x 78 x 25 mm
Weight	148g
Display	TFT LCD anti-glare touch screen
Display screen size	3.5 inch
Display resolution	320 x 240 pixels
Navigation views	Turn by turn
Memory type	Flash
Map provider	Sensis Whereis
Maps included	Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, San Marino, United Kingdom, Vatican
Voice	Navigation instructions  Voice command recognition
Connector type	USB , RDS-TMC
Compatibility	Windows and Mac OS X 10.3 and above
GPS Module	Highly sensitive GPS chipset
Additional features	Pre-installed maps of UK and Western Europe on internal memory Voice guided Nav Text to speech Points of interest Night view Touch Screen USB connectivity Car charger EasyPort mount QuickGPSfix Password protection
Included GPS Software	TomTom HOME
Included accessories	Car power adapter, windshield holder, USB cable
Battery type	Internal lithium ion
Battery life	Three hours
Warranty	One year