Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

I wish all these drivers would advertise in the groups that they start
none of the gps's are perfect but rand is trying
look how long garmin has been in the gps business and they still can't get it right.
RM is barely getting started and all you see is well "they should be perfect before they come on the market" PLEASE.........

 

No, but they should have some really basic functions down before they release it. I bought it and it was horrible, still in beta IMHO.

I hope they get it worked out, I was hoping it was ready. Clean interface, nice size screen, very well conceived just poorly executed and just not ready for prime time.

 

The letter was in response to the issue on Jan 1st about drivers getting the expired license when they bought the units. Some Pilots still display the letter.

Thanks,
Mark

 

strange every truckstop ive been to has a display unit and from what i have heard they are outselling the competition in most markets for "truck specific" gps units. some drivers might get a cheaper garmin or tom tom car based unit, but you get what you pay for. i agree with the comment about garmin (or even pc miler or worldnav)...theyve been at it a long time and still messed up. if theres any authority on truck map products its Rand McNally and for the short time they have done a great job.

 

I did too and I couldn’t agree with you more. It was beyond horrible and I’m glad I got rid of it and got my money back for it before it was too late. I feel sorry for all the people though that got stuck with it, and judging by the last five of six pages of this thread, those people’s patience is finally beginning to wear thin also, and I can’t say that I blame them They certainly have far more patience than me.

Not to mention that I also found a far better solution and it cost me about $60 instead and not $500 dollars. So I stuck the money I was using for the TND 500 into a new 17-inch XPS Dell laptop.

 

Well as of now, from what I've read I'm going with the 465T. What is your $60.00 solution?

 

What's a 465T?

 

That is the Garmin truck version Gears.

Am going to wait to hear what people think of the TND700 here. That is suppose to have all the major updates I think, so when the updated TND500 is released it should be good to go. Well...pending the reviews.

 

I have sat back and watch the "attack" on the TND the last couple of days. Can Rand make everyone happy - nope. Could their be hardware issues with some TND's - yes. Does Rand do everything in their power to "make it right" - yes.

I agree their was some issues with Tech Support and this lead to a lot of fustrations. I met several drivers at MATS who had Tech Support on speed dial. Now they have my number. Has Tech Support done some internal changes to provide quicker service - yes. If you read this thread and have issues getting ahold of Tech Support then why have you not mentioned it to me? Do I hold the magic key - nope. But, I am very familar with the TND. I have been with this TND since it's conception.

Version 1472 - This version does have some issues. I have posted "show stoppers" as they are found by either you or the Beta Team. Does some of the "show stoppers" hinder your ability to operate? Yes and No. As a professional driver what did you do before the Truck (TND) or PND (personal) navigation device was invented? The navigation device is a TOOL to help you in your day to day operations. Can it help you perform your job better? - depends on you. No one driver should depend on only one tool. Now, it can help you in your day to day driving. It shows you things that you may not know as POI's in area's you have not driven. It can show you streets that are around you. It has the power to make your life a little less stressful.

Planning of routes - This has been a main concern with a lot of posts. As explained before the USA and Canada does have a lot of roads and ramps. All of these are build into a database of factors as to how any navigation program should handle the routing. Then #1 factor in the TND is the road STAA or not. If NOT then the TND will not route you on it. It either is or is not. Their is no probability of yes this time or no this time. This is where the professional driver has to use the other tools such as his personal computer housed in his head to make a decsion. Is this drop considered a local drop and is it allowed? IF you continue on down that road you can always cancel the trip since you know the TND will try to get you turned around due to it's thinking you are not supposed to be on that road.

The main basis of all routing is the mapping database. Rand uses several sources. IS the database perfect? - no. Is Rand trying with your help to correct the database - Yes. Does Rand have the manpower to attack every road and ramp in the USA and Canada to provide you with 100% accurate data - no.

Next version - Has it been too long in being release - IMHO - Yes. Do I have control over that - no. I have passed on your concerns along with a 4 page E-Mail to Rand as to your concerns and how it affects you in your day to day operations. Still someone at Rand makes a decsion on when the next version will be released.

TND700 - A business decision was made to provide a 7" model of the TND. It was months in the making and testing. When a company releases a product it likes to do so with some fanfare, this is normal for PR reasons. Posting an ad in the paper is PR, but not much on the fanfare. Releasing it at MATS is the fanfare. A company to be viable has to provide support to its current products along with looking to the future.

If you like your Garmin, Cobra, laptop, PC Miler, or whatever you use, then more power to you. I read other threads and I do not see anyone flambasking other navigation units. I do not see other threads being honest with you as to issues found. I do not see other threads trying to get to the root of the issues. I do not see other navigation companies driving 180 miles to get a user up and running, phone calls at 2:30 in the morning because that is when they are shut down. I do not need to ask how long is your trailer, your weight as I have a valid CDL A. I have been there in the cab at 110 degrees trying to sleep because the company does not want you to idle. I have been there in 20 degree cabs trying to figure out how to get the bunk heater working again. Driving in NJ only to miss my turn and have to go 10 miles to get turned around.

I cannot help you if all you do is "trash" the TND and not allow me to assist you in finding the issue. Details are needed to find issues. If the TND would not allow you to take a ramp, give me details. If the address is off by 500', then details. I would suspect NavTeq data is off. Can this be corrected - yes. But, things found cannot be corrected without details of what is wrong.

PND's that do not take into account trucking attributes will route you anywhere and everywhere provided the mapping database is correct. If you find an issue how long have you been waiting to have that issue corrected? TND's are a world apart from PND's. The routing is much more stricter to make sure you are on a legal route using what you put in for your truck specifications.

Local governments post truck restrictions without state's knowledge. Can Rand know that? It all depends if the local government was nice enough to tell them.

Contruction and detours. Cleveland, OH and NC I-40 x 3 are detours. Rand cannot build into the mapping database to not allow you to take those routes. They are detours and as such should be treated as detours. Simply go to your routing from the main map screen and click on the cog... enter it as a detour. The detour in NC is shown over 90 miles from the detour on all major roads. How can you not know their is a detour? This is part of the computer inside your brain housing.

This thread was started to provide insight on the TND 500 and now also the TND 700. It was a place to get your issues resolved. To post your issues or what you may have found that is incorrect in routing. Let's get back on track.

I have posted my E-Mail. IF you are not happy with what I have posted or wish to speak with me privately then E-mail me.

 

Had a most interesting thing happen today.


Driving I-80 west heading out of sparks, NV


The TND made a loud beep, then a beep and the screen went black with only the little truck icon showing. After a few minutes, the bottom banner bar and the next turn icon came back but very dim.
No map background, top banner or turn list buttons.


The unit would not respond to any buttons.


I finally power cycled the thing. Had to do it three times to get the screen back.


Seemed to work after this.


This has me concerned. I don't think this was a good thing.