Magellan GPS

[WL2]

I am a great fan of GARMIN units, but this is an interesting idea.  Would not work very well for backpacking if you cannot have extra batteries, but for day hikes it might be kind of nice.

http://www.magellangps.com/products/product.asp?segID=391

[presidio]

I am a great fan of GARMIN units, but this is an interesting idea.  Would not work very well for backpacking if you cannot have extra batteries, but for day hikes it might be kind of nice.

http://www.magellangps.com/products/product.asp?segID=391

Their website says it is 'preloaded with 90 meter level' topos. Sounds impressive, but it's a little misleading and likely of no informational value to a lot of folks in terms of comparing it to other units.

What they are saying is that their topos are based on the 90 meter DEM (digital elevation model) data obtained from space shuttle radar mapping. There is much better resolution available...down to 10 meters. The 90 meter stuff is based on a world view; typical US data is based on 10 and 30 meter resolutions.

Will this affect use? Not really, except when you zoom in and find your elevation from the top of Boquillas Canyon to the bottom hasn't changed one bit because you are still in the 90 meter pixel for that data. Clearly, they chose this rather coarse resolution to cut down on memory requirements.

It's biggest drawback, as you mentioned, is the inability to change batteries. I guess one could be a real gadget freak and rig up a small solar panel on their hat or pack to keep it going. On the whole, this thing appears designed to appeal to people who rarely get out of their cars but who want to think they are outdoorsy. A Garmin with the 100k topo pack is a much more versatile device.

[LandCruisers4Life]

Run away from Magellan.... run far away 

[fartymarty]

Run away from Magellan.... run far away 

   From what I've read here @ BiBe chat it would seem that the Garmin 60CSx is the consensus
 crème de la crème of GPS units. I've never held one in my hand, yet from what I've read I would tend
to agree. However no matter how much lesser my Magellan Sportrak Topo might stack up against
a good Garmin unit, it's not exactly a piece of junk either. I've used it while driving (no, it doesn't talk)
I've used it while skiing, I've used it while flying (when United Airlines would still let passengers use GPS on board)
and I've used it while hiking in BiBe.  It has always showed me where I was, what altitude I was at, and how
fast I was going.  It does have some things I would change, that stupid little screw in the battery compartment
needs to be bigger, and why the backlight comes on when external power is lost is totally just plain dumb.
Is it great? no. Does it have a color display? no. Is it as good as as Garmin 60CSx? NO!
Is it a usable GPS unit that will do what you could reasonably expect a GPS unit to do. yes.

 

[Ray52]

I have to agree with Marty.  I've never used a Garmin so don't have any comment about them, but my Magellan Sporttrak Map has served me quite well primarily as a navigation aid for kayaking in the coastal marshes near my home.  Pre-GPS days, around 1988, my canoe and I were blown far off course in the Sea Rim marsh and had to be located by a helicopter and assisted out by an airboat. Since then, I've paddled the same canals and ponds and returned without incident by backtracking with the aid of my Magellan to my launch site.  When the time comes to replace it, I'll certainly consider a Garmin, but will purchase whichever unit best meets my needs and budget.   

[LandCruisers4Life]

My Magellan experience is military, where 4 out of 6 on average failed in the field. Good thing we could use maps and compasses. I hit the water once, swam to shore, turned on the GPS, which did turn on, and it abruptly short circuited. Supposedly waterproof. Humid jungle (2nd time), the electronics crapped out. Sorry, those are just my own experiences with Magellan. I don't own a Garmin 60Csx, but I know a few people who do and love them. I have a Lowrance and it performs perfectly.