Does anyone know if the RVND 5510 is being automatically updated to RVND 7710 capabilities ? Still hesitant about pulling the trigger on the 7710 at it's current pricing. Actually had one on backorder from Amazon for $292.00 but cancelled the order after spending 30+ minutes on the phone trying, unsuccessfully to get thru to Rand McNally customer service. Are 5510 owners happy with their units ? Can you d/l custom POI's ?
Thanks - as usual,
Jon Harris
Jon, I have had the 5510 since its introduction but have not used it a great deal, however the experience so far is very good. It's relatively easy to use, see and hear. In fact it somehow transmits the voice through my coach stereo speakers. How, I don't know since it is not wired to the sound system but it does it.
What does the 7710 do that the 5510 doesn't do?
So many of the new models feature "free" traffic updates but come with ads in a banner line across the screen. Apparently the traffic feature in the new Magellan can't be disabled or turned off and at least one person has found it annoying. How are the Rand McNally versions? We want to get something that is more-or-less RV-specific.
Craig
The 7710 GPS contains the same great RV-specific content and features as the TripMaker® RVND™ 5510 plus the following:
•7 inch high definition screen - enables better at-a-glance visibility and more road detail; the 5510 is 5"
•Predictive Traffic - this unit takes typical traffic patterns into account when routing your vehicle.
•Great Fishing Spots - new for the fishing enthusiast as part of Rand McNally Editor's Picks
•Custom POI Import - load hundreds of types of custom information, such as red light cameras, specials shopping areas, or campgrounds by affiliation.
•2011 Best of the Road™ Small Towns - 30 of the best small towns in America are now available with descriptions and photos.
From TripMaker® RVND5510 (http://www.randmcnally.com/products/rvgps/rvnd5510/index.jsp)
Wonder if a model is available that shows the Wally World Stores and/or Flying J stops. Have not seen one and maybe one has been mentioned but I have not seen it.
Thanks
Even the old Magellan that I have in the pickup has WalMart and gas stations on it in the "Places of Interest" (POI) category under "Shopping" and "Gas Stations", respecitively. I would expect that the Rand McNally GPS and the Magellan Pro 9165T ($399 at Amazon) (both for trucks and RVs) has at least that. According to their ads the Magellan Pro also claims to have the Trailer Life and Good Sam campground directories.
But the Magellan Pro also has the "free" traffic feature which cannot be turned off and runs banner ads. Does the Rand McNally 7710 have ads, too? And can the traffic updates be disabled or turned off?
I'm also looking at the Magellan 1700 which has free map upgrades and no traffic info at all ($199 at Amazon). The Co-Pilot system has a chip (Amazon says they sell this, too) that fits into the 1700 which (they claim) gives it the ability to be configured for a big RV. But the reviews of the Co-Pilot chip are less than enthusiastic. And the maps cost money to be upgraded on the Co-Pilot (which does not, apparently, use the maps built into the Magellan 1700).
Free lifetime map upgrades are worthwhile, in my opinion, as the infrastructure of highways in the USA are being changed considerably.
How important is it to have a GPS that takes into account the size and height of a motorhome? How annoying are the ads?
Craig
I have owned and tried Garmin, Magellan receivers and never been really happy, usually for a variety of reasons. I bought a TomTom World a couple of years ago and have loved it. Excellent speaker and almost all the information I need on the navigation page. Works in Canada, US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Western Europe. Really accurate arrival times. I just throw it in my carry on luggage and plug it into my rental car when I get to my destination. The XXL 540S is available in several configurations, from $70 to $250 depending on model and supplier. See at: TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Extra-wide 5" Touch Scre | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/TomTom-XXL-540S-World-Traveler-Extra-wide-5-Touch-Scre-/380378876961?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5890590c21)
We always use a state road atlas along with it and when we were on the east coast with the U300, I had a trucker's atlas for the low underpasses and bad bridges. IPhone to get cheapest diesel, Yelp, etc. ahead.
The main navigational screens on most GPS receivers remind me of the idiot lights on entry level cars with a gas gauge, speedometer and perhaps a temp gauge. I don't like taking the time away from the road to touch the screen for the info I want in heavy traffic situations.
The 7710 and the 5510 have truck stops already on them.
here's a great video about the unit: Rand McNally GPS RVND 7710: Multi-Stop Trips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm5zIOFhIbQ#ws)
I was able to upgrade from the 5510 to 7710 for $150 total. I received an email with details. Well worth it.
A quote from the e-mail, note the qualification:
To me the biggies for updating are: the 7" display and custom POIs. Others have nicely addressed it's other capabilities.
I recently downloaded the AllStays Camp and RV app for my iPhone, $5.99. It appears to be the best campground finder I have ever seen. It automatically finds the Walmarts, both with and without stayovers, camp grounds, and fuel stops wherever you are at the time.
Here's a good review of the 7710 - Rand McNally TripMaker® RVND™ 7710: What’s up Ahead? (http://blog.rv.net/2011/10/rand-mcnally-tripmaker-rvnd-7710-whats-up-ahead/)
I know I'm getting one before we take off on our next long trip :))
I like this idea a lot. Both of us have an iPhone so this would work without any issues as to who could see the screen for information. I suspect there is something equivalent for Android OS devices, too.
We have no fewer than 8 separate GPS devices; including one of the original Magellan handheld GPS units that sold for $3500 in the 1980s. This includes a Garmin 3000 for the sport fishing boat (with charts that cover Olympia to Skagway including both sides of Vancouver Island), two older Magellan car units, two Garmin handhelds (one of which would actually work for automobile navigation - both waterproof), an older Magellan, an older SOB which was in the fishing boa and a USB GPS that plugs in to computerst. I even have a "Transit" satellite navigation system (a relic from the 1970s but pretty cool back then).
Heck, I even have a sextant with H.O. 249 and charts from all over the world (souvenirs from my days as a merchant marine officer). I am what you might call "navigation ready".
But what worries me are low bridges on a motorhome that tops out somewhere around 12 feet. (I actually haven't measured the U225 yet... I wonder just how tall that thing is, anyway.) I guess I'll have to start paying closer attention to those signs on those bridges, huh?
I like the seven inch displays since we seem to have 3 or 4 acres of dashboard space on the coach. Don't like ads (no one has mentioned whether those are obtrusive or annoying yet). Would like free map updates. Don't care if I get traffic or not.
Looks like the Magellan 1700 with a Co-Pilot chip along with the app Kent talks about might be my best bet.
I look forward to the reviews as more of us get these RV-specific units for both the dashboard and smartphones/computers. Gadgets are fun!
Craig
I've bought a few car GPS systems and Streets & Trips as well as the phone gps apps and I really think that I will get the RVND 7710 as soon as it is available again with free lifetime map upgrades. Missed the last offer but will wait until it comes around again.
Spent way too much on map upgrades over the years and have always been disappointed that even the latest maps are not up to date, so I refuse to pay for any more map "upgrades". The free ones are worth their price though. The phone apps are the most up to date but the drawback with those are the phone size and data usage. My 2 cents.
If you want a bigger screen, Tom-Tom has an app specifically for the Ipad...
I love the iPad's screen... but the downside to the iPad is that for it to function as a GPS it has to have 3G (cell phone) access... which adds a lot to the price. Co-Pilot has an app for the iPad as well (with configuration for an RV, even) but the 3G pricing mitigates against it; for us at least.
Craig
Rand McNally's response to a question about differences between the 5510 and the 7710 -
Hello Jon,
Both units have their similarities but where they differ comes with functionality. Being that the 7710 is a newer unit it operates under updated software. They both operate the same. Everything, down the to the user interface is pretty much identical. The biggest differences you notice will be in the our POI database. The 7710 has a fairly robust set of information which allows you to view various pieces of information for one POI which may in turn be more robust than what is currently on the 5510.
Like I said, the units are both identical in every way shape or form. The biggest differences however, come from the software side of things. The 7710 offers up a more robust POI system as well as additional functionality on the map screen.
Hope this helps,
TND Support
Technical Support Engineer
The WiFi iPad will work if you have either a bluetooth GPS receiver Amazon.com: Dual Electronics XGPS150 Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for iPad (http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electronics-XGPS150-Universal-Smartphones/dp/B004M3BICU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2UZFM8L2292K0&colid=2ERNPP62TD2G7), or a Magellan car kit for the iPhone (which I have actually tried it with because I already had the Magellan car kit). It actually tracked my position well. Plus I already had 3 iPhone apps that are universal (meaning that they can use the screen size to it its full advantage). we haven't used it on a trip yet, but I can already see the advantage of the iPad's responsive touch screen and the 10" size! I haven't tried the bluetooth option, but I am tempted because it would do away with the wires. I forgot to mention, in order to use the Magellan car kit with the iPad, you have to have a dock extension cable, one that uses all 30pins.
Don
I use Microsoft Streets and Trips to plan my trips and download them onto my Garmin Nuvi. Plus I leave the Laptop running Streets and Trips with its own GPS, that way I can find anything I want. Really like the Streets and Trips for planning and also for seeing what is in the area I am in. Have downloaded all the Discovery Owners POIs and map overlays - Discovery Owners Free Overlay POI Website Gets A Makeover | Streets & Trips Team (http://msstreets.com/2009/10/16/discovery-owners-free-overlay-poi-website-gets-a-makeover/). Am never lost with Streets and Trips.
iPad2 has internal GPS. I just used "Find iPhone" to locate Marilyn's iPad2. It's only connection to the outside world is via WiFi.
On Kent's recommendation, I bought AllStays Camp and RV today. I like it. It combines a lot of databases into one app. I will still use RV Park Reviews :: Home (http://RVParkReviews.com) and Overnight RV Parking (http://OvernightRVParking.com) for additional commentary, but the iPhone app appears to be very useful.
I wonder if there is a similar app for the Android phones.
Yup:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.allstays.app.camprv