BigRed32771
Expert Expediter
We upgraded from a Garmin c330 to a nuvi 465t GPS unit for trucks and have a few early observations after just one week.
There is a very annoying design flaw regarding the clock. You cannot specify your working timezone (aka "yard or terminal time") The unit wants to automatically change and display time based on where you are. There is an "automatic' on/off that will let you specify what time it is, but ETA arrival times are always based on local time at the destination. This requires me to remember to add time, how much time to add, and for that matter know the time zone for my destination in order to correctly compare the displayed arrival time with my scheduled "company time" ETA. This strikes me as a potential safety hazard as I'm doing mental math.
The synthesized electronic voice has all the character and charm of the FDCC automated dispatch and checkout systems. The old compiled real voice recordings were much easier to understand and friendly sounding.
Alerts are accompanied by a loud dinging tone and sometimes popup messages that require a screentouch to clear. Saw an alert yesterday for 'overhanging branch location' but there were no trees.
ETA also appears to be calculated based on the internal database of posted speedlimits. There is no provision (that I've seen so far) to base on average times. Slow downs for traffic, construction, etc. small town traffic lights etc. are not figured in and grind away at your ETA clock.
Generally satisfied, but find at least these things are not as I would prefer.
BTW, the Rand McNally system does seem to have a valuable feature in it for people who have to keep track of their own IFTA miles. I think it runs a log based on miles travelled in each state and it can be addressed by month or by year. If this is something you have to keep track of you might want to check into this unit.
There is a very annoying design flaw regarding the clock. You cannot specify your working timezone (aka "yard or terminal time") The unit wants to automatically change and display time based on where you are. There is an "automatic' on/off that will let you specify what time it is, but ETA arrival times are always based on local time at the destination. This requires me to remember to add time, how much time to add, and for that matter know the time zone for my destination in order to correctly compare the displayed arrival time with my scheduled "company time" ETA. This strikes me as a potential safety hazard as I'm doing mental math.
The synthesized electronic voice has all the character and charm of the FDCC automated dispatch and checkout systems. The old compiled real voice recordings were much easier to understand and friendly sounding.
Alerts are accompanied by a loud dinging tone and sometimes popup messages that require a screentouch to clear. Saw an alert yesterday for 'overhanging branch location' but there were no trees.
ETA also appears to be calculated based on the internal database of posted speedlimits. There is no provision (that I've seen so far) to base on average times. Slow downs for traffic, construction, etc. small town traffic lights etc. are not figured in and grind away at your ETA clock.
Generally satisfied, but find at least these things are not as I would prefer.
BTW, the Rand McNally system does seem to have a valuable feature in it for people who have to keep track of their own IFTA miles. I think it runs a log based on miles travelled in each state and it can be addressed by month or by year. If this is something you have to keep track of you might want to check into this unit.
