Home > Consumer Reviews > TomTom Go 720 Traffic Edition Satellite Navigation System

This is just the GO 720 with an RDS receiver, the RDS signal is generally not strong enough to be of much use, as far as free traffic updates for life this is not technically true as RDS is free once you have the receiver/ariel it is not a subscription based system. The unit is self is just the same GO720.
This new design has all of the great feature you expect from TomTom but coupled with a more usable mounting system and a great widescreen display. Both myself and my wife spent a large amount of time investigating the various models on the market and found the features and ease of use of the TomTom Go 520/720 were clearly the best available. Coupled with the iPod cable I can now use both my TomTom and iPod through my car radio and not have difficulty hearing instructions over the music. On the downside my Mobile phone, an orange SPV3100, does not want to work with the hands free option provided; this is a bit of a disappointment to an otherwise perfect solution.

The TomTom 710 was good. This is much, much better.

In terms of its core specifications, it functions very well: it locates satellites quickly and accurately, even indoors (not that's really important), smoothly updates its position, has a reasonably up to date map -- though, despite MapShare, not an entirely up to date one -- and has a good set of configuration options to help you set it up to suit your driving style. Everything runs a bit quicker and more smoothly than its predecessor. The software for MapShare and some other new functions is available as a free upgrade to the 710, though you need to buy the new maps to make it work, but most new features work better on the 720.

It's the additional functionality, though, which really makes this a massive improvement over the 710.

First, its bluetooth connection to mobile phones gives much better voice quality, and responds much more rapidly to, say, downloading your entire phone book. Since complete hands-free is now a legal requirement if you want to use your phone in the car, this is probably the most important feature after the main navigation functions. Interestingly, the TomTom no longer requires an external microphone, which means less wires in the car.

Second, the TMC aerial works more smoothly than the old one. A lot of people are very critical of the traffic information aerial. Personally I found that it worked well on the 710, although lots of users complained that it didn't work at all. Perhaps it depends on where you live. This one is (for me) even better. For people who couldn't get the old one to work, this may be no improvement. I can only report my own findings. Certainly TMC information saved me from hundreds of hours of traffic jams on the 710, and this one worked as soon as I plugged it in.

Third, the iPod connectivity is finally worth having. On the 710 you could plug your iPod into the TomTom, but there wasn't much point in doing so, since if you had a line input to your stereo you would be better off plugging the iPod in directly, and if you didn't, then the sound quality was just the tinny sound of the TomTom. The 720 has its own FM transmitter -- these became legal in December 2006 -- which is substantially better than most of the FM transmitters on the market. It gives great connectivity from iPod to stereo, and, significantly, it works with the iPhone. This is important because the iPhone doesn't work with other FM transmitters, including (at the time of writing) the ones marketed as 'compatible with iPhone'. Clearly you would never buy the 720 just to get iPhone connectivity, but, if, like me, you have been struggling to find something that worked, it's a happy outcome.

Fourth, the security has been upgraded, with PIN number security for the device (though no apparent lockout, so it probably wouldn't deter a determined thief), and a more thief unfriendly suction grip. This is slightly disappointing, as the suction grip was more motorist-friendly on the old Tom-Toms, since you could leave all the wires plugged in. Of course, this was only a benefit if you left the suction holder on the windscreen, which the police strongly urge you not to do. The wires now plug directly into the TomTom, which is more cumbersome, but reduces the convenience of leaving it set up, thereby encouraging you to be sensible.

Just a couple of minor gripes. The TomTom home software works well on a PC, but there is no current version for Macintosh which works with all of the 720 features. Unlike the old model, it doesn't come with its own case, which is a bit cheap, although the new slim design means you can put it in your coat pocket. Finally, you can't plug in the TMC aerial and the iPod connector at the same time, and (among the plethora of third party accessories) no one makes a splitter. Oh well.

In any case, a well deserved five stars: this is a much improved product.

I really wanted to like this product, and in some ways I still do. It performs most functions very well but in just one month of ownership I have spent 10 to 20 hours battling with what appears to be software conflicts introduced when connecting to the USB docking station and downloading application and data updates.

The Good News: Satellite location is rapid and the device is far more sensitive to satellite signals so that you can actually use it indoors (!) or more realistically in a mid or low dashboard mounting rather than perched in line of sight on a windscreen sucker. The satellite location is helped by the quick fix downloads, the command interface is clear and simple to master, and routing and navigation is near faultless. I discovered one incorrectly mapped one-way street which I corrected simply on my map and uploaded for other users. Automatic speech recognition was an excellent feature.

The Not So Good News: I tried the Traffic aerial on just one long journey round the M25. Connection to the device was simple, but reception was non existent in most country areas even when I tuned manually. Round the M25 reception was fine, and the device reported 2 locations with a 5 minute delay at each. The actual delay time was 55 minutes and had been built up for some time. As much use as the proverbial chocolate teapot as the TMC functionality is severely limited by aerial sensitivity and the paucity of traffic data that is broadcast. My verdict is that it isn't worth buying the "T" version of this product, but that isn't really TomTom's fault.

The Really Bad News: As I mentioned I really wanted to like this as I'd heard and read so many good things about TomTom, but my experience leads me to a firm Don't Buy recommendation. My first TomTom 720T worked brilliantly straight out of the box. Where it all starts to go horribly wrong is when you connect to the PC software (TomTom Home) via the USB docking station to download updates. On the first occasion I did this, it was recommended that I update to the latest version of the application, as well as downloading several small safety camera updates. That appeared to go well enough, but I noticed that the ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) function no longer worked. Under the guidance of Customer Support I downloaded and installed a new set of ASR files, but to no avail. I also wasn't very impressed that CS had interpretd my carefully described Speech Recognition problem as "Text to Speech" which isn't the same thing at all.

After a few days I decided to ask Amazon to replace the unit as faulty which they did by return of post with no drama. Replacement unit also worked straight out of the box...but on connection to TomTom home it failed in exactly the same way, with updates knocking out the ASR. This time my query was passed to second line support for a deep and meaningful consideration of what might be wrong. Now I found first level support to be very helpful and friendly, but with varying technical knowledge. The response I got from the second level was pitiful - their best shot was that ASR wasn't working because maybe I was speaking too loudly (I admit that a bit of shouting had taken place for understandable reasons!)

Strangely, after several days of use and several reboots, the ASR suddenly started working again, but after a week or so I noticed that the initial safety camera information was no longer active or visible. I requested a repeat download of the intitial safety camera data via support, and connected up to download it. Oh dear, I'm recommended to download another update to the application software on the device. I simply knew it was the wrong thing to do, but I selected the software update as well as the camera data download.

You've guessed it, although I now had the camera data again, the download had knocked out the ASR functionality again. Worse, when I connected to TomTom Home again a few minutes later, the newly downloaded camera updates were knocked out as well. The support desk suggests I reload the ASR software files again, but that didn't work last time so I shall just wait to see if ASR returns. There is a backup and restore function which I am sure would be really useful if I could ever get the device to a state of full usability. In the meantime I have written a stinking letter to escalate this to Customer Relations in Amsterdam - just note that you have to write them a letter and send it through the post to Amsterdam - but they are happy to email you back!

In summary, the satnav functions allow you to proceed in a forwards direction very happily, the Customer Service Desk are friendly and helpful but mainly have you going round in circles, and the firmware that controls some ancillary functions actually goes backwards!

If you do buy one, I recommend using it out of the box and never, never, never connect it to the USB docking station; madness that way lies.

I own it now for 3 weeks and am enjoying it a lot. As I do a lot of driving, both in the UK as well as on the continent, I could try most of the features. The TMC is very useful and it helped me to avoid several traffic hold ups, thus saving a lot of time. This works both in the UK as well as in France, Belgium and The Netherlands (so I assume also in the rest of Europe). I have also bought a fast 2GB SD card so I can play my music through TomTom on my radio using the FM transmitter.

The connection to TomTom Home was straight forward and I took a subscription to Safety Camera's so I get a weekly update on all fixed speed camera's in Europe. The expense for this I probably earned back on one of my first trips as it warned me for a camera I had not noticed before.

Blue Tooth hands free connection I have not (yet) tried as I have a hands free system in my car. The talk back feature for finding an address works but I wonder how often I will use it.

A very useful feature is the link with Google Maps: Just go to Google Maps, select Find Bussiness, type in the bussiness name and town and Google maps shows you the location. Then choose send - to GPS and the location is forwarded to TomTom through TomTom Home.

Only downside is the TMC antenna. This flimsy piece of wire along the windscreen does not look nice and looks a little amateurisch. But not enough to substract a star.

In short: A great GPS navigator for not a lot of money. Worth every penny!!

I've had several sat nav solutions over the past few years and all have been OK - but having got this for the wife I have to admit that I am blown away by how much this kit has advanced (and how cheap it now is!).

This is easy to use. Plug in, charge up and go. Unlike the other reviewer we had no problem whatever getting it fixed up in the car in a safe, easily readable position. The touch screen is excellent and pretty idiot proof. You don't need to be a computer whizz to get it to work. The voices are loud enough and clear. If you had satnav four or five years ago you may remember the difficulty in getting a 'position lock' when you first turn it on. Not a bit of it with this - I had a lock virtually instantly indoors!

I even found it very easy to pair with my wife's mobile phone so she now has a hands free kit in the car (in fact it also read her address book from her phone so she can use this to quickly dial people.) We haven't yet played with all the features - but I like the idea of the new map share to get updates from other users, and I also imagine at some point we will investigate connecting the ipod to it.

But regardless of its plethora of features the important thing to know is that it does it's main job superbly. To ask it to get you from A to B is a cinch it directs you well and warns you of speed cameras.

The only niggle is that the plug in FM/RDS traffic reciever thingymabob isn't the most tidy solution (a long wire with suckers on that go on your windscreen) and will be a faff if you like to hide the satnav when you park. I can imagine I wont always use this, which is a shame because that seems to be the difference between the 'T' edition and the regular 720. I'm surprised they haven't integrated that bit into the unit.

That's a minor niggle though. Great kit, easy to use, and just works from the box at it's main job and a load of extras for when you get used to it. I'm impressed and pleased with the buy.