Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

Were you able to return your TND and get another?

Thanks,
Mark

 

My bf's GPS froze. He said the GPS, when turned on, won't go past the begining screen saver.
Any suggestions - is it savable once frozen?

 

yes still saveable..

did he update via the dock before that or just power the unit on?

does he have internet connection while on the road?

Thanks,
Mark

 

have him also when the unit is on,,,press the reset button on the back... then power the unit up again..

 

I don't think he was updating the unit when this happened. He may have just turned it on because I don't think he keeps it on and plugged in all the time.
He does have his laptop with him and I think his name is crabby125 or crabby 125 on here but he isn't on here much.
I gave him the info about pushing the reset button. I don't know if he's tried that yet but also he may have tried a combo of everything turning the machine on and off trying to get it to work.
I just wanted to clarify that when I said the GPS is frozen - I mean that he thinks it's having problems because the GPS got too cold. Although due to it being to cold the screen is freezing at the screensaver stage and not fully turning on, getting to the maps and working. He can't get past the screen saver.
That's why I asked if it was saveable - I don't know if it getting too cold casues permanent damage...
Although this happens with my car GPS too since it sits on the windshield of my car through all the heat of summer and cold of winter. But usually giving it a few mins, and re starting it gets my GPS going again.
My bf's GPS has not worked since at least 8pm last night when he mentioned it. Right now it's 9am where I am and it's still not working.

 

I can get him up and running,,

You can E-mail me at rmleadbetatester at gmail ...

I can give you my phone number then,,,

but, I think he may have corrupted a file in the bin folder. I can send him the files he needs.

Usually what I did in my truck was put a towel over the unit when turned off.

He will need a High speed connection as the files zipped up are about 7-9 mb.

Thanks,
Mark

 

Okay I spent about three days lurking off and on reading this gigantic thread before I decided to finally join the forum. I am very interested in buying a truck specific GPS hopefully in the very near future, so let me thank Mark and the other beta testers for starting this helpful thread.

Anyway, Mark I have a few questions for you that so for that I have not seen addressed thoroughly in this thread and since you are the lead beta tester for Rand and appear to be their resident expert I’m hoping you can provide me with the answers.

My first questions are regarding the truck specific POI database? Do you know how large the database is or how many POIs it contains? Like how many truck stops for instance are included.?

When I search for lets say truck stops will it tell me the parking size of the truck stops, if they charges for overnight parking, if it they have a scale or not, if it they do repairs or not, what kind of food offering are available, and you know stuff like that?

Does the TND500 POI database contain Wal-Mart Supercenters, because I like to hit a Wal-Mart Supercenter about once or twice a week, plus they make great alternative parking spots when all the truck stops are full?

Does it also contain rest areas, turnpike service plazas, turnouts, weigh stations, and other truck parking areas and is it easy to filter your searches so that you can narrow your searches down?

Finally, how accurate is the POI database? I’ve used four-wheeler GPS units in the past but their POIs were usually off by several hundred yards more often than not. Now since a four-wheeler can go anywhere, this wasn’t a big problem. However, in a big truck if the POIs are not accurate, this could present a potential problem in certain situations. Thus, I’m curious…how accurately will the TND500 route you to truck specific POIs?

Will it tell me to turn left at an exit when I really should turn right and vice versa or will it take me directly right to each one of the POIs? How about when I’m out in the boonies off the main roads in the middle of nowhere, will it find me the closes truck stop or closes truck stop with scales and then route me directly to them with accuracy?

How about Canada? I get to make several trips into Canada each year; does the POI database also cover Canada as well?

Another question I have for you Mark is my company sends me a legal truck route when they send me my fuel location at the time I am dispatched. Can I configure these legal truck routes in the TND 500 and is it easy to do so?

Also, can I save my trips for future reference? If it does that it would be nice.

How about multiple stop trips? I sometime get multiple stop trips; does the TND 500 handle multiple stop trips easily?

And what about the auto-rerouting feature or what a lot of my fellow drivers call the exit problem. Will the TND 500 reroute you every time you pull into a rest area, truck stop, or weigh station and can the route change depending upon where you are at the time?

Another thing I would like to know is can I save my company terminal locations, drop lot locations, shipper locations, consignee locations, etc. for future reference and to save time with the TND 500 and is it easy to do?

How about if I pull into a rest area for a 15-minute break, can I hit the where am I button to see where I am to quickly fill out my logs?

My next series of questions for you Mark are concerning the truck specific routing. Specifically, how good is the truck specific routing? Can I finally toss out my big, bulky, and heavy MCRA out the cab once and for all and into the nearest dumpster?

Or is the TND500 like other GPS units that are made for cars in that you still have to check your routes out before you begin driving to make sure they are legal for 18-wheelers?

Once agaiin thanks Mark for all your help and for this very helpful thread and I look forward to receiving your responses to my questions. It’s getting close to Christmas and I’m hoping that Santa will have a new truck specific GPS for me under the tree on Christmas morning.

 

Karl, are you sure you did not forget a question? LOL.... the response will take a little time to type..

Thanks,
Mark

 

Let me start with a Link to DieselBoss's web site, he has done a very thorough review of truck navigation devices (TND).

http://www.dieselboss.com/truck_gps_review_features.htm

1. 6 million POI's, now others have larger up to 12 million, but how many can you get a truck into? RM has narrowed the POI's down to POI's that are needed plus partnering with "The Truckers Friend". How many are considered "truck stops", that is a good question, I do searches around my house and I see Gas Stations that are considered Truck Stops. RM displays the major ones, plus the independents’ with icons on the screen also. What classification does a location need to be to be considered a "Travel Center"; I do not know at this time. But, partnering with "The Truckers Friend" has given RM a very complete listing of Truck Stops.

2. There are 72 items in "Select Services" Paid parking is not covered, but can be researched and added if need be. Motels, T-Checks, Red diesel, Western Unit, CB repairs, etc are a small sample of what is listed under Select Services.

3. Wal-Marts and other things like Banks, Shopping, Restaurant's, airports, golf courses, and Tourist attractions are a small sample of the many different ways you can find resources other than a Truck stop.

4. It contains on its own search buttons, Cat Scales, parking and rest areas, weigh stations, truck dealers and travel centers. You can set filters for Travel centers.

5. Travel centers and other locations were pulled by Lat/Long. Now, the data is not 100% correct sometimes, but that is what the "Tell Rand" button was created for. You should understand that in a Truck type of Navigation unit that the coding and routing has to be a lot tighter. The TND was build from day one with that in mind. Anything that is not correct is verified by several sources and if incorrect, gets corrected in the Map database. So, once a issue is found until the next map update is send out the issue will still be there. RM is looking at 1st quarter 2010 for the next map update. I have not gotten the business details yet for that update. If it is a POI issue that once that is verified and corrected that can be pushed to the production server where the TND Dock will pull the updates for you once you have connected your TND to your computer.

6. Now if you are on an unmarked dirt road, then the TND will not have that in its mapping, but the TND will not only show you the turn, but show you the next turn so that you may prepare yourself for your maneuverings.
And yes, if you do a search on the POI it will show you the distance. Now understand that if you do a general search like for my truck and it brings back 20 listings for travel centers, the shown mileage is a estimate of the distance to that travel center. Once you have routed to that travel center then you will obtain a more accurate mileage.

7. Yes the POI database does cover Canada also, RM may be missing some POI's due to the database not being 100%, but then "Tell Rand" will alert RM to add that POI.

8. Not at this time can you configure your own routing in the TND. Once you have entered in your fuel stop the TND will based upon your truck configuration route you legally. Note, some companies will route you on shortcuts (like US routes) to lessen the overall mileage, but not lessen the increase in drive time for the slower US speeds/towns. RM is working on the feature of allowing you to enter your own routes. Permitted loads are one the main driving forces behind this.

9. You can save your locations, but not the routing. The TND will always look at your physical location to your destination to find a truck legal route.

10. Multi-stops are almost 100% working the way RM would like it to be. The only item is not being able to sequence (in the order you would like) your stops if you have 4 or more. This is being worked on. But, if you are in a multi-stop and either turn the TND to sleep or off,,, upon power on you can continue your Multi-stop.

11. Then TND is a GPS driven device and if you deviate from a certain amount off your route it will recalculate based upon your physical location. So if you pull off into a rest area that loops you to the other side of the freeway, then yes it will recalculate to place you back on a correct route. It all depends how far you deviate from the route. If you miss a turn then it will route you to a location that will get you turned around legally.

12. You can create groups or locations in the address book. If you are in a yard you can go to the cog off the map screen and save your location, which is saved by lat/long then if you do not have a physical address. But anything is savable. If your yard or terminal is not on a road in the database, then it will start your route from the nearest road segment.

13. Ah, the where am I button... if you are on the map screen you can hit the cog in the lower left and on the next screen see where you are, or you can go to choose destination and hit new location\city center and the top item is the city\town or on the map screen, toggle the bottom button and one of the three items is the city\state you are in. There are many different ways to find your physical location for your logbook.

May I note also,,, if you are in a route and hit the lower left cog button, the next screen,,,as you are going down a street on the screen you will see current location, the business house numbers\street will change as you drive allowing you to watch the numbers on the screen instead of trying to guess where the business hid their business number at 2am at night in the rain. Cross Street will appear also.

14. The TND is a tool, just like your MCRA. never rely on one tool to do your job. The TND is not 100% perfect by no means, but RM is working hard with Professional Drivers to correct the mis-information in mapping and other areas. RM gathers its data from many sources, but nothing is 100% accurate. I would hang onto that MCRA.

15. RM does it hardest to put you the Professional Driver on the most truck legal route available. But, RM cannot control local governments that post restrictive routing. If you the driver come upon this, then "Tell Rand" so that others may benefit also. A good example is the Freeway around Cleveland, OH. They decided to do road construction and detoured trucks around, The TND routed you on the freeway being worked on. This was ODOT posting of signs. RM has verified and now treats that segment as construction. Until ODOT makes a permanent change RM handles it as road construction.

16. This is a major purchase. With the TND you will be able to get updates such as construction and POI's while you are on the road. Major version changes also can be done on the road with a internet connection (high speed).

17. I hope Santa is good to you.

And I wish everyone to remember to drive safely. You the Professional Driver keep the USA alive.

 

Thanks Mark for replying so fast. You are really on the ball here. Oh…and I apologize for all the long-winded questions, but this is the only place where you can get your questions answered.

Well, Mark I’m confused. You say that if you miss a turn that the TND will reroute you to a location that will get you turned around legally. Yet a little further down the line you say to the effect that the TND is not 100% perfect by any means and you recommend using it in conjunction with a MCRA just like you would with a car GPS.

Thus, if I’m understanding what you are saying correctly, every time the TND reroutes, which in all probability will be several times a day, because the TND is not perfect by any means you also recommend continuing to use it in conjunction with a MCRA.

Therefore, if that is the case, then it is entirely possible that each time it reroutes you it could route you down roads that possibly could be illegal for 18-wheelers and get you in trouble. That’s really concerning to me because it’s kind of hard to check your routes with a MCRA on the fly like that if you know what I mean.

In addition, you say the TND based upon your truck configuration will route you legally, but then below that you also say the TND is not 100% perfect by any means. Hence, you must really mean you also should use it together in conjunction with a MCRA.

Thus, for clarification purposes and to make sure I understand what you are saying correctly, with respect to the above, is what I said above a correct and accurate interpretation of what you are saying. I’m just trying to make sure I understand everything you said correctly, which is basically that you need to continue to use a MCRA just like you do when you use a car GPS.

Additionally, on the Truck Stops and Travel Center, does it tell you the size of the truck stops and travel centers? For instance, I would hate to drive to a truck stop late at night just before my 14 hour clock expires and the truck stop I’m going to turns out to be a fuel stop with no parking or otherwise the truck stop ends up being a small truck stop with just 5 parking places and all parking places are already taken.

Oh, one more thing, how often does Rand plan on sending out those map updates? Will there be a charge for them and also how will they deliver them?

Thanks for you help Mark! I really appreciate you getting back to me so fast, and you did a real good job. Maybe if I continue to be good and play my cards right I might have a new trucking GPS under the tree on Christmas morning.