TomTom Start 62 transmitter (EMR)?

[WazWii]

Hi all,

Firstly I am aware of what happened on the official TomTom forums that have now closed down. I only made two posts on there and one was not answered satisfactorily. I think the closure of the community was a big mistake as I found TomTom customer service below-average. Now to my question;

Basically upon reading the user-manual of the START 62 it states clearly in there that the navigation device is both a receiver and transmitter. Now the transmitter seems to be related to the navigation device services as, again, it clearly states in the user manual that to receive traffic information the location of the device has to be sent to the TomTom servers. So I assume this is the purpose of this transmitter.

The device has no blue-tooth, Wi-Fi or built-in Sim. So I was surprised to realize that there was another transmitter in the navigation device. Now the reason I am concerned about this transmitter is for EMR reasons. This means potential electro-magnetic radiation. I am not really comfortable with the continuous pulsing of the transmitter. It was a reason why I actually bought the START 62 as I have another earlier more advanced TomTom with blue-tooth, Wi-Fi and built-in Sim which gives out EMR through these three modules which are always on.

In a vehicle (with its metal shell) the EMR's are further accentuated and I am not comfortable with this considering the latest research on EMR health and safety. What I need to know is, is this transmitter continuously pulsing/sending out waves? Does it even exist or we talking about a completely different transmitter? And if, in the user settings of the navigation device I disable information and privacy to not share does this disable the transmitter completely so it is in a silent-mode to reduce EMR's?

I know this is a bit unusual and perhaps a bit too specialist for this forum but I thought to give it a go. I hope someone can provide an answer and confirm or deny my beliefs/concerns.

 

[Willy875]

Hi

EU Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance

THIS WIRELESS DEVICE MODEL MEETS GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPOSURE TO RADIO WAVES WHEN USED AS DIRECTED IN THIS SECTION

This GPS Navigation System is a radio transmitter and receiver. It is designed and manufactured not to exceed the emission limits for exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Council of the European Union.

The SAR limit recommended by The Council of the European Union is 2.0W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue for the body (4.0 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue for the extremities - hands, wrists, ankles and feet). Tests for SAR are conducted using standard operating positions specified by the EU council with the device transmitting at its highest certified power level in all tested frequency bands.

 

[Willy875]

Pacemakers

Pacemaker manufacturers recommend that a minimum of 15cm / 6 inches be maintained between a handheld wireless device and a pacemaker to avoid potential interference with the pacemaker. These recommendations are consistent with independent research and recommendations by Wireless Technology Research.

Guidelines for people with pacemakers:

• You should ALWAYS keep the device more than 15cm / 6 inches from your pacemaker.
• You should not carry the device in a breast pocket.

Other medical devices

Please consult your physician or the manufacturer of the medical device, to determine if the operation of your wireless product may interfere with the medical device.

 

[canderson]

The device has no blue-tooth, Wi-Fi or built-in Sim. So I was surprised to realize that there was another transmitter in the navigation device. Now the reason I am concerned about this transmitter is for EMR reasons.

First, what you find on page 93 of your manual is 'boilerplate' information. As you have already determined, your device has neither WiFi nor Bluetooth capability. In this instance, the warning about 'handheld wireless devices' does not apply.

Second, ANY device whose operation depends upon a microprocessor will emit some amount of RF. That's why they must all be tested to international standards for EMI (FCC, CE, etc) before they may be sold to the public. I know the drill. I've spent FAR too many hours in open field EMI test sites! So in this instance, not "too specialist" to be handled here.

Your Start 62 contains no other 'transmitters'.

 

[WazWii]

First, what you find on page 93 of your manual is 'boilerplate' information. As you have already determined, your device has neither WiFi nor Bluetooth capability. In this instance, the warning about 'handheld wireless devices' does not apply.

Second, ANY device whose operation depends upon a microprocessor will emit some amount of RF. That's why they must all be tested to international standards for EMI (FCC, CE, etc) before they may be sold to the public. I know the drill. I've spent FAR too many hours in open field EMI test sites! So in this instance, not "too specialist" to be handled here.

Your Start 62 contains no other 'transmitters'.

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. So is there a transmitter in the device? If you look at page 10 in the user manual of the product it clearly states;

When you first start navigating or you have reset your START, your START asks for permission to collect some information about your use of the navigation device. The information is stored on your START until we retrieve it. We use it anonymously to improve our products and services. If you use our services, we will also use your location information to deliver the services to you.

You can change whether you send this information with us at any time by doing the following: 1. In the Main Menu, select the Settings button. 2. Select System. 3. Select Your information & privacy. 4. Select the button to turn sending of information on or off.

Note: If you choose not to send location information to us, you will no longer receive our services. This is because services need to send the location of your device to TomTom in order to receive the traffic information related to where you are. The end date of your subscription remains the same, even if you do not send this information to us.

https://download.tomtom.com/open/manuals/start_42_52_62/refman/TomTom-START-EU-RG-en-gb.pdf

So one theory could be that the information that is collected when you first start navigating with the device or reset the navigation device is just uploaded when you connect to MyDrive?

And the traffic information is sent/received via the provided external RDS TMC Receiver?

Or it could just be that there is an internal transmitter in the satellite navigation device after-all.

EMI test sites? Gosh I hope you were provided the appropriate health and safety.

Thanks!

 

[Willy875]

I assume that a GPS to receive the position of the satellites in real time must have a receiver.

 

[canderson]

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. So is there a transmitter in the device? If you look at page 10 in the user manual of the product it clearly states;



So one theory could be that the information that is collected when you first start navigating with the device or reset the navigation device is just uploaded when you connect to MyDrive?

And the traffic information is sent/received via the provided external RDS TMC Receiver?

Or it could just be that there is an internal transmitter in the satellite navigation device after-all.

EMI test sites? Gosh I hope you were provided the appropriate health and safety.

Thanks!

Let's try again.

There are NO INTENTIONAL EMITTERS in your Start 62. Like your digital wristwatch, it contains a microprocessor whose circuitry produces some small amount of EMI.

Yes, the data collected from your device, should you choose to permit it, comes across the USB cable when the device is connected to your PC via MyDrive. Your PC also emits a small amount of EMI, and must be tested as well. Again, you are reading 'boilerplate' information. You do not receive "Live" services on your Start 62, and it has no mechanism for providing real-time position location to TomTom for that purpose. The only way you could receive any real-time traffic data is through an RDS receiver, if you have one, attached to your TomTom.

EMI test sites ... geez. I was exposed to the miniscule unintentional emissions of the devices I was testing. Everything with a processor uses a clock, and above 150KHz (European standard), which is nearly everything, it must undergo testing to be sure that it doesn't make too much racket that could interfere with other devices. Nothing at all to do with human beings.

RELAX!

 

[WazWii]

Let's try again.

There are NO INTENTIONAL EMITTERS in your Start 62. Like your digital wristwatch, it contains a microprocessor whose circuitry produces some small amount of EMI.

Yes, the data collected from your device, should you choose to permit it, comes across the USB cable when the device is connected to your PC via MyDrive. Your PC also emits a small amount of EMI, and must be tested as well. Again, you are reading 'boilerplate' information. You do not receive "Live" services on your Start 62, and it has no mechanism for providing real-time position location to TomTom for that purpose. The only way you could receive any real-time traffic data is through an RDS receiver, if you have one, attached to your TomTom.

EMI test sites ... geez. I was exposed to the miniscule unintentional emissions of the devices I was testing. Everything with a processor uses a clock, and above 150KHz (European standard), which is nearly everything, it must undergo testing to be sure that it doesn't make too much racket that could interfere with other devices. Nothing at all to do with human beings.

RELAX!

Thank you so much for your clear and concise reply. It has been fully understood. Once again many thanks.