Suppport Thread for the TND 500, TND 700 or future Rand McNally products.

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Mark Kling, Apr 16, 2010.

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  1. jmroadhog

    jmroadhog Medium Load Member

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    There is another glitch coming up.My Weather.com will be shutting down their web site middle of June. I hope RM is aware of this and has made plans to change to another weather service for our units.
     
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  3. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    I recommend Accuweather or Weatherbug as a replacement...
     
  4. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    I don't think I am sorry to hear that as my opinion is that provider has got to be one of the most basic weather providers I have ever looked at. I'm with RR as I most fervently hope RM contracts to a better weather provider. I'd even consider paying for a premium weather service if the provider is worth it. Thing is though, I have no idea if either the 720 or 520 can handle or can even be set up to handle more advanced weather services other than these basic static downloads we have now.

    Mark
     
  5. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    The weather data that's offered now is plenty in my opinion...all I really want is doppler, temp, and wind...if I need more detail I'll use my phone and one of the several weather apps on it...PYKL3 Radar is all any amatuer meteorologist could ever want in a phone app...but its a little much for a GPS unit...just trying to say, no need to go overboard...the GPS doesn't have the brain power to handle it.

    That said...getting with a reliable weather source for the GPS is still important because the whole idea is reliable weather at your fingertips with as little distraction from the road as possible. I recommended the sources I did because their weather apps are fairly accurate and they appear to be here to stay. There are a few 3rd party weather widgets out there that pull their data from from these sources already...so I figured it would be an easy thing for RM to do...but I may be wrong, because I have no idea what's involved, lol.

    In the end....I just want the traffic everywhere to work right, that's the really important one, to me.
     
  6. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    Ridgerunner665;3294301, I hear you. I just don't like the static radar picture nor the long refresh rate. I was in a t-storm warning and tornado watch area today and the weather page and radar picture showed sunny skies while quarter sized hail pounded my truck. Okay this is NOT an RM issue, this is a provider issue. So I think RM needs a better provider. I'd really like to see watches, warnings and advisories flash on the map page when they are received without having to manually look up the weather report page and I'd like to see some animation with the radar. But, I think for RM to even think about this, they have to change providers. Like I posted, I'll even consider paying for it if it's really good.

    I installed the Intrix traffic app on my phone to see what it was all about since these guys are the advertised traffic providers for this Traffic Everywhere thing. So far, not impressed. And this is a premium add-on so hopefully, it'll be better than the app.

    Mark
     
  7. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    That's the same service used by the car manufacturers in GPS equipped cars (most if them anyway)...I just did some quick research on it, it appears to be about the best option.

    It a fairly new app though, maybe they just haven't gotten the bugs out of it yet.
     
  8. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    The app is based on users putting in the information and then having other users verify incidents and speeds. Man I really, REALLY, hope this is different. But I don't see how that would be possible. But we'll see I guess.

    Mark
     
  9. jmroadhog

    jmroadhog Medium Load Member

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    I think all those apps that rely on an internet connection is a big waste of time. I would like RM to concentrate on giving us the best and most accurate GPS at this price point. If they want to come out with a Super unit that does everything I'm sure they will have to charge more for it but I personally don't need it.
     
  10. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    It doesn't rely on user feedback alone...it also uses feedback from GPS satellites (it sees how many GPS units are in an area)...at least that's the way I understand it, and most everybody has a GPS these days, whether it be a phone or whatever...if the GPS function is on....its a GPS....it also uses road sensors.

    A pretty good combo when you think about it.
     
  11. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    That is a little misleading since GPS devices for the most part are one way receivers. I think they are describing phone gps and cell tower tracking of phones with InRix app. If the phone user allows permissions for that, InRix, uses the tracking of cell phones to come up with a traffic scheme and flow analysis along with what ever external traffic monitoring- cams, sensors, and user reports they can get. Now it is possible I suppose there will be two way communication with the 520(720) which will take data from the device and upload to InRix. Possible but not probable.

    Mark
     
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