Just bought a Tomtom Go 5200 WiFi because of the free lifetime services (maps, radar and traffic (via built-in sim).

First issue:
When reading some articles about it (maybe I should have done it before) I discovered that some articles
mention that "lifetime" means only FIVE years for Tomtom.
Which (if correct) means that all the services on my Go 5200 will end in March 2022 and THAT was not the idea I had about it.
Once more, if this is true, I rather kept my Go 730 and updated it when and with what I wanted.

Second issue:
When connected to the PC it doesn't show up in the Explorer as an independant HD (like the Go 730)
Is there a way to make it appear and/or to make it a little bit LESS dependable from MyDrive (Tomtom) to add POI, Splash screen, etc?

ThX Guys,
Norbert

Yes, I'm afraid your suspicions are correct...

The word 'lifetime' is very misleading as they mean the lifetime of the device which TomTom say is only 5 years.
Unfortunately you cannot access the device through Windows Explorer at all...this can only be done through the MyDrive program so any updating is extremely limited.

You'd be better off keeping your Go 720 and getting a refund on the Go 5200 if that's possible

THX for the quick and clear answer.
Yea, in this case I feel like "RIPPED OFF" by Tomtom.
Will try to get a refund or a compensation for the Go 5200 !

dkn9230 wrote:THX for the quick and clear answer.
Yea, in this case I feel like "RIPPED OFF" by Tomtom.
Will try to get a refund or a compensation for the Go 5200 !

So nobody knows how long the product is supported but 5 years or longer seems a reliable time to me.
And you are not Ripped off (In that case how many years have you Ripped off TomTom with free maps).
So you are equal now. The 5200 is a total different league and not to compere with the 720.

I guess that's correct too,
but ....
"Ripping off Tomtom with free maps" ....
You point in the direction of a lot of people, especially on THIS forum !
And indead, the 5200 is not to compare with the 730,
find the 730 a lot better (clearer screen, faster, better for pre-defined routes, nicer icons for POI, better sound for radar, etc)
in short terms .....more "adaptable" and this without speaking of "free maps".

dkn9230 wrote:Find the 720 a lot better (clearer screen, faster, better for pre-defined routes, nicer icons for POI, better sound for radar, etc).

A lot what you mentioned is in my opinion better on the 5200 ( I have them all, One, Start, 630, XL IQ LIVE, 750, 5000).
Even these day,s pre-defined routes works fine with mydrive and lots more, Live Time traffic, radar etc.
But everybody must make his own choice of course.

Just had a mail that the new map for my Rider V5 was ready for download
and in the mail there was the logo of Tomtom with an exact date of the FREE "lifetime" maps
for my Rider V5 and the period was 10 years !!!
Bought it in 2015 and lifetime free maps will end in 2025.
Curious if the same will apply for my GO 5200,
hopefully it's also 10 years, because that's a period I can life with
Who knows what kind of GPS we will be using in 2025

why call it lifetime if its 10 years? Pretty dumb really.

just had the answer of Tomtom himself (via Facebook)
They say that the lifetime of a Go5200 is around 5 years, it can be 4 years but it can also be 6 years,
All depends on the evolution of the maps, traffic, memory of the Go5200 (which is 16GB !!!!), etc.
(It's amazing that Go's with no free maps and no free radar are still supported after 10 to 15 years,
and that the one's with free "services" are very limited in time !!!)
With this answer in hand I went to the shop (Krefel Belgium) that sold me the Go5200,
and even they weren't aware of the short period of free services.
I returned the Go5200 and received my money back.
Case closed for me but .... a complaint went to the BE Governement - Consumer service
for misleading texts on the boxes. Will see what happens !!!

dkn9230 wrote:They say that the lifetime of a Go5200 is around 5 years, it can be 4 years but it can also be 6 years,

I'm afraid that the same is true across a range of modern devices like mobile phones, TV's etc.
After a period of 5 years they will stop supporting the device so no more firmwares or updates will be released which forces the user into buying a new one to get the latest facilities.

dkn9230 wrote:It's amazing that Go's with no free maps and no free radar are still supported after 10 to 15 years

Yes, but how long are TomTom going to be supporting these older devices is the question...read this

Read it with great interest,
not quiet surprising after the experience of last week.
I did remark something about the Go 730 (J3) and ask the question over there.
In fact I stated that there are 2 kinds of Go730's (the J3 and (like mine) the J4)

dkn9230 wrote:Read it with great interest,
not quiet surprising after the experience of last week.
I did remark something about the Go 730 (J3) and ask the question over there.
In fact I stated that there are 2 kinds of Go730's (the J3 and (like mine) the J4)

J3 TomTom GO 730, 1GB + SD 2GB
J4 TomTom GO 730, 2GB + SD 2GB

Thanks for the info,
I just checked my J4:
Internal 1955Mb
SD card: 8GB SDHC Extreme and no problem to read or acces it.
So I hope I can still go a long time with it (just ordered a new battery because this one is "end of life"
Feels so good to have it enterely "personalised"
Splashw screen (picture), vehicle type (home made on a BMP picture base), icon's of POI, suspendw, etc etc

I just bought another Go5200, new , sealed box + 220V adapter + Tomtom pouch
for 150 euro (+- 165 USD) !!!! or minus 60% of the price I paid 3 weeks ago by Krefel (BE).
I just thought that, for that price, it doesn't matter that tomtom lifetime
is only 5 to 6 years. I just paid a little more than for a Tomtom Start.
Happy with it (for that price) , with the radars and with the traffic