Forum Discussion

Marv_Hoag's avatar
Marv_Hoag
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016

My thoughts on the Rand McNally GPS

I've been using this unit for several months. After just returning from a 2500 mile trip through NV, UT, CO, AZ, I am ready to retire it. The first problem is the glare in my motorhome makes it very difficult to see the screen, with or without the optional glare screen. The colors, and contrast are too dull to be read. Wearing sunglasses makes it impossible to read anything. It does not recalculate well and gives off weird directions along the way. Lucky for me, Streets and Trips keeps me on the correct route. Downloading the Good Sam trip planner did not send me on the route I entered on the computer some of the time it(GPS) wanted me to deviate from the designated route. Bottom line I am going back to my old out of date Garmin, at least I can read its screen. Really sorry I purchased the Good Sam unit.
  • Miles_Away's avatar
    Miles_Away
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2016
    I have the RM7710 (first edition). I always liked the features, but was very unhappy with the lack of screen brightness. It was very hard to see in the daylight. Over the years, I updated it several by sending it back to RM. I don't know what they did but now the screen brightness is 3 times what it was when I first purchased the unit five years ago. The updates are great and a lot of features have been added to the software. We just returned from a seven week RV trip out west and it preformed great.
  • jplante4's avatar
    jplante4
    Explorer II
    Oct 12, 2016
    We run TomTom and my tablet with CopilotRV side by side. I already know the route before I leave, so I mostly ignore both until we get close. By then both units are in agreement. TomTom took me down a scary road in the Catskills the first year we used it because I had it set to shortest vs. fastest route. Since then I heed the warning I saw on nautical charts years ago...

    "A prudent navigator will not rely solely on a single means of navigational information".
  • Marv_Hoag's avatar
    Marv_Hoag
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2016
    bstump wrote:
    Which units was this? the Good Sams version or the new Tablet 80?

    I have the RVND 7735 LM. I read in one of the updates about a high contrast setting, but nothing appeared in the screen mode (3 choices) settings. I have tried all three. Even with sunglasses offf the screen is still difficult to see.
  • accsys's avatar
    accsys
    Explorer
    Oct 12, 2016
    rr2254545 wrote:
    On the other had I am extremely happy with my Garmin 660 that I got last spring

    On the other hand we are extremely happy with the RM 7720 we purchased five years ago! The learning curve was steep but I wouldn't have any other now.
  • bstump's avatar
    bstump
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2016
    Which units was this? the Good Sams version or the new Tablet 80?
  • YC_1's avatar
    YC_1
    Nomad
    Oct 11, 2016
    I found on the trip we just returned from, Fl to Ca and back, that using my prescription polarized lens that it was impossible to see the screen. For some reason I turned the screen clockwise about 45 degrees and it is visible.

    The high contrast setting is not where you would think it should be. It is not on the screen where you set the brightness. It is on a screen that has three selections. Use the High contrast one.

    Be sure to have the GPS in the RV mode and of course always cross check. Google Earth is great for doing a pre-trip.

    Do not make trips longer than a day. Just have the gps recalculate every day.

    They do need to address the issue of the polarization. This is not good.

    I have an older Rand Mcnally Good Sams unit and it does not have the issue.
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2016
    Marv Hoag wrote:
    I've been using this unit for several months. After just returning from a 2500 mile trip through NV, UT, CO, AZ, I am ready to retire it. The first problem is the glare in my motorhome makes it very difficult to see the screen, with or without the optional glare screen. The colors, and contrast are too dull to be read. Wearing sunglasses makes it impossible to read anything. It does not recalculate well and gives off weird directions along the way. Lucky for me, Streets and Trips keeps me on the correct route. Downloading the Good Sam trip planner did not send me on the route I entered on the computer some of the time it(GPS) wanted me to deviate from the designated route. Bottom line I am going back to my old out of date Garmin, at least I can read its screen. Really sorry I purchased the Good Sam unit.


    try a pair of non-polarized sunglasses. and if you have a high-contrast setting on the GPS turn that option on. both should improve visibility of the screen.
  • rr2254545's avatar
    rr2254545
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2016
    On the other had I am extremely happy with my Garmin 660 that I got last spring
  • Bob_Vaughn's avatar
    Bob_Vaughn
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2016
    I had the Rand McNally and returned it....We were always past the place where we were supposed to turn plus a lot of issues with screen displays....
  • lj2654's avatar
    lj2654
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2016
    Thanks for the review. I have an older Garmin GPS from when I had my motorcycle. It still works good and doesn't deviate from the routes too often. I have thought about a new one but haven't heard of many that are any better.

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