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Comment on Magellan Meridian Platinum Waterproof Hiking GPS by H. L. King "RedLion"

H. L. King "RedLion" — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:16:34 +0000

103 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

External Antenna is not an Option!, June 2, 2002

H. L. King "RedLion" (Lexington, KY United States) -

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Platinum Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

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As should be obvious, knowing exactly where you are is equally as important as knowing exactly where you need to be. As a Sonet Technician, I purchased this unit to help find communications sites in obscure, often desolate areas of the eastern US. In the past, I had to rely upon either someone whom had never actually been there and used a web-based mapping site to issue turn-by-turn directions, or people recalling the location from memory, "I think you turn at , then look for the concrete cow on the left which means you just passed the turn so go back and turn right." Neither is very accurate, so I began using my laptop and tried out a number of mapping programs. I settled on MS's Streets & Trips 2000 due to the ease with which I could open a window of saved points, double click on the ones I needed and find them automatically entered as waypoints (a feature inexplicably removed from subsequent releases). Using a mapping program alone worked fairly well, but the flaw is that once I missed a turn -- most often in the dead of night -- I had to determine where I was in order to find my way back to the plotted course. Terribly frustrating and confusing to be looking for Route 773 and be surrounded by routes 377, 737, 337, etc... This is a perfect application of a GPS unit as it can save literally dozens of hours per year of time lost to backtracking.

My decision to purchase the Magellan brand came of a friend's recommendation of a Map 330 and of distilling fact from diatribe on number of GPS-related BBSs. Instead of exploring the merits (or lack thereof) of one mfgrmodel over another, these discussions typically degenerate into little more than flame wars. Anyway... I purchased a Magellan Meridian Platinum at the local CompUSA for considerably more than I'd have paid had I ordered it from Amazon. CompUSA stocked neither the vehicle mounting bracket nor the data/power cable accessories on the day I purchased the unit.

When I first powered up the unit, I was indoors and quite disappointed that I got no satellite locks whatsoever. However, it quickly found my location once I stepped outside and had an unobstructed view of the sky. I discovered that the unit works less than perfectly unless held vertically and that even a single finger placed over the antenna section substantially degrades reception. I entered into MS Streets & Trips 2002 (ST2K2) the lat-long location data for the 14 sites we needed to visit between Atlanta and Jax, FL. Using the included data cable, I connected the Meridian Platinum to the laptop, then ran the GPS setup. I was on the road in minutes. Finding the sites was a piece of cake for the most part, though it did take a while to get used to the update lag time. ST2K2's Help file explained that the software polls the GPS only every 15 seconds, mathematically accounting for what I found to be an average of nearly 1/3 mile error in position. From then on, I had the driver slow down 1/2 mile before each turn. When we did miss turns thereafter, it was only because ST2K2's maps weren't entirely accurate (particularly around Athens, GA).

I found myself constantly checking the battery power display and wishing I had the data/power cable. Be forwarned that the Meridian Platinum eats batteries for lunch. I burned four per day (two sets) over a four day period, averaging only slightly more than a halflife of what the documentation states; I got no more than about eight hours from a fresh set of high quality alkalines. Certainly the ability to turn off the unit's display would dramatically increase battery life. I found no reference to doing such in the .pdf manual. This is an oversight in my opinion, but undoubtedly can be corrected in a software update from Magellan.

Because the mounting bracket wasn't available at the time I made my purchase, I had to leave the Meridian on the dashboard. From this arose a number of problems. The GPS was occasionally powered down when bumps in rough backroads caused it to bounce around and depress the power button. Also, it frequently lost satellite locks due in part to such jostling, but more to the fact that it's impossible to have an unobstructed view of the sky inside the cab of a large truck and that it cannot be held vertically without the mounting bracket. Another consequence of being on the dash was that the unit became *extremely* hot when exposed to direct sunlight. So hot, in fact, I became concerned that such tremendous heat might be damaging. While it seems no less the worse for wear, I'd rather it not get that hot in the first place. I believe the simplest solution to these problems is not a mounting bracket, but an external antenna -- the expensive unit can then sit safely tucked out of harm's way. Unfortunately, the Meridian line doesn't provide for the direct connection of an external antenna, and this alone might be reason enough to warrant a return for refund. I find... Read more

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Comment on Magellan Meridian Platinum Waterproof Hiking GPS by Fabien Royer

Fabien Royer — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:56:13 +0000

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

Awesome GPS unit!, November 22, 2002

Fabien Royer (Hamburg, NY USA) -

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Platinum Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

It took me a very long time (3 months or so) of comparing just about every Garmin and Magellan units before choosing the Meridian Platinum and I am *extremely* pleased with my final decision.

The Meridian Platinum is very easy to use (didn't have to read the manual and this is my first GPS). I was up and running with it in about 15 minutes.

I use this GPS for GeoCaching as well as street navigation in the car and it's excellent for both applications. One of the deciding factors for me was that the Magellan units are not as proprietary as the Garmin ones: for instance, using SanDisk memory cards is possible with Magellan but not Garmin. Considering the price that either Magellan or Garmin charge for those bits of silicon, going with the SanDisk option is a no-brainer.

For street navigation, the MapSend Topo software is a *must have* since the basemap shipping with the Platinum is really weak in details. Even though the MapSend software is a bit outdated, it's still a good buy.

I also purchased a 64Meg SanDisk SD card and a Cruzer SD card reader/writer to avoid using the serial connection for loading maps. Works like a charm! Loading a 32 Meg map only takes a few seconds as opposed to hours over the serial link.

I have not experienced any problems with the MapSend Topo software or GPS lock-ups as reported by a previous reviewer. However, I *did* upgrade the GPS firmware (free download from the Magellan site) before messing with the MapSend Topo software.

While the MapSend Topo software is necessary to upload new maps to the GPS, it's not great to plan trips with it. For that purpose, I find DeLorme's TOPO USA 4.0 to be excellent.

But when it comes to the management of routes built from waypoints, nothing beats the "EasyGPS" software. Even high-end products from DeLorme or Magellan aren't as good just for that purpose.

Overall this is a BIG thumbs up for this unit. The only downside may be how the GPS eats batteries (the electronic compass of the GPS has something to do with it but can be disabled to increase the battery life if needed) and for this reason, NiMH rechargeable batteries are a must.

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Comment on Magellan Meridian Platinum Waterproof Hiking GPS by R. Amaral

R. Amaral — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:57:48 +0000

181 of 187 people found the following review helpful:

Great GPS Unit for a beginner!, September 13, 2002

R. Amaral (Somerset, MA USA) -

This review is from: Magellan Meridian Platinum Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)

I have spent about 4 days doing research on GPS units. I had it down to 2 units: Garmin and Magellan. I am new to the GPS market. I primarily wanted a GPS unit for hiking. I always bring a compass and a map with me, but I like exploring places that are not always on the map. I will divide my results into sections which are located below.

1.) Research
I did research on all the Garmin and Magellan models. I went with the Magellan Platinum. The Garmin units have really small screens and the button / joystick configuration wasn't very appealing. I noticed that Garmin came out with a new unit that changed the button layout, and comparable to the Magellan Platinum (Garmin GPSMAP 76S GPS). The Magellan is bigger, but more rugged and more durable than the Garmin models. I am the type of person who wants all the features. To many times I have bought a version that only had some features only to upgrade to the higher one. So this time I figured I would go for the top of the line Platinum.

2.) Arrival of the Product
As soon as I pulled the Magellan Platinum out of the box, I was impressed. It felt good in my hand. I read the Quick Start Manual. It was pretty straight forward. I went outside and started experimenting plotting points. I really wanted to test it out. So I drove around in my car all around town. I looked at all the screens that the unit had to offer (with the car parked). I was impressed with the features I encountered. There was a map view showing your current position. There was a road view which looked like you were driving on a road. There was a speedometer view showing your current speed. There was a compass showing your current direction including the sun's and moon's position. It also showed you your estimated time of arrival to your destination according to your speed. There are many more screens that I haven't even touched upon yet, but I was starting to turn into a GPS junkie. I wanted to test this thing out in the mountains.

3.) Mountain Test
I went for a hike on a moderately small mountain. I set my waypoint at my truck. I then put the Magellan in my backpack and went exploring. The satellite reception was great even under heavy coverage. I reached the top of the mountain, and I was ready to return to my truck. I grabbed the Magellan. There was two ways the Magellan can direct me back to my truck: 1.) I could have used the backtrack feature 2.) I could have inputted my truck way point. I decided to go with the truck way point. To my amazement, it put me 5 ft away from my truck. I was psyched!

4.) Conclusion
After the first time using the Platinum in the mountains, I knew I made a great purchase. I was looking forward to using this GPS on bigger mountains. I would like to point out a few things to people considering this unit.

-This unit only eats batteries when you use the backlight. I never used the light once on my hike. The screen is big enough that you really don't need it unless you are using it in poor lighting conditions. I would recommend that you bring an extra set of batteries just in case.

-If you are expecting to see very detailed maps in this unit, don't count on it. It does show major highways, water, airports, and train tracks. It doesn't show side streets or anything like that. You probably have to buy more detailed map software from Magellan. I would ask them how old the map software is too.

-The Magellan Platinum comes with a quick start up manual and a supplemental unit. It also comes with the full user's manual, BUT IT IS ON A CD! That is my only complaint about the purchase. The CD manual is over 75 pages, so be prepared to use a laser printer or buy extra ink cartridges for your printer. You won't have a problem if you like reading directions off a computer screen.
-I haven't tried to download anything onto the unit, but I am going to buy the Topographic CD (If it is current)

In conclusion, I am glad I bought this unit. It has all the basic features I wanted, plus so much more. It is very durable, and it is very easy to handle and use. Appalachian Trail......here I come!

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Comment on Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator by megarad

megarad — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:57:15 +0000

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Rock on, November 4, 2010

megarad -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator (Electronics)

This GPS, although I haven't had a ton of time on it, has already made a positive impact on me. I would absolutely suggest this one to a friend; in fact, I already have. The only thing that kind of bums me out is navigating through the menus. This could be operator error, but I find myself backtracking a lot. It's fast and pretty accurate, but start up takes a minute. The geocaching function is excellent, the fishing and hunting is cool, and the backlight is easily readable. Some people complain about the backlight not staying on long enough, but if you press any button it lights back up and that's fine for me.
I had a bit of a scare with it within the first hour of use... Operator error, of course. I had it in the front pocket of a backpack while riding my quad. I did a wheelie, looped out, and fell right on my back. There were several other items in the backpack, plus both me and the quad landed right on it. This thing made it through almost unscathed. Just a scratch on the body, other than that, no blemishes. I was in love right then and there.

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Comment on Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator by Reviewer

Reviewer — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:37:17 +0000

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

Nice unit, but poor documentation and worthless basemap, July 17, 2009

Reviewer -

This review is from: Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator (Electronics)

Being new to GPS, I was excited to see what all I could do with this thing and how to make it do it. Unfortunately, the instruction manual is very vague. Many of the menu features are not even listed and the functions are not explained. It's basically, "to get to here, press this button". How about some examples? If you already are familiar with GPS, I suppose this would be fine, but it has been countless hours of experimentation to figure out some of the funtions.

Also, the basemap that comes with this is very basic - just major roads. There are also limited maps that you can purchase for this, and in fact I don't think the Garmin site accurately lists all that are available (I would think that the Vista H would support all the maps the Vista supports, but the site says no). Expect to pay $120 for a map disk. I'm thinking the 100K topo map would be the best since it shows detailed streets and items of interest in parks. It's pretty lame as a topo map though from the demo on the Garmin site.

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Comment on Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator by Michele Mattix "GeoMattix"

Michele Mattix "GeoMattix" — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:59:13 +0000

87 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

Solid GPS unit for the price, May 22, 2009

Michele Mattix "GeoMattix" (Sedona, AZ) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Garmin eTrex Vista H Handheld GPS Navigator (Electronics)

I bought this GPS unit to prepare for a Garmin GPS class I was asked to teach. I own several GPS units and I am a GPS/GIS professional focussing on training and consulting. I usually restrict my GPS usage to professional grade mapping equipment (Trimble, specifically) but I recently branched off into the world of recreational GPS to expand my training offerings. I've used the eTrex series GPS before and this Vista H unit is another nice addition to the line-up. Let me say that if I were buying an eTrex to use as my sole GPS unit, then I definitely would have opted for the color screen (Vista HC or HCx). The color screen adds a lot more bang for the buck.

Garmin has done a good job with these little units. The Vista is small, light-weight, and quick to respond. The new high-senstivity (that's what the 'H' stands for) receiver locks onto satellites very quickly. The internal compass and altimeter work very well and are easy to calibrate and turn on/off. On the negative side, something I find to be true for all of the eTrex models is that the operating system a bit clumsy to learn and I usually need to spend a good 5 minutes re-orienting myself to it when I use the eTrex in the field. I find that the buttons on the unit are not intuitivey laid out so it is hard to remember which one does what. Once I'm in the flow of using the eTrex, however, I can navigate through the pages/settings fairly easily -- it just requires those first few minutes of reaquainting myself each time. I would definitely recommend a bit of training before you use the unit -- especially if you plan to collect tracks. A common problem that Garmin users have is that their track log shows a long, continuous line on the map that connects -- with a straight line -- your new location to your last one. This can leave a long straight line on your map if, for example, you used the unit in Phoenix on your last hike and are now starting it up in Los Angeles. It's all about managing the track log.

The unit costs under $200 which is a great price. I like that I can collect points and lines (waypoints and tracks) that I can then add to Google Earth (directly) or to ArcGIS. The workflow for adding to ArcGIS is a bit convoluted as the GPS file format has to be converted first and that requires third-party tools. There are many of them out there, it's just a matter of trying them out and finding what works for you.

As a GIS professional, I find the Garmin model of buying base map data unuseful. The eTrex comes with a very basic base map. If you want more detail (topo maps, for example) then you must purchase these from Garmin. The base map you buy is only good for 1 GPS unit. So if you own multiple eTrex, for example, you must purchase the same data multiple times. In the world of GIS, once you acquire data -- such as topo base maps -- then it is yours to use as you want. With Garmin, you are not free to load your own data onto the GPS unit.

For the sake of comparison, I usually use my Trimble Juno SB unit for GPS hiking. This unit costs more (starting at $750) but it offers a professional workflow. This is not something that is important to most hikers, but it can make a world of difference to those using GPS for search and rescue, fire management, etc. The Juno is designed to collect GIS-ready GPS data which means you can collect points, lines, and polygons as well as attributes then export the data directly to shapefiles. Best of all, you can load your own data onto it -- imagery, existing shapefiles, CAD, and other file formats. The unit might cost more initially, but you are free to load whatever data you can acquire onto it and it allows you to quickly bring your GPS data into a GIS without having to manually enter attributes. You get to collect all of your user-defined attributes in the field while logging your GPS positions.

I would definitely recommend this unit as a basic mapping GPS unit though I would suggest spending a bit more to get the color screen. Also, if this is your first foray into GPS, invest in some basic training -- it will save you a lot of frustration and help you get the most out of your GPS unit. You can usually find a half-day Garmin training class by searching around the state parks and community college non-credit programs -- there are also online training courses you can find by doing a Google search.

Happy trails!
www.GeoMattix.com

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Comment on Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps by Deucemaster

Deucemaster — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:01:34 +0000

135 of 154 people found the following review helpful:

Beware!, February 14, 2009

Deucemaster (Seattle, WA) -

This review is from: Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps (Electronics)

This is a really nice unit but if you buy it with the base map pre-loaded (400t) you'll be sorry. The pre-loaded maps can NOT be manipulated. In other words, you CAN NOT plug this unit into your computer and add waypoints, tracks, plan hikes, etc. etc. Garmin tech support response: "Oh well. You can always buy the software." I would NEVER recommend buying this model--buy the cheaper model without the pre-loaded maps and then buy the maps seperately.

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Comment on Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps by James Benenson "fly fisher / rod builder"

James Benenson "fly fisher / rod builder" — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:57:13 +0000

95 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

The best yet, October 10, 2008

James Benenson "fly fisher / rod builder" (Santa Fe, NM United States) -

This review is from: Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps (Electronics)

I've owned about 6 GPSr's since my first loaf-sized Lowrance Eagle. Almost all of them have been Magellans, but since my XP PC fatally crashed and Magellan doesn't offer a driver for Vista Home Premium (why not? I suppose that since the Triton series is so bad they're giving up) I went ahead and bought an Oregon 400t. It is by far the best GPS that I have ever used! The size is good, the graphics magnificent, and the operation is intuitive (if you're familiar with GPS operation). (I can't speak about a learning curve -- sorry.) The touchscreen is responsive, fun to use, and much less error-prone than buttons. The maps are clean and easy to read. Pan and zoom is very easy, and different features appear at appropriate scales.

The PC interface is error-free, and the firmware upgrade process is a no-brainer. The GPSr and micro-SD card both show up as drives, so you can do anything that you want with them. (There is a warning not to delete the maps.)

Cons: the minor roads are blue (contrary to cartographic convention), but it's easy to adjust to seeing them. Hard to read in sunlight? It's a silly point raised by pampered people.

Summary: The Oregon 400t sets the new standard; it is way ahead of the previous generation of GPSRs. It's quite expensive, but you get what you pay for.

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Comment on Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps by John

John — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:18:35 +0000

259 of 263 people found the following review helpful:

Garmin Oregon 400t, February 18, 2009

John (Milwaukee, WI) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps (Electronics)

This is a lengthy review, but at $462 and after seeing some of the "user induced" complaints, I believe a good review is essential.

I also own a Garmin Etrex Vista and by far, the Oregon 400t is the most versatile, customizable, and flexible handheld GPS I have seen. I had the opportunity to compare the Oregon and the Colorado side-by-side at an REI store and found the ease of use and touch pad of the Oregon too much to pass up. The touch pad makes it extremely user friendly. In addition, the order of the choices on each of the 4 main pages can be arranged in any order desired and in a number of different profiles such as recreational, geocaching, and automotive for ultimate flexibility. There are so many different ways to display information to the user that the choices seem endless. The Oregon is to GPS receivers what the iPhone and the Blackberry are to smartphones. A good review from 2008 can be found at: http://gpsinformation.info/penrod/oregon/oregon.html. I was sold after seeing how to deal with the daylight viewing issues people talk about and what the other 95% positive things that have been said by professional reviewers about the Garmin 400t.

Like most things sold these days, the manual could be the quick guide so don't expect every little detail to be explained. It would be nice if manuals said and explained everything. I'd like to know why I'd want to make one choice over another (like the difference between the Garmin Spanner and serial interfaces) since those two appear to be the same with the Spanner choice asking if you want to go to Mass Storage rather than automatically doing so,for example. Links in this review greatly fill in gaps in the manual and you'll be happier utilizing those resources!

The benefit to the 400t over the 300 is the internal memory. As found at: http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/Product+Information#toc7, the 400 has 4GB of memory (the Topo2008 takes up 2.7GB) leaving a lot of free memory to save waypoints, tracks, pics for personal and geocaching use, and additional maps. The 300 has 850 MB left and as anyone using a handheld GPS knows, maps take up HUGE amounts of memory - you can never have enough.

Choices on the setup button offer options for the system and display that can extend battery life (such as choosing a backlight timeout period and battery save option if desired). Under setup>display, there is even a screen capture choice that saves a file you can print out or email whatever is displayed on the screen - cool!

As with digital cameras, mp3 players, printers, etc., you need some sort of software program on your computer, such as a Garmin Mapsource product, and then you can (contrary to a Feb 14th review) download waypoints, tracks, and routes (I uploaded 42 waypoints, 2 routes, and 16 tracks used by E Trex Vista to the Oregon so you absolutely can upload and download data!!!).

Batteries - unless one reviewer selected the "stays on" option for backlighting, bad batteries are the only thing that can explain really poor battery life. Per the "garminoregon.wikispaces.com" web site, I'm using version 2.85beta and together with Powerex 2700mAh batteries, have gotten around 20 hours of battery life (battery type needs to be specified in system settings). It was a Garmin rep. I spoke with at a local REI that told me a university field tested high capacity NIMH batteries and that is the way to go for the Oregon. Condition batteries first and consider the Maha MH-C9000 charger which conditions the batteries - they have truly impressed me over previous Energizer and Sanyo AA NIMH batteries I've tried. In comparison, with the same 30 second backlight period and Energizer batteries, I saw only one full day - near the rated 16 hour time worth before the repeated low batt. warnings. This is in real use geocaching two days for most of the day, hooking the Oregon to a laptop and reviewing/downloading waypoints and tracks, and over 3 hours a third day downloading 648 MB of Roads & Recreation maps to the Kingston 4 GB micro SDHC card (also from Amazon.com) I added. I purchased the 4 GB card to also, one day, load City Navigator NT onto it. You need a high capacity reader or you have to transfer data via the USB cable connected to the Oregon otherwise - above 2GB is considered high capacity I found out.

I followed tips and suggestions on http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/message/list/home which is one of the most useful web sites out there with extremely useful and helpful information exclusively for the Oregon. It can greatly simplify the learning curve with something that can do as much as the Oregon can.

Read about the software updates and stay as current as reasonable, backup the data from the Oregon on a hard drive, register the GPS with Garmin and you'll truly appreciate the investment as much as it is possible.

As with any relatively new item,... Read more

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Comment on Turn Your Car Into a Geocaching Travel Bug! by Mora Benadom

Mora Benadom — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:45:19 +0000

Great blog, Just wanted to comment that i can not connect to the rss stream, you might want install the right wordpress plugin for that to workthat.