GPS Tracklog

New 7″ Magellan RV models announced and shipping

Rich Owings — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:15:21 +0000

Seven-inch screens must be working for Magellan since they continue to roll out new ones. Today’s announcement focuses on models for RVs, with ~~four~~ three new RoadMates all pre-loaded with the Good Sam Trailer Life Directory and Good Sam discount locations (I’m not counting the Pro 9165-T as new, since it’s been around awhile). An A/V input is offered for a DVD player or backup camera, and the screen will automatically switch to the latter when you put your gargantuan home away from home into reverse.

If all that has you lusting for a new navigator before Memorial Day, you’re in luck, as they are already available (links go to Amazon):

Magellan RoadMate RV9145
Magellan RoadMate RV9145-LM - Lifetime maps
Magellan RoadMate Pro 9165T - Bluetooth, lifetime traffic
Magellan RoadMate RV9165T-LM - Bluetooth, lifetime traffic and maps

Here’s the full news release:

Magellan Announces Availability of New RoadMate RV GPS Navigators to Make RV Travel Safer, Less Stressful & More Enjoyable with Best-in-Class Trip Planning Conveniences

Pre-loaded Good Sam Trailer Life Directory and Discount Locations Deliver Valuable RV-related Content and Campground Information; ‘Magellan RV’ Launched on Facebook

15 May, 2012 SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Magellan, a leader of innovative GPS devices for vehicles, outdoor and mobile navigation, today announced the availability of new Magellan® RoadMate® RV GPS navigators designed to address the safety and distinct navigational needs of people who enjoy traveling in recreational vehicles. The new Magellan RoadMate RV9145, RV9145-LM, Pro9165T and RV9165T-LM models are pre-loaded with the Good Sam Trailer Life Directory and Good Sam discount locations. These RV travel resources feature comprehensive North America campground information to facilitate locating RV services, pet-friendly campgrounds and parks, Wi-Fi and more than six million points of interest.

“The Magellan RoadMate family of RV GPS devices, coupled with Good Sam Club discount locations and the Trailer Life Directory, are the ideal RV travel companions for a safer, more enjoyable and less stressful RV road trip,” said Stig Pedersen, Associate Vice President of Product Management for Magellan. “We know just how challenging it is to drive over-sized vehicles on varying roadways, and have equipped the new Magellan RoadMate RV devices with the best features and content to assist drivers before and during their journey.”

The Magellan RoadMate RV9145, RV9145-LM, Pro9165T and RV9165T-LM RV GPS models include extra-large, high-definition 7-inch touch screens, featuring a 50% larger display area than standard 4.3-inch screens. Versatile, heavy-duty extension mounts designed for vehicles with deep dashboards are also included to provide fully-adjustable, personalized comfort and safe viewing.

RV drivers can plan and customize their routes based on the vehicle’s height, width, length and weight and navigation preferences. Highway Lane Assist guides RV drivers towards the correct lane when approaching interchanges and exits. An A/V input is included for connecting external devices such as a back-up camera or DVD player. As part of its Safety Series, Magellan also offers a Wireless Back-up Camera ($149.99) as an ideal safety companion for the new RoadMate RV GPS Navigators. When the RV is in a reverse-mode, the Magellan navigator will automatically switch from navigation-mode to become a rear-view monitor that allows the driver to see what is behind the vehicle, including children, pets and toys. ‘OneTouch™’, another Magellan-exclusive feature, lets RVers bookmark and assign a button to their favorite destinations or searches for faster access.

For additional safety, the Magellan RoadMate Pro9165T and RV9165T-LM models include built-in Bluetooth® technology that turns the GPS device into a hands-free speaker phone. Free Lifetime Traffic Alerts notify the driver of traffic incidents on their route and suggest an alternative route.

Available now from Camping World, Good Sam Club and Magellan’s retail and online channel partners, MSRP prices are RV9145 ($349.99), RV9145-LM ($379.99), Pro9165T ($399.99) and RV9165T-LM ($429.99).

Getting mileage reports from your Garmin nuvi

Rich Owings — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:16:41 +0000

Need to keep track of your mileage? There may be a built-in solution already in your nuvi. Garmin’s ecoRoute app automatically creates a mileage report that can be viewed on the screen or downloaded from the nuvi as a .csv file. The only trick is you have to select a destination; if you’re just driving around with your nuvi on, the mileage won’t be recorded.

There are 38 nuvi models that come with ecoRoute preloaded. Owners of the 2012 Advanced (nuvi 2xx5) or Prestige (nuvi 34xx and 35xx) series will have to pony up $9.99 for the ecoRoute app.

Before you can start generating reports, you’ll need to go into the app and set it up for your vehicle. After that, you can view the report on screen or connect the nuvi to your computer and open or download the mileage.csv file. The report has a number of fields including Date, Start time, Origin, Destination, Distance and Time. There is more info on the feature in this mileage report FAQ.

Waypoints — May 12th, 2012

Rich Owings — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:58:19 +0000

Waypoints is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter.

GPS Deals

This first one is so good, I had to lead with this category. Hurry, because it ends tomorrow if they don’t take it down sooner. And they often sell out. Anyway, here are some bargains we’re currently tracking at our GPS deals site: