Will my TomTomXL bought in the USA in 2010 work next week (May 2023) in the USA?

[tomry]

I bought a TomTomXL (no other obvious model information) back in 2010, when on a business trip to the USA from the UK.
I have taken it to the USA on a number of subsequent trips. Viewing the files in "statdata" I can see all the days when I used it in the USA, the last time being in February 2019.
I am about to go back to the USA and I was trying to find out about map updates. I appear to have found out that this device is no longer updated.

More worryingly I have found out about the WNRO 19 year, date roll over problem.

A few questions.
1) Is my model affected by this bug?
Note: it is so old that I am more or less certain that it WILL be affected.
...if so...
2) Is there any software fix, official or unofficial?
3) do I understand that it will still navigate, but the clock and and "time remaining" information will be inaccurate (*)

I have googled but found it very confusing as to which models are affected.

TBH I much prefer the TomTom to Google Maps. I Google Maps earlier this year on a trip to Florida and didn't really like it. I really missed "lane assist".

Thanks...
--Tom

(*) if so the device will still be usable.

 

[Willy875]

All GPS are affected by About GPS Week Number Rollover (WNRO) https://help.tomtom.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360013901120-À-propos-du-GPS-Week-Number-Rollover-WNRO-

Tomtom XL is no longer followed by Tomtom
You can still use your Tomtom GO XL as the routes will not be updated.

 

[Silberpfeil]

I would try to update it with TomTom Home.
I am shure, that there are a lot of pending updates for this navi.

Updating the software on your navigation device (TomTom HOME)

TomTom HOME helps you to ensure you always have the latest TomTom application installed. To check if a new application version is available, connect your navigation device to your computer. Then cl...

help.tomtom.com

 

[tomry]

Thank you for the replies.

Just FYI, I was searching for map updates, but I found out about the WNRO "bug" and it was a complete surprise to me. `Thankfully 99% + of US roads are in the same place as in 2010 so as long as mapping works it's not the end of the world.

@Willy875 - I followed the link, and had not previously seen this page, however it leads to further links which lack clarity as to which models are affected :-(

@Silberpfeil - I did download and install TomTom something, which was way to new, but suggested installing TomTom Home. I installed this and there were updates, but they didn't appear to be related to the WNRO bug. I am super cautious about installing any updates in case I brick the device, so I decided to leave my device as is.

From what I have read TomTom stopped support for many devices in 2019, and there were no more map updates.

Ironically I never registered my TomTom back in 2010, so I have no idea whether I qualified for map updates anyway. I have confirmed from the "About" screen that all the software and maps have a 2010 version.

It would have been nice if TomTom still allowed map updates to the 2019 maps, as a goodwill gesture, nevertheless as long as it still shows a map and the GPS works and routing works, then it will still be usable.

I can imagine that TomTom were quite happy to drop support for older devices (there are so many!) as it would cost them a lot of $$$ to issue updates. Perhaps they want ex-customers to move to their app, which has the usual $$$ per month or $$$ per year renewal. This recurring income model appears to be a model that many companies are moving towards, e.g. Microsoft 360, but they can be sure I won't be parting any more of my money on their app and recurring fees or new sat nav. They have lost my business for good.

 

[canderson]

Thank you for the replies.

There are a whole HOST of models with "XL" in the name. If you'll give us the first two characters of your serial number, we'll know what you have, and can advise whether the firmware on your device is already set up to deal with the WNRO issue.

 

[Silberpfeil]

TomTom made a fw update related to the WNRO bug for the old devices, so feel free to update the thing.
It is the last fw they made for this PNA.
PS: You can find the latest map on the internet for your XL but the download would be illegal.

Sorry, my english is not pefect.

 

[tomry]

There are a whole HOST of models with "XL" in the name. If you'll give us the first two characters of your serial number, we'll know what you have, and can advise whether the firmware on your device is already set up to deal with the WNRO issue.

Sorry about that. Yes, I can see that there are a lot of models, quite a few with the "XL" letters.

In the middle of the bottom label the model simply says "TOMTOM <hands symbol> XL".

Underneath the barcode ... C_NO: GK6340Bxxxxx

Also N14644

As mentioned it was bought in the USA in 2010 and I never registered it AFAIK (too long ago!).

On the same business trip I had tried to use my UK TomTom (no idea what model) to help drive from Atlanta airport to the hotel (quite some distance away). It vaguely knew about the big freeways, but the position of the car icon didn't align. That difficult drive in the dark and rain shook me so much I immediately went out and bought the US Garmin, which has served me well ever since, and still (at least when last used in 2019) does a great job, especially lane assist, which Google Maps doesn't appear to have, and which sent me totally the wrong way on a recent trip to Orlando, at which point the phone died #FFS leaving completely lost and bewildered on one of the freeways. That's why I searched for my reliable US TomTom for use in my upcoming trip.

 

[canderson]

OK. Got it. The full 'name' for this one is "XL IQ Routes² TTS"

For what it's worth, new maps have not been made available for that model for a while, and will not in the future be available. It has no SD card slot, and only 2GB of internal memory, which isn't near enough to hold today's maps.

The last firmware release, December 2018, and the one that dealt with the WNRO issue for your model, was 9.541. So at some point, Home should have offered to bring your device up to that level. If it was working properly for you in 2019, chances are that this has already been dealt with.

 

[tomry]

OK. Got it. The full 'name' for this one is "XL IQ Routes² TTS"

For what it's worth, new maps have not been made available for that model for a while, and will not in the future be available. It has no SD card slot, and only 2GB of internal memory, which isn't near enough to hold today's maps.

The last firmware release, December 2018, and the one that dealt with the WNRO issue for your model, was 9.541. So at some point, Home should have offered to bring your device up to that level. If it was working properly for you in 2019, chances are that this has already been dealt with.

I appreciate the detailed reply.

The unit has never been updated at all.
It was working in the USA in February 2019, which I believe is before the WRNO issue came into play (of which I had zero awareness).
I do recall having minor issues with the 2010 "out of date" maps, which is why I started to google a few days ago.
I have never registered the device or installed any TomTom software (up till now), so I had no idea if map updates were FOC or required payment. I was surprised to find out that all support for many older sat nav devices ended in 2019. It's disappointing that I can't upgrade to the last release set of maps :-( AFAIK.

OK I bit the bullet and installed the recommended updates. I then went outside with the unit. It was able to acquire satellites and my lat and long coordinates were correct. On the satellite data screen it showed in small text the correct UTC time (next to a spinning symbol), however the other display of time in a slightly larger font was incorrect.

Well I'll find out in a few days whether it is still useable. I have to travel from Illinois to Ohio via the interstates, which I guess have not changed much !

 

[Silberpfeil]

I am shure that your device will navigate you perfect, but I would make a second update the day before your travel.
This will be only the "quick GPS fix". If this is updated, the device can find the GPS-Satellites for the next 7 days faster.

About QuickGPSfix

Your navigation device uses the signals of at least 4 satellites to get a GPS fix and determine your starting location. This can take longer when the GPS signal is weak or partially blocked. Whe...

help.tomtom.com

 

[tomry]

Thanks again.

I was offered the quick GPS fix and that was also installed. Despite being rather nervous of these/any updates, it was quick and smooth. Thank you for the hint to install the day before travel, I will re-install on Sunday before I leave.

I found that the unit has a "Set Clock" feature, which TBH, rather puzzles me as I do not recall using this before. In any case I set it to my local UK time and it appeared to update for the next half hour that I used it.

I will give an update report on my return in case any other owners of this device have similar concerns/questions.

--Tom

 

[Willy875]

If I can give you any advice, make a full backup of your GPS on your computer because the connection to Tomtom Home may crash and you will not be able to recover your cartography in the event of a crash.

 

[tomry]

> I will give an update report on my return in case any other owners of this device have similar concerns/questions.

Apologies. I did say I would get back to the forum.

I did use the "old" TomTom during my USA trip in May 2023 and it worked fine. I sort of remember I had to set the clock in order to get the local time, but it navigated perfectly.

I still prefer it to google maps (on my phone) thanks to the "lane assist" feature.

Nevertheless I am still annoyed that TomTom have stopped map updates. If they think I will shell out for a new device or pay to use their app they are wrong.

I will be travelling to the USA in March, to Orlando, where there are quite a few new roads, and will definitely be taking the "old" TomTom with me once again. Thankfully 99+% of the roads in Orlando are exactly where they were back in 2010 when I bought the device.

</rant>
Although the (Avis) rental car was a really nice Mazda SUV, they had removed the GPS SD-card, so the on-board GPS could not work. They charge about $25/day for GPS (sat-nav) which seems a ridiculously expensive cost. I really don't understand the economics, given that most(all?) modern cars are sold with built-in GPS, and many people will use their smart-phone if they don't have a TomTom/Garmin.
Ironically the car was a free upgrade from the level I had booked (*), which is very generous, so why are they asking so much for GPS?
</rant-off>

(*) Big thumbs up to Avis at Chicago airport (ORD). I always seem to get a nice upgrade at this location.

Just FYI, I also made an Avis car rental in Orlando, Feb 2020. I rented a big car, and the GPS was not disabled. However the GM sat-nav chose some horrible routes, and I wished I had taken my trusty old TomTom with me.

 

[canderson]

Nevertheless I am still annoyed that TomTom have stopped map updates.

Your XL simply has insufficient memory for the full map set, and TomTom decided a while back to stop building and offering many smaller map segments that one could pick and choose in order to get things to fit for the 'classic' map models. This also meant a lot of map swapping was required if driving across the segment boundaries.

The amount of data per square mile has increased dramatically over the years. Far more POI, far more geometry (including parking lots, etc.), smaller road segments with more speed limit information ... you name it. I remember when a full U.S. map would fit handily in a device with 2GB of memory (the early GO models). Of course, there was less info in those maps. Now, a full U.S. map is pushing 8GB.

These days, with the newer NDS (vs. 'classic') mapping system, something your XL software can't handle at all, one can pick which small segment(s) are desired. The NDS map sets are already broken up into much smaller segments. So even though the newer units come with a lot more memory, and can hold an entire U.S. or European map (for now), they won't become obsolete due to memory issues the way the older units have should the maps continue to grow in size.

 

[afanrwjanansj]

> I will give an update report on my return in case any other owners of this device have similar concerns/questions.

Apologies. I did say I would get back to the forum.

I did use the "old" TomTom during my USA trip in May 2023 and it worked fine. I sort of remember I had to set the clock in order to get the local time, but it navigated perfectly.

I still prefer it to google maps (on my phone) thanks to the "lane assist" feature.

Nevertheless I am still annoyed that TomTom have stopped map updates. If they think I will shell out for a new device or pay to use their app they are wrong.

I will be travelling to the USA in March, to Orlando, where there are quite a few new roads, and will definitely be taking the "old" TomTom with me once again. Thankfully 99+% of the roads in Orlando are exactly where they were back in 2010 when I bought the device.

</rant>
Although the (Avis) rental car was a really nice Mazda SUV, they had removed the GPS SD-card, so the on-board GPS could not work. They charge about $25/day for GPS (sat-nav) which seems a ridiculously expensive cost. I really don't understand the economics, given that most(all?) modern cars are sold with built-in GPS, and many people will use their smart-phone if they don't have a TomTom/Garmin.
Ironically the car was a free upgrade from the level I had booked (*), which is very generous, so why are they asking so much for GPS?
</rant-off>

(*) Big thumbs up to Avis at Chicago airport (ORD). I always seem to get a nice upgrade at this location.

Just FYI, I also made an Avis car rental in Orlando, Feb 2020. I rented a big car, and the GPS was not disabled. However the GM sat-nav chose some horrible routes, and I wished I had taken my trusty old TomTom with me.

[Content Removed]

 

[dhn]

Content deleted in the previous post due its reference to illegal sites for obtaining Tom tom maps.