Yahoo Message Number: 82927 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82927)
CC Owners
I am in the market for a new GPS for the Motorhome. I just read an ad for the new RVGPS ( Model RVND 7720 LM ) I Googled the model and it seems to be perfect for RV travel.
Does anyone have experience with this unit or another I should consider ?
Stan -- 2005 Inspire
51406
Yahoo Message Number: 82930 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82930)
Do you use a laptop in your coach when traveling?
Lee
Yahoo Message Number: 82932 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82932)
I have not seen good reviews on it if this is the Rand McNally GPS.
Ilene 2004 Inspire 51071
Yahoo Message Number: 82934 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82934)
Stan,
I use my Laptop and MS Street and Trips AND the Atlas. Do my homework every day before departure and again at lunch. I do have it on the dash while driving so I can see when I'm close to my destination and make hand notes regarding Hwy numbers, exit numbers and street names when needed.
I think that all those GPS units have to small a screen and therefore are unsafe to view will driving.
Michael (28 yr Tour Bus Driver - retired) 05 Inspire #51381
**************************************** Michael Title
Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada
CDN Cell: 604.741.3328
San Miguel De Allende, GTO Mexico MEX Cell: [52] 415.100.1543
Yahoo Message Number: 82936 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82936)
Stan, I am with Michael on using the big screen of a laptop for a GPS. You could also check Garmin products.
Lee
Yahoo Message Number: 82938 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82938)
I also like the big screen GPS. That is why I use MS Streets & Trips on my desktop connected to my 26" LCD TV.
Bob Wexler
SOB
Yahoo Message Number: 82941 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82941)
Michael
That is why today's GPS units talk to you. Tell you where to keep left or right left or how far to the next turn as well as street names etc. They are amazing however it is still a good idea to plan the route ahead and take good look at it. They are not always correct.
Problem that I have is that I have become so damn dependant on them that I can hardly find my way around my home town anymore
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046
Michael Title wrote:
Stan,
I use my Laptop and MS Street and Trips AND the Atlas. Do my homework every day before departure and again at lunch. I do have it on the dash while driving so I can see when I'm close to my destination and make hand notes regarding Hwy numbers, exit numbers and street names when needed.
I think that all those GPS units have to small a screen and therefore are unsafe to view will driving.
Michael (28 yr Tour Bus Driver - retired) 05 Inspire #51381
**************************************** Michael Title
Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada
CDN Cell: 604.741.3328
San Miguel De Allende, GTO Mexico MEX Cell: [52] 415.100.1543
Yahoo Message Number: 82956 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/82956)
Stan, to address your original question I can relate my experience with its little brother, the one with the 5 inch screen.
As far as gps guidance, I don't think it is that much better than any other gps. It does have some features that customize it to RV's like keeping you off lower load range roads or streets. It may have routed me around low overpasses but if it has it has not let me know. It did try to route me to an 11' overpass on a county road once although I had put in my coach height as 12'-6".
One of the features I find useful is locating POI's on my route and I use this feature to find fuel stops out in front of my current location.
What bugs me the most is that the touch screen does not respond well. While at FMCA in Indy this summer, I took to the Rand McNally booth and was told that it was performing ok and not to expect it to be as responsive as a smart phone screen. My only reply was that I would expect it to be as responsive as my old TomTom and walked away disappointed. It frequently takes multiple touches and sometimes with significant force before it responds.
It has on more than one occasion taken me off of a state route only to bring me back after about a 5 mile unnecessary detour via smaller county roads. It also tried to take me about 30 miles out of my way, although this time on interstate highways, on a recent trip.
It is missing just as many rv related POI's as any of the other gps that I've used. I'm not overly impressed with the unit and because of the touch screen issue will discontinue using it as I've downloaded CoPilot Live for my smart phone and find it as good or better for my needs.
pete
40' 2000 Magna #5892