RVND 7 is a budget GPS specifically for RV drivers but also has an auto mode for regular type vehicles.
I have a history with Rand GPS software. My first was Rand McNally iOS software for my iPad. It was free for iPads with GPS capability. Loved this mapping system for a couple of years until it was no longer updated.
I then found that Rand McNally was distributing their own RV device and I bought that for $400+. Kept it until Rand McNally was not keeping up with the Apple Mac iOS updates, had to have support send me a micro sd for updating my RVND device. Decided to sell this device and use a Garmin for RV traveling. Upgraded my Garmin RV to the larger screen and capable of WiFi updating, thus not having to connect to my Apple device, unless i wanted to. I still have the Garmin RV GPS.
First, the PROS that I like about my new Rand McNally RVND 7..as compared to my Garmin.
—Light weight. I added a magnet to its “holder” and use with my iphone clasps.
—Warnings category with curve, hills, wind, narrow roads, state border, toll booth, construction and speed limit. Extensive and can adjust some of them. Great feature.
—information on each state under road atlas. Some useful and all interesting.
—ETA adjustment. If you know you always stop along your route for a bit of time, you can adjust the destination time accordingly and not have to worry about adding extra time in your head each time calculating. And, if a fast driver, then lessen ETA.
—Avoid small roads (A MAJOR REASON for buying. We’ll see how this works versus a Garmin navigation). Not only can you avoid dirt roads but also small roads. There are other avoidances but i’m mainly giving why i bought this Rand McNally RVND 7.
—POIs on the map has extensive on/off points for what you want or don’t want to see.
—Rand McNally Trips-many ideas for road trips when you don’t know what to do or need an idea. Cant wait to try one or two.
—MAP SCREEN and NAVIGATION. Some of my favorite reasons for buying the Rand McNally when i already have a top Garmin RV gps.
-Can easily see miles to go, arrival time and date in too right. This can be adjusted for 4 other options but love the default setting.
-Find POIs along my set route when on the interstate. A huge plus! Knowing the direction i am going and giving me only POIs that concern me forward, such as rest areas or Walmarts.
—Mile Markers. Yes, one can look alongside the road a see a mile marker, but RVND shows you the mile marker on your map!
—Big Bar at center bottom of mapping. Love love this feature! This bar toggles to three different features showing the city/county, intersection names, or street that you are currently on. I am forever wondering what city i am in!
—Compass directional. Live the NW, SE, S, etc rather than a compass arrow thats teeny tiny and then i have to figure out in my head the N, S, E, W directional. I can't be the only one liking this nice feature versus an arrow.
-Rand McNally Maps. I’m hoping their maps are as up-to-date as their paper map books. The map page and coordinates are displayed when first putting in a route.
-Price. I paid at least $50 too much. A week later found for less, but still a very good price without a bunch of extra bells and whistles in a tablet that I won’t use.
CONS:
—Screen is hard to see at an angle.
—Auto-recalculating or calculating is slow and can be nerve racking. Don't know if this is due to software or speed of processor.
—TINNY VOICE. Audio speaker is lame. Can hear but must really tune my ears for the sound.
—The RVND Rand McNally main page led me to believe that i could update software via WiFi. I should have been more thorough with my reading on the RVND 7 description. My loss. RVND 7 must be tethered to a computer for an update. I’m only hoping I’ll be able to continue to update as Apple updates its iOS. If not, I’ll have a door stop once again.
I have not used this particular model enough to know about its navigational features but if the past is an indicator of the future, we will be very pleased with its mapping navigational features, particularly when using the RV mode.