PM*Miler 450 Free Map Updates?

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by tinytim, Sep 28, 2011.

  1. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    After reading on this site numerous times about Free Map Updates every 3 months for the PCM 450 I sent them an email and am waiting for a response.

    When I try to update through copilot central they want me to pay $150.00 for new maps. When I bought it I was under the impression it was free for 45 days, and with the exception of this site and the dieselboss site I can't find anything saying free for life. Will update once they respond but just wondering if anyone can confirm they are getting free updates.
     
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  3. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    They are free. "You're doing it wrong" as my son likes to say.

    1. Install CoPilot Central
    2. Plug in your 450 to the computer and turn it on.
    3. Wait till it and the computer say that it is connected (30 seconds to one minute)
    4. Create a free account (email and a password) in CoPilot Central.
    5. Click "Explore my CoPilot"
    6. Click "Maps"
    7. Click "Get more maps"
    8. Click "North America"
    9. Click "Download"
    10. Make sure to have at least an hour of time and a fully charged battery when you do this because they are BIG (1.56 Gb)
    11. TURN OFF the gps power before disconnecting and then disconnect it from the computer and turn it back on.

    If you are not properly connected to the computer or if you have not created a CP Central account then it will as for a map fee. If you do it correctly, then it will not.
     
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  4. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    I appreciate the instructions but that is exactly how I am doing it. Up until your step 9 anyway. At that point download isn't an option, add to cart is. $149.99 they want. It did work for me they first I did it, not long after I got the unit. After that though I haven't been able to. Now again, at the time I bought it the information I had was that they would provide free map updates until atleast the end of 2010 which is exactly how it played out.

    Still waiting for a reply from them.
     
  5. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    I decided to call their support line. Hold time before talking to a person wasn't too bad, maybe 5 minutes. After confirming a few things he said updates should be free and suggested I uninstall copilot central and then reinstall it. If that didn't work I should call back.

    Well, that didn't work. Since it remembered who I was after removing and installing I decided to install it on a different computer that software has never been installed on. After doing that it still wants to charge me $149.99. I guess I'll take this up another time when I've got nothing better to do.

    I'm really curious if anyone else has run into this though. For some reason I'm having a really hard time finding anything on their website which actually says Free Map updates for life and would think they would make that very clear if it was the case.
     
  6. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    When you have CoPilot Central Open and your unit turned on, does it say "handhold reference board_A CoPilot ver 8.1.0.529" in the upper left hand corner?

    Does it say "Hello, <your name>" in the upper right corner?
     
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  7. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Yes and yes. It will also send the gps tracks and let me do the other things that indicate it is properly recognizing the unit.

    I wonder if it matters that I'm in Canada. Will try the next I'm in the U.S.
     
  8. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    No it does not matter if you are in Canada. The next thing I suspect is that the CoPilot Live account is corrupted on their end (I have seen this before.)

    Uninstall CP Central and delete the "Alk Technologies" folder off your "C" drive on the computer. It is located in "Documents and Settings / your user ID / Application data. Then reinstall a new copy.

    1. Open CoPilot Central with the unit properly connected
    2. Create a new account using a different email address. It does not matter if the address is even real, but I would try to use one that you actually have access to if you can.
    3. Then try the previous procedure again using your new account.
     
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  9. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Dieselboss, I really do appreciate your help here.

    I tried that. Well, almost tried that as the path you listed is for XP I'm guessing. I did delete all alk directories I could locate including the ones under "C:\Users\username\AppData\Local" and "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming" When I launched copilot central it was clear of any previous user info. I created a new account and still got the $149.99 charge.

    Don't have time right now but when I get a chance I will try again using a fresh install on a pc I have never installed the program on and will create a new account.
     
  10. Dieselboss

    Dieselboss Technology Contributor

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    So, I just signed out of it and created a new random ID and signed back in and the maps are still free. So it doesn't have my ID in some kind of "pre" database or anything. Let me know what you find when you install and try from a different computer if you get a chance.
     
  11. Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

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    I would also clear the cookies and temporary internet files, close all browsers and try again.

    mark
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2011
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