TopGPS - Satellite Navigation

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General Terms and Conditions

Not found what you were looking for?
Then please email our Customer Support team on support@TopGPS.co.uk

Costs
No hidden costs. Package price includes everything.
Map upgrades are free except when they are sold with a new version of Sat Nav Software.
TopGPS will notify its customers when new versions become available and will provide step by Step instructions to install the new maps.
Alternatively TopGPS can do this at the TopGPS office in Otley while you wait for a small fee. (£20 in Sept 2004)

Tom Tom Traffic has an annual subscription which is provided and supported by TopGPS for £60 (equivalent to £5/month)

Note that for just £10 /month (paid annually in advance) you get continued support from TopGPS for all aspects of the system as well as the Tom Tom Traffic subscription. This support includes free assistance to install new maps and software.
All other costs are shown on the website on the Accessories page.

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Satisfaction Guarantee
TopGPS have worked hard to build packages which use market-leading, award-winning components. We've then used our first-hand experience to configure the systems in a way that make them useful straight away. Then we provide quality training and support. We believe you'll be delighted with your SatNav system. However if you're not then the money-back guarantee means you can return the goods unused for a refund - less a handling charge (see Terms and Conditions).

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Mounting Options
Typically the SatNav units are clipped to a bracket which is securely fastened to the windscreen. This fastening uses a high quality suction pad to give a very stable mount.

The bracket can alternatively be fastened to the dashboard.

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GPS Satellite Aerials - including 'External' / 'Re-radiating' aerials
The TopGPS Bronze Package (featuring the TomTom GO unit) has an integral GPS Satellite Aerial.
The Gold and Platinum Packages have a separate aerial which can be placed conveniently on the dashboard.

Note: certain windscreen types can be problematic for the Satellite aerial. These include 'athermic'/'heat refective' and 'heated' screens. In practice there's usually a place on the dashboard that works - but if not then a separate 'External' / 'Re-radiating' aerial will be needed to boost the Satellite signal - see the Accessories page. (£50 at Sept04).

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Updates
TopGPS is in regular contact with the major suppliers and keeps a close eye on the availability of updates and new versions. We will let you know through our Newsletter when there's something new that you need. We'll give you full instructions about how to do it - or offer you a reasonably priced service to do it for you. See Accessories and Services page.
(Around £20 for any number of updates / patches applied in a single visit to the TopGPS Service Centre.)

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SatNav, Speed Camera location warning system and the Law
It is completely legal to fit and use both a SatNav ststem and a Speed Camera location warning system. TopGPS offers the obvious advice that you should not operate these systems whilst driving and that you should give your full attention to the traffic conditions around you.

The Speed Camera location warning system is there to help you drive safely - NOT to allow you to drive faster than the speed limit or the road conditions allow.

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Tom Tom crashing or hanging or failing to start
If TomTom is hanging it could indicate that there's an underlying problem.
It may be necessary to try a different SD/CF memory card as lock-ups can often be attributed to a dodgy or incompatible SD/CF card.

Contact Top GPS support@TopGPS.co.uk for the latest advice on the recommended makes of memory card to use.

It could also be that too much of the main PocketPC memory has been take up with added programs or data. In this case it's simply necessary to remove some of the programs / data to get the system working again.

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It takes a long time for Tom Tom to find its first position after being switched on
When any GPS Receiver is trying to find its first position after being switched on it can take quite a while to 'lock on'. The manufacturers call this the 'Time To First Fix' (TTFF).
This initial 'lock on time' can be reduced by doing two simple things:

First make sure that the Sat Nav aerial has a clear view of the sky - ie it is not blocked by trees or buildings or other obstructions.
Second, don't move the GPS Receiver around - until it finds its position.

The first of these is obvious - if the Sat Nav system can't get a clear signal from the GPS satellites then it can't calculate its position. The second is less obvious but is very important.

Each Satellite periodically transmits a message containing a very exact time signal. Each of these messages takes 30 seconds to transmit. The Sat Nav system must receive four complete navigation messages to work out its position. If you are moving (eg you start driving before the location has been found) then it is much harder for the Sat Nav system to get good reception - and every time one of the message is interrupted then it has to start again and wait for the next message. This can take a long time - perhaps 30 or 40 minutes if you're unlucky.

Once you have got the first fix then it's much easier for the Sat Nav system to remain locked even when you drive under trees or near tall buildings.

So the advice from TopGPS is to be patient and wait for your first fix before setting off on your journey.

There is a third thing you can do if you've got time on your hands.
This applies to users of the Tom Tom Navigator 3 and above software and can be done in the office before you even plug your Pocket PC into the cradle in the car.
Start The Tom Tom software. Select the map view and manually scroll the map to show the location where you actually are. Press and hold the stylus on this position on the screen to get the pop-up menu.
Now select the last item on the menu 'More...' - this brings up the second part of the menu.
Now select 'Reset GPS for this location'.
Then press the 'ok' button.
This will help to speed up the time it takes to find the first fix.

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Tom Tom can't read the maps on the memory card / low memory reported on the memory card
Before assuming the memory card is faulty and to rushing out and buying a new memory card. Try reformatting the card in a standard card reader

Open the card in Windows Explorer
Right-click the 'drive' letter
Then select 'Format..' - and then 'Start'

This will remove all the data on the card but will verify that the memory card is capable of holding the full amount of data (expect about 120Mb usable space from a '128Mb' card).

You could also check the card more fully by doing the following:

Open the card in Windows Explorer
Right-click the 'drive' letter
Select 'Properties' - and then the 'Tools' tab
Now press the 'Check Now' button in the 'Error Checking' box.
Tick both of the options 'Automatically ... fix errors' and 'Scan for ... bad sectors'
Now press 'Start'

Assuming no errors are reported reload the maps and any POI. Now soft reset the PPC and restart TomTom Navigator. This will force Navigator to re-read the memory card and hopefuly find the maps again. There is a known issue that 'some' SD/CF cards appear to give TomTom problems. The simple advice is to stick to brand name memory cards from reputable sources.

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You may also be interested in the TopGPS Bronze Package or the TopGPS Gold Package.
These give you either a standalone system or a Pocket PC and a Satellite Navigation system combined. Get an office in your hand - not a laptop in your briefcase!

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