TomTom XXL 540TM should be a great navigation assistant for those who wish for a slightly larger screen size, frequent map updates, an ability to customize any data, lane guidance, and IQ routes, as well as a well known and good quality unit.
The 5-inch widescreen allows you to see everything you need on your system. TomTom opted for this size probably because this model is categorized as the high end one, as the major GPS manufacturers prepare such size at their high-end GPS products. However, with the large size, the resolution is not higher than the smaller screen units, but still it is pretty helpful to maneuver the touchscreen menus, especially for those who have big or fat fingers. The touchscreen is very responsive and show you mostly everything you need for navigation. A slight downside about it showing everything is that there are too many options including option screens that you can drill through. This can cause a problem while driving as you cant arrange the setting while driving that you need to pull over to close unimportant features. Actually there is a simple menus options that will view only the most significant option screens, but if you want some extra info you will have to struggle a bit for that.
More Information on TomTom XXL 540TM
The map data is also good and very helpful, TomTom XXL 540TM comes with lifetime map updates so you will never miss a new lane from your screen. Another positive side from TomTom map is its map share feature. This feature allows user to upload and download map changes and share it with other TomTom users. So if there are many users informed that a street is closed, the info can be recorded on their GPS and later transmitted back to TomTom, who then later share the information to everyone else. This is a great idea to get maps corrected very quickly. The preloaded maps are for both North America and much of Europe so for those who travels a lot especially to those areas, this device should make a great help.
This unit provides lifetime traffic data, but the feature will work depend on where you live. If you live in major cities, the coverage is better, while if you live in smaller cities you will get poor coverage. The whole traffic data is actually good and pretty much reliable (especially for major cities), however it can be incorrect sometimes. The data is transmitted over the FM frequency, which is captured by the antenna built into the auto power adapter cord that comes along the unit on purchase. The unit incorporates the traffic data when calculating routing information so it will recommend you the right route, which is not only the shortest ones in land miles, but also the shortest based on posted speed limits. This will give you a great solution on avoiding traffic jam.
The IQ Routes Technology also works remarkably, as if the unit really has a good IQ for routing. While there is actually no real-world best route could be predicted on the real speed of various roads and current traffic information, TomTom XXL 540TM suggests a very good route. You can obtain this by simply went to the menus and for example indicated that you wanted to avoid a certain road. As the result, TomTom recalculated everything and subsequently came up with the correct route. Or in other words, it suggests you a good routing solution.
The lane guidance is also a great feature of this device. It gives extra information about in which lane you should be to prepare the next road change this work especially when you are in a multi-lane road/highway. This feature is included in most higher-end units of nearly all manufacturers lines, so as it works well with other brand, it also works perfectly on TomTom.
The text to speech feature also works brilliantly; it pronounces names very well even the names which are derived from Spanish or the ones derived from Native American Indian tribes. However, this unit does not include voice recognition. It shouldnt be considered as downside though, because even in other brands (including the expensive ones) such features is quite poor and even worthless.
What this unit doesnt have is Bluetooth connectivity, which you can use with your cell phone, nor FM transmission which can be connected through your radio system. But perhaps, since it has already provided traffic data, such feature is not really necessary. Besides, based on experience, most Bluetooth connectivity on portable units such as GPS are quite bad and frequently horrible so it is actually a wise decision for TomTom to not include the feature on this model. Another thing this unit doesnt have is an external memory slot, the memory also cannot be expanded. As the device has been fully loaded with both North American and European maps, about 3.7 Gb of the built in 4 Gb is already used. However, if you wish to get more space or on the units memory capacity, you can easily remove the maps you rarely use. Unless you want to use the device to play music or video or whatever besides of showing you maps, the memory capacity is actually good enough. Why would you want music or video on GPS system anyway? So, basically the capacity of the built in memory works just fine.
As for acquiring a GPS signal, TomTom XXL 540TM can take less than a minute with clear lines of sight, and if you are lucky, your unit can even pull up 5 satellites.
Conclusion on TomTom XXL 540TM
Overall, TomTom XXL 540TM is a pretty solid unit, and expectedly it will last for many years to come. It does a great lane assist, has super fast processor and locks on to satellites quickly, gives very accurate real time locations, speaks the street name very well you can even purchase cool voices like Homer Simpson, Darth Vader or create your own favorite, and gives very detailed maps of every little thing, the map is also updated for lifetime 4 times every year. The widescreen is pretty bright and colorful as in night mode it will look like you are driving under a star lit horizon. So all in all, I really recommended TomTom XXL 540TM.
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