Not LostLost

In my last post, I spoke of going out around the North side of Lake Wenatchee trying to make my way back to the Stevens Pass Highway and pretty much ended up getting lost. I like to explore; I don't like to back track; I don't like to get lost. I've been thinking about getting one of those GPS mapping devices—like a TomTom or Garmin—to aide me in my travels. Well, I finally took the plunge.

While combat shopping at Wally World this last weekend, I wandered over to the electronics section to see what they had for GPS's. Wow, some of those things are frickin' expensive. Sure, it'd be nice to know where you're at, but do you really need to spend over $250 for that information?!?

I had a general idea of what I wanted, but wanted to get some insight from one of their sales staff. I looked around the electronics department and found an associate (that's what they call 'em, I think), that had a huge zit on his nose—geek fer sure! This guy should know his stuff. I hauled him over to the locked display case and started my Gitmo-style interrogation on the pros and cons of each model. After much beating and some sexually explicit and degrading acts, he finally caved. I had him narrowed down to a Garmin and a TomTom. With a few more degrading questions, I finally broke him and we decided I needed to leave with the TomTom One v.3.



As soon as we got back into the car, I had my wife wrench it from it's plastic clamshell packaging. We plugged it in and waited. After a few seconds, it booted up, found a half dozen satellites, and showed our position with a bitchin' bird's eye display. I was euphoric... damned near orgasmic. Technology was here to save the day! But, it was not to last... (<-- I think they call that foreshadowing. )

When we got home and I was able to really get into the bits and bytes of this thing, I discovered my pimply prisoner hadn't been totally truthful with me. I had asked him if it would let me upload maps and set waypoints and what have you. I discovered that it, in fact, did not. And I wasn't very happy about that. See, torture doesn't work. The little bastard told me what I wanted to hear just so I'd leave him alone.

But, all was not lost. After much searching on the interweb, I discovered that TomTom simply turned off these features in Version 3. If one reverts to an earlier software package, you can create a custom menu and gain access to the Itinerary Menu which will allow you to load, delete, and create maps with waypoints, etc. The feeling of ecstatic euphoria was returning! Here, I hadn't even owned the thing 24 hours and I was all set to hack it. I love it!

After some software downloads and menu uploading, I had this little gem working the way I wanted, almost. I found, just this morning, another program that lets you build custom menus for it. I've got to download Windows .Net Framework to make it work, but will have that done soon enough.

So, if you're looking for an inexpensive GPS that you can throw into the pistol pocket of your riding jacket for those times when you want to know where that really windy road leads to, I highly recommend the TomTom One. And the price ain't bad at about $150.

As for the hacks, here's what I've learned:

1. Do not upgrade your version number when you get it. TomTom discovered we figured out the work-around and disabled it in Ver. 8.
2. Go here and read up on how to create a custom menu. It's super easy.
3. You can download a program to create custom menus here.
4. If you're one that likes to get into the technical stuff, go to this wiki page on menus for the TomTom and what all the code means.
5. If you need Version 7.166.8497 because you've already upgraded to Ver. 8 like this author did, you can download it here.

Keep in mind, this unit is not meant for motorcycle use and will get ruined if it gets wet. Those types of units cost much, much more. However, if you're interested in an inexpensive unit that you can reference when you're in a jam and are willing to keep it in a Ziplock baggy—just in case it rains—then this unit is for you.

Happy riding!