Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS with Waterproof Exterior
by Magellan
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $399.99 -- our price: $279.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Take care of all your instrument needs with the Magellan Meridian Platinum Global Positioning System receiver. This rugged handheld GPS unit coordinates data from up to 12 satellites to pinpoint your location anywhere on the globe, and it includes a barometer and a three-axis digital compass. The 16 MB database provides details on U.S. cities, interstates, major roads, and airports. The Meridian Platinum's Secure Digital Memory Card slot allows you to slide in a data card to get even more detail, or use a memory card to store waypoints and routes.

The Meridian Platinum is PC compatible and stores up to 500 waypoints and 20 reversible routes with up to 30 legs. It also comes with a quadrifilar helix antenna for optimal satellite signal reception and fast position fixes. WAAS and EGNOS capability adds to the versatility of this receiver, which can be operated in English, French, German, Dutch, Finnish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Swedish.

See your exact position on the Meridian Platinum's seven navigation screens and vertical profile graphs that show elevations of the route traveled. The oversized grayscale display allows you to easily see location information and comes with a backlight and backlit keypad for use even in dim light. Waterproof rubber armoring and an ergonomic, compact design add to the Meridian Platinum's functionality.

The Meridian Platinum is compatible with Magellan's MapSend software, including MapSend Streets Europe and the recently released MapSend Topo for the United States. Vehicle, bike, and swivel mounts are sold separately. ... Read more

Features

• Waterproof; rugged, ergonomic design
• Oversize gray-scale screen with backlight; includes serial PC interface
• 12-channel GPS unit with 16 MB base map, barometer, and 3-axis digital compass
• Built-in database of U.S. cities, interstates, major roads, and airports
• Secure Digital memory-card slot for expanded storage

Reviews (36)

Expectations were apparently too high
I have owned this unit for a couple of years, and I have upgraded the software recently as well (rev 5.4). I would not buy another GPS of this model, and I have doubts about Magellan products in general after my experience with this unit. My reasons are a little different than other reviewers.

On my unit, the electronic compass is unreliable, and has to be recalibrated every week. This is particularly so if it is used around the electromagnetic environment of a vehicle, and whenever batteries are changed. Most importantly, there is no warning that the compass needs to be reset. Therefore you might find yourself walking along a heading that is completely inaccurate, without realizing it.

One of the key issues when using a unit like this is trust, and in particular trust when in the 'nearly lost, semi panic' situation that we all hope to never find ourselves in. My unit falls short often enough that I cannot trust some of the data I am getting.

In an effort to improve reliability I have set the compass orientation to "GPS course", so that when the compass fails, then at least the direction of movement on the map will be reliable. However I find it disconcerting when 'heading' is so dramatically incorrect. Evidently 'heading' is data derived from the internal compass, and the unit is happy to give data that is inconsistent with it's own data from the GPS direction. For example, when walking quickly east, the unit will always accurately show my movement on the map as east, even when the electronic compass has lost calibration. However on the next screen the 'heading' will be labeled as a ridiculous 221 degrees, or some other bizarre number, even when the unit is pointed directly along the eastward line of movement. It seems to me that it should be easy for the unit to be programmed to show a warning to the user that the compass is giving inaccurate data, since the data from the unit is in conflict with itself. If such a warning were reliable, then I would at least know when the unit needs recalibration. Sadly, Magellan seems to have made no effort to accomplish this. Without an internal check of the electronic compass I wouldn't trust this unit to get me out of trouble.

In some ways I should have anticipated this. Clearly, a GPS should not be relied on for simple information as to which way north is. It is much better for pinpointing your exact location, ultimately the most important data that a GPS offers. Therefore if I ever need to buy another GPS I would get one that does not have an internal compass. It would be nice if Magellan were to offer a software upgrade that allowed the user to turn off the internal compass, so that battery use would be lower and data would be more reliable. Spurious data is worse than no data at all.

bad for street level detail
this gps unit is pretty much useless for car navigation-- it showed me a block from where i was standing, on another street, past a creek that doesn't exist! (in south florida, using usa streets and destinations).

what the $#%% is the point of a GPS if it doesnt even show you where you are? it embarassed the hell out me when i was showing it off. you can only imagine.

in terms of hiking on trails and wooded areas and whatnot, i cant judge because i didnt test that aspect before i returned it, but im sure its great.

Great piece of technology!
Well, my experience with this gadget has been swell, a piece of cake when it comes to set it up (I didn't even have to read the manual) and a very easy to use and understand HANDHELD! Has many great features that I don't really use but I'm ok with that, I prefer more that less... Great for treking, my main activity when I use it... I wouldn't leave home without it, it's my favorite "high tech toy" to use for my job, as I am an archaeologist...:) I only had one problem with it because after two months of use it's system crashed down and it just wouldn't turn on again... I took it to the store where I bought it with my warranty on hand and they gave a brand new GPS, the same one of course, after 3 days!!! Anyway, I did what other customers already said: UPGRADE ASAP. So I did and I hope I don't have anymore trouble with it... Apart from that, I'm very happy and satisfied with this GPS. ... Read more

Asin: B00005OLYD
Subjects:  1. Global Positioning Systems (GPS)    2. 990437    3. GPS (Global Positioning System)    4. Units    5. map (mapping)    6. navigation    7. PDA    8. Laptop   

Magellan Meridian 16 MB GPS with 16-Color LCD Display
by Magellan
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $499.99 -- our price: Too Low To Display
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Magellan Meridian Color GPS receiver is just as at home navigating the highways and byways in your car as it is tracking through your favorite mountain trails. This top-of-the line GPS device features a preloaded 16 MB map database of North America, which can be augmented by detailed maps from optional CD-ROMs via the Secure Digital memory card slot. It also offers easy-to-read navigation screens, good-sized buttons and a thumb directional pad on the front, and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) for 3-meter accuracy.

Compared to Magellan's Sportrak line, the Meridian is bulkier both in weight (8.5 ounces with batteries compared to the Sportrak's 6.1 ounces) and overall dimensions--6.5 x 2.9 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D)--making it not quite as pocketable (unless you have cargo pants).

The bright color screen measures 2.2 x 1.75 inches and has a decent 160 x 120 pixel resolution with 16 colors. Compared with the staid monochrome screens of most GPS devices, the icons and mapping detail literally jumps off the screen. We found it to be nicely readable in the car and in most outside conditions, though it wasn't at its best in direct sunlight. As with cell phones in the car, you will have to be wary with your usage. The Meridian Color can be a bit distracting while you're driving as you have to read the screen for turning instructions (though there are audible prompts) rather than hear a voice providing directions (a feature of the Magellan Roadmate).

With a selected map region loaded into the memory (such as from the Mapsend DirectRoute CD-ROM), simply press the Goto button and select either a new or previously loaded waypoint or a point of interest (such as an airport or sports arena) to navigate to via a street route. After a bit of calculating, we were presented with a turn-by-turn journey that we could follow while driving. As we neared each turn, the Meridian Color emitted a set of beeps to warn us (which elevated to an urgent beeping when we were right on top of the turn). We used this to plot a course to Seattle's Space Needle, and it produced acceptable results (though, if you're familiar with the terrain, you may know better shortcuts). If you turn off the Meridian while following a route (say if you take a coffee break), you can return right back to it once you turn the device back on.

Magellan's Meridian series offers Secure Digital (SD) memory card expandability, which is a bonus for adding a large amount of map data (especially for long trips). However, we were disappointed at its placement within the device behind the batteries rather than an external slot. This won't be a problem for most users, but it will be annoying if you've got a number of maps spread across several cards.

We experienced good battery life during our test (Magellan boasts 13 hours of continuous use with 2 AA batteries). If you do plan on using it a lot in your vehicle, we recommend either purchasing the optional cigarette lighter power cable or using NiMH rechargeable batteries (which provide a typically longer battery duration as well as minimized cost in the long run).

Overall, we were pleased with this portable hybrid car/outdoor GPS receiver. The Meridian's color screen definitely helps with quickly viewing details while out hiking or mountain-biking, while the driving navigation features were indeed helpful in unknown locales. However, if you do plan on using your GPS primarily in your car, you should think about moving up to either Magellan's Meridian Color Traveler (which includes a street map CD-ROM, vehicle mounting bracket, and power adapter) or the Magellan Roadmate (with voice instruction). --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Color LCD is very readable--routes and icons pop off the screen
• Controls well laid out, navigation screens are intuitive (especially for new users)
• Optional mapping software is easy to use and transfer

Cons:

• SD memory card slot not easily accessible
• We recommend a power adapter or NiMH batteries for extended car use

... Read more

Features

• Rubber armored construction is impact resistant and waterproof
• Runs for up to 13 hours on 2 AA batteries; includes USB interface with cable
• Full-color 120 x 160 pixel display; backlit for easy night-time use
• Uses WAAS technology for accuracy to within 3 meters or better
• 16 MB of built-in memory includes mapping of North America and unlimited expandability

Reviews (13)

What a great device
The Magellan Meridian Color is my first GPS receiver, so I can't compare it with others. But it is an amazing piece of equipment. It is extremely versatile, well made, fun and useful. With the latest firmware upgrade, v5.34, and the excellent optional MapSend DirectRoute mapping computer software (made by NavTech) this is both a great handheld hiking GPS and an in-car, turn-by-turn, street/address routing device.

Although the internal memory is only 16 MB, enough for the adequate base maps that are pre-installed, the capability to use SD memory cards for uploading detaled street or topo maps from the computer greatly expands the usefulness. I am using a 256 MB memory card in my Meridian Color, on which I currently have uploaded detailed street maps for most of California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas from the DirectRoute software. These have to be limited to no more than 64 MB regions that can be selected on the GPS through the "card utilities - change map" menu, and are available in the GPS at all times. If I want more maps than fit on one card, I can buy another card and swap them as needed.

The color screen is very good and can be seen well in a car from the drivers seat position when the unit is held in the optional dashboard suction-cup mounting bracket. Unless the sun is right on it, it is bright enough to be seen in the middle of a sunny day, and can be dimmed at night. The zoom function allows you to quickly zoom out to see your current position in reference to the whole world, or zoom in in reference to as close as a 100 ft scale of detailed street or topo maps.

The only negative comment I have is that the output connection from the GPS to a computer is a serial port type, rather than USB. Most newer laptops don't even have serial ports anymore. However, this is remedied by using a serial/USB converter (about $20). The uploading of detailed maps is much faster anyway when done directly to the SD memory card using an SD memory reader/writer (also about $20), which makes it mostly unnecessary to connect the GPS directly to the computer.

The GPS receiver goes through 2 AA batteries in about 6 hours of use with screen continuously at full brightness. I bought an AA battery recharger with 6 batteries for about $20 which works great and takes away the cost of replacing batteries.

The Meridian Color can quickly convert among all major coordinate systems, and has multiple screens to show you such things as your current coordinates, elevation, speed, heading, and needed bearing toward a chosen destination ("waypoint"). It can store up to 500 waypoints and 20 routes. For hiking purposes it can track your movement and then allow you to use a "backtrack" function to see and re-trace your path back to where you started.

Warning:Product does NOT meet specifications
When I first got the unit, I loved it.It appeared accurate, though it took a long time to acquire satellites at times.In fact, many times my Delorme Earthmate would acquire within 15 seconds, and the Meridian would take several minutes (while moving in a car sitting on the dash).The ability to use SD/MMC cards and load maps onto the unit was great for general usage.I used Magellan GPS for everything, from hiking, kayaking, driving, to boating.

HOWEVER, the specs say that the unit is IPX7 compliant, which means accidental submersion underwater for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water.I was in a kayak, got hit by a wave with the Meridian in my pocket, and was in less than 1 meter of water for less than 15 seconds, and water made it's way into the unit.

I sent Magellan/Thales navigation an email and gave them a call but was not given much help, even though I own multiple Magellan products (including the GPS companion, etc...).They noted that I could have it serviced for $150, which is what an new unit cost (this was not the platinum edition, but it is the same form factor and same case).All customer service would tell me is that sometimes water may enter through the keypad area.Well, if water enters through the keypad area, how can they advertise that it is IPX7 compliant?

I may be an isolated incident.However, with the customer service I received, I don't think I would ever buy another Magellan product, and will probably get rid of the rest of my Magellan products.I think the product design, features, usability, and intuitiveness is great, just the product does not perform up to expectations or promise.I would also consider customer service as well.

Meridian COLOR vs. PLATINUM
Display:
The COLOR has no-light/dim/bright, as does the PLATINUM. But the COLOR it is only usable with bright lights in daylight and dim during nighttime, with no lights you don't see anything. The Platinum w/o light has still an acceptable display and runs for about 8 hrs, the COLOR on bright runs slightly over 4 hrs (1.850 mAh).

Functionality:
The colored display is very helpful together with Topo Send. You can easily distinguish between different graphics by the color; like arroyos and dirt-roads, specially marked arreas and lakes, etc.
What is missing on the COLOR compared to the PLATINUM is the baro, thermo and the build in electronic compass (not gps dependent). I thermo and baro I found fun to play around with but never really found a serious application. The compass needs constant alignment and is often considerably off. For all those applications there is way better stuff out there.
The COLOR has the better software wich might be due to the fact that I downloaded the latest software to it (v. 5.12). After v. 5.xx there is supposed to be a street navigation function to it, which I haven't found yet- maybe only works with MapStreets.

Durability:
As I pointed out in my earlier review on the PLATINUM this unit is extremely rugged and highly reliable in the field. I figure so will be the COLOR.

Deficiencies:
The backtrack function is higly deficient. When you wanna walk back you have to hit every single point this function created on the way back. Often you don't do that because you do a shortcut. Neither one of those units does allow you to bypass one single point and from now it desperatly points back to the one point you might have missed by a couple of feets.

Map-Download:
has certain limitations which are discussed in some other reviews on this side. Even with the latest software I was only able to download 3 regions to one map, but 4 maps alltogether with a total of 120mb over my PDA (Card-Reader might be even better) by doing the following:

1. Without connecting your Meridian to a PC, begin the map Upload process (click Regions; then Upload to GPS).
2. When the map data conversion process is done, MapSend will display a message that it cannot find your GPS receiver to perform the download.
3. Stop the process here by selecting "Cancel".
4. Using Windows Explorer, go to Program Files/Magellan/MapSend/Export and locate the file called "maps.img".
5. Copy this file to the SD card using USB card reader.Do not create any folders within the SD card where you place this file.Your Meridian will always looks at the top, or "Root" level within the card.
6. Rename the file "XXXXXX.img" - Example (SO California.img).
7. Remove the card and place it in your Meridian.You can use your Meridian as you would normally from here. (If you have at least software version 3.12 loaded on your Meridian, you will be able to select a map image to use from the Card Utilities menu - Press MENU to find Card Utilities)

Verdict:

I do recommend both units, but do personally prefer the COLOR for its more consise display even considering the extra functions on the PLATINUM. Because of certain flaws in the software I give both a 4 out of 5. ... Read more

Asin: B00007KVHO
Subjects:  1. COLOR, GPS, MAGELLAN, USA TOPO, NAVIGATION    2. Sportrak, 16 MB, map, navaids, obstructions    3. Outdoor Gear (Out Door)    4. Digital compass (compasses)    5. Handheld (Hand held)    6. GPS (Global Positioning System)    7. Units    8. map (mapping)    9. navigation    10. PDA    11. Laptop   

Magellan SporTrak Pro Handheld GPS
by Magellan
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $299.99 -- our price: $249.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Magellan SporTrak Pro is a feature-rich, fun, and easy-to-use GPS receiver designed for the serious navigator. Its rugged, waterproof, and ergonomic design is perfect for the outdoorsperson needing a compact but powerful navigator.

Included in SporTrak Pro is a 9 MB North American basemap of highways, major roads, parks, waterways, marine navaids, buoys, lighthouses, and more. An additional 23 MB of built-in memory is included for downloading detailed maps from Magellan's MapSend line of CD-ROMs. With Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) support, the SporTrak offers readings with up to a three-meter accuracy.

The large display, along with a front facing 9-key keypad, makes it easy to use in any environment. SporTrak Pro software includes seven graphic navigation screens, storage for up to 500 waypoints and 20 routes, a best fish and game time calculator, and BackTrack for finding your way home after a long trip into the woods.

The SporTrak Pro runs on two AA batteries for up to 14 hours. It's housed in rubber-armored, impact-resistant plastic that's waterproof and also floats.

The WAAS difference

100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program. 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA. 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy. Less than 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy.

WAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS.

How it Works
WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.

Who benefits from WAAS?
Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment, while DGPS does.

... Read more

Features

• Rugged, waterproof design; Quadifiler Helix antenna for superior tracking in harsh environments
• 12-channel GPS receiver; WAAS enabled for up to 3 meter accuracy
• 9 MB North American basemap of roads, waterways, parks, and more
• 23 MB memory for additional map downloads
• Large, easy-to-read display; 9-key keypad for quick access to software features

Reviews (25)

Technically GREAT, but limited
I bought this in the Warrior Pack with MapSend Worldwide and MapSend Topo.It works great, has all of the capability expected.But it is not perfect.

Pros:Easy to use, accurate navigation, large screen, VERY Rugged.

Cons: Uses a DB9 parallel connector to hook to the PC.This connection is not on all PCs and not on most laptops.I had to purchase a DB9 to USB cable to hook to the PC.Parallel connections are slow.The 4-color gray scale screen is difficult to use for navigation.It is impossible to tell the difference between a topo line and a stream.Does not pick up well in forested areas or in metro downtown areas.

All in all, I would not recommend this due to the limitations of the 4-color gray scale screen.I would recommend either a 16-color gray scale system or a color system, such as the SporTrak Color.

Just an incredible deal.
I didn't spend a lot of time researching GPS units, just an afternoon googling around the web.The Magellan looked pretty good, features and memory wise, so I bought one.They were just on the market, and I stole one cheap because it wasn't a Garmin, and of course it couldn't be as good, so a couple of early ones sold cheap.That was in June, 2003.

At first, I just enjoyed owning one and being able to download detailed maps from my laptop that would cover a whole state at a time.It only has 24mb of memory available for map loading, but it turns out to be plenty.I usually never used it unless I was lost in a strange city.

I bought the 12v car adapter and started using it like a car GPS,small screen but it was useful.I gradually began to notice some other funtions, like the built in speedometer that seemed to be more accurate than the one in the car.From what I understood of civilian GPS accuracy, that shouldn't be right - then I found about WAAS, and the increased accuracy it offered, and gee whiz - the Sportrak already had it built in.

Gradually, I started looking to do more with GPS, and I had a German friend tell me about using the unit with a laptop as a really big screen in car GPS unit.Hmmm... I was given some old Microsoft map software (Mappoint) and figured I was going to have to buy a new unit to make that work..but pushing a few buttons ....good grief this thing has the NMEA 2.0 function built in too!It can talk to Mappoint and all kinds of other aftermarket software.After looking around for an updated package, I bought Delorme Street Atlas which is an amazing talking package.It doesn't cost much, and the detail and functions are great.

I started to get interested in Geocaching, and lo and behold on one of the GPS nutcase sites, I found a test of the Sportrak where it basically trounced a Garmin 76s for positional accuracy.http://gpsinformation.net/mgoldreview/sportrak-pro-rev.html

SO I'm still trying to figure out if I need another GPS. The Sportrak Pro is certainly a great deal, and superior especially for accuracy to any other unit in it price range, even today.Since a already own a laptop, I have a very sophisticated GPS unit that I load in the car for vacations and business trips, and that cost me far far less than the $700 to $1000 a good in car unit costs.

Accurate, durable navigation tool
I've had my SportTrak since May of 2004 and have enjoyed it very much.I've used it while hiking in both Texas and Louisiana in hot, muggy conditions and it's never missed a beat.I've dropped it on the road more than once and other than a scratch or two on the body, you'd never know.The built-in North American map contains the primary highways you'd expect, but it also shows a surprising number smaller roads as well.It's gotten me out of trouble more than once.With the MapSend software, it's even better.I use it on road trips as well as while hiking and wouldn't trade it for anything currently on the market. ... Read more

Asin: B000064189
Subjects:  1. Sport track,sporttrack, sport trak    2. global position, magelan, sportrack    3. sport trak pro, Sport Track Pro    4. GPS (Global Positioning System)    5. Units    6. map (mapping)    7. navigation    8. PDA    9. Laptop