When to Upgrade Maps?

Montala · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: When to Upgrade Maps?

I know this type of question has been asked before, but I am still not clear as to the best time to upgrade TomTom maps (Europe) or to join their Map Update Service.

Basically I plan to buy a new "ONE IQ Routes™ edition Europe" as soon as they are released (20th April) and then to sign up for their Map Update Service.

However I believe TomTom offer a 'latest map guarantee', which tells me that "... if a newer map is released within 30 days from when you start using your device, you can download it for free."

Now, I would hope that a new model would come with the latest versions already installed (will it?), so my thoughts are to wait until just before my 30 days are up, and check the maps then to make sure I have the latest ones installed.

I can then probably leave it another two or three months before signing up to the update service!

Are all my assumtions correct here, please... or have I missed something?

Mind you, I will actually be out of the country from 10th to 22nd May (which is what I want the new TomTom for!) without access to a PC, so any updating during that period is not really an option unfortunately, which probably doesn't help!

MrT · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:21 am Post subject:

You are broadly right in your assumptions. A new unit is quite likely to have an out of date map on it and this is why they have the latest map guarantee. Your suggestions as to waiting are sensible but the next maps are probably not going to be released in the next 30 days.

To join the map update service you must have the latest map installed otherwise you will have to pay a fee to update to the latest map. This fee is roughly the same as the cost of the map update service for the age of the map, so you save little by delaying. When my UK maps were "one quarter" out of date I had to pay 15% of the cost of a new map to have the latest map, then the annual subscription for the map service.

The best time to join the map update service is when you have the latest map and it is the day before the next map is released. However the date of the next release is only a guess outside of TomTom.
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Pocketgps · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

I would not worry about TT map updates. I have the latest on my TT and it still has areas where I live that have been wrong since I bought my first back in 2004.

And the same applies to my Garmin units as well.

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1940

I have just bought a GO 730, I started using it 11 days ago on 3 April 2009. I have connected to TomTom Home and updated my firmware, voices, etc. However, after reading TomTom's web page and various posts, I thought I would be entitled to a free upgrade to the latest maps but TT Home tells me that my Western & Central Europe 2GB maps are "4 quarters old" and to upgrade to the latest version will cost me 39.80pounds. Admittedly, this is discounted from the 74.95 pound cost of a new version but i was under the impression if that If I updated within 30 days of first using the device, the updates would be free. Have I mis-understood?

P.S. My first post, sorry if it is in the wrong place.

PaulB2005 · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

AliOnHols. You need to check in TomTom Home using Latest Map Guarantee. Plug in your TT and open TomTom Home. Goto the Tools menu and select Use Latest Map Guarantee. This should offer you the new 825 map.

But before you do the final step make sure you do a full back up with Windows Explorer. See Number 1 in this TomTom FAQ

Then do another one after...

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1940

PaulB2005, Many thanks for advice. Spent the morning backing up data and preparing to up-grade maps as you advised. Then started to download the latest maps. After 6 hours of downloading, TT HOME started to install, then froze, then told me to delete 212kb from my device before trying again. Have deleted more than required and tried to re-install, but no joy. Looks like i'll have to download again. Too weary to try now, will attempt again overnight/morning and report (my sucess) back to you. Thanks again, AliOnHols.

PaulB2005 · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject:

You might find the next download is instantaneous because it may storing the failed download on your PC.

Personally when mine failed over and i tried installing all the other updates that were offered - MapShare, Speed Cameras, GPSQuickFix etc and then tried. On the next attempt the map install worked.

Buckster · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 3

is there any limit to the "one free map/core update" offer - ie does it ever expire ?

found some cheap 920Ts locallt (179.99 seems a good deal) - they are sealed units - no mention of the free update

but am I right in thinking I'd be eligible for one single update in both maps and cores to take me up to current ?

ie would include IQ maps etc ?

thanks, Mark.

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

I don't see mention of where you're posting from, but the price would indicate North America? If so, be sure they are new devices. Refurb's in the NA market don't qualify for the LMG. Application updates are free anyway, so as long as your 920 has the latest update and the map includes the IQRoutes data, it would work identically to a 930. LMG policy on refurbs in Europe seems to be different.

One other note: It was mentioned recently (in a US forum) that TomTom reserves the right to deny the Latest Map Guarantee to even NEW devices if the map it shipped with is over one year old.
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Buckster · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 3

thanks

no these are new sealed - at a local high street store - just old stock

in the UK By the way

so there is a "chance" that if the maps are over 1 yr old I may not be eligible ?

why make it all so confusing ?!!

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1940

PaulB2005, Hurrah!! Me thinks it is a success. Unfortunately, TT HOME would not let me re-connect and reload the current maps but i had to download them in full again, another 6 hours overnight. But my GO730 appears to be working well. Many thanks for the advice. AliOnHols.

gcambo · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 09, 2009 Posts: 1

Bought my TT 940 live recently and tried the latest map guarantee a few days later, it stated that I had the latest maps.
I then looked at the map update offer which said that my maps were two quarters out of date, cant remember which version the old maps were but contacted TT support and explained my problem and they agreed that my original map was out of date and gave me western & central europe 2GB v825.2157.
Having downloaded this new version i checked the USA map version and found that these were also still the old maps, got back onto TT support and after many apoligies was given the new maps.
So the latest map guarantee might not ensure you can get the latest maps within the thirty day period.

Andy_P · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 10:51 pm Post subject:

Buckster - I f these are new machines then you should definitely get the LMG with them. Being over 1yr old should make no difference, you couldn't be expected to know that, and anyway that is the whole reason for the LMG! Laughing

Refurbished machines in the UK have always had the LMG too up to now, but there are just starting to be reports that the latest batch of refurbs delivered to TotalPDA DON'T get it.

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