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Updating a TomTom

 

By Ian Urie

I've used a TomTom One for some time now.


The unit has always worked well for me , and because it is so portable (simply unplug), my son has taken to "borrowing" it as well.
However, every Sat-Nav has the same drawback.
They are only as good as their maps.
It doesn't matter how easy they are to use, if they don't show an up to date version of the roads.
TomTom sells updated maps for their units, so I decided to update the original map that came with the unit.
There were other reasons as well, I might add.
TomTom has also released new software for their new units that have a feature called MapShare.
This allows people to edit their maps.
Just in case you fear folk will upload imaginary diversions (of course there are people who would do that),
MapShare allows you to pick if you want to include everyone's corrections or verified corrections etc..
Now since my unit has been superseded, I waited until TomTom had brought out a version of software that was compatible with my unit.
This allows me to use MapShare.
It does require the latest map , though, which explains why I bought the the map.
Maps are around £40 for the unit and are purchased online.
I should, perhaps, explain for those without a Sat-Nav, that updates are applied to your unit by simply going online with the Sat-Nav.
This, in my case, means plugging the unit in via USB to my computer.
The utility Tomtom Home which is part of the software then checks and downloads any update.
Now for the bad news.
I decided to purchase the updated map logging on to the TomTom under Windows.
I love Linux, but have encountered many sites that won't work properly unless you use the (in my opinion)
legendary (bad) Internet Explorer.
Buying the software went well, simply enter your details and away it goes until the final page where it told me it there was an error.
Start again (my mistake, I thought they had a decent online payment system), to get to the same part where again it told  me there was an error.
I gave up at this point, and went back into my account (on the TomTom site).
This told me I had bought the map update twice
WTF!!!!!
Well, since it was at night, I had to wait until the next  day to phone support.
Ok, where was my new map?
No download link for it..........
Hmm, maybe it came down via TomTom home?
Plugged the unit in.
No updates.
Bugger!
I phoned support the next day.
This can take a while to get through, although you do get answers.
Yup, they would sort that out for me.
Where's my map?
Ahh, that can take five working days to get the link set up.
????????
They were right, it did!
I , hopefully, plugged in the unit every night to see if my map would appear.
Eventually it did.
I can report that the new software works well, with new menus and the all important MapShare.
Once the map appeared in the updates, it transferred with no problems.
I'd hate to try and do this without broadband.
The new Map is over a hundred Mb.
TomTom deserves huge black marks for their online purchase system, though.
I surely can't be the only one who's had problems with it.
A clearer explanation of the regime for getting the map (and timescales) wouldn't hurt either.
These problems are now in the past, and with their map update guarantee, it also meant that when a few days after it had downloaded the latest map,
TomTom revised and updated their map version again, I got that revised version.
I can't think how I'd navigate around strange areas without my TomTom now, it's an extremely handy unit to have.
The new software makes it even better!
It doesn't mean that the company is perfect.
If you do use their online purchase system, be aware if it shows an error.