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

I am having a real problem with the 700 POS. Before starting a web site to try and steer people away, I'm asking anyone on this forum to help me solve my problems. Perhaps I'm just plain stupid.
My problem is pretty strait forward: Routing and changing that routing to accomdate my particular needs.
My present trip: Monroe MI, (I-75, ex 18 to Sanger, TX I-35, ex 477). This is pretty strait forward. I-75 S to I-70, I-70 W to I-44, I-44 SW to I-35, I-35 to exit 477.
The system comes up with 1137 miles, pretty close to the 1096 I come up with manually.
The system wants to route me pretty much that way, but for whatever reason, takes me off 44 in OK and winds me around US 60, 69 for heaven knows what reason. I am set to accept toll roads, so that isn't the reason.
I am also set for shortest distance.
In looking for a mid point to set the first night, I chose Tulsa just to see how close that would be to 550 miles or so. It comes up with 925 miles.
However, it changes the routing to take me from I-75 to I-80 to I-55 to I-44. no good reason. Just decides I'm better off that way. It adds a lot of miles and time.
So I then decided to make a stop first in Springfield MO on I-44, figuring that would go back to the old routing, however now it wants to route me all around my butt when I go thru Indianapolis and again in St Louis. Lots of secondary and terciary roads.
What I'd like (but probably will never get) is once a route is planned, a screen shot of the overall routing so I can visually see where I'm going, and make adjustments accordingly. It would be great if when looking at this screen, I could use the stylus to 'drag' a route from one road to another, thereby creating the route I want.
This going back and forth, trying to find stops along the way that match my desired routing takes forever. This system figures 'my way or no way' and it then becomes useless to me.
I would like to plan a route so I can plan my breaks, fuel stops, night breaks, etc.
I have to look at an atlas, guess where a break point may be, then route it into the plan and see if it works. If not, I have to delete that one and add a different one.
Wouldn't it be great to ask the system to show mileage points. i.e. if I want to travel 500 miles, it would allow me to plug that number in, then show me where along my route the 500 mile point is.
Why this system likes to suddenly take me on the scenic route is beyond my comprehension. It often routes me off an interstate, around Joneses barn and back onto the same interstate a few miles down the road. The scenic route is both longer in distance and time. Or sometimes, like this route, it decides to reroute me via whole new highways, adding distance and time, for no good reason.
Does anyone have any answers on how to use this as a routing tool and not just a gandydance in running around hells half acre?

 

1652.1822 ....

 

trying to decide between the rand 5000,7000 or the cobra 7700. Have used the rand 5000 oon one short trip. I liked the speed limit feature ,turning red when speeding. Also the approaching scales. Don't know if it was any better than my small garmin 330c about keeping me on truck friendly roads. address finds seemed to be about the same, ok,at least get you in very near area,usually. very nice tool. I noticed you had a cobra 7700, what did you not like about it? Reading specs, it seems to not have as many toys as the rand. But truck routing is more important than the added toys. If truck routing is about the same, naturally I would enjoy the extra features. Now between the rand 5000- 7000. Is the 7000 more truck specfic than the 5000 as far as routes are concerned?

thanks tg

 

kokot,
email me if you still have unit for sale.
cat2grant@yahoo.com

 

I'm thinking about buying the TND 500 at the Love's Truck Stop where I am sitting, I don't know how long it has been sitting on the shelf and the operating software and mapping software may be out of date. Will I be able to update this software for free?