Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

That's either a state mapping error or Rand did not mention the truck stop being there when they called. It's wasn't a new one and the state put the sign past the entrance of the truck stop, not by the ramp like they would if that section was restricted. The bridge over the interstate was not restricted and the sign on the other side of the highway was right there by the ramp.

 

I will have to go back and find the post again, but I think Rand found the road was restricted in front of the truck stop.

A truck stop being there will not come into play when the road is given its mapping factors. It is the depth of the road that will determine how much weight along with other items.

Thanks,
Mark

 

I'm just saying, the unit itself says to follow local postings. By the signs posted, it's restricted only after the entrance. It's that way in a lot of places but they make the road thick just to the truck stop entrance and then it's normal road beyond.

 

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I have not posted any thing here for a while. I had to send my TND to RM for exchange.

The exchange took a while due to being on the road, as everything had been sent to the house.

The unit I exchanged was the T5B model, The replacement unit is also a T5B.

I have had the unit back for two weeks now. Here are my comments on the unit.

The first thing I did was charge the unit, then do a complete update via the web. The update took a while, lots of files updated.

I still run my old Garmin unit, as I don't trust the TND unit based on my prior experience with it.

I have not encountered the unit locking up as it did before. Still does it on occasion, and it is annoying. Before it was several times a day, now maybe every other day. Buttons are still very slow to respond some times requiring pressing multiple times.

This unit seems to find satellites faster then the original one did, less than 3 minutes on average

When calculating routes, it still takes a very long time. In most cases, the Garmin will have it done in less than 2 minutes. The TND will take 3 or 4 and then it is only a portion of the route. Still takes a long time to get complete route done. So you have to wait for the unit to finish if you want to look at any POI's on your route.

On first use after all the updates, etc. The unit was off location by 1000 ft. It showed my location two blocks away from where I was actually at. This may seem picky, but it did effect the routing of the unit. In the industrial park I was in, two blocks put you on streets that use a different entry/exit.

I have also noted that it can be as much as a mile off location, in both current actual location and destination locations. It seems to be a random action, things are fine, then I am out driving in a field. Some times it will correct its self other times not.

I have noted on long trips (1800+ miles) the routing is long. On trips less than 400 miles it is more accurate.

Example, On a trip from CA to MD, 2567 miles, the rand unit planed a route that was 2772 miles, the Garmin unit came in at 2585.

In some routes of less than 150 miles, the TND and the Garmin are almost exact.

In Summit, IL. The TND wanted to route down residential streets, also to turn the wrong way down one way streets, then had the small red warning box showing restricted and not advised on the bottom the whole time. Been to this shipper a number of times, only way to get to them.

The TND unit missed the scale in Iowa on I-80 E MM-115.

The unit still talks to much. Gets to the point that I just mute the thing. It would be good to cut the chatter down. The unit should tell if I am moving or not.

Exits. Exit right, 25B, then keep left. is a lot better than telling me the whole sign, only to start over as soon as it finishes the first time. When you have an interstate, US and state roads all at one point, thats a lot of noise coming from the unit.

I find in large cities like Chicago, St Louis, Dallas, Pittsburgh, the state New Jersey and others, mute is a good choice.

Some questions.

When are the route restrictions going to be working? Tolls, U-turns, etc ?
When is the route via option going to be put in? Soon?

Then on the route via, I am not sure how well that will work if it takes so long for the unit to complete the route calculating.

 

It doesn't have the scales on I-35 north of OKC either. 149mm if I remember right.

 

I have just got my new rand tmd going to try it out in canada and the usa hope to have update on any problems i have. looks good and lots of info on this unit im a garmin man so im hoping rand you are going to be a good tool for me

 

Ok i have a good question for you guys........say along your route there is a bridge with a sign that says 12.8 will the gps route you around it even though that bridge is actually 13.8 ? This can cause a big problem especially if your only 5 miles away from your customer and the detour takes you on a 40 mile detour

 

It probably won't have that info. I've found a lot of bridges with lower limits that rand doesn't know about.

 

If i remember this correctly.

The State may have placed the sign past the truck stop, but the State did not change the way the road is tagged as restricted in front of the truck stop. RM and other navigation companies have to go by what is put out by the DOT not where the sign is.

The road is still restricted according to the state DOT in front of the truck stop.

So, until the State DOT actually changes the Lat/Long of the location of the restriction, RM and other mapping companies have to go by in place restrictions.

If the state allowed the truck stop there, then that was their decsion, maybe not at the State DOT department, but someone allowed it to be build. The left hand may not have talked to the right. The state may have allowed the truck stop to be placed there and posting the sign past the truck stop thinking that the short distance should not be a problem and maybe someone did not think that drivers use GPS's to show restricted routes.

But until the State DOT changes the location of the start of the restriction, the road is still considered restricted according to State DOT in front of that truck stop.

Thanks,
Mark

 

Could you share those with Rand?

Thanks,
mark