GPSs

[Buster52]

I want to thank all who answered my question about a Rand McNally 7710. I know people have opinions on what they like and do not like. And every GPS has its good and bad side and they all use different logic on how to program. All brands of GPSs will have their bad units that do not work. You make a million of something some will be bad. This is what I have learned from it. First pass on the unit. It does not have lifetime map updates. It will quickly become obsolete without spending more money. For the Rand McNally company products. They have closed their forum to new members. Making me to wonder why. Are there to many complaints? But are the others any better? Data bases for each company are incomplete. It looks like you have to pay to have your business included in the data. Buy why? When I buy a program or GPS it should be complete. Not directing me to their customers and leaving out the others. I use my laptop to plan my trips. One shows no gas stations in Lee Vining, CA. Also, I have not found any GPS or PC map program that has the National and State parks in them. If I want to go to Mt. Rushmore I have to find it and add it to my POIs. Why, are these government secret? 🙂 And Data bases they use. Why do they not update them along with the maps? I have went to restaurants that have been closed years before the GPS was made. Please let me know if I am wrong about this. All I am looking for is a GPS that will do what they say they will do. Thanks

[kennethwooster]

We have 2 vehicles with synch. I've noticed its much better the the older versions. I'm very glad for the help.

[Dandy_Dan]

The newer version of the Rand McNally has more options in it than the 7710 did. I have one of each and both have lifetime updates. So far, they have not steered me wrong. Good Luck on your choice.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Buster52 wrote:
I have not found any GPS or PC map program that has the National and State parks in them.

My first Garmin several years ago had those parks in it. So did my daughter's TomTom and another Garmin I bought in 2011. They were not listed as a separate category, so finding them took a bit of learning on how the POI database was setup.

My Rand McNally 7725 makes finding campgrounds wonderful. Separate catagories for Commerical CG, Good Sam CG, National Parks, State Parks, US Forest Service, BLM, COE, Military CG, etc.

Microsoft Streets & Trips is also easy to use to find major campgrounds - a wonderful PC mapping program, which unfortunately, Microsoft has abandoned.

Buster52 wrote:
Why do they not update them along with the maps? I have went to restaurants that have been closed years before the GPS was made.

Closed business are a big problem with the internet, search engines and mapping programs. Because when a business shuts down, they don't spend money to notify everyone they are closing. It takes complaints to get them removed.

Buster52 wrote:
Please let me know if I am wrong about this. All I am looking for is a GPS that will do what they say they will do. Thanks

None of the GPS companies generate most of their data. They buy it various suppliers, or receive data such as roads from state government data bases.

They try their best, but the United States is an incredibly huge country with many conflicting sources of data for the same information.

A GPS is an aid, and a tool which we have to study, and learn to use in the most efficient manner. I often think the companies drive to make the simpler to use has the opposite long term effect. It is so simple and easy to start using them, that most folks never take the time to try to find out how to use them most effectively.

[accsys]

Buster52 wrote:
Also, I have not found any GPS or PC map program that has the National and State parks in them. If I want to go to Mt. Rushmore I have to find it and add it to my POIs. Why, are these government secret? 🙂

My RM 7720 had the National Parks and State Parks in it right out of the box.

[Fizz]

A GPS is a tool to "help" you plan your trip, period.
It is not a repository of all known locations on the continent, you have the Internet for that.
That little box can only hold so much, it can't please everybody.

[TomHaycraft]

I've not been cross-country to pressure-test my Garmin RV 760LMT, but here in Texas, at 1/3rd the width of our country, it's not let me down. I've been to 30% of the Texas State Parks with hookups, found them all, many more to see.