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matthewj Frequent Visitor
Joined: Apr 03, 2006 Posts: 751
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:22 am Post subject: Buying the USA |
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Okay, not the whole USA, just the maps. I'm off to Florida in December. I could just buy the map for my 740 at £35. Or I could buy the iPhone app.
Are there any other options to consider?
When would be the best time to buy - presumably as close as possible given I have no idea when the updates will come out, and have no plan to buy updates.
I see that the TomTom Start range cost just $99, or $139 for the TM including traffic. I'd need one in advance, but presumably could sell it after.
Thoughts? |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:28 am Post subject: |
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I would say to just get the map for your Go740.
Were you thinking of trying to buy a US model in dollars while you were still in the UK? There might be import/customs problems?
If you buy a US model with TMC I don't think the Traffic receiver will work anywhere else (even Canada)? _________________ "Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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dhn Frequent Visitor
Joined: Oct 08, 2007 Posts: 2544 Location: Toronto CANADA
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:18 am Post subject: |
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The rds-tmc antemma will pick up traffic (if available) anywhere. I used mine for a 540 in Italy a few years ago and did get traffic info there...
Also, the next map is due any time from mid November on. If Tomtom follows past practice, they usually discount current maps anywhere up to about 30% a few weeks before a new one is released. _________________ David |
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Guivre46 Frequent Visitor
Joined: Apr 14, 2010 Posts: 1262 Location: West London
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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dhn wrote: | If Tomtom follows past practice, they usually discount current maps anywhere up to about 30% a few weeks before a new one is released. |
There was no discount prior to the last map - times are hard. _________________ Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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dhn wrote: | The rds-tmc antemma will pick up traffic (if available) anywhere. I used mine for a 540 in Italy a few years ago and did get traffic info there... |
Thanks for the correction dhn, I always get that one wrong... _________________ "Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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dhn Frequent Visitor
Joined: Oct 08, 2007 Posts: 2544 Location: Toronto CANADA
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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The antenna works as well. Too bad I can't type worth a damn! _________________ David |
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MikeGordon Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 07, 2006 Posts: 142
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject: Back from the USA |
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Hi: just got back from the US: driving around Georgia and South Carolina and I was using the latest downloaded map on a 930 and they seemed pretty accurate. Remember that you will have to set up your individual state initially and you might want to change to a US voice. The only difference I could discern was the word "Highway" when approaching an interstate.
They call these areas The Low Country, and it is for a reason, the scenery is flat. Many guides say that if you are heading from say Atlanta to Charleston, c 300 miles, just stay on the freeway as there is no advantage of taking the smaller routes, like you would in the "pretty" states. From what I recall of Florida, it is much the same.
Watch out for the varying speed limits and the eye in the sky!
Mike |
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kiwi69 Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 59
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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I purchased USA map for 530 and found it good for road trip from San Fran to Vegas via lake Tahoe last year. Would recommend planning route rather than following TT sometime weird routing...
If you go for the iphone app, doesn't the iphone have assisted GPS. I mean it uses mostly data to get gps signal. I found lots of out of city areas had no signal for mobile. Data connections very expensive. We were charged £5 per mb and within 30mins exceeded £100 limit. Ok we were using google maps but we were lost with no TT, but thats another story.... Just having iphone turned on with data enabled will run up charges as every 15mins or so it sends out a data signal looking for the nearest tower, just as it does looking for network signal. If its near a radio you've probably heard it through the speakers as interference.
We used app called citymaps2go as a backup if TT went down. Allows you to download free open source maps to use offline. Not as good as TT but a backup. _________________ TT 530/5200 |
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matthewj Frequent Visitor
Joined: Apr 03, 2006 Posts: 751
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:11 am Post subject: |
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The iPhone (and other GPS smart-phones) can use data to help speed up the lock, but they do have a pure GPS receiver too, so do not need any cellular signal at all to know where they are. The issue then is how they get the map data, and that can (as you say) be either from a provider like Google, or "on-board" with software like TomTom.
We decided that we would buy the TomTom 740 US map though, for our existing device. We won't have traffic, but we shouldn't suffer too much given it is a holiday.
I shall just wait a few days to ensure that I buy the version 900 maps that are just out. |
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Oldboy Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 10642 Location: Suffolk, UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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matthewj wrote: | I shall just wait a few days to ensure that I buy the version 900 maps that are just out. | The V900 Maps are already available to buy. The 'more information' button gives all the details. _________________ Richard
TT 910 V7.903: Europe Map v1045
TT Via 135 App 12.075: Europe Map v1120 |
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matthewj Frequent Visitor
Joined: Apr 03, 2006 Posts: 751
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Oldboy wrote: | matthewj wrote: | I shall just wait a few days to ensure that I buy the version 900 maps that are just out. | The V900 Maps are already available to buy. The 'more information' button gives all the details. |
Thanks - indeed I thought I'd go check after I posted that to see if it was clear. It certainly says it is v9.00. All I need now is to get my Satnav to the office and make backups etc etc. |
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matthewj Frequent Visitor
Joined: Apr 03, 2006 Posts: 751
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Okay, bought it. The web site kept giving me "internal server error" but Home was able to complete it.
The USA won't fit on the same 4Gb micro SD card as the whole of the EU. I could try to work out how to select one of the segmented EU maps, but a new 8Gb card seems easier. |
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