Suppport Thread for the TND 500, TND 700 or future Rand McNally products.

I wonder what I could try to fix it. Might still just do an upgrade to the 720. I like the wifi feature. What other differences do they have?

 

Your freezing issue most likely has to do with power. The connection between the male end of the power cord to the female socket on the GPS is "micro-loosening" and this lowers the ability of the unit to get power and to charge. The result is lockups, but it is very likely related to this, and not a problem with the GPS or the software itself.

The fix is easy with either the "squeeze" method talked about many times in this thread (picture attached below) or to get a new power cord. Then when you do either of these methods, make sure to wrap the cord at least once around the neck of the GPS mount to relieve any strain from the cord pulling down and shaking all day. If you buy a new cord, make sure that it is at least 2 AMPS version - many drivers get replacement cords on the road but do not realize that 7" GPS screens need 2 amp cords. Rand has them, I have them, Amazon has them, BestBuy has them. The point is that there is a 99% chance that this fixes any freezing or lockups.

For the second part of your question.

If a driver has a 710 model and has a solid power situation going on (described in the first paragraph above) AND the camera or WiFi features of he 720 are not compelling reasons, then there is not a big software functional jump between the 710 and the 720, especially if you have the lifetime maps connected to your 710 account. In other words, if you don't have a Mifi or similar internet wireless hotspot device in the truck to use the WiFi capability. Or if hooking up a backup or blindside camera is not something you are looking for, then the 720 does not make $350 worth of sense in changing from a well-functioning 710 with lifetime maps on it.

So, hopefully that helps in your research. If you have a portable wifi capability then the traffic, weather and fuel prices on a 720 can be some powerful features. They are even somewhat of a deal if you are able to connect to wifi locations, but we all know how spotty those are out there. But if a 510/710 user has the same maps as the 520/720, the actual navigation aspect of it will be the same (at least at the time that I am writing this post.)

 

Gently squeeze the end of the plug. Don't squeeze too hard or it will break. It's very thin. Light pressure is more then adequate.

 

Autoroute 30 (formerly but still called 540 by the GPS) & 340. Just southwest of Vaudreuil-Dorion... Google maps satellite still shows it, but the building was razed and the parking lot is roped off (I spent the night at the nearby wal*mart beneath a no truck parking sign).

There was, however, a new flying j on autoroute 20/hwy 401 around exit 842? but that would still be Ontario (Lancaster).

 

We will try that and make sure about the update. We just did a map update finally about 3 weeks ago and I haven't checked for updated since. The traffic and weather sound great. We have a mifi in the truck. About how much data does it use to have it connected most of the day? Any idea? Does the traffic need the connector like the 710 or does it work without it? Thanks!

 

Thanks! We have a high gig plan with Verizon so that should be fine. I'm working on the update now. I hope it solves the freezing problem. But it sounds like we are going to get the 720.

 

I may have reported this previously, but CA highway 65 now bypasses the town of Lincoln.

Also CA highway 111/78 has a truck bypass around Brawley. STAA trucks are no longer legal on Main Street/86

 

Mark after you load a custom POI, how do you delete it? I went in like it shows on the rand mcnally page, but there isn't a X to delete it off the until. Also it says you can change the custom POI alerts, but that doesn't seem to be an option either you don't get the little setting gear to go in and make changes. We have a 710 help. I hope this makes sense. I uploaded a filed from the POI factory and can't delete or edit it from the unit. Thanks!