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

1. It is an MMCX connector.
2. There are many brands, but basically 2 "styles." - STRAIGHT or 90-DEGREE ANGLED.
3. For a 710 model, for instance, you HAVE to use a straight connector to get it through the cradle plate hole.
4. For a 720, the mounting plate does not go over the external antenna hole, so you can use EITHER STYLE.

TIPS AND TRICKS WITH EXTERNAL GPS ANTENNAS THAT USE MMCX CONNECTORS!

A. It is a "snap-ring" style of connector and is "free turning" once it snaps in. Once you hear the little snap then STOP PRESSING. You’re done. Bad things happen when you think that it is supposed to be tighter and you keep pressing it harder into the socket.

B. External GPS antennas draw a very sight amount of power when you turn the GPS off still. If your power cord is still charging the GPS then no problem. BUT, if you unplug the GPS power, or the power is removed from your lighter socket when you turn off the truck and you leave the external GPS antenna plugged in, then it will eventually drain the battery of the GPS (2 - 3 days)

C. STRAIGHT connectors are easier to unplug because you can get your fingers firmly around them. 90-degree connections are harder to damage because they sit snug up against the GPS body making it harder to accidentally hit or catch it one something, but they are HARDER to get "unsnapped" because there is very little to grip.



SEE the TWO PICTURES ABOVE FOR EXAMPLE OF WHAT I DESCRIBED IN THIS POST.

 

Dieselboss, thank you so much for that invaluable and very detailed info. I had actually called RM tech support, but they didn't seem all that knowledgeable (eg I had asked them about the power draw and they didn't know*). Your post answered everything perfectly!

*not ragging on RM. It's just that your answer is much more complete.

 

Thanks! I am extremely satisfied with the 720 so far. The HD display is literally dazzling me.

 

LOL, I'm embarrassed to say that I'm still just doing the preparatory stuff (set up the docking, study user manual, etc). I guess it speaks to the beauty of the user interface that I'm already gushing after only seeing the first few screens. I definitely hadn't expected it to be so visually stunning. I will give more feedback after I fully install it and take it on some test runs later in the week.

 

When will pilot have the 720 for sale?

 

Hello, is there a way to transfer my address book from my 500 to my new 710 ??
Thanks Mark