Considering RV Life Pro GPS

The app has had many, many updates in the past two years. Routing has been substantially improved, mapping has been improved and updates continue.
And that is why I will run it on our longer trips on one of my devices. I've got the trip planning already in the platform so it's easy to run it in parallel to see if the issues I had previously experienced have been resolved. Hopefully I'll have a good report later this year.
 
And that is why I will run it on our longer trips on one of my devices. I've got the trip planning already in the platform so it's easy to run it in parallel to see if the issues I had previously experienced have been resolved. Hopefully I'll have a good report later this year.
Good idea.
Heading out in 3 weeks for a long trip to FL, GA, & NC.
I have my 10" display and my iPhone Pro Max both facing me as I drive.
I will use RV Pro GPS on phone and Waze on my 10". Review after Memorial Day.
 
No, mapping was around long before satellites or even airplanes. You might say in today's world "positioning" comes from satellites. The position of the travelers and indeed, the accurate position of roads and other mapping features comes from GPS and aerial surveys.
Actually it's data... not "mapping" per se. And surface imagery which includes geographic coordinates, etc. I'm sure Google didn't send a photographer into orbit for Maps and Waze images. However, Street View land based imaging is Google's doing.
 
Ah man, why do you hate me so....:surrender: now I will have to try to see if even works with my Android Auto? I am sure the App is still on my phone, but I have not bothered to look to see if it even shows up. T Mobile make have tossed it for me because it is always tossing junks apps (junk to me if I don't use) on my phone.

I don't care for that planning stuff on the computer and pushing to my phone. I don't need to plan where I am going, I just want to know where I am at and which way is the fastest to point I want to go, I don't care who's back yard I have to cross, that is why in Texas we all have fences, for those that try crash through my fence there RV will wind up in the pool.
 
I'm sorry you had a negative experience. The app has had many, many updates in the past two years. Routing has been substantially improved, mapping has been improved and updates continue. :flowers:
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Dr. Seuss​

Okay, last chance at an off ramp (pun intended), if you say it is "substantially better", I will give RV GPS App Thing 2 a chance because RV GPS Thing 1 was a Nightmare. Just remember if I get to review a 2nd time, I will have to give my honest review because I speak for the trees (I mean SOBs) akin to the Lorax. :socool:
 
@Janet H

If you have a conduit to the developers of the app, kindly pass along the concerns I raised back in post #7.

They can only improve the customer experience if they know of the deficiencies (as seen by the paying customers). I haven't come across a viable way of providing feedback.

Cheers!
 
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@Janet H

If you have a conduit to the developers of the app, kindly pass along the concerns I raised back in post #7.

They can only improve the customer experience if they know of the deficiencies (as seen by, the paying customers). I haven't come across a viable way of providing feedback.

Cheers!
Used to be you could join IRV2 and they had a sub-forum there for feedback. I don't know if that's still available as I rarely cross IRV2's doorstep.
 
Update on my efforts to re-evaluate the RV GPS App

So I go out to the RV and turn on phone and my XBay Android Auto Device

  1. I quickly find the RV GPS App on my phone, everything seem to work but it would not load up a map for Navigation
  2. So I go to the Android Device and confirm what I already knew in that the app was not present with all of my other Android apps from my phone
  3. So with a little thought I wondered if my App on my phone was outdated ( my word of the week from Janet)
  4. So I log into my account on laptop and had it repush the RV GPS App to my phone and presto!!! I see maps, I go to my Android Device and there was the RV GPS app, I am excited at this point.
  5. I then input an address direct on the phone, NOT the planning software on my Laptop, and it took it. I am able to see the Navigation route on my Android device See Screenshot.
So for now, it is positive, I had to stop playing with it because I have to wrap up a few things for work. But by coincidence I have a 5 hour drive tomorrow through Oklahoma & Arkansas. I will drive the RV, I expect to be back by Sunday. I will see how long I can use the RV GPS App. 12 hours of actual drive time should yield a lot info. Last time I tried this I was barely 30 minutes outside of Dallas before I gave up. I had to stop 3 or 4 times trying to get the thing back on track to my primary destination. It kept telling to turn around and go back to Dallas. It would not allow me to go pass that stop I had entered (planned on the computer) I did not want to stop there. That was light years ago, I am sure all of that may be fixed now.

1745518351457.png
 
I found a thread from 2019 where members Gordon and Hudsoner were discussing using a Wi-Fi ipad with the CoPilot app and an XGPS 150A Bluetooth antenna for their GPS systems. I have sent a message to inquire if they were still happy. In the mean time I thought I would inquire here to see if anyone else was using this system and what their thoughts were. I have an old IPad 2 that is Wi-Fi and Verizon capable, I can connect to my phone via blue tooth, but the operating system will not support Google maps. My thought is I could save a lot of money get a much larger screen and recycle the old I pad for much less than the cost of a Garmin or other GPS system. Any thoughts or recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Throw that iPad away.
Buy a $99 android tablet that has gps.
It'll simultaneously run 100 other travel apps as a tab or split screen.
Or
Ran by a $4 yard sale android phone.
Or
This is a radio head tablet combo. A no-din radio of sorts.
(I have all three of the above)

I have, but haven't used in years, a Bluetooth gps.
There's nothing right or wrong about it, it lets you use substandard devices in a 2006 sort of way.
 

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We made an overnight trip to the MIL's house this weekend so because of this thread I cranked up the RV Life APP. All observations are from a simple point-to-point trip.

I usually run Sygic on the dedicated GPS tablet but have the RVLife APP on there as well. I cranked it up and after logging in it wanted to update so I let it do that. After the update I opened it up and it bypassed the login so I went straight to the DPS APP and started a destination search for the MIL's house. Easily found it and I told it to navigate there.

First aggravation (repeated everytime at this point): beside the obvious GPS "safe" route it provides a second option that nobody would ever choose because it detours you off the fastest/shortest route. So you have to tell it a second time to navigate the obvious route.

Second aggravation (one time only): before I could pick the obvious route it said my session had expired and logged me out of the APP. Now Google knows my RVLIFE login info but would not use it to log back in - I had to type my password. As it logged me back in Goggle asked if I wanted to save the login information - not update it - but save it as if this was a brand new APP. Of course the route search and selection previously made was lost and I had to start all over again.

I got the route selected/calculated and we were on our way. The routing looked good and the time estimate was reasonable.

After a few minutes I switched the tablet over to the Sygic APP running in the background for comparison. After a few minutes with the Sygic APP having focus and RVLife in the background I got a System message that the RVLife APP had stopped. Did I want to restart it or close it? I switched over to the RVLife APP and it automatically restarted.

Third aggravation (consistently repeatable on the Samsung tablet): It appears that if you don't continue to give the RVLife APP focus when running natively (as opposed to on Android Auto), it will crash. I did not attempt to repeat this on any other device, but on this tablet that was always the case. I tried it two more times with the same result.

So that ended the test on the tablet. I usually run Google Maps on my phone through a wireless Android Auto connection to my recently purchased AA Head Unit. So I decided to try the RVLife APP that way as well. Cranked it up through AA with no issues and the interface is almost identical to running the native APP while navigating. It's a pretty clean interface but the navigation block (the one that tells you where to go/turn etc) was pretty large obstructing a good portion of the map.

Fourth Aggravation (repeatable): Using shortcut icons at the bottom of my AA device it was very easy to switch back and forth between GM and RVLife APPs for comparison, BUT: If you left the focus on GM, when you did switch back to RVLife it had stopped navigating and you had to tell it to navigate the obvious route again. GM kept navigating when it was in the background.

Other observations made on this trip:
The RVLife mapping data appeared mostly up to date. There were a handful of times where the indicated speed limit was incorrect, but nowhere near as many times as it was on Sygic. GM was always up to date.
The RVLife APP has no way to add a waypoint to an existing trip without canceling the trip and going back to the search function. You can't even look for gas stations or other POIs while navigating.
The Map display is simply 2D and more zoomed in than I like. I saw no way to change it to 3D like in other GPS devices/APPs. You can zoom the display in/out while navigating, but if you don't "return" (same as GM "re-center"), you will drive the vehicle icon right off the displayed map as it will not move with the vehicle.
Although you have a Speed Limit display, there is no actual speed display and no way that I could see to include it.
There is a Settings icon available on the display, but the only choice is for color/brightness theme with the default choice of Auto, and Night or Day. No other settings choices.
There is a "Route Feedback" feature, but it does not include anything but road information such as Bumpy Road, or Low Clearance. No mapping deviation, POI issue, or wrong speed limit feedback is available.
I did try searching for a destination on the AA device using voice and that worked great.

We'll be making this trip again for Mothers Day weekend so I'll create a route in Trip Planer and use it on that trip to see how that works now.

In summary, the RVLife GPS APP has improved, but still has room for more improvement. It's like the developers are using the "Clean Room" approach to developing it and have never looked at what other GPS devices/APPS do. The Sygic App's interface is much more feature rich, although I would say the RVLife mapping data is more current.
 
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That's far more than enough to dump it, but, as I'm an iPhone user and use CarPlay, the results MAY be different than Android--Maybe.

Still will give it a workout on the way to FL, GA, and NC starting 5/15.
 
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So,
No one at the rvlife factory did a side by side trip comparing systems.
This is very obvious.
How do you make something without making it better?
Were they trying to hit the 1998 sentra going to the dollar-store 'cheapest or die' folks?

A smart company would ask a smart group like us for cures.
The freebie they offered a few years ago was a great start.
But
Did any of us get a follow-up on the features we liked and the foibles we hate?

I would, and I doubt anyone doubts me, pay $1,000 for the right map program IF it could surpass the free ones by a large margin.
 
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I have been sitting on my info for more than a week. I wanted to be sure I was with purpose on my thoughts and stepped away from the jovial fun that I quite often employ to learn on this site.

I wish to say upfront, that I am also being mindful with some bias in favor of RV Life because I truly like what they do, and what they try to do. They may need more ambassadors that may or may not fit their normal circles.

With that said, it was stated earlier that the new RV Life GPS was "substantially improved". I am going to say that I agree with that statement. It was 20 times better than I expected from my use a few years ago. So I know someone is putting some work into it, and I appreciate that.

I also just noticed that RV Life may be out of Southlake, Texas? If so, that is only 15 minutes from me, not a factor; but interesting relevant point of reference for me that I did not know.

My Introductory Opinion:

I don't know the business model, or stated vision or strategy, but as I used the product, it appeared to me that one should probably not look at RV Life GPS to compare with the likes of Google Maps or Waze? It should be noted my primary material fact finding was based primarily on comparing with Waze. This is important because it may be that it is a RV Trip Planning tool that has some GPS route management features. In my world Planning is 1% need, GPS route management is 29% need, and In-flight Trip Information, alerts, warnings etc. is 70% need.

My Real World Trip Findings

Last week, I took my daughter who had came up from Houston to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas. I only knew of the trip 3 days before leaving. She had a function to attend but was worried about driving by herself from Houston To Fayetteville alone. So we decided to take her in the RV, and we had no plans once we arrived. I mean ZERO plans, we just used the RV as a SUV, I drove so she had plenty of time to spend with her Mother.

I won't repeat what I stated above on how I got the RV GPS App working on my Android tablet device. But when I got ready to start the trip, I got frustrated with the Terms & Conditions. No I did not read them, and do not care too, but the problem is it went into a loop. It delayed the start of my trip 20 minutes by rebooting my phone and android device several times just trying to get to the map. It should be noted that I had Waze running on my Samsung phone and the Garmin RV890 both set with the same destination in less than a minute. The only thing good about the RV GPS start up was that it allowed me to use voice to enter my destination address. It wasn't better than the Waze, but the destination address was easier on RV GPS compared to the Garmin.

Positive Experiences

1. It shows the Speed Limit in a big Orange Box. It was easier to see at a glance. Note: it only displays the speed limit if you are navigating to a destination. If you just have the GPS APP open as a moving map it will not show the speed limit.

Negative Experiences

1. During trip, it did not know when you will sometimes have free access on what is otherwise a toll road. Although I live in a city with toll roads all around me, I never take toll roads unless I have ZERO choice. This should prove to those that accuse me of being in a hurry that just because I drive the speed limit on the highways that I am NOT in a hurry. I am as safety minded as they come. But Waze will tell me what portions of a toll road I can get on at no charge and it save times and money. I use that feature all the time. So before I even got out of Dallas I used different routes than the RV GPS had 3 times. The Garmin RV890 is equally inept at toll road management.

2. Several times my Android Device screen reached a point in the RV GPS App where it would not do anything else unless I manually entered a command on my phone. This was really annoying because I was driving the RV. When I use my Android Tablet with Waze, my phone may be in my holster or center console. It is NOT needed. That is the purpose of having the Android Auto tablet.

3. The displayed Speed Limit was wrong a lot. Especially going through all of the small towns in Oklahoma. This was really bad as it additionally does not show your actual speed limit.

4. No hidden police alerts. Waze had warned me of hidden police 12 times one way. I had to use Waze to quickly verify real speed limit. In some of those cities speed limits can go from 65mph to 30mph in less than a mile.

5. The Audio Alarm was too loud. If you turn it to Low, then it was too low.

6. Limited Map view on the screen. The road appears to be straight ahead, but in reality a curve or turn is upcoming. I could see the turns on Waze and the Garmin RV890.

7. When a turn was required, the notification of the turn notification was delayed making me aggressively prepare to make the turn.

8. While I had it set to notify me of interesting places like National Parks etc. it did not notify me that I was passing President Eisenhower Birthplace.

9. In Oklahoma, several times the road was really narrow, especially for a RV, but I got no warning. My Waze did not warn either, but it does not claim to be a RV GPS

10. It does not tell you how many miles ahead on the road before entering into the next state. Waze has me spoiled.

11. I could not save my Home or Work addresses as Favorites? They only show as Recent

Conclusion:

So while the RV GPS is improved, it is not ready for my needs at this time. On the return trip I decided to not use the RV GPS. I wanted my Waze back on the main Android Auto screen. There are just too many benefits with using a free Waze. While it is possible that the RV GPS Planning with GPS may eventually rival Garmin's GPS, competing with a Waze or a Google Map to use on Android Auto will take a lot of work.


BTW, when in Fayetteville we had the option of staying in a very nice RV Resort called Hog Valley resort. We have stayed there before; so I can vouch for them, but we were allowed to boondock on campus at an empty Razorback Stadium. On the return we stopped impromptu at the Choctaw Casino in Oklahoma, they too had a RV Park, but they allow RV'ers to boondock at one of their two overflow parking lots. We had no idea of where we would stay on either trip, either night was my point; so no Planning required. I can't tell you how may RV parks I have seen on a map or a website and when we got there we just kept on driving. This is in part why we bought an RV that is fully assessible with full side bed with slide in. It is true Mobile Home and we live where we may be.
 
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That's how we travel.
No plan except if we need to be at something time sensitive we get there a day early.

The above is a very nice review that historically, will be ignored by those reviewed.

They either know they are of very marginal value or ignorance/pride prevents them from knowing.

A loss is as good as a profit to certain business models.
Their map program may meet this want/need.

I have asked for pay/premium membership.
I have asked about merchandise we could buy.
I've asked about member #(i don't see it since the change)plaques.

Don't any of you begin to think I wouldn't pay a premium for a premium product so as to support this site.

The map is not premium.
I won't...because they can't or won't.

They of course could prove me/wrong by again distributing it for free and then

OPEN A MONITORED FEED BACK THREAD AND AN INSTRUCTIONAL THREAD ON THIS FORUM.(like they should have from day one)

If they don't,
What should we think?
 
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Positive Experiences

1. It shows the Speed Limit in a big Orange Box. It was easier to see at a glance
It should be mentioned it only displays the speed limit if you are navigating to a destination. If you just have the GPS APP open as a moving map it will not show the speed limit.
 
It should be mentioned it only displays the speed limit if you are navigating to a destination. If you just have the GPS APP open as a moving map it will not show the speed limit.
Ah man, you cast shade on my positive. I tried to stick that point in my Negative #3. With that said, I am not sure that it was even showing the speed limit for me with a Destination? I would have to double check. I know I saw the speed limit at times, because I was getting close to getting read that if you had the alarm enabled it would trigger when you were 10 miles over the speed limit. I noticed because I would NOT actually be 10 mph over the speed limit but maybe 5 mph over. (The RV GPS may report the speed limit at 60mph but actual speed limit was 65mph and If I was doing say 70mph the loud alarm would go off). My confusion on whether and when RV GPS shows the actual speed limit is because I could see my actual speed limit on Waze and the Garmin when it was not on RV GPS.
 
That's how we travel.
No plan except if we need to be at something time sensitive we get there a day early.

The above is a very nice review that historically, will be ignored by those reviewed.

They either know they are of very marginal value or ignorance/pride prevents them from knowing.

A loss is as good as a profit to certain business models.
Their map program may meet this want/need.

I have asked for pay/premium membership.
I have asked about merchandise we could buy.
I've asked about member #(i don't see it since the change)plaques.

Don't any of you begin to think I wouldn't pay a premium for a premium product so as to support this site.

The map is not premium.
I won't...because they can't or won't.

They of course could prove me/wrong by again distributing it for free and then

OPEN A MONITORED FEED BACK THREAD AND AN INSTRUCTIONAL THREAD ON THIS FORUM.(like they should have from day one)

If they don't,
What should we think?

I agree. I suspect the developers are already aware of all of the issues, but under intense pressure to release new features that they don't have the time to engage.

With that said, the RV GPS App did have a mechanism where I could have submitted feedback a few times. Problem was it was NEVER convenient for me at the time. I am not going to pull over and write up feedback in the middle of the trip.

But I would be glad to help. Even with the Planning stuff, they ask too many questions so I tend to avoid, if they want my birthday, I will give then one but it will be a lie. Why does the RV park want to know how many people in RV for overnight? If I say more than 4, will they report me to the FBI as candidate for human trafficking? It would not allow me to load my RV dimensions without a birthdate and some other info.
 
Ah man, you cast shade on my positive. I tried to stick that point in my Negative #3. With that said, I am not sure that it was even showing the speed limit for me with a Destination? I would have to double check. I know I saw the speed limit at times, because I was getting close to getting read that if you had the alarm enabled it would trigger when you were 10 miles over the speed limit. I noticed because I would NOT actually be 10 mph over the speed limit but maybe 5 mph over. (The RV GPS may report the speed limit at 60mph but actual speed limit was 65mph and If I was doing say 70mph the loud alarm would go off). My confusion on whether and when RV GPS shows the actual speed limit is because I could see my actual speed limit on Waze and the Garmin when it was not on RV GPS.
Yeah, the over speed limit alarm is too aggressive. As I recal it triggers as soon as you are over the speed ;imit and just goes on and on. Other GPSs will give you a single audible warning and then turn the speed limit sigh (or actual speed display) a reddish color as long as you stayed over the speed limit. I had to turn that feature off on the RVLife GPS.
 
My version of sygic will display and call out the speed limit on any road under any overpass I cross.
It happens so fast and goes away so fast as i cross that it won't sound a speed alarm.
 

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