Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

RM, Amazon, Dieselboss, all show free shipping...

whom did you order yours from?

You say you preordered... from GATS? Even then RM had free shipping. Are you confusing sales tax for shipping? RM has to collect sales tax for some states..

 

Chosen One - Of course the testers extol the virtues of the unit - they are being paid to do do.
What else would you expect?
They are NOT an independent testing lab.
They are paid, or given free GPS units, by Rand McNally, and of course they will render the units in their best light.
For sure some tester may occasionally give an honest review but for the most part they are on Rand McNally's payroll.
It's no wonder that "customers" - in your words - "have found this unit is the worst," while testers "say that it does what it promised."
It's not hard to figure this one out.

 

In the world of beta testing, no matter whom... Microsoft, HP, Dell, or anyone.. the standard rule is that Beta testers test the items they are given and in return they get to keep the item they tested. I tested for HP, I answered and did about 30 minutes worth of testing and I got to keep the scanner I was testing.

Even all the other navigation companies do the same, their beta testers keep the units they test.

WE ARE NOT on anyone's payroll, I wish I was, I am in between jobs.

If you have signed a NDA, I can show you ten months worth of E-mails to RM in regards to this unit.

If the unit does not do what it is supposed to do then we want it fixed. We are OTR drivers too. Our livelyhood depends on us making the stops we need to make..
I am really curious Ted, why you always pick on quotes by the nay-sayers? If you were a reporter then would you not want to hear both sides of the story and report an honest opinion?

Now on the "Where am I" button, you hit one button and it tells you on your unit. On our unit you hit one button and not only does it tell you where you are at, but lat/long, and if you are driving down a street the house numbers show up along with the street you are on and the crossstreet ahead of you.

one button versus one button, but RM has given the professional driver more in depth features to allow the driver to concentrate on their driving and less on going 5mph and looking for non-existant business numbers.

Why do the Beta Testers have an more indepth knowledge of if the unit is routing correctly or not? We actually have one and are testing it all during our drive hours, and even in our off time. We are more critical of what the unit does, and what it is not doing.

Our beta tester did report that it notified him of an restricted route, he took it knowing that it was not restricted, DB has to be corrected. Used common sense.

let's get past all this nitpicking, reading into statements, making unclaimed statements,,,etc etc... sounds like drivers waiting in line for a shower.

Let's get down to pure issues/suggestions. If you have a unit and it does route you wrong, then by all means post it here along with the details so we can get it corrected.

I posted an E-mail and gotten only two responses.

"RM" is here for you.

Thanks,
Mark

 

I have been running with mine since last Wednesday.
There have been a few issues, that I will be sending to RM when I get the chance.
One was a road in DE that had a weight limit on parts of it at 35 tons. I was empty so no real issue, but could have been if loaded.
One map section is wrong. Rather irritating actually. Since the construction has been done there for 2 years. It is right no the RM Atlas, but not on the GPS. It is the section of I-99 outside of State College PA, where it runs with 322.

The biggest issue I have at this point though is that even in Fastest mode the unit trys to get you off the interstate too early.
It will send you 3-10 miles of 2 lane local roads to get somewhere, when the location you are going too is a few exits down and 100 yards off the interstate. So you are fine if you know what exit you need, but if you do not and are going blind the GPS will send you the long way. (yes, I am on Fastest RT, not shortest)

A few speed limits were off here and there also, but I am not that worried about that. I think 322/I-99 bothered me more than anything else, simply because this is a new unit and should be accurate up to year old construction, not 2 years behind.
I will keep running it and see how it goes though.
Oh, I also do not like the eta's it gives.
I know my old Garman was set at 60 mph, no problem because this would help me average my time so I could judge it well for my eta.
On this unit it expects me to be going the speed limit.
My truck is governed at 64.
I will go 100 miles at 64 and my eta is still getting later and later. There really needs to be a way to change this, or just make it so the unit computes time based on your average speed.

 

Mark

I really admire your calm in putting up with our pink buddy and his negative comments, caps are shouting, what the heck is pink. Of course beta testers get some reward for doing their service, what is wrong with that? The internet is famous for people making negative comments about any subject regardless of the subject, justified or not.

 

OK! I HAVE ORDERED ONE THRUOGH AMAZON .COM THAT WONT SHIP
TILL LATER ON. JUST CHECKED WESITE SAID IT WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN T SHIPS.
MY QUESTION IS WILL I BE GETTING AN UPDATED VERSION OR THE SAME UNIT DRIVERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT?
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT DRIVERS ACTUAL USE! SO I AN CANCEL MY ORDER AND MAYBE GET THE GARMIN 465T.
FROM READING POSTS ONE SAYS IT WORKS AND THE OTHER SAYS IT DOESNT! CONFUSING.
IS THE UNIT ANY GOOD OR NOT? WOULD I BE BETTER OFF WITH SOMETHING ELSE?
SORRY FOR THE APS EASIER FOR ME TO SEE! NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE YELLING PART! CANT HEAR IT AT ALL.

 

I really want one but my pc miler copilot works halfway descent, I'll wait till one of my friends get one

 

I'm one of those beta testers and while I did get a free unit to test, I am not paid a dime by RM for testing it. I am paid by The Sygma Network as a delivery driver, no one else. Also I have no reason to make stuff up, lie or anything else about this unit. What I gave was my honest opinion, and I will continue to do so. I already pointed out I did find a couple flaws.
I think you are just here to trash the TND500 even though you dont even have one, and trash talk the people who are trying to assist others with their honest opinions. You have contributed nothing of help in this thread and your really just another forum troll.

 

As with any other electronic device that requires software, you would want to do the update when you get the unit.

1. let the unit charge on either AC or DC for two hours.
2. connect the unit to your computer, and run the install for TND Dock.
3. Do the update. I posted ther version a few pages back. but, the 3 set of numbers should be 1392.
4. Take the time to actually play and I mean play with all the screens, touch every button, touch each item on each screen.
5. This will get you more used to where the items are.
6. If you are home, route the unit to a close store and on the map screen touch the cog in the bottom left. See how the info changes in the upper left.
7. Do not rely completely on the GPS, it is a tool as is your MCRA, use common sense when the unit shows one thing and you know you need to do something else.
8. Use the Tell Rand if you spot a problem.
9. enjoy your unit.

Thanks.
Mark

 

your info has been forwarded.

The eta is using approx 62mph for aver. If the GPS senses you are not at that speed then the eta will adjust. It is a running variable.

things are in the works for some things you suggest.

The weight issue in DE... did you have your weight set in truck tools and for what weight?

If you wish you could pm me your issues, I would get them up to RM a little faster..

I will check on the road issue.

Thanks,
Mark