GPS' system I highly DO NOT recommend...supposedly Trucker

Sometimes you get what you pay for, but in this case...nope. I thought I would buy...which I did...argh, the World Nav 7" Truck Routing GPS. Available at your local truckstop for a small price of $599. Compared to ALK Technologies Copilot GPS, this fails miserably. In fact compared to any GPS I have used, Magellan, Garmin, Copilot, and my trusty favorite MS Streets & Maps...this thing has a mind of its own. I have sent emails and made phone calls to the company and have not received any response. This system has tried to lead me down RESTRICTED routes, even though it claims to be loaded with the "latest" updates. So let me itemize the pros and cons of this system;

Pro's: 1. Large screen. 2. Sturdy mounting apparatus. 3. Um...

Con's: 1. Longer routes given than any GPS on market, in fact for example it added 119 miles to a trip from Olathe KS to Arcadia FL. For no apparent reason.
2. Delayed rerouting time...almost 20 seconds...compared to any other this is horrible. If you are downtown in say...oh Chicago, bumper to bumper traffic, you missed your turn...there's a low bridge ahead, what lane should you be in? Where will you turn next...oh just wait for about half a minute...and you will eventually find out.
3. Inaccurate Truck Restrictions...too many to name, but for example...areas that have had truck restrictions for a long long time...in fact probably since the dawn of trucking...are not listed. 4. External antenna is extra...this is the only portable GPS that I am aware of that needs an additional antenna to supposedly make it quicker in response time...I dare not purchase it since this device alone fails to meet advertised performance.
5. Uses a SD card for its programming...I thought this was crazy and should have told me something about what I just did...make a stupid decision. First of all...anything that can't be locked on a disk, memory card, etc. is corruptible...and that is what you get...they recommend that you back up your SD card to a computer in case this happens...I think as big as this system is...shouldnt it have internal memory? For you to get updates they will mail you a new card and you have to mail the old one back to them...everyone elses system...instant download from their support site. Heck, why not drive a truck where the average time out is 12 days...pay almost $100 for an update...you hope...and wait till you get around your mail box to get it. Awesome!!! (being sarcastic)
6. Did I mention the accuracy? I have been using MS Streets and Maps along with this $600 device...and for a GPS...how do you get almost 20 miles difference in distance to your next turn or destination? Does it use the same satellites as the other systems out there?
7. Customer Service...oh this is the biggie. I registered my device...it should take upto 48 hours for you to get confirmation. A week later...I called. Spoke to a nice Indian gentleman...(not Native American) and asked if they have received my registration. Well, at that time...they finally sent it. You have to have this so you can order or ask for support...they email you a customer ID. Well...that being done, I emailed support...told them of the issues I was having. No response. Called...talked to a nice Indian gentleman again...he said he would give my information to technical support services...hmmm...wonder if they will ever call? I must say, at least the rep was polite, professional...only other thing I can say in the Pro department of this device.

So, enough of that...the only reason I bought this was because the website spoke of how great it was...it was featured at truck shows...and they show a claim that they were PC.com award winners...of course it was back in 2004. Apparently alot has changed. I have always been a firm believer that you get what you paid for...today I have been proven wrong. So truckers...get the only GPS software out there that has been proven to do the trick...CoPilot. Buy you an inexpensive Notebook or those new Powerbooks...get the software at a Truckstop...they are now about $250, and I figure with the price of computers now...you saved almost $50 and have a better product. I also recommend Microsoft Streets and Maps...the newer version 2009 is now available, it has a dependable GPS antenna (except with Windows Vista, but thats another story) and gives you more control of your routing. Use this with PC Miler or CoPilot and you shouldn't have any issues. They say they are not 100% accurate, which they are not...no device is yet...but they are A LOT better than WorldNAV GPS.

 

My boyfriend/newbie trucker was looking at this one too. I'm so glad I found out here that it's crap!