Is it just ME???

[64ragtop@earthlink.net]

....or has anyone else thought the maps available for purchase are divided and priced strangely? I can see myself traveling in two, possibly three of the regions mapped in the "Detailed regional maps" From a financial standpoint, it just makes sense to go for the "USA & Canada map, but it's BIG! The operating files transferred from the internal memory & the detailed USA & Canada map are just about gonna fill a 2 gig card. So, the only logical upgrade path I can see is the detailed USA & Canada map and a four Gig card, which would at least offer room for computer voices and some other items.

In another thread on this forum, someone posted some screen shots of the included maps and the detailed map. The detailed map did seem to have a bit more detail. Does the added detail really make navigation any easier than the standard maps.

I happen to be a lover of the backroads of America, so I wonder if there there sparsely mapped areas in the standard maps, regions where only major roads are shown because they're out in the "boonies"? Do the detailed maps offer more detail in such areas???

The last two paragraphs could be summed up with the simple question: "Is the detailed map of the USA & Canada truly worth the money for it and the required four gig SD card???"

And one last question: are the prices shown in TomTom HOME in U.S. Dollars, or in euros, and I need to do a currency conversion to place an order?

Thanks!!!

 

[Smokiewolf]

....or has anyone else thought the maps available for purchase are divided and priced strangely? I can see myself traveling in two, possibly three of the regions mapped in the "Detailed regional maps" From a financial standpoint, it just makes sense to go for the "USA & Canada map, but it's BIG! The operating files transferred from the internal memory & the detailed USA & Canada map are just about gonna fill a 2 gig card. So, the only logical upgrade path I can see is the detailed USA & Canada map and a four Gig card, which would at least offer room for computer voices and some other items.

In another thread on this forum, someone posted some screen shots of the included maps and the detailed map. The detailed map did seem to have a bit more detail. Does the added detail really make navigation any easier than the standard maps.

I happen to be a lover of the backroads of America, so I wonder if there there sparsely mapped areas in the standard maps, regions where only major roads are shown because they're out in the "boonies"? Do the detailed maps offer more detail in such areas???

The last two paragraphs could be summed up with the simple question: "Is the detailed map of the USA & Canada truly worth the money for it and the required four gig SD card???"

And one last question: are the prices shown in TomTom HOME in U.S. Dollars, or in euros, and I need to do a currency conversion to place an order?

Thanks!!!

You're talking about the "North America" map as opposed to the USA and Canada map. the NA map is the larger one, and recently, Tom Tom, in thier infinate wisdom has seen it fit to make the maps device specific, which means that you can no longer load the NA map onto an SD card and then use it on a device in which did not have it in the first place.
Which model do you currently own, and what version of map are you using?

 

[64ragtop@earthlink.net]

You're talking about the "North America" map as opposed to the USA and Canada map. the NA map is the larger one, and recently, Tom Tom, in thier infinate wisdom has seen it fit to make the maps device specific, which means that you can no longer load the NA map onto an SD card and then use it on a device in which did not have it in the first place.
Which model do you currently own, and what version of map are you using?

Well, now I'm COMPLETELY confused! The map I referred to in my post last night is the one referred to in TomTom HOME 2.1.2.121 today, at 11:41 am, Central Standard Time as "USA & Canada". I don't see a map referred to as "North America" in the web page that I intended to order from. I've seen several posts referring to ordering from the U.K. site, but I have only the slightest idea how to go about doing that.

Google TomTom U.K. Or somehow find that site, and order from there. Which I suppose would involve currency conversion to British Pounds??? SHUCKS, if I had any idea that what should have been a simple upgrade path would amount to something nearly as complicated as a friggin' MISSION TO MARS, I would darn sure have bought a Garmin - or ANYTHING BUT a TomTom!!!

I own a TomTom ONE XL. And I am using the map that came preloaded in the unit. However, I must say I am beginning to be sorry that I ordered a new mount to replace the one I misplaced, instead of just misplacing the darn TomTom and finding another navigation method. Perhaps an ASTROLABE??? Check this link: http://www.astrolabes.org/

 

[SShadow]

If you have a One XL, then you already have the USA & Canada map. It, and all the OS files, fits on a 1gig slice of ram - which is what came on the One XL.
The difference between the NA and USA & Canada maps is the NA map is almost 2gig in size alone, had more POI and is more detailed in some cases. But it's a moot point because TomTom has prevented the downloading of maps to the GPS that didn't come with it... So you are no longer allowed to put an NA map on your One XL.
Now, with that being said, the regional maps are cut from the more detailed NA maps - which is why the price doesn't add up compared to the USA & Canada maps.

So I guess right now, I am confused as to why you think you need a 4gig card - or even a 2 gig card, to run the USA & Canada maps... Once on the GPS unit, the maps are 891mb in size. The rest of the files, at least on mine - and I have some 3rd party stuff installed, is 70mb... Which gives a grand total of 961mb for everything.
The current version of the USA & Canada is 7.10.1575... So hit the GPS level indicator on your One XL and then hit the version button, and it will tell you your current map version. You may not need to upgrade at all.

And your final comment of the stupidity of the TomTom servers and so on is true - but it's not complicated as a "mission to Mars" any longer since logging into their site and providing a UK address when ordering the NA maps is no longer possible (well it's possible, but you are going to buy a map that is useless).

 

[64ragtop@earthlink.net]

If you have a One XL, then you already have the USA & Canada map. It, and all the OS files, fits on a 1gig slice of ram - which is what came on the One XL.

Yup, I know that.

The difference between the NA and USA & Canada maps is the NA map is almost 2gig in size alone, had more POI and is more detailed in some cases. But it's a moot point because TomTom has prevented the downloading of maps to the GPS that didn't come with it... So you are no longer allowed to put an NA map on your One XL.

So, why the BLOODY HELL does it show up in TomTom HOME as available at a price that is quite attractive, compared to the several regional maps I would want for my planned travel???

>>>Paragraph from SShadow snipped<<<

So I guess right now, I am confused as to why you think you need a 4gig card - or even a 2 gig card, to run the USA & Canada maps... Once on the GPS unit, the maps are 891mb in size. The rest of the files, at least on mine - and I have some 3rd party stuff installed, is 70mb... Which gives a grand total of 961mb for everything.

I WAS thinking that I wanted to run that "Detailed seamless" map of the "USA & Canada" map instead of the supplied "Usa And Canada" map that came in the GPS. I thought that it would be more detailed than the supplied map of the "Usa And Canada" and since it's not that much bigger (only 43.3 mB using the sizes posted on TomTom HOME) I thought I would have to delete the supplied map, but that the "detailed map" would be worth the cost and the work involved to delete the supplied map and replace it.

I am darned glad that I didn't order that map, pay for it, download it to my computer and then find that I couldn't load it to my GPS! In fact, I would think that could be a legally actionable issue with TomTom. I think it's called FRAUD!

The current version of the USA & Canada is 7.10.1575... So hit the GPS level indicator on your One XL and then hit the version button, and it will tell you your current map version. You may not need to upgrade at all.

That's the map that I have. It seems like the only way to get more detailed maps is to buy the regional maps. My projected travels would require the following: "US-Midwest Region 300.9 MB (Euro symbol?) 39.95", "US-Plains Region 229.9 MB (Euro symbol?) 39.95", "US-South Central Region 194.3 MB (Euro symbol?) 39.95", "US-Southeast Region 250.5 MB (Euro symbol?) 39.95", and "US-Western Region 216.2 MB (Euro symbol?) 39.95". This would require 1.198 GB or storage and cost 239.7 Euros (???) And if those prices are quoted in Euros, 239.7 multiplied by 1.45080 comes to $347.76. Makes upgrading that way seem pretty foolish!

>>>Paragraph from SShadow snipped<<<

Thanks for your detailed response, SShadow, I hope I'm not trying your patience too severely. I guess I'm using you and this forum for venting my frustrations. It's easier to read and respond than it would be to try for resolution or understanding with TomTom support on the phone. I think the phone support people can do very little to help me through this situation. I hope to find solutions here. The big resentment that I have is that the comparisons I found in what I thought was a pretty thorough search did nothing to prepare me for what I have run into. I wonder if any other GPS makers have fouled up this badly!

 

[SShadow]

In all honesty, the USA & Canada that came with the OneXL will do a perfectly good job getting you from point A to point B. In most cases, the chances you would see a huge difference between the standard USA & Canada map and the North America map would be minor. In fact, I'm not sure if anyone has found streets in the NA map that were not in the USA & Canada map... The differences I have noted is shading that corresponds to buildings and more accurate water depiction on the NA map. There were also some one way streets that were better marked on the NA map in my city... But from what I saw on my buddies NA map, the streets were pretty much identical.
Now, that is the maps.... When you consider the POIs... That's a different story. There are two versions of the NA maps, one that came on the 720 and one on the 920. The difference between the two is 200mb (approx)... Larger on the 920. There are many more POIs on the 920 than the 720 (and on the Ones as well). But that is fixable because someone posted the POI files from the 920 on another thread as a link to download them. Just copy those into the map folder, and you're good to go POI wise.
Barring that, there are many places to download additional POIs that the community has compiled, which also enhances the POI database on the TomTom.

But at the end of the day, the One XL with the USA & Canada maps will work just fine. It works for me, without issue. Am I annoyed that I can't get the NA map on my unit now? Darn tooting, because when decide to upgrade my maps, I was planning on putting the NA map on there just because I wanted the best. Now that I am prevented from doing that, it's not made my GPS work any less effective.
Trust me, the other GPS units have their issues as well - and from what I've read on multiple forums, the map differences between companies are hit and miss. Prior to buying my One XLS, I was sure I was going to buy a Garmin - but once I started reading reviews and user opinions, I changed my mind. Of course, the price factor came into play as well - since I had a limited budget and wanted the best features I could get for the money. I don't think I chose wrong at all. The unit works perfectly.
Now, TomTom as a company - well there are issues there that I cannot solve - and I only hope that in the near future they start listening to what their customers want...
But, and I am not sure that this will make a difference at all, why don't all of us who WANT the North America maps available to us, send in emails to TT Customer Support... Perhaps if they see that there is a large enough base of people out there that want their NA maps - and can actually USE NA maps because we have SD slots in our GPS, maybe, just maybe, they'll change their policy?

 

[46jimbo]

There is no such thing as a "detailed USA_Canada map". What you see on the website is exactly the same as what you already have.

I think that your present map is all you need for your trip. The regional maps will have the same road detail - the difference will be with the POIs and fringe features like seeing more bodies of water. But your navigation will be identical.

So my advice is not to waste your money. Just go and enjoy your trip and report back to us.

 

[SShadow]

Whops, meant to mention that in my msg as well. 46jimbo is correct. The USA & Canada map that is offered in TTHome and the USA & Canada that came on your One XL is identical to each other. The "more detailed" version is the North America map which you cannot even see in TTHome.

 

[Gilbert]

The problem you will have with backroads and any car GPS system is that the area you wish to go to may not be well covered either by Navteq or Tele-Atlas the way you wish it covered and may also depend on the GPS provider.

Let me explain... The regional maps from Tomtom are segments of the large NA map. I was expecting a particular area to be covered which is the Matapedia area of Gaspesia in Quebec, Canada. I searched the map and found it contained quite a bit of the small rural roads. I even found a road that is a dead-end and about a mile long with only one house that is only used a few weeks per year. Then I was looking for Saint-Fran?ois-de-Matapedia and could not locate this village. I surfed the map and found the name right on it but it was missing from the city database. There is a small river there that was running a flour mill from the 1870's and used as a lumber mill until the 1960's but the river is missing from the map details. I have access to very detailed computer maps for that area and others but they are unusable on the Tomtom because most GPS manufacturers have proprietary maps and compatibility is very limited. That means that even though maps containing the level of details you expect may exist but worthless in any GPS system designed for car usage.

There are so many aspects to a map when considering everything that goes into a GPS system such as city and street names as well as house numbers and postal codes and entrance or exits, one way and directions and be able to calculate routes to get from one point to the next and toll road avoidance etc. The maps on GPS system is not only a photographic altitude view of an area with a dot on it to mark your position!

Unless you can surf the maps that are of interest to you on the different GPS systems, you may or may not find what you are looking for.

 

[SShadow]

In your case, Gilbert, you should be able to use overlays... If you already have a raster image of the area in question that is more detailed than the map in the TT, a raster image overlay would be of benefit to you.
I can't explain how to do it, since I've never done it myself, but if you search the forums, I read it on here (or got the link from here, anyways).
You should try it out.

 

[dhn]

In your case, Gilbert, you should be able to use overlays... If you already have a raster image of the area in question that is more detailed than the map in the TT, a raster image overlay would be of benefit to you.
I can't explain how to do it, since I've never done it myself, but if you search the forums, I read it on here (or got the link from here, anyways).
You should try it out.

Here's a link:

http://create.tomtom.com/manuals/create-your-own-content/

 

[Gilbert]

Just checked and not sure it would be applicable or reasonably feasible for such a large area (Matapedia) because "1. Save your image as a .JPG, .BMP or .GIF file (for example, cebit2.gif). The maximum size of the image is 2040 x 2040 pixels." My assumption was that it was applicable for a rather small area but not for an area that covers 100 square miles or more that is covered by those "municipal parishes" that I'm referring to. My rough estimate for the maps that only cover the land area of the province of Quebec would be in the range of 2GB.

 

[SShadow]

Well I wasn't thinking you were going to do the entire province... I figured the main populated areas - but whatever... It can be done - you just need enough space to save it all. Of course it also depends on the zoom level you want as well... I believe that is adjustable, but don't take my word on it. I just spread the info... Some day I may try and take a raster image of Halifax and load it on my One XLS and see just how well it works.

 

[Gilbert]

I'll give it a try in a few days and may post the results of the screen dumps. I'm quite curious of what I'll end up with. I just tried the Google maps but that area is only covered at a high altitude (2000' per inch) and can't identify the details I need to do anything with it.