Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

The only place I could find the review was in Topix. Seems to be a weird place for someone to post a review.

http://www.topix.com/forum/music/country/TH2UIT7E7CF6T1C8F

 

guess you never heard of updates, bugs, new features added... the work does not stop simply because the unit is on the market... always something to test in software before the production version is released....

maybe that is why others fail... the beta testers are "fired" upon market release...

I know it is hard to believe,, but I am here for the Professional Driver... I hold a current CDL, and I do my best in testing the software/hardware to make a better product for all drivers...

If you have purchased a unit, then by all means,, I want to hear the good/bad (details) about the unit...

I cannot input back to RM if I do not know the issues you may be having.

RM is here to make it right...

Thanks,
Mark

 

I agree. I didn't realize that the easter bunny was an authority on truck GPS actually.

In all seriousness, I'm not finished with my testing yet, but so far the unit is solid, but nothing is perfect and I have found... imperfections, but no "show-stoppers" yet. I think the most refreshing and encouraging news for you "early implementers" is that Rand McNally has thus far been remarkably open to feedback and communicative on this product launch.

Side note: there was a rather large software update today when I plugged the unit into the old laptop which included routing fixes. Pretty good for only being out 2 weeks by those guys. The point is that if you have one and haven't updated today, I recommend doing so. More to come...

 

john rm is right - easter bunny posted his comments on topix.
they seem honest and from his heart so why question his creds.
mark just answer his questions.
thanks.
ted

 

clearly this unit has some issues.
for instance i wrote to rand mcnally and asked whether it has a "Where Am I" feature?
what did they say? they have software problems.
here's what they said:

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may have caused. We make every effort to provide quality products and services that our customers can rely on and realize situations can occur, so we appreciate you taking time to inform us of your comments.

Our software developers have been made aware of the situation and will soon be releasing an update through the TND Dock either today or Friday October 09, 2009. We recommend checking the TND Dock periodically in the next few days.

The unit will allow you to press a button in the bottom left corner while you are on the map for your current location and then on the next screen is a "Save Location" on the top right. This will allow you to save your current location into the address book.

If you have any further questions please contact us at store@randmcnally.com, or 1.800.275.7263, Option 1, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. CST.

 

cc: Thanks again for your insight into this product,

1)Do you know what speed your ETA is calcuated at? And can it be customized by each state to allow for their truck speek limits?
2) Where is the speaker located, if I mount on the face of my dash will it cover the speaker, and if so, is there an external speaker jack?

 

yes to external jack.
speaker is facing out the back
the unit is set for approx 60 mph for the calculations...

at this point in time it cannot be customized by state. I understand each state may have different speeds for trucks, ie 55, 60, 65, or the posted speed limit..

I can bring this up to RM and to the other Beta Testers. To see if this would be a item that might be needed. But, my general thought is that the overall speed that you drive in a day, stopping, ramps, traffic, etc. would probabaly average out to about 58-64... Also would other drivers really want to keep changing the speed for each state? NE you would be changing a lot, but out west you would not... so many factors have to be thought about since coding and testing costs time and money.

But, a idea, one that would be thought about. I have already thought about some ways that this could be done.

 

I appreciate that. I was thinking that it could set it up at the factory defaults, then a driver could go in and change each state if he/she wanted to. But 60 is a good average to base your eta on.

Im looking forward to getting home in Oregon, I live just about 30 minutes from Desielboss and want to get some hands on.

Thanks again for all your input.

 

Easter Bunny did not pose any questions. If he came accross an issue then why not give me the details of the issue...like state, city, road.. address to shipper/consignee? I noticed he said he did not get a ticket. Was the road marked "no trucks", if it was then why did he go down the road? RM cannot make live decisions for you. The navigation unit, as all others are simply TOOLS. They cannot replace your brain.

His "review" was a big rant. How did he test? His credentials are not being judged. With the "review" he posted no one could make an honest judgement on how the unit worked. Now he mentioned he had a issue with TND DOCK... could have been his computer. Was this the first time? If it was not then contact RM and see exactly what he has on his computer. It could be a driver issue with another program he is running. Many factors have to be taken into account, based upon one issue is not really a review.

The "Where Am I"... no company would tell you that they have software issues. Now this feature is there, but in a round about way. You go the bottom left cog and press it. Then save it to your address book. Then you can go look at your address book to see where you are. Will this feature be refined, yes. RM had a lot of features that were put into the unit and as with any company you have to have a list of priorities, this is also determined by cost and budget factors. So, this feature is probably listed on the master list, but not at the priority to make it on the first release to the general public.

The Navigation Unit is not a CRAY computer. RM put out this product with the features that were felt that need to be released first.

Easter Bunny may have a big heart, but a consumer would do more research on a product than take it from a review done by the heart.

Now Ted, I am wondering... if you have access to a real Beta Tester such as I am for a product then why would you write about a question? I do not think you are naive enough to think that you would get tech support at your beck and whim. How many times you call for support about your phone, computer, tv, etc, did you actually get ahold of a technician?

I have come on this forum to give you my fellow brother drivers the rare chance to actually have a back door to a product. I have been honest in my answers, but due to NDA's I cannot say a lot about the unit as in future releases, updates, issues, etc. I can answer questions. If you have an ACTUAL unit and it routes you wrong then simply give me the details about your trip and I can recreate it and research it.

I cannot and I find it most difficult to solve problems if they are from the heart. My MCRA and my test units have a little problem with that.

So, again Ted and Easter Bunny, let me know the details and if the unit did make a mistake, then we need to know.

No navigation unit on the market today will guide you 100% of the time correctly. RM is not saying the unit is perfect. But, to get closer to that fine line of being correct 99.9% of the time, we enlist your help. What you tell either me or RM is taken to HEART and problems corrected in a timely manner.

Thank you Ted and Easter Bunny for your questions.

Again, I offer my services to you, my fellow drivers. Questions, issues, wrong routing,, then by all means let me know. The other Beta Testers, RM and myself take pride in what we have done for you. We want it to be the best unit on the market for Professional Drivers.

Mark

 

Hi Ted,
If you have any questions please feel free to PM me so I can give you my e-mail...To answer any questions you may have.