Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

I am one of the first beta testers for this unit. I have been testing for over 10 months on this product. DieselBoss is correct in that only "Real" truck drivers were selected to be a beta tester. Going to McD in your car is different than hauling 40 tons. Being Truck Drivers we were bound and determined to bring a product to the market that was made for truck drivers. Not simply a rebranding and putting "For Trucks" on the box. RM listened to us and listened hard. With the onset of a new type of Navigation Unit, engineers were taught how to think like a truck driver. Code is tested and tested, again and again to make sure simple bugs and difficult bugs were found and corrected. RM pulled all their resources and wanted to make sure the first of the navigation units to hit the market was better than the rest of the navigation units on the market. I was at GATS at the RM booth explaining the units to other drivers. I have tested other units on the market in regards to RM.. but, I would let others like DieselBoss give a true unbiased opinion to fellow drivers. Is the navigation unit flawless? Of course not. Like any other computer, engineers strive to make it that way, but will never hit 100%. RM wants to know where the problems are that drivers find that Beta testing did not find. Simply to better the product. RM is not throwing this unit to drivers to see where the problems are and then correct them. RM is giving you a product that has undergone months and months of testing by Professional Drivers..

The product is shipping to truck stops within the next few weeks. Pilots, Loves, TA's, AMBest, and others...

I am happy to answer any questions you have before you buy a unit. If you have a question that I cannot answer then I will direct the question to RM. I have the bosses ear.

I will be honest and truthful to you and in return I expect the same.

Mark.

 

Like I said, sounds good, but when I went to look up a road on their website, it did not find it.

I will wait awhile till the bugs are out.

 

You said you went up to the website.. can you give me the road/city? is this a new road? What drives the website is not the same as what drives the search engine on the nav unit...

Mark

 

No, I like the GPS, it makes life a LOT easier, I mean, being able to dial in an address and have mostly accurate directions and a map to look at helps, I also use it to find Walmarts, and when my ex rode with me, restaurants, and we even did some site seeing with it. So I am definitly PRO GPS, but you just have to use a little common sense when using it. Like read HOW it wants to route you before you proceed. Or calling the shipper/receiver to confirm directions before you go (Most errors I've found are dispatch not giving correct addresses like 1401 but the correct address was 1410)

My ex also noticed that ETA was pretty close, so when dispatch askes when you will be there, it gives you a pretty good idea.

It a TOOL, and like any tool, you have to learn how to use it correctly. No more, no less.

 

If the website is not up to date, can a fixed program be?

 

They say they're using proprietary code for the device. If they put it up on the website where everyone could see it, it wouldn't be proprietary.

 

BlackheartTX, I notice you refuse to list the road/city. I ask again, can you send me the info? It could have been a new road. If you are unwilling to give the info up then drop your comments. Anyone can say anything, but data is there to see. You can either list the road/city here or send me a private msg. thanks,,,

 

Thanks for offering to answer questions
What will the refund policy be If its like all the others?
How often will the map base be updated? Cost?
If we find mistakes in the data base how are they submitted back to RM?
Is there a way for noting them on the device?
I Beta tested for ALK and they did not listen
They just wanted to get it to market for the Christmas selling season. As you might guess I’m a little gun shy as I am sure others are
Thanks
rag

 

Rag, since I am not employed by RM I have forwarded your questions to them. Their will be a FAQ on their website. Your questions will become part of the FAQ.

As far as reporting the problems.. the unit has a section that will allow you to make comments and save them to your unit. Then when you hook your unit up to your computer a RM software program will pop-up (TND Dock) and one of the buttons on the program will allow you to then forward your saved info from your unit to RM. You will need be hooked to the Internet. You will be able to get updates this was also.

Being a Beta Tester I am not part of the product rollout as in the decsions or questions that you have asked about refund, map database updates, etc etc...I simply test the product and report any corrections or things that need to be changed as you know being a beta tester yourself.

 

So cc, what is your overall impression of the unit so far? Likes, dislikes major problems or shortcomings? How does it compare to say the garmin 465t?