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Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

January 10, 2012, 08:11:11 pm

I suppose there must be someone who doesn't have - or want - a GPS in his/her RV; I just don't know who it might be. I have had a GPS since Magellan produced a hand-held unit in the 1980s. It cost me over $2,000 and it was worth every penny to a sailboat cruiser in waters that were last charted by Magellan (the original, real, Magellan); you could even see how they were tacking back and forth by the depth readings on the charts. I loaned it  once to a friend who told me that he really didn't think he needed it for a crossing of about 700 miles; he sent it back to me with a note telling me that he was wrong and was buying one for himself as soon as he could.

The GPS units most RV pilots use are made for cars. It's only been in the past few years that there have been RV-specific models which can be configured to your coach and used (hopefully) to keep you off roads or away from bridges that are unsuitable for whatever you're driving. However, these are not cheap. Regular price is about $500 with discount units available for somewhat less.

I wanted an RV GPS but wasn't interested in spending $500 and, anyway, my Foretravel Grand Villa U225 isn't so high that I have to worry too much about low bridges (out here in the west, at least) and my gross weight isn't at the top end of the RV range. But the cockpit of our coach is big enough that a 7-inch display is easier to see. I did not want traffic information because that inevitably comes with either a "paid subscription" to the reporting service or banner ads running across the display (which have been widely reported as annoying). But I did want free map updates after discovering that I could literally buy a GPS at WalMart for the price of an map update for some units. The Magellan Roadmate 1700LM seemed to fill most of my requirements and was $149 (at Amazon prior to Christmas 2011... but it seems to be $199 now so shop around). The "LM" stands for "Lifetime Maps" so you can download the yearly updates for free once you register the unit.

The 1700LM also offers something extra: It's a convertible! Some RV owners use the "Co-Pilot" software program which is available for PCs (with a separate USB GPS receiver) running Windows and also for some handheld smartphones (Androids and iPhones) as well as the iPad (with an expensive 3G subscription). But there is also a co-pilot version on an SD memory card that plugs into the SD slot on the 1700LM (and 1470) and converts it into a configurable RV/Truck GPS. The Co-Pilot SD card is about $69 at Amazon.

We used the Magellan 1700LM on our trip up to Twisp in north central Washington state and it performed quite well. The RV park we had reservations at was in the POI (Points of Interest) database (but was, as it turned out, in error causing us some confusion as to whether we had, in fact "arrived"). The voice on the 1700LM is female and while instructions to turn are clear the road identifications seem to be in a slightly different voice and is muffled. I have to admit that my 30 years of flying small airplanes has cause some hearing problems so it might be fine for you.

The screen on the 1700LM is 7-inches and very easy to see. I mounted mine at the top-center of the windshield about where the rear-view mirror would go (if you had one). This turns out to be a great place as it's intuitive for a driver to glance up to that position now and then anyway.

There is no way to configure the 1700LM for any vehicle other than a regular car and at one point in our trip it told me to turn left onto a road that was clearly marked "NO TRUCKS, BUSES OR RVS"; luckily my wife - who is a professional bus driver and looks out for these things - noticed and warned me. There was really no reason for the Magellan to route me onto that road anyway as continuing straight was the easier and more direct route. This did make me think that perhaps the Co-Pilot might be a worthy addition.

On our return home I ordered the Co-Pilot chip through Amazon and it arrived a few days ago. I have installed it but not used it for a trip yet. The "reviews" on Amazon are mixed for this chip with some truck drivers claiming that it still routes them onto unsuitable roads from time-to-time. Nothing's perfect, I guess.

The Co-Pilot chip is a micro-SD chip in a regular SD carrier. It took me a few minutes to figure this out and since the Magellan 1700LM only accepts micro-SD chips I was afraid I would have to return the chip. A little examination showed me where I had gone wrong and the micro-SD chip inserted right into the 1700LM and rebooted the device.

When it's inserted the Co-Pilot takes over the 1700LM completely; there is no vestige of the Magellan interface. It does not supplement the 1700LM, it replaces it. So any new maps that are installed on the 1700LM no longer exist as far as the Co-Pilot is concerned. There are indications that map updates are available but I am pretty sure you have to pay extra. This, despite the fact that the Magellan 1700LM has "lifetime maps". However, you do get what is essentially two -entirely different - GPS units; one of which is configurable for RVs.

Setup for the Co-Pilot is extensive. You can select the type of map, different voices (both male and female), heading-up or north-up display (some people prefer north-up), a complete selection of preferences for types of roads (Interstates, major highways, two-lane roads, four-lane roads, local roads, etc.) and the speeds you expect to be able to travel on those roads (for arrival estimation), and route selections for speed or fuel economy. There is a rather quick method for selecting detours. A driver can set up a route with multiple stops and the Co-Pilot will (if you ask it) arrange them in the most efficient order.

There are far more settings available. You can even configure it for use on a bicycle!

The display for the Co-Pilot does not take up the entire 7-inch screen of the 1700LM, however. This might be the result of its ability to work on the 1470 as well but it was somewhat disappointing. The display is quite clear and the extra space is taken up by some route and speed information.

I'll post more information when we actually use the Co-Pilot for a trip. For now I'm satisfied withe the 1700LM in its standard mode for $150. The Co-Pilot, if it works well, is just icing on the cake.

Craig

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #1 – January 12, 2012, 12:24:16 am

Nice review of the Magellan, Craig... looking forward to reading what you think of the CoPilot chip once you have had a chance to use it...
Don

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #2 – January 17, 2012, 06:01:01 pm

We still haven't taken a trip using the Co-Pilot chipset but I thought I'd pass along a few photos showing the differences between the units. One photo is of the Magellan 1700LM map display and the other is the Co-Pilot map display. It's interesting to note that the Co-Pilot shows the coach in the middle of the street while the Magellan displays a more-accurate position (parked behind the shop well off the street).

Another photo shows where the micro-SD Co-Pilot chip inserts into the Magellan 1700LM.

The last photo shows the Magellan mounted at the top of the windshield. I used some wire-guides down the metal strip between the windshield halves for the power cord but needed a $12 cigarette lighter extension to power the unit to keep the wires under control.

Craig

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #3 – January 17, 2012, 09:05:48 pm

I have a 1700 and would be interested in what you think after you have used it for a while with the copilot chip.

Mark

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #4 – January 25, 2012, 04:27:13 pm

I have a Magellan Roadmate 5175T-LM which has managed to be nothing but problematic since I got it just before Christmas.  It has suddenly deleted all my address book entry's without warning and has given ludicrous directions at times, such as to do a U-turn when on the only road to a destination.

While it's always possible to get a bad unit it's the customer service that is awful.  Twice on hold for 45 min. and 35 mins. without answer and today on hold for 15 mins. only to talk to someone overseas who can only read from a script!  How about "If you use it on routes that you already know why do you have a problem when it shows the wrong way???" as an answer!

1 hour 45 mins talking to an idiot and then her supervisor before they would issue a return authorization.

That's the last time I buy anything from them.

Keith

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #5 – January 25, 2012, 05:24:30 pm

Odd how that works... we've had 3 Magellan units (plus the first hand-held Magellan) and never an issue. But the co-pilot chip just uses the display and the GPS chipset... not the rest of the unit (not the maps, POIs, saved places, etc.).

Craig

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #6 – January 25, 2012, 10:42:33 pm

It is always possible to get a bad unit.  100% perfect is impossible.  It's what they do to fix the problem.  The new owners of Magellan, MiTAC, don't seem to think tech support or customer service is a priority.

Keith

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Re: Magellan Roadmate 1700LM GPS and Co-Pilot RV Chipset

Reply #7 – May 08, 2012, 12:53:23 pm

After using the Magellan 1700LM with the Co-Pilot RV chipset I have to say that I prefer the Magellan alone over the Co-Pilot.

The Co-Pilot is incredibly configurable... even down to the sorts of speeds you might expect to go on various roads. Too configurable, actually. I still haven't got it set exactly right and not sure I have the patience to fine-tune it.

The Co-Pilot also does not take full advantage of the Magellan 1700's wide screen which is not difficult to understand when re-reading the devices the Co-Pilot is made to be used with; the other unit has a smaller screen. I originally thought that it would adapt. Silly me.

It's also not exactly set up for an RV. You have to select a truck that best meets your configuration. And this might not be appropriate.

At least it was cheap... I can still use it but I much prefer the bigger Magellan screen size and clarity. It does try to lead me down the wrong road now and then but the DW is more alert to this than I am so as long as she's up front somewhere it's all good.

On edit I should say that the voice selection for the Co-Pilot is excellent. I spent way too many hours in small airplanes and my hearing is not what it should be so voices, tones, alarms and so forth can either be good or bad; depending. The selection of voices on the Co-Pilot is extensive enough that I could find one that just fits my best range. Wish they all were like that.

Craig

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