Good Sam GPS Unit
I Received a Good Sam GPS unit for Christmas and I am wondering if anyone else has this unit and how it preforms. I had wanted a Garmin and could take it back but it looks to be a good unit and has t...
Forum Discussion
I like the way the Rand displays the POI for campgrounds, RV services locations, Dump stations, etc.
And the Quick Stops to locate the nearest Walmart - an RVers first stop after the campground. Also, Pilot, Flying J, Love's Travel Stops, TA/Petro and Wilco truck stops.
I can setup a week long trip with the GPS to travel across the country with fuel stops, lunch locations, campgrounds all setup. Creating and setting up multi-stop trips is pretty easy once you do it a few times. (Now I would likely not do that for a real trip - I tend to be more comfortable working with Streets & Trips, but it is a fun way to spend a few hours.)
I also like how the GPS can be setup for the Car mode - and will show my ETA based on running at or near the speed limit, but in the RV Mode I can set the GPS to increase the ETA for slower RV speeds. (I ain't running 85 mph down the tollway around Austin pulling my trailer).
Practice with the GPS in your easy chair. Find out how the different features work - how to find POI that you want. Make sure your navigator also knows how to use the GPS. Don't be like me, and most other folks, trying to figure it out while on the interstate, or yelling at the navigator/ DW.
You do need to download the Rand McNally "Rand Dock" program and connect the GPS to your computer/ laptop - and run the latest update.
As with any GPS - remember it is advisory on routing - not the last word. Never trust it to be perfect.
A GPS is only as good as the source data - and state highway departments, RV campgrounds, national and state parks, government campgrounds all have a long way to go in standardizing their data so GPS units are better.
The only 'issue' I have with the Rand unit is the large 7" screen size and seeing it when in bright sunshine.
I have found that setting the screen to display the night screen and on the brightest setting is easier to see than the daytime screen.
The night screen is a black background with lighter colored roads and the route is a lighter color. The day screen is a near white background and the light colored roads tend to fade into the background for me.
And the Quick Stops to locate the nearest Walmart - an RVers first stop after the campground. Also, Pilot, Flying J, Love's Travel Stops, TA/Petro and Wilco truck stops.
I can setup a week long trip with the GPS to travel across the country with fuel stops, lunch locations, campgrounds all setup. Creating and setting up multi-stop trips is pretty easy once you do it a few times. (Now I would likely not do that for a real trip - I tend to be more comfortable working with Streets & Trips, but it is a fun way to spend a few hours.)
I also like how the GPS can be setup for the Car mode - and will show my ETA based on running at or near the speed limit, but in the RV Mode I can set the GPS to increase the ETA for slower RV speeds. (I ain't running 85 mph down the tollway around Austin pulling my trailer).
Practice with the GPS in your easy chair. Find out how the different features work - how to find POI that you want. Make sure your navigator also knows how to use the GPS. Don't be like me, and most other folks, trying to figure it out while on the interstate, or yelling at the navigator/ DW.
You do need to download the Rand McNally "Rand Dock" program and connect the GPS to your computer/ laptop - and run the latest update.
As with any GPS - remember it is advisory on routing - not the last word. Never trust it to be perfect.
A GPS is only as good as the source data - and state highway departments, RV campgrounds, national and state parks, government campgrounds all have a long way to go in standardizing their data so GPS units are better.
The only 'issue' I have with the Rand unit is the large 7" screen size and seeing it when in bright sunshine.
I have found that setting the screen to display the night screen and on the brightest setting is easier to see than the daytime screen.
The night screen is a black background with lighter colored roads and the route is a lighter color. The day screen is a near white background and the light colored roads tend to fade into the background for me.
