GPS - Recommendations?

Kreyzhorse said:
Man that's too bad. My Magellan Explorist 200 works like a champ. Just bought the Topo 3D is its excellent. Have you updated your firmware on the Explorist? I haven't had to with mine but in issues where the software doesn't work, that is the suggested route.
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Updating the firmware was actually my first step, but it ended up completely killing my unit (wouldn't even show the map), so I had to reinstall the original software. About two to three weeks after I bought the unit, it died all together. It wouldn't even power up. At first, I thought the battery was to blame, but I tried a battery from a friends unit, and it still wouldn't power up. I even tried running the unit while it was plugged in. After the unit completely died, I compiled a list of all of the facts... times, dates, incidents, everything... and emailed a 1.5 page email to Magellan as well as Tiger GPS (where I bought the unit). Tiger GPS never responded at all, and it took Magellan 6 weeks to respond, only to tell me that there was nothing they could do about it. I am very unhappy with both of them, now. I will never buy anything else from Tiger GPS or Magellan.

Just a note: Magellan did not give Tiger as a reason for not covering the warranty. What they told me was that they had no way of testing my GPS unit, so there was no way of knowing what was wrong, and they didn't have the time to deal with any returned items. Their suggestion was that I 'simply buy another unit.' They also had a massive recall on a previous generation of the Topo 3D software, but they stated in their email that my particular bundle was not listed as having the software covered in the recall.

I still have the unit and all of the original packaging. It's tucked away in my closet. I know it isn't doing me any good, but I just didn't have the heart to throw out something I had spent $250 on at the beginning of that month. So, it's been collecting dust for the past year.


MeekAndMild said:
Funny but I had trouble with my Garmin back about a decade ago. It threw me off GPS for a long time. But a couple of years ago I got a Magellen Topo and it works just fine.
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The Magellan had thrown me off GPS units for a while, as well. The big saving grace in my experiences came when I bought a Tom Tom One to use in my car. I drive for a living, so I bought the unit just on faith that it would work as well as everyone had said it would, and it truly does. Granted, an Automotive GPS unit doesn't exactly compare to a handheld, but it's just the knowledge that a GPS unit really can be pinpoint accurate... it made me willing to give handhelds a shot again.


bclark1 said:
Honestly, a $90 Garmin eTrex and a cheap compass backup served me well for a while. This Christmas I just got a Magellan Crossover, it mounts in the card and then is designed for outdoor use. It's apparently already got maps for state parks and things onboard, but I haven't had it in the field yet. I have driven it halfway across the country with good results, including getting back to my parents' cabin that Google Maps wasn't able to find until very recently. It also could get a signal indoors, which I'd say is analogous to a thick tree canopy (I did have that problem with the eTrex). Haven't tested topos, but they're in there. Marks waypoints and pulls coordinates intuitively. Supposed to be waterproof too, although I haven't tested that either. In any case, you'll probably have it figured out before I have a better review from the field, but it seems good so far.
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Actually, the snow in VT doesn't clear the woods enough to actually make it too far away from civilization without snowshoes until about June. The GPS I am researching right now is for my Coyote Hunting this year, which will start whenever I can actually get back into the woods. I would be VERY interested in any review you could post. Especially if you are having better luck with Magellan than I did. I keep an open mind and take in ALL the facts. My mind isn't actually 100% completely made up until I am in the process of ordering my new unit. (Or in the store picking it up, as the case may be.) That is why I always start researching things months in advance. The Explorist 200 I own was the one item I actually bought pretty much on impulse... and look where that got me. Of course, I am sure I would have been much happier if I just went to walmart and paid the extra $50. I could have taken it right back up there. I know I am to blame for that. Live and learn.


I can land nav with a map and compass quite well... The GPS unit is just easier for my circumstances. None of the other guys I hunt with have any land nav skills, so if something were to happen to me, we could find ourselves in a heap of trouble real fast. The GPS would prevent any of that from becoming a reality.


Thanks for all the great info, guys! Keep it coming!
 
Updating the firmware was actually my first step, but it ended up completely killing my unit (wouldn't even show the map), so I had to reinstall the original software.
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Man that sucks. Don't know if this will help, but I was cruising the net and found out that there are secret commands for the explorist. This commands do various things but one of them is used to restore a unit and bring it back online. It works even if the unit won't turn on.

Not sure this will help, but if the unit won't boot at all, you don't have much to lose.

Good luck.

http://rhamphorinkx.newmail.ru/sf.htm
 
I started with the eTrex Legend (blue) GPS and it works quite well. In fact I still have it, however I upgraded to the 60CSx and love it! I use it for hunting, geocaching and driving.


On the hunt............
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On the road...............
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I've got an Etrex Legend that i've had for 3 or 4 years and have been really happy with it. Mine does not have the topo map but has the base map of N and S American highways. Topo software is available but I haven't gone there yet. I may upgrade to a Vista or another model in the next year or two myself.
 
Chris,

Check the text on the right hand side of the page that was linked above. It is in english.

I went to check it (I have a basic understanding of Russian and thought maybe I could help), and low-and-behold there was some english...:D
 
Easy to miss, that is a messy website to say the least. I only caught it because I was skimming it to see how much I could understand and all of a sudden, my understanding jumped up to 100%:p
 
I use a Magellan Meridian Gold for hiking, riding and boating, and it works fine. But as far as "user friendly" goes, that, it ain't. I think all of 'em take some serious practice before using it under field conditions becomes second nature, but it does seem that the Garmin's are built a little more user friendly.

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Is there topo map software available for the Megellan that includes high-res maps, such as 1:24K? I can’t find any for the Garmin.
 
Chris - I used to read Russian while working for Uncle Sam, but haven't kept up with it.

I teach Excel at a little community center, pretty basic adult ed stuff. The coordinator, know I was retired Army, asked me to teach a map reading class. No problem, I will set it up and see if the local ROTC could come give a hand, etc...

Somehow the concept for the class, in the coordinator's mind, shifted from map reading to GPS use. I tried to explain to her that you couldn't teach a class where everyone shows up with a different GPS, they are just too different and I ain't an expert on every brand and style...Ended up not teaching any map stuff at all.
 
I am a Garmin eTrex vista owner and love it, however....I too want to upgrade but am waiting to see what the reviews on the Delorme GPS models are like. They accept and use the Delorme GPS 1:24000 topo maps and come pre-loaded with bunches of them...from what I have read they are great but they are still really new and I am holding off a bit until their is more data and experience with them.
 
I can't read russian.

I am intrigued, though.
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Caught me at first too. The right side of the page is in english. I'm sure something is lost in the translation but if the unit doesn't work now the worse it will do after trying is still not work.
 
I bought a Magellan Sporttrak Map 3 ½ years ago. The base map was ok, but reception wasn’t all that great. I’d lose the signal once I entered the woods. I recently bought a Garmin Nuvi 350 for the truck and a Garmin 60CSX handheld for hunting. Both have been great. The 60CSX had great reception and picks up satellites from in my house. The base maps are terrible (no topo and highways only), but I bought Mapsource Topo by Garmin and uploaded the maps to my GPS. The topo maps also included all roads and some points of interest.

When I bought my first gps, the Magellan, I did a little research first on the web. Garmin and Magellan were pretty much neck and neck at the time. Since then I believe Garmin has taken the lead in the GPS market. Garmin would definitely be my first choice.
 
I hate to bring a thread back from near extinction but...

I just noticed the Garmin Vista HCx only has a base map. That means I have to turn around and spend another $115 on top of the price of the unit itself to get a topo?

Does this change the suggestion, or would it stay the same?
 
That means I have to turn around and spend another $115 on top of the price of the unit itself to get a topo?
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Yeah... that's the way it seems to work, at least with Garmins. I bought the City Navigator software for mine, and National Geo Topo for CA. I'm hoping Garmin comes out with higher resolution topo software, then I'll buy it.
 
I bought a Garmin GPS 12 ,years ago. Never used it much It won't get a signial and if it did it would take for ever. No mapping feature or on board compass. Paid about $289 I think it was a waste of money. Rather use a compass and a map.
 
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