Maps on xx1540TM

[Unclewiggley]

I am considering buying a XX1540TM, however I do not need the Mexico and European maps. The reason for considering this unit is the 4GB memory. My question is can I delete the two above mentioned maps to give me more memory than the 3.7GB that is used with all maps retained. Has anyone done this and it worth it to gain memory? Thank you for your answers.
Bob

 

[dhn]

The 540 TM comes with a USA_Canada_Mexico map and you can't splice & dice to get rid of Mexico.

Europe does NOT come with that model but is included with the 540 WTE (World Traveller Edition). So, you could buy that model and remove the Western_Europe map folder on it.

But why would you then need 4 gigs?

 

[Unclewiggley]

XXL540TM World Traveler

I am sorry I listed the wrong unit. I have been looking at these GPS's for 3 days and getting really confused. The one I meant was the XXL540TM World traveler. Amazon has it for $229 and I thought with 4GB and if you could delete the Mexico and Europe maps the extra GB you gained would let me enter more POI's for the US andother options where they have no SD slot. As you siad in your reply I could delete Mexico on the XXL540TM so I guess I couold delete the Mex & Eur. on the above unit.

Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate it.

Bob

 

[canderson]

For $40 more, you could pick up a 740Live TM and put in whatever size SD card you think would serve your needs, and if you like the Live services after the 90 day trial, you have the option to go with them or not. It's also got a number of other features that the 540 doesn't have -- all assuming you won't actually have a need for those Euro maps at some point, in which case, the WTE is a bargain. Just another thought.

 

[gatorguy]

Custom POI files, even with the associated bitmap and sound, just don't take up much space. Personally I wouldn't worry about having enough for add'l POI's. There will be. Having sufficient free space for full map updates is the bigger issue, assuming you plan to get new maps as they're offered. But then again, new maps don't really have a lot of benefit for most users IMO.

 

[rustybirman99]

canderson - If I don't need bluetooth and I would not pay for the traffic after 3 months, what are the benefits of the 740 live TM over my XXL 540TM? I know mine has a 5" screen to the 740's 4.3". Is the voice recognition worth it, and does it recognize many commands ? Is the 740 Live TM the same as the GO 740 Live (without the TM)? Which is the US version ? Thanks

 

[canderson]

canderson - If I don't need bluetooth and I would not pay for the traffic after 3 months, what are the benefits of the 740 live TM over my XXL 540TM? I know mine has a 5" screen to the 740's 4.3". Is the voice recognition worth it, and does it recognize many commands ? Is the 740 Live TM the same as the GO 740 Live (without the TM)? Which is the US version ? Thanks

It seemed that you were concerned about having enough memory available to you - although you didn't say specifically how you planned to use it. Buying the WTE with the extra maps and removing them seemed like an unusual approach to gaining more memory. The 740's uSD slot would give you up to 32GB of additional memory if you needed it -- but again, I'm not sure what prompts your original concern about memory and POIs. The 540WTE would give you around 2GB of memory to spare with one of the map sets removed.

The voice recognition is interesting, does recognize quite a lot of commands, but isn't critical provided your unit is within easy reach and good sight angle while driving.

To me, one of the biggest differences in daily use is that you can CONTROL the silly auto-zoom to fixed or automatic, and do it separately between 2D and 3D views -- lack of that control would be a deal-breaker for me on the 540. I have a preferred setting for 2D and 3D and the 740 doesn't go wandering into auto-zoom on its own. That one is a shame, as it's one of the few real issues I have with the 540.

The 740 is a good bit faster - the CPU is 400MHz instead of 266MHz, so it computes routes more quickly, especially longer ones. It's got a few other whistles and bells: screen brightness can be flipped to night view based upon ambient light, and who knows, you might find you like being able to pull up a Google search to find things that don't come in the native POI file.

 

[ps_etc]

Hi there!
I'm new to the forums and have been reading all I can about the various tomtoms available. I have been trying to decide which model is appropriate for me, as I am also concerned about the memory available on various units as well as the maps that are pre-installed.

I currently live in California, however, we are a military family and will be moving to Germany next summer for 3 years before coming back to the US. Based on these 2 factors, I have been going back and forth between the XXL 540tm WTE for the inclusion of the european maps, but really like the GO 930 because it has the SD slot to use for storage of the other maps. I realize that when the 540 does it's initial map update, both NA and EU will no longer fit together on the unit (hence wanting something with an sd card).
*Will this map update also get the latest EU maps available?

*SO, I could purchase a 540TM WTE new from Amazon or a used 930T from ebay (traffic service already expired, maps updated this week). Not getting the lifetime map updates with the 930 is nearly a deal breaker.

*Any drawbacks to getting a used unit?
*Is the 540 a solid unit and not to worry about the lack of more memory available?

All guidance is appreciated!! Thanks

 

[canderson]

*SO, I could purchase a 540TM WTE new from Amazon or a used 930T from ebay (traffic service already expired, maps updated this week). Not getting the lifetime map updates with the 930 is nearly a deal breaker.

First, understand that the lifetime map updates on the 540WTE are only for the continent where the unit was sold. If you buy in the U.S., you'll get lifetime updates for the North American maps, but not Europe. If you buy in Europe, you'll get the lifetime updates for Europe, not North America. Annoying, but a fact of life (that none of us appreciate or understand). Further, there isn't a lifetime map option offered for the 930. The only units where it's offered retroactively are the ones that now offer it as an option (they're all more 'recent' models).

*Any drawbacks to getting a used unit?

Only the drawbacks of buying a used anything from someone you don't know. By now, the battery on the 930 may be getting a little tired, but that's in part a function of how the previous owner used it. If you could find a FACTORY refurb 930 it might not be a bad deal, and you may well be glad you've got the extra memory slot on that one. More on that in a moment...

*Is the 540 a solid unit and not to worry about the lack of more memory available?

There's an issue with the European map size on the 540WTE that may or may not bother you given your own plans. A map release earlier this year demonstrated that the full Western Europe map wasn't going to fit in 2GB of memory any more. So you wind up loading some portion of the W.E. map at a time from your PC to your TomTom. If your plans in Europe keep you in one area most of the time, you can keep that area loaded with no problem. In fact, while in Europe, you could just offload the entire U.S. map to your PC and keep all of W.E. on your unit.

Here's the thing -- if you plan to spend 3 years in Germany, having the "lifetime map update" tied to North America really isn't going to be of any value to you. I'd think you'd rather have updates for Germany and other parts of Europe for 3 years. Based upon that, I would strongly recommend that if you plan to buy the 540WTE, you do so in Europe where you'll get the free updates for Europe (remember, you only get one or the other), and deal with the North American situation when you get home. Of course, beware the prices in Europe and the exchange rate and all that. Who knows, it might be cheaper to buy the WTE here and add the cost of the lifetime European updates. Just do that shopping/calculation carefully.

 

[mvl]

As far as I know, lifetime maps are only available in North America.

Tomtom doesn't sell lifetime maps in Europe on any models, just the 1 year subscriptions.

 

[canderson]

As far as I know, lifetime maps are only available in North America.

Tomtom doesn't sell lifetime maps in Europe on any models, just the 1 year subscriptions.

Didn't they offer the 540WTE in Europe? If not .. none of the following will make any sense. I assumed so as a friend in England picked one up there ... gray market? Wouldn't be a first, and was a bunch cheaper than the 950 when he bought it.

I'd never heard that it wasn't a "TM" model by default, regardless of where purchased, only that you didn't get the subscription for the other continent's maps. I know if you purchase here, the lifetime maps are only supplied for the North American map.

So I can keep it straight later...

Where is/was the 540WTE model being sold?
Was/is there a 540WTE that does not include traffic and maps (essentially, a "non-TM" version) and where is/was that one sold?
Conversely, where is/was the 540WTE that included the "TM" option being sold?

 

[dhn]

Where is/was the 540WTE model being sold?
US & Canada only
Was/is there a 540WTE that does not include traffic and maps (essentially, a "non-TM" version) and where is/was that one sold?
US & Canada only. It's on sale in the States for $130. About half the price that it is in Canada.
Conversely, where is/was the 540WTE that included the "TM" option being sold?

US & Canada. Again, half the price in the US as it is in Canada

 

[canderson]

Interesting. I'm going to have to ask Vic just where he got that 540WTE of his. He lives just north of London a few miles, but does a lot of his shopping online, too. He said the deciding factor was the price of the 950 being too high, and he wanted a unit that covered both the UK and Arizona since he lives here in the U.S. in the wintertime.