Community Forums

DSL417 · 05-23-2013, 08:23 AM

Just want to renew this discussion, as it is my understanding this may be an option in the future as opposed to the Exite system currently installed.

So we're headed to a KOA in Middlebury IN on Highway 13. The infamous 7720 tells us to turn right on 120, go 15 miles east, 2 miles north, travel back on I80 to Highway 13 and exit to south, go several miles south to arrive at our destination. 35 miles of extra travel...

I am sitting at the highway 13 and 120 intersection, looking at the KOA sign 150 yards directly in front of me. Fortunately, I'd already looked at google maps and knew where I was going...and it was daylight.

This is not the first time...bottom line, RM 7720 IS NOT the cat's meow

Recommend you try the Exite version before your shell out the extra bucks. We have the iPad version with all the 7720 functionality and it is a disappointment. Before you suggest we might have it set up incorrectly, between the intersection and the campground, there were no overpasses, low hanging limbs, narrow roads, overweight bridges, toll roads, or any of the other settings present that would have deterred the software from saying go 300 feet and turn left.

tnrzryd · 05-23-2013, 08:56 AM

Maybe it wanted you to avoid getting animal guts on your fabulous coach when you turn left into the KOA, running over that dead skunk in the road.

tnrzryd · 05-23-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

Before you suggest we might have it set up incorrectly, between the intersection and the campground, there were no overpasses, low hanging limbs, narrow roads, overweight bridges, toll roads, or any of the other settings present that would have deterred the software from saying go 300 feet and turn left.

I just have to ask if you took this under consideration? The instructions point out that the device takes your length into account when making recommendations and routes you according to its best guess on ease of turns etc. The guide goes on to say that if you find it sending you on longer routes with too many turns, that you either shorten the length of your coach or even set it to a "car" profile. While I agree that the shortest route for you was straight ahead and turn left, I wonder if it would have chosen that route if it thought you were shorter and could more easily make that left turn? The possibility exists that it tried to route you based on its best guess of ease of making turns based on your profile.

JMHObservations.

MRUSA14 · 05-23-2013, 06:29 PM

I can see it sending you a few miles longer based on size, but 35 miles?

Us3Here · 05-23-2013, 06:32 PM

What the heck did we do before the 18 year old GPS revolution?
Read a map? OMG

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

Just want to renew this discussion, as it is my understanding this may be an option in the future as opposed to the Exite system currently installed.
overweight bridges, toll roads, or any of the other settings present that would have deterred the software from saying go 300 feet and turn left.

DSL417 · 05-23-2013, 06:32 PM

As we approached that intersection we switched it to car mode with the same result.

Bottom line...all the systems have their challenges. I will say, the Exite system that came in the coach has never done this to me.

tnrzryd · 05-23-2013, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

As we approached that intersection we switched it to car mode with the same result.

Bottom line...all the systems have their challenges. I will say, the Exite system that came in the coach has never done this to me.

But it will someday so be careful with saying never. When I set a destination on my Xite from my home, it takes me down the main road and suggests I make turns onto roads that don't exist or are 5 ft wide dirt tracks thru the desert that only an ATV could travel. On several trips, it has suggested routing over mountain passes with severe switchbacks that we wouldn't have been able to make had I not researched the route and known better than to try it.

When we leave on a trip, I've mapped it out with a printed map, used google maps looking at the complete route from above, checked for low clearances, restricted routes based on length and then have printed out turn by turn directions. When we get ready to leave, I plug in the info in the Xite and then chuckle about how wrong it gets the route. Again, JMHO.

majfrizz · 05-23-2013, 07:09 PM

here is what we all have used before

DSL417 · 05-23-2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnrzryd

But it will someday so be careful with saying never. When I set a destination on my Xite from my home, it takes me down the main road and suggests I make turns onto roads that don't exist or are 5 ft wide dirt tracks thru the desert that only an ATV could travel. On several trips, it has suggested routing over mountain passes with severe switchbacks that we wouldn't have been able to make had I not researched the route and known better than to try it.

When we leave on a trip, I've mapped it out with a printed map, used google maps looking at the complete route from above, checked for low clearances, restricted routes based on length and then have printed out turn by turn directions. When we get ready to leave, I plug in the info in the Xite and then chuckle about how wrong it gets the route. Again, JMHO.

Google Maps before any drives. I use the map view to get landmark businesses for turns, then switch to the satellite view where I want to look at the terrain, curves, bridges, etc. Recognize it doesn't tell everything, but then when whatever the GPS maps say sounds goofy, I can react.

Or at worst, pull over and look at the good old American atlas (or Canadian). Can't help it...spent the better part of my life looking at or creating maps

That said, JMHO, I haven't seen much advantage with the 7720 over the Exite.

Pops Youell · 05-30-2013, 03:52 PM

Dave, you should have just pulled into that little ice cream store at that intersection and had a good softy while you were laughing at the GPS. By the way, where did you get the US map that you are coloring located under your name?

DSL417 · 05-30-2013, 09:24 PM

Pops,

They have a puppy cup that hit the spot with the up, so we been there; it has been thirty years since I saw a tastee freeze so busy...small town America ... love it.

Use the "states visited" search on IRV and you'll find the software for the "visited" map. Follow the instructions and save it and your there.