Buy new unit or update maps?

jmagla · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 15

Hi all,
Quite some time since I last visited the forums, but I would appreciate the benefit of your knowledge! I have a TomTom Go 700, to which I have added the South Eastern USA map, about 2-3 years ago. We are visiting the states twice in the next year or so, both of which will involve a fair amount of car travel.

I checked to see the cost of updating both maps - £54.98, quite expensive, particularly considering this is after the current discount promotion.

So I am now thinking, am I better upgrading the maps or going for a brand new unit - for example the 920t, lighter, smaller and with new functions, Dixons have it for £239. Having read some of the reviews, they seem rather mixed, so I would be interested to hear people’s opinions on whether to update or upgrade.

Thanks Michael

Brickie64 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

Michael,
The 920T is a great little unit. If you can get one for a bargain price I'd say go for it. The receiver on the newer GPS units is a lot more sensitive than the older ones so losing signal in areas with high rise buildings or rented vehicles with athermic windscreens is much less of a worry. In my experience the 920T from the UK works fine in the USA.

The general consensus is that the 920T will be software upgradeable to the maps used on the 930T in the next couple of months, so there's not much to worry about in terms of this not being the latest model on offer. Shop around for a bargain price. I see the cheapest offering on the 930T is £339 at the moment.

check out www.satnav-discounts.co.uk for the latest prices on TomTom units before you part with any cash.

Good luck
_________________
"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible"

Garmin Nuvi 3598 + GO 720 (+USA Map Card) + NavFree for iPhone in case all else fails ;-)

john877 · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 468

I am with Brickie on this one the X20 series will be upgradable regarding software and mapping and in a slimmer and wider format than your Tomtom700.

If you time your purchase right and your purchase qualifies for the latest map guareentee you will be able to upgrade to the very latest map .

We are expecting the new mapping to come out in August sometime but we shall see

jmagla · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 15

Thanks to both of you for your comments, as you may have guessed I am somewhat behind the times with the latest developments with TomTom gps. I have a couple of questions:

I had a Citroen when I bought the last unit and had to get an external aerial because of the windscreen. I now have a Renault Scenic and guess I will have the same problem, will the external aerial I have from the Go 700 connect to the 920?

Not sure what you mean when you say that the 920 will be software upgradeable to the maps on the 930, do they both not use the same maps, what are the differences?

I leave for the states, August 9th, so guess the 1 month guarantee will still apply and carry me over to early September, I certainly wouldn’t be happy if a new set of maps came out so shortly after purchase and I missed out, but recognise this is the way of the world of technology these days.

Another option would be to purchase in the states, soon after arrival, they seem to be cheaper, anyone know of any disadvantages to doing this?

Thanks again Michael

Brickie64 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

Brickie64 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

Michael,
It looks like Best Buy are showing the GO930 at $449 (with current sale price at checkout) which is a pretty good deal I would say. You'd easily find a Best Buy in most major Cities so it's definitely worth considering that option. Very Happy

Gav

p.s. Just beware, the advertised GO930 in the USA doesn't seem to have the Bluetooth remote or the traffic ariel for TMC in the package. Might be wrong but check first.
_________________
"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible"

Garmin Nuvi 3598 + GO 720 (+USA Map Card) + NavFree for iPhone in case all else fails ;-)

DennisN · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

Your GO700 external aerial is fitted into the screen mount shoe, whereas the 920/930 have a plug hole which doubles with an ipod connector or something, so it's not (easily) transferable. Edit - Ignore this, utter rubbish, see Mike's accurate post next one below - DennisN.

Don't bin the 700 when you've finished with it - send it to me for my birthday. Very Happy

_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

mikealder · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject:

The x20 and x30 units have an MCX connector on the back for the GPS feed should you need it, the smaller mMCX will not fit the socket.

This is a dedicated port only used for a GPS aerial when one is required (not too often unless you are using the device in a very strange vehicle) - the latest chipsets in the receivers will grab a position fix in most cars, even those with the dreaded Athermic glass.

The iPOD / RDS-TMC connection point is a different connector on the base of the device with six connection points, depending upon what you plug in to this will determine what it does, this connector has nothing to do with the GPS connector which is a seperate socket on the rear of the device - Mike

john877 · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 468

I think you will be okay with a Scenic I have a friend who has a Scenic and he gets a GPS signal without the need of an external Ariel.

The X20 series of sat nav uses mapping 7.20 it is expected that with the new map release that x20 owners will be able to update there maps to the 8.0 series maps which have IQ routing and lane assist.

While nothing is definite yet we hope Tomtom will introduce it on the next map update

Also if your purchase qualifies for the latest map guarantee you have 30 days from purchase to update he maps

jmagla · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 15

Thanks guys,
Are these new maps for the x20 series only? if for example I bought the 930 am I right in thinking that there will be no update soon?

I have seen the 930 for £329 with next day delivery, any thoughts as to whether the 930 is worth the extra money over the 920?

I am pretty sure that I will buy a new unit rather than update the maps, with the 920 or 930 the most likely.

Cheers Michael

Daggers · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:23 am Post subject:

It is likely that new maps will be available for all models; however the significance is that the 930 already has v8 maps with IQ routing, while this is still eagerly anticipated for the 920 (officially at least!). All the signs are that these v8 maps will be the ones released soon for the x20 series.

Once the v8 maps are available for the 920, the differences between 920 and 930 will be insignificant.

jmagla · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 15

Thanks Daggers, I guess it may cost more to update the full maps for Europe and the USA and buy a 920 than it would to simply buy the 930, any thoughts?

Cheers Michael

mikealder · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

Buying a 920 and updating the maps will be more costly than the purchase of a 930 - Mike

Daggers · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

DennisN · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

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