tomtom

How to Apply a Suction Cup Mount to a Car Window

I know it sounds like an easy topic, but you would be surprised to know that it isn’t always as simple as just pressing the suction cup mount against the glass and walking away.  Suction cup mounts are among the most popular for mounting devices such as a smartphone, GPS, satellite radio or small tablet.  it’s especially handy when using your phone with a GPS application such as Waze. Surface Preparation is Important First, let’s talk about surface preparation.  The top reason for adherence issues with these mounts is a dirty windshield.  Over time, you might notice a film developing … Read more



Can I Use a Car GPS on a Motorcycle?

Roughly twenty years ago, TomTom and Garmin started to make GPS devices specifically designed for use with motorcycles.  The TomTom Rider and Garmin Zumo series were marketed specifically for motorcycle use.  They sold a lot of them.  There are several key differences between units made for motorcycles versus the car. Motorcycle vs Auto GPS Most motorcycle units are weatherproof.  Note we use the word weatherproof and not waterproof.  Waterproof implies you can dunk it in a bucket of water and have it come out fully functional and that’s not the case.  Under most normal driving, a weatherproof unit will serve … Read more



Phone and GPS Mounts for Round Vents

I used to think that mounting stuff onto a vertical vent was the most difficult of locations.  I forgot about round vents.  You find these in a minority of cars.  Vents are a great place to mount a smartphone or GPS.  It’s right around your normal eye level yet below the spot where a bad guy could see it so the location helps to minimize device theft. Round Vent Challenge So what’s the problem with round vents?  Take a look at the photo.  That’s a Mazda Miata.  They have round vents.  The vents are small and have a little knob … Read more



Choosing the Right GPS Car Mount

GPS systems have been around for many years.  While the technology has advanced considerably, the mounts that are provided by the manufacturer have stayed the same.  To this day, when you open your brand new GPS box, you will meet your new GPS car mount which will typically be a small suction cup similar to what you see being used in the photo.  The issue with these mounts is that you can use them in one place which is the windshield.  The second issue is that, well, what if you wanted to mount your GPS somewhere other than the windshield? … Read more



Garmin TomTom & Magellan GPS Charger and Power Cable Options

We get a lot of questions regarding this topic so figured it was time for an article on the topic.  A GPS charger comes in three different flavors:  AC, DC and hardwired.  We will cover all three but first a discussion about the types of adapters. Most GPS units manufactured over the past five years use a Mini USB ending on the charger (the most popular line which is the Garmin Nuvi has used Mini USB for over five years).  Now before you go and purchase a cheap cable made for an older mobile phone, be aware that Mini USB … Read more



How to Prevent GPS Theft

So we’re eating dinner at a local restaurant on Route 46 in Northern New Jersey.  We leave after a 90 minutes meal to find a bunch of glass all over the parking lot.  I look at my car to find the passenger window smashed, my GPS stolen and the glove box all over the floor of the car.  I remember walking into the restaurant and several people from the kitchen staff were outside smoking and checking us out.  This is New Jersey and that’s the way the state rolls so I didn’t think anything about it at the time.  When … Read more