TomTom GO 730
Jan
1
2008
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Great website! A few questions:
1. I’m looking at the 730 model, and would like to see your review? Plan on doing one soon?
2. Compared to the 720 model, what additional features does the 730 offer? Does it drop some features available on the 720? (I wish the TomTom website let you “compare” their models.)
One other question:
3. For the price range of the 730 model, what other GPS units would you consider?
I’m not planning on doing a separate 730 review since I’ve reviewed many similar models. AS for the features the 730 has that the 720 doesn’t, you can read about those in our TomTom 930 review.
Thought I would post this for users. I bought my first GPS after reading a number of different reviews on this site and some vendor sites. They were very informative. Some info that may help. The unit’s maps where out of date right out of the box and connecting to the Tom Tom site did not give me free upgrade. To get this update quickly, you need to make a call to Tom Tom support. If you have a electronic copy of your invoice, setup an account on Tom Tom site and make the call. The support person will walk you through the process of getting the invoice to them, otherwise you’ll have to fax a copy. I got the new map in 5 minutes. I was able to pair the blue tooth connection to my blackberry and iPhone. The feature of speaking to the unit for input was about 70% accurate. The lane guidance does not work where I live (Toronto, Canada). I don’t think they have the info in the maps yet. The traffic cameras is not working in North America, but available for Europe. The info on the cameras for North America is not available. Speaking to a buddy in England, they have fixed radar cameras all over the highways. I’m manually adding the red light cameras for my drive routes. We don’t have fixed radar here. There are a lot of other features, too many to go through, but I am very pleased with this unit. The only disappointment was the unit did not come with a carrying case.
Does the GO 730 have the Active Lane Guidance feature? Which would you recommend the GO 730 or the 930? Looking for text-to-speech, lane assist, wide screen,multiple destinations US/Canada maps and wasy to read and use. A gift for older parents. Thanks for any help. Your website is great.
Yes, the 730 has Active Lane Guidance, and all of the other features you mentioned. The 930 adds a remote control, European maps, and a sensor that facilitates GPS reception if you are driving in places like a tunnel.
Does the tt 730 have the IQ route time feature like the tt 930?
Yes, all of the x30 models come with IQ Routes. The x20 models can be upgraded to the version 8 application and map and get it as well.
Is the IQ routetime feature available on the 720 model or only on the x30 models?
I just answered that in the question above, sorry if it wasn’t clear. Yes, the x20 models can use IQ routes with application version 8 and a version 8 map.
What is the difference between 730 and 930? Is it only navigation active while driving thru a tunnel?
You also get European maps, a remote control, and voice assisted address entry comes standard. See our TomTom 920 review for more info on those features.
Tim,
I am thinking of getting either the New Go 630 or the 730. I checked the specs and the only difference I can see is the FM transmitter that is on the 730. I currently have a
One XLS and use the RDS-TMC antenna daily. I have heard there are some voice problems on the new Go 630, and that it uses different voice software. My One XLS uses Loquendo and I have had no problems. Which voice software does the Go 630 and 730 use respectively? Also, which models use “Vocalizer” software? A lot of questions I know. Which model ships with the newest maps? If you know of any other differences in these 2 models I would appreciate your comments. Many Thanks,
Lee
Tim, you mentioned the only difference between the 730 and 930 are three things, European maps, a remote control, and voice assisted address entry. The 730 doesn’t have “Voice Assisted Address Entry”? If the 730 is lacking other items, please list. Thanks
Do you know what the maximum size (Capacity) SD card the 730 would be compatible with? I was thinking of getting an 8 or 16 Gig card to put additional music on etc, but was not sure if it would work in it as the one TT sells is only 2.
Voice entry is available on the 730, but it does not seem to be that accurate.
Jeff, see this thread in our forums:
What size SDHC card for TomTom 730T?
Tim
I just got a 730. After software update, I found broadcasting instructions over radio is gone. I called TT customer service, and they said it would not come back! Can I restore the device and get it back?
Thanks
Harold, yes, there are instructions in our forums on how to downgrade to the previous application version.
I just got a 730 and connot figure out how to turn up volume on hands free calls. Volume is so low that it is impossible to hear call.
I have the exact same problem… I have look in every forum I can find and there seems to be no answer to this. I don’t know if my unit is deffective or if it’s a bug that acn be fixed… can somebody tell me if the volume on the hands free works well for them so I can go exchagne my unit?
Tom, how is Mac support for the 730? As I recall, getting TTS on the 720 to work required using Windows XP… Is that still the case? —Thanks, Darren
Getting TTS to work on the 720 never required Windows… it will work out of the box just by selecting a TTS voice.
Tim,
I’m looking to buy my first GPS for me and my wife to share, so uses will vary. After much research I have narrowed it down to the Nuvi 750 and the Tom Tom 730. Both have the main features that I want but I wanted your advice on the subtle differences one would know from using them. For example: do either of the units display current heading (N,S,E,W) and/or current speed? Also, are there any issues that I should be aware of before buying either one?
I woud appreciate any pointers you could give me.
I went with a TomTom Go 720, and tried it for 3 months. Also in that time I used the Garmin 205w and 260w as I’m in a sales job where I often ride with others.
i researched entry level widescreen Text-to-Speech GPS’s pretty extensively and thought that the Go 720 had the most features for the money. But after seeing the Garmin Nuvi’s in use I started to become a little envious of their sweeter looking graphics and less cluttered interface.
I still thought my TomTom had a major advantage in that it was “upgradable” to a Go 730 just by updating its firmware and maps. This would enable lane guidance which is a feature many folks are excited about (although I live in a smaller town so it’s not one I would use often).
Unfortunately I waited too long before I tried to update to the current maps as they wouldn’t update automatically. When I called TomTom for help they told me my unit was not eligible for their latest maps guarantee since I didn’t update it within the proper time limit.
This was a little discouraging and got me thinking more and more about those easy to use Garmins with their much nicer-looking graphics. After much consideration, I ended up returning my TomTom and ordered a factory refurb Garmin 255w (for quite a bit less money).
After trying both brands, I prefer the Garmin Nuvi’s.
My 730 TomTom dissapointment! Last December I shopped and shopped for the best deal I could find to purchase a TomTom 730, my first GPS. I was so anxious to use this device since Wifey and I once returned home from Northbridge, MA, several towns away from where we live. We went around in circles THREE TIMES back to Northbridge before she insisted we travel the highways (the longest way) rather than continue onward using the back roads.
I put Tom to his first test when I drove to a location in Watertown, MA. I had the device properly programmed but Tom kept insisting we take a \right\ off the what we thought was the better way. OK,enough! I will follow Tom, after all, that is why I purchased it. Follow indeed I did until Tom loudly proclaimed I had ARRIVED……right into an obscure intersection three miles from where we intended to go. Even the street name was different than that programmed.
I frantically called someone at our destination and pleaded with them to extend my appointment time until we were able to arrive.
Next and worse bad example— last week I needed to drive through Northbridge but I felt comfortable because I had Tom with me. Tom was programmed to HOME which had our home address properly described. Anyway, while I driving through Northbridge, I listened to Tom speak the way…….TAKE A LEFT….TAKE A LEFT right into a large shopping mall.
I ignored its advice and kept driving hoping not to repeat my last drive through this town. The next command was TAKE A RIGHT……TAKE A RIGHT which would have put me into a large cemetery! Ridiculous!!! I kept driving and Tom kept talking but now the voice sounded like it was begining to break up. The voice finally STOPPED!!!!! I watched the display and was given directions via the map which I followed through goat paths instead of highly travelled roads. It did get me out of Northbridge.
About one mile from my home the vice came back strong as ever. Now I have lost ALL CONFIDENCE in Tom! How can I place trust in an instrument that has given my wrong directions more than three times???
This is a sad day but I feel I need to share my experience with others especially those who are considering purchasing a similar product. I mentioned in the begining this was my first GPS. Is my Tom’s performance typical of others? I am so disapointed with Tom I am considering selling it and either purchase some other brand that is reliable or just going back the paper road maps.
Sorry, and I do mean sorry but my Tom sucks!
Joe Howarth
38 Valley Road
Ashland, MA
Joe
My experience is different to yours!
I have owned my 730 three months and travelled through England, Holland, Switzerland and France with it. It has been a marriage-saver. It never put a foot wrong in 10,000k.
It totally changes your approach to a fly-drive holiday – just head off sight-seeing, then ask Tom to take us back to our hotel. Left-hand drive or right drive, it just works.
Lane guidance is brilliant.
‘Take me to last known position’ is great when walking in a strange city (’where did I park the car?).
Text to speech street names is very useful.
Count-down to turn-offs is very accurate – in Cornwall some lanes are invisible from only three metres away! and on motorways is a great help.
Bluetooth is good for ‘hands-free’, but sadly most phones don’t allow us to both read and write text messages.
A hood over the screen would help to reduce sun glare.
I have driven at home here in Sydney for nearly 50 years, and I thought I knew the best routes. Not so! Tom invariably finds a faster route!
Well done Tom Tom!
England, Holland, Switzerland and France ?????
That may well be but in New England, USA it performs POORLY.
Last week I tried to get to an address on Williams STREET in Tauton, MA. The pig did not even have Williams Street in its directory but it did have a Williams Avenue. Mistakenly I thought heck, it has streets and avenues mixed up. So I plugged in the house number and the number was higher than that of any house on Williams Ave.
Later I found Williams Street, and I activated the where I am a button on Tom, it correctly told me I was on Williams Street, Tauton, Massachusetts.
European maps and software may be just fine but they are sub-par here in New England. Worst of all, if one is in an area where he is completely unfamilier, Tom cna make sure he is really lost. There are neighborhoods in the states as I imagine there are in Europe that are risky to be in. Would I trust Tom for my life/property in that kind of situations??? LIKE #$%^&* I WOULD!
Joe
I can find Williams Street and Williams Avenue in fine on the TomTom devices I have, assuming you mean Taunton. Here is the screenshot.
Hello Tim,
I’m a first time buyer for GPS, can you pick for me which is better of the 3, the TT GO630, TT GO730 Portable or Garmin 265WT? I’m undecided, don’t worry I’m not gonna hold your word for it.
Thanks for the great reviews!
Jesus
I purchased a refurb 730 prior to a trip from London Ontario to Vancouver Island BC and back. I had a hassle over getting an updated map since Tomtom says they don’t provide free map updates for Refurbs. I was persuasive and had a good argument at hand and they gave me the update anyway. I wouldn’t count on it though and the cost of a new map means you can probably get a better deal on a new one. This was my first GPS and I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I have to say that it was a great experience and that I’m very happy with my choice. We traveled through the states both ways and it never lead me astray. When I wanted to connect to the Internet, I just put in to navigate me to the nearest Starbucks and did what it said. When I was driving, I just stayed in the lane it told me to no problem (with one exception which was toll roads where cash pays on the right while I was suppose to stay left – TomTom was right, but…). I listened to audiobooks over the FM (it would be a great feature to suggest the station with the least noise, but…). I’m not sure about the Bluetooth stuff, mainly because I’ve been too lazy so far to try it out. Overall, a great purchase that I’m very happy with. For the price I paid, I couldn’t get more features and I’ll try and use most of them eventually. There were a couple of times when the roads in very rural Alberta didn’t line up exactly and one time where they had just changed the road and it kept telling me to turn left to get me back on the road – unavoidable I suppose. The other thing that got a little annoying after a few thousand miles was that when I stopped for gas or food it would keep telling me to get back on the highway – pushy little thing! Since I don’t know any better and ignorance is bliss, I think this is a great piece of technology and I doubt the other choices are much better. When I wanted to stop, I could just navigate to campground – follow directions and was done for the night. It made a long drive MUCH more enjoyable.
For the people that are having problems with the volume on a hands free call. You can turn up the volume, but it can only be done while in a call.
1. Establish a hands free call
2. Touch the bottom of the screen on your TomTom
3. Adjust the slider bar.
4. Job Done!!!
BTW – The quality of the hads free call is still pretty poor even with the volume turned up full. I think this is because the speaker is on the back of the unit.
Hope This helps someone
Hi All, so far I’m happy with TomTom 730. It’s a refurb out of the USA (I’m in Autralia).
I’m trying to get the text messages to work, from my Nokia N95, to no avail.
The two devices ’see’ each other. I select:
All four options are ‘greyed out’
How do I activate this feature or is it a problem with the model of the phone? I Hope not as it’s too good to upgrade just now.
Cheers Mark
Hi Mark
Go to http://www.tomtom.com/phones/compatibility
Sadly, I think your Nokia will not send or receive SMS, but will do hands free calling.
I too am in Australia – My Motorola only receives SMS, but will not send.
Thanks Mike,
I can’t beleive that the N95, top-of-the-line Nokia mobile Phone isn’t compatable with my TomTom for text. What are the odds?
Can’t really complain as TomTom was a Fathers Day gift.
I assume it’s a software incompatability. Do these deficits ever get corrected by software updates to the phone or GPS?
Sometimes software issues are addressed– but unfortunately it isn’t terribly common. Each side (GPS company, phone manufacturer, voice carrier) typically points fingers and blames the other.
I can’t say I’m not surprised. otherwise very happy with my Tomtom
does anyone know how to connect ipod to tomtom go 730?
TomTom used to offer an “iPod Connection Kit” however it is difficult to find these days. That is the only way I know of.
With the 730 – Am I right that this model can have up to 50 seperate routes each with 48 waypoints per route? And, can these routes be saved.
Thanks!