Amazon.com Product Description

This powerhouse GPS unit just keeps gaining in popularity. Recently bestowed the honor of being named one of "Oprah's Favorite Things for Holiday 2004" it's just getting better and better every year. With the previous version of the RoadMate 700 lacking in included accessories this years RoadMate 700 hits a home run as Magellan has wisely included in the package a windshield suction cup mount, a 12V DC vehicle power adapter, 110V AC power supply, USB data cable, universal cradle and of course a user's manual.

The Magellan RoadMate 700 offers a powerful dash-mounted navigation tool with turn-by-turn voice prompts, making it easy to get to new and unfamiliar locales anywhere in the U.S. and Canada (For a fee it can be loaded European maps using the Magallen web site and the included USB connection cable). It also features a bright color TFT LCD screen (2.25 by 3 inches), touchscreen input, WAAS reception (for 3-meter accuracy), and multiple ways to select your route and then view it on screen.

True View 3D navigation shows you the actual road layout.

The RoadMate 700 is one of the few GPS devices that's ready to go as soon as it's unpacked. Its whoppingly huge 20 GB internal hard drive comes preloaded with detailed road maps for all of the U.S. and the southern (most populated) section of Canada, so you won't have to fiddle with selecting map regions from a CD-ROM and having to transfer the data from a PC. If you keep your addresses on a PDA with IrDA capabilities then you'll enjoy the RoadMate's ability to upload the addresses wirelessly and point you right to your destination. In fact each of the 3 profiles that the unit keeps track of is allotted space for 100 addresses, making a total of 300 addresses available. Of course the most important address, home, can always be accessed with just a few clicks and from any menu and the RoadMate 700 will guide you back with ease.

You can also choose a map view, or the maneuver list.

If you are planning on using the RoadMate 700 with an older car--make sure it has a cigarette lighter power adapter, or leave enough time to charge it up in your hotel room or office with the supplied AC power cord. This also means that you won't be able to use the RoadMate 700 as a handheld device outside of your car. As for mounting, the included suction cup windshield mounting hardware is quite easy to use and allows you to mount the unit on any glass surface in your car. The RoadMate unit easily clips into the provided windshield bracket and can be tilted and turned with it's adjustable arm so you can see it easily and safely while you navigate.

Quickly locate points of interest and amenities along your route.

One of the benefits of the windshield mount is that because it's a suction cup mount you can move it in seconds from car to car with no problems at all. This newer suction cup based windshield mount is an improvement over the older three pronged mount that used to come with the RoadMate units. The older three-pronged mount was inserted into one of the middle air conditioning vents on your dash; the prongs are bendable to help you get the most secure fit, but never gave as secure of a fit as the windshield mount does.

But the RoadMate 700 shines as a virtual co-pilot. During our tests, it consistently acquired a satellite lock quickly (within a minute) and displayed our current position. From there, we searched through the vast library of POIs (points of interest) to find our destination (Seattle's baseball stadium). The RoadMate 700 has four different modes of getting you to your destination--shortest route, shortest distance, least use of freeways, and most freeways. Selecting shortest route got us to this venue using very practical directions that weren't far off from what we normally would choose.

If you're traveling to a destination that's not a widely known POI (such as a friend's home), no problem. You can enter the exact address into the RoadMate 700--using the touchscreen to tap letters and numbers into several search screens--to have it create a route. (You can also save 100 destinations in the address book.

QuickSpell minimizes typing.

The voice prompting was clear and audible (thanks to the two built-in speakers), and we were given ample warnings for upcoming turns. One of the RoadMate's nicest features is the Repeat button (which is smallish, but the only button found on the top of the device). If you miss a turn instruction, press it to repeat the previous voice prompt. Of the three view modes, True View was our favorite--it displays a 3D street-level view that helped us orient ourselves to our surroundings.

Overall, we were quite thrilled with the RoadMate 700's features: the color screen was bright and readable even in direct sunlight and the voice prompts were clear and not distracting to our driving. Best of all, the UI (user interface) screens are easy to navigate and--thanks to its large hard drive and map database--it's ready to go as soon as you open the box. While the price is not for the faint of heart, it will be a very valuable tool for many drivers (from business folk to parents) who need to get to unfamiliar locations quickly and smoothly. -- Agen G.N. Schmitz

What's in the Box:
RoadMate GPS, a windshield suction cup mount, a 12V DC vehicle power adapter, 110V AC power supply, USB data cable, universal cradle and a user's manual ... Read more

Features

• Turn-by-turn guidance with voice prompting
• Comprehensive mapping of U.S. and Canada on integrated 20 GB hard drive
• Exceptional GPS accuracy and reliability
• Advanced points of interest database. Easy to use touch-screen interface
• Comes with sunction cup windshield mount DC vehicle power adapter, AC power supply, and data cable

Reviews (47)

Magellan Roadmate 700
Eversince I used the Hertz "Never lost" navigation system in a rental car, I have been wanting to own one but at that time it wasn't available in the market . I remember, with a GPS, how easy it was for me to reach my destinations in Houston metropolitan area. An area I had never been to before. First I thought to use HP Jornada 720 for navigation but lack of compatibility was the issue. Also I didn't want too many wires around the dashboard in my car.So I dropped the idea of using a handheld pc as a gps. I started doing some research and found out that there are two GPS (Garmin Streetpilot 2610 and Magellan Roadmate 700) that dont need an installation, rather could be used with cigarette lighter. Both are portable and could be moved from one vehicle to the other. I liked the idea but could not decide which one suits my needs better. Luckily we are living in an age of information, so I was able to read a lot about these items on the internet. Garmin being couple of hundred dollars cheaper and also BestBuy had one on the display where I could actually see, touch and feel it. Unfortunately, Roadmate was not on the display like BestBuy had Garmin. Anyhow I read several reviews and could make a comparison. I am sharing my views here so that reader could get some feedback. Magellan Roadmate 700 is WAAS enabled while Garmin SP2610 is not. WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) is more accurate to locate your position. Magellan RoadMate 700 has built in 10 GB hard drive . Maps of both USA and Canada are already loaded on the unit so you dont have to load them or worry about buying expensive flash cards. Roadmate 700 has little larger screen than the Garmin and that makes a difference and resolution is also good. Roadmate 700 is easier to operate than Garmin sp 2610.Voice prompts on Roadmate are very clear and pleasant. Roadmate 700 also shows a 3D heavy arrow before the turn which is good. These are the positives in the favor of Roadmate. Lets talk about some negatives. Roadmate does not have a good mounting design. Car vents are used to mount your unit. What if you have heat on . I think that wouldn't be good idea for your unit . It may also come apart and fall on the floor. Another negative about RoadMate 700 is that it does not come with AC adapter or USB cable. Also the price is higher than Garmin SP2610. Taking into consideration the pros and cons I picked the Magellan Roadmate 700. Yesterday I picked a unit at BestBuy with a 4 year warranty (US$39.99). It took me few minutes to set it up and turn it on. I was in Manhattan NYC. I drove back to New Jersey and it performed very well. I made a wrong turn and RM700 recalculated the route right away and put me back on the track. What a relief. Let me mention here about Roadmate 500 that does not come with a built in Hard drive. With RM 500, you have to buy additional memory cards. You will be required to get it activated from the company for additional cost. You will have to download the maps of distant areas you plan to drive to.That is the reason I did not buy RM 500. I am pleased to have Magellan Roadmate 700. I will keep you posted with additional findings in future. Drive safely. Peace and Love.

Never lost again
I've only been using my RoadMate 700 for a short time and my experiences echo most of the other reviews here.

Update January 22, 2004: It's been almost a full month with the Roadmate 700. My thoughts now? How did I ever live without this? I've used this extensively to travel all through CT and into NH and MA. I love that I can be in a completely remote location and this device gets me home. Ever single time. I also have searched several times for things like gas stations and restaurants - and it is simply amazing. I like this better today than I did when I bought it. And I'm someone who gets tired of their electronic gadgets quickly.

I found it to be very easy to operate. You truly can take it out of the box, plug it in, and within a couple of minutes be navigating to any address using the maps that are all stored within the 10 GB hard drive.

When starting up I find that it has a lag of 3 to 5 minutes where it has to acquire the satellite signal. This may account for some of the reports online of units being broken or not navigating properly. Once the signal has been acquired I had no difficulty with it knowing where I was. (Update 12/24/03: My unit developed a startup/fix time of around 15 minutes so I replaced it with a new unit that did not exhibit this problem. Normal startup/fix time appears to be a couple minutes unless you've moved significantly from where you shut down the device).

The 3-D navigation is nice -- though not all that I had hoped. When travelling 3D pops up a handly graphical overview of where you need to turn next. I think it is displayed a bit early though. I was navigating today and it showed me the turn in 3D about 5 streets ahead of where I needed to be turning. I'll have to see if it is my user error somehow but it seems it would be much more useful if the 3D popped up while you were in the turn rather than several streets back.

I looked at the Garmin 2610 in comparison to this unit. I also considered the RoadMate 500. The Garmin screen seemed smaller and a little harder to operate. The RoadMate 500 is the same unit at this -- without the internal 10 GB hard disk that stores all the maps.

Unfortunately the 700 doesn't ship with an AC power adapter or USB connector (which the 500 does).

The mount that comes with the RoadMate is a plastic coated metal piece that you are supposed to use to attach the heavy unit to your vents. I lucked out and was able to stick it into my dash molding on my 2002 Ford Explorer and it fits tight and is in a good position (use a flat edge screwdriver to slightly and gently pry the molding above the radio out a little and slide the bracket in there). If you call tech support they'll send a free windshield mount to replace the vent mount.

Overall I'm happy with the accuracy and especially the ease of use of this unit. It seems that Magellan has bent over backwards to make this an uncomplicated unit for people who want to plug in and navigate without worrying about loading maps or other technical details.

Magellan Roadmate 700 VS. Garmin StreetPilot III
My wife purchased the Magellan Roadmate 700. I have the Garmin Streetpilot III in my car. I was very angry with her for purchasing another GPS since we already owned one. She said it was easier to use than my Garmin. I took her Magellan GPS for a day to prove her wrong and had to eat crow. I really tried to make it worse, but it was just so accurate and simple to use. The Magellan Roadmate 700 came preloaded with the entire U.S. map. I had to purchase maps to download into my Garmin. Every time I go out of state I have to download the new area into my Garmin. The Magellan already has it loaded. The Magellan was very user friendly. The touch screen was a breeze to navigate with. It was just simple. Plug it in and go. Needless to say she wants her Magellan back. This is a great product. I had heard it advertised on the Glenn Beck radio show and it is everything they said and more. I highly recommend this GPS product.

Multiple problems, not worth the money...
I decided to go with the Roadmap 700 at the end of April, and I have had nothing but problems with it and the manufacter. It takes at least 30 minutes to get a lock on a position. I live 30 miles north of Boston in a major metro area!! The screen will lock up at times and not move for 20-30 minutes. The touch screen has a mind of its own and the manual controls are sticking and not responsive...

I did some checking around and found out that Thales is having serious product control problems with this unit. Either you get a perfect one out of the box, or a bad one. If you get a bad one, it is real bad. I can no longer return it to the store I bought it and 2 phone calls and 2 emails to the Thales have gone un-returned. I fear the worst, and went out today and bought the Garmin 2620.

Stay away until they fix their quality control, or become more responsive to these problems. If you do buy it, get the extended warrenty from the store so you can bring it back in case you get a "bad" one...

Great Unit, a few quirks I can live with!
Purchased the unit and have used extensively across the country.

THE GOOD:
- ease of use, no manual required (really), truly plug-n-play
- GREAT unit for frequent travelers and car renters
- it works, directs me well with ample and clear notice even in difficult cities with many turns (e.g. NYC, Wash DC, SF)
- its size and windshield mounting bracket work well in most cars, vans, SUV's
- nice clear voice prompts, lots of nice customization options

THE BAD:
- when moving from one location to another - like getting off plane in new place - its seems to take awhile to 'wake up' (up to 15 minutes so far). Website says 5-10 minutes, so I guess I should relax. I recommend getting maps from car rental places so you don't have to wait too long to begin traveling unfamiliar routes.

- having to pay $20 for USB connection, $20 for AC adapter. When paying over $1,000 for this thing, you'd think they'd include it especially considering they are used primarily to fix their shortcomings (e.g. download upgrades, patches, etc.)

- all kinds of CompactFlash compatibility issues (e.g. Lexar may not work?). Before buying a card, check Magellan website or pay arm & leg for their own formatted cards.

- as best I can tell it does not have a nice feature of Hertz NeverLost - which are the icons of many points of interest at each step of your trip (like gas stations, restaurants, etc.). You CAN get these, but need to cancel your current destination, select POI, and then 'Nearest' (and then re-enter destination).

- voice prompts aren't as loud as I like even with volume all the way up, and I get occasional speaker noise/hissing

- Careful in NYC. Pay attention to boroughs when typing New York, NY as your city -- there may be many '4th Ave' addresses across the NYC boroughs and it may not pick correctly (recommend using points-of-interest if a hotel) ... Read more

Product Description

Includes Garmin Street Pilot c330 GPS receiver Vehicle suction cup mount with 12-volt adapter PC/USB interface cable A/C power adapter Quick-reference guide and owner manual Americas Recreational Basemap MapSource® City Select North America map data. ... Read more

Features

• Automatic route calculation with turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions
• Includes USB cable, suction cup mount, and AC adapter; 4.4 x 3.2 x 2.8 inches (W x H x D)
• WAAS-enabled, 12-parrallel-channel GPS receiver for vehicle use
• Preloaded MapSource database includes 5-million-plus North American points of interest
• 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display with simple touch-screen interface

Reviews (2)

Nicely Done, Garmin!
The Garmin C330 is a well designed, easy to use GPS.It does not offer all the bells and whistles of the Garmin 2620 or Magellan RM700, for example - but the C330 offers simplicity and quality in a nice neat package.The advantages of the C330:
- The display is awesome - high resolution with good contrast.
- No buttons!Everything, except volume and power, is controlled by the touch screen.
- The software is fast; route calculations take just a few seconds.
- After the initial lock, this little unit locks on very quickly after powering up.
- The internal battery is terrific; you can do your route planning indoors without looking for an AC receptacle, and you can leave the unit on during a rest stop on your trip to preserve trip data.Battery life is 3 to 4 hours.
- The OS is super intuitive.
- The 3D view is simple to follow, but the map view is excellent, also.
- Navigation performance is excellent.
- Speakers are built in, with excellent sound quality.
- Windshield mount is small, sturdy and simple.
- The unit is small enough that it won't obstruct your view.
- The power cord is hardwired to the windshield mount - no plug to contend with.

A few disadvantages I've noticed:
- The battery is not user replaceable
- The C330 cannot save a route.But this is not a big deal.When you start up after a stop, you just have it calculate the route to your destination, which takes just seconds - or just leave it on if your stop doesn't exceed 3 to 4 hours.
- The display can get washed out in direct light on a bright day - but I expect that is common to all GPS units.
- As I mentioned, it doesn't have the bells and whitles of the 2630 or RM 700.For example, you can't monitor satellite signal strength from indiviual satellites. you can't determinen your lat/long position, and as I mentioned, you can't save routes in the C330.And you can't program it for several different users like you can with the RM700.

But all in all, the C330 is a winner.It's simple to operate, well designed, very effective, and reasonably priced.It's a strong buy!

Undoubtedly the best Car GPS in today's market !
I have used Navman ICN 630, Megallen RM 700 & finally this one.

I can tell you this is the best & most of all easiest.This is why this unit is the best:

1. No downloading of Maps
2. Has most udpated Maps compared to other brands
3. Has 5 million points of interest compared to others
4. Touchscreen
5. Easiest of all to use.Easier than the Acura GPS i have used.
6. Very small but with most usable screen view.It doesn't take a lot of winshield space, doesn;t block visibility.Though screen is small, letters are SO BIG & EASY TO READ.
7. Very fast software
8. Very easy to carry while traveling.
9. Excellent windshield mount. Very stable
10. It comes on when Car is turned on.
11. It has rechargeable battery which lasts for about 3 hrs i think.
12. Loud/clear voice.
13. Very intuitive operating system.
14. Fixes the GPS signal instantly. Navman used to take longer.
15. This is interesting. You can remove the unti without unplugging the car DC cord.DC cord is connected to mount always.
... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Newly simplified for automotive applications, Garmin's portable StreetPilot 2610 features both a touchscreen and an alphanumeric remote control so you'll always have easy access to automatic route calculations, helpful turn-by-turn directions, and guiding voice prompts. The 2610 offers a color display, built-in maps, and everything you need to download additional map detail. It offers more precise location finding because of its WAAS technology, a feature the original StreetPilot and the StreetPilot III lacked.

All the travel information you need, right on your dash.

With its built-in photo sensor, the StreetPilot 2610's bright display automatically adjusts to outside light conditions. The unit is powered through either its external speaker (which comes with a handy 12/24-volt adapter cable) or its dedicated AC power adapter; both are supplied.

The unit's built-in routable basemap covers North and South America and contains a wealth of practical and nuanced data, including state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, state and interstate highways, local thoroughfares, secondary roads within metro areas, and interstate exit information for services such as gas, food, and lodging.

The 2610 accepts downloadable map detail from Garmin's PC-based MapSource City Navigator CD-ROM (included), which provides street-level detail, addresses, and listings of nearby restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and other attractions. (This feature requires a CompactFlash card, and a 128 MB CF card is included; you must first downloaded MapSource data in order to find points of interest and addresses.)

Hungry? Find out what's available around the bend.

The StreetPilot's integrated dash-mounting system fosters easy adjustment and quick release. The unit comes with a built-in patch antenna and an MCX-type connector for attachment to an optional external GPS antenna.

Garmin makes accessories to help you integrate your GPS unit with your life and your priorities. Keep it at the ready while protecting it from knocks and bumps with a carrying case that has space for your hookup cable and remote control. In the car, you'll appreciate the mounting options and clear reception afforded by the magnetic/suction-mount antenna that'll give you a better signal than if you just place your unit on the dash. Using your system in more than one vehicle? Garmin's dashmount is just the ticket, providing one temporary and one permanent adhesive mounting disc so you can move the unit between your cars.

What's in the Box
The StreetPilot 2610, the MapSource City Navigator 5 CD-ROM (full U.S. plus select Canadian coverage; unlock included), a 128 MB CompactFlash memory card, an integrated dash mount, a portable beanbag mount (friction mount), an external speaker with a 12/24-volt adapter cable, an AC power adapter, a PC/USB interface cable, an alphanumeric remote control, an owner's manual, a quick-reference guide, and a setup guide. ... Read more

Features

• Bright, automotive-grade 8-bit color LCD: 3.3 x 1.7 inches; 305 x 160 pixels
• Audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings
• Indefinite data storage; no memory battery required; CompactFlash map storage: type I and II compatible
• Integrated dash-mounting system provides easy adjustment and quick release
• Comes with alphanumeric remote control and external speaker; includes USB interface with cable

Reviews (41)

Very Good Product
I initially bought Megellan 700 and had to return it the next day as it didn't acquire signal for 2 hours.

Garmin 2610 is a much better product than Megellan 700:
Very accurate with addresses.
Timely and loud voice prompts.
Ease of use.
Supplied Power Adaptor lets you use it indoors and lets you plan trip and
add waypoints.
Relilable, as it doesn't use hard drive, no chance of faliure,
Generated mapa image can be saved on computer and transferred to new CF card anytime.
Easy to read in night driving.
Remote Control.
Waypoints remains stored on GPS's onboard memory and doesn't need to be recreated while putting a new CF card.

Problems I faced during my testing :

It was pointing me to the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Brooklyn instead of the one near to my home in Forest Hills Queens, NY and same Kinko's.

Once I had to take service road of Van Wyck Expressway because of traffic jam,
it didn't recalculate the route and kept telling, "take exit 19 on right" while I was on service road, in other words, it couldn't distinguish between Expressway and its service road.

Software Doesn't Work with MAC OSX.

I gave 3 stars because of above problems and software didn't work on Mac OSX.
I had to use old P2 64Meg laptop instead of my powerful dual processor mac.
It took 12 hrs to generate the detailed maps of 8 states.

Garmin should make Mac compatible software.

All in all very satisfied with the product and don't buy megellan.

GPS System Excellent
The Streetpilot 2610 is excellent. It is so much easier to user then any other ones I have used in the past. Setup was a snap. The included Compact Flash Card is great. Touch screen is nice as well. Turn by turn directions by voice are great, keeps your eyes on the road.

I strongly recommend getting the garmin external antenna(about $60 extra from amazon) as it improves signal strength. Other then that, you are good to go.

When you need directions in every area
The Garmin automotive navigation is a great item in which for those new comers who drive or ride from Florida or California. This little item makes it easy for regular travler to find their way around. So in times of going to the club in the next town or just driving around major one way streets this little gadge makes anyone a pro in getting to thier point of orgin. So travel a little safer whether you take the train in holland or the drive to El Paso, Tx. Here's to TRAVELING ON A SAFER LEVEL.

Thank You
Shara L. Bouie
Atlanta,Ga<USA

Excellent
Excellent product; had for a year now. great product; great great, great. gets you to your destination;

awesome navigation unit!!
I've been wanting a gps unit for a long time now. couldn't decide between and "in-dash" unit or a "portable" one. after deciding on a portable one, I'm HAPPY I decided on the garmin 2610! after reading the manual one time through, the setup was easy! had to read it again to really learn the features in detail...this thing is amazing!! you CAN'T get lost with one of these! especially with a voice telling you where and when to turn and how far to go before the next turn comes up. I tried driving off route and it QUICKLY recalculates an alternate route.

I think the 128 compatch flash is fine if you need it for just a few states, but if travelling cross country, then more would be needed.

loading the software to the pc and downloading the needed maps was quick and painless! I think thats the only big difference with the 2610/2620, as the 2620 has a harddrive that comes preloaded with the maps for the continental US.

the only thing i would change is to have the speaker on the unit itself instead of on the power cable. but it's really no big deal! it really is a great unit!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

There are now enough handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers on the market that you can be choosy when it comes to price, features, and design. Garmin--a leading manufacturer of car, boat, and personal GPS receivers--has a complete line of eTrex handheld receivers, with our Legend falling about midrange.

With WAAS support, the Legend offers extremely accurate readings (rated to within two to three meters). (For more on WAAS, see the Frequently Asked Questions section.) A good-sized screen--288 x 160 pixels--makes it easy to see location details, and the Legend redraws maps quickly when zooming in or out of a position.

Its 8 MB of memory means there is also plenty of room for waypoints, routes, and saved tracks. The Legend will hold up to 500 waypoints, complete with a name and graphical symbol, 20 routes with 50 waypoints each, and it contains slots for 10 saved tracks. You can also download maps from Garmin's MapSource CD-ROMs (thorough but expensive accessories for the GPS receiver) to see street-level or topographic detail (depending on the CD-ROM title).

But one of the most striking attributes of the Legend is its comfortable and efficient design. While it rests easily in the palm of either hand, it's most suited for the left hand, where its handy click-stick can be manipulated with the thumb. The click-stick works like the pencil-eraser nubbin on laptop PCs and is handy for moving through screen icons and menus. It also works as a button when pressed down.

The Legend is coated with a waterproof, rubberized plastic shell that grips nicely. Weighing in at only 5.3 ounces, it fits into a pocket or clips onto a belt loop, going almost unnoticed.

The internal trip computer of the Legend provided a range of data about our hikes and drives, including current speed, average speed, trip distance, and time traveled (both moving and stopped). For those interested in checking out their foot pace and distance traveled, it's a handy GPS to have in hand.

Our only major beef with the Legend is that the receiver sometimes seemed to grow weak. Even when it wasn't in WAAS mode (which can be tough to maintain a signal in), it dropped the signal from time to time. We even lost the signal once while walking along the streets of San Francisco--it seems that the medium-size buildings were enough to interfere with the reception.

But this only happened on a few occasions. Most of the time the well-designed Legend was able to keep us in touch with up to 12 GPS satellites for a strong-enough read to maintain a tight handle on our location. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Comfortable, compact design
• Click-stick for interface navigation
• Bright backlight
• Handy distance-traveled feature

• Sporadic reception within urban areas
• Can take several minutes for a cold fix

Features

• Global positioning system (GPS) receiver with built-in Americas basemap
• 8 MB of internal memory for map and data storage; PC cable included
• Accuracy to less than 3 meters with WAAS correction data
• Rocker switch on front panel for quick and accurate map panning
• Compatible with optional Garmin MapSource software; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (91)

Excellent GPS
This is my second GPS and the 4th I have operated. I have had plenty of experience with GPSs and my occupation requires their use extensively. Having traveled to many foreign countries, I can attest to this unit's ability to give you tons of info on where you are. I prefer simple electronics with minimal buttons, and this unit offers a tremendous amount of data with six buttons. If you are looking for the easiest to use, I suggest the Garmin E-trex. It is the most basic unit you'll find and still provides plenty of info.

Pros:
1) The map data installed in the unit is very detailed (for N. America).
2) The ability to pre-plan routes via waypoints or corrodinates is fairly easy (esp. with the user guide)
3) You can program what data you would like to see based on what you want to know
4) For fisherman and hunters, this unit has special info for you (I didn't find this useful for me, but...)
5) Again, relatively simple to use compared to other GPSs
6) The ability to download map info from CD-ROM (invaluable)

Cons:
1) If you are going to use this in a car only, maybe you'd be better off with something that offers an exterior antenna
2) Significantly more complex than the E-trex (but still easier to use than most)
3) Be prepared to study in-depth the method of downloading from the CD-ROM

Overall, this GPS has gone beyond my expectations. If you do any significant traveling (esp. in N. America), then you will find this GPS vital.

A Good Start
I bought my Legend and the topo MapSource software last fall at a great price. I've used it for deer and turkey hunting, hiking, biking, and fun in the car. This unit takes a bit of getting used to but its operation is reasonably intuitive. (I'm an engineer.) I have down and uploaded weigh points, tracks and routes using the MapSource software. Before I bought my unit, I read some complaints about lack of topo detail. I find it adequate for my purposes. Be advised that the base map (which comes hard-coded in the system) does not correctly list the recently renumbered Pennsylvania highway exit numbers. Hopefully, Garmin will correct this promptly. Also, the topos are a bit dated but then so are the paper topos I usually carry. My suggestion is, if you like electronic toys, go for it. If these GPS manufacturers were smart, they would put software on the Internet that allowed open sharing of routes, waypoints, etc. Every trail in America would wind up electronically documented and these little critters would sell like popcorn.

Overpriced
I don't understand why this item is priced $80.00 more than anywhere else I've found it. You might as well not even carry it. It's a disservice to your customers. Target usually has good prices, and I do a lot of shopping there.

Bought one for the second time.
My wife and I got into Geocaching last year. We had a blast and had great results using our eTrex Legend. We ended up getting other distractions that kept us from GeoCaching so we decided to sell our Legend.

Well a year later we decided to get backing to caching because of some friends so we went looking again for GPSr units and after looking nothing seems to have topped the Legend in the value section.

I have read complaints about people losing sats but honestly from my previous experience, this only happened to us when the tree cover was almost completely blocked out the sky. I often used the unit indoors (near a window of course) and never had a problem using it in the car.

There are a few items that I buy a second time around, the only one that comes to mind off hand was a FujiFilm FinePix 1300. I tend to like value and items that retain a resale value, and from experience, the Legend fits both of those categories.

If you are looking for a sub $200 unit to Geocache with, this is the unit for you. With EasyGPS you can easily store and download Geocache waypoints to your Legend.

Also I don't think anyone mentioned it, but the Legend has a ton of different waypoint icons you can use, it even has GeoCache and GeoCache Found icons.

If I don't get the same results of the 2nd unit that I just ordered I will post it, but until then I am happy I stuck with the Legend.

Great GPS at an Excellent Price
Overall the Garmin eTrex Legend is a very good GPS receiver. Reception although not perfect is much better then what some of the reviews led me to believe. I lost tracking once on a 60 mile interstate trip for about 15 secs. Considering that is was cloudy, there is a reasonable amount of trees around the interstate and the GPS was on the passenger front seat I was pretty happy with the result. I managed to get a satellite lock indoors as well but only when in proximity to a window and even then it was sporadic. Average accuracy for me was about 20-30ft. When WAAS satellites are in sight I got as good as 7ft and you could actually see the car changing lanes on the tracking log.
The 8MB memory is for the most sufficient for a detailed street map of a single metropolitan area. Although no where nearly as detailed the built-in base map is also useful.
Battery life is good although not as good as advertised. WAAS does drain the batteries a little more so that may be the reason for my results.
Interface and features are as good as can be expected from a device that size and in this price range. The click stick can be a bit uncomfortable for right handed people but nothing you can't get used to.
Although I have not owned the device long it seems to be well built. I have not managed to put any scratches on the screen yet and I have taken few precautions.
Overall this is a great GPS with reasonably good reception and accuracy. Features are excellent for the price range. The eTrex Legend is moderately useful on the road ( no auto routing on the GPS ) and very useful for hiking, marine and aviation applications. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Portability meets capability in Garmin's pocket-sized Quest portable automotive global-positioning system. The easy-to-use device is loaded with the high-end navigation features from Garmin's most popular GPS navigators. Use it in multiple vehicles or simply slip it in your pocket for handy street-level directions when you're navigating on foot.

Smaller than a standard television remote, the Quest provides ample screen viewing area, but won't demand a lot of room on the dashboard or in the briefcase. The device sports a bright, 256-color, sunlight-readable display. You'll love the Quest's automatic routing with turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance to get you where you're going A high-speed processor means fast automatic off-route and detour recalculation, and the unit's internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 20 hours of use between charges.

A USB data connection ensures fast map downloads from Garmin's entire line of MapSource CDs, several of which are included. The unit ships with fully unlocked MapSource City Select CDs, providing full coverage of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, including more than 5 million points of interest like gas stations, ATMs, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. With 115 MB of internal memory, this small-but-powerful GPS navigator has plenty of built-in map storage. A unique antenna folds flush with the unit when not in use, and you can connect an optional external antenna as well.

For weekend warriors using the unit on a camping or fishing trip, the Quest is waterproof and fully compatible with the entire line of MapSource outdoor cartography, including U.S. Topo, 24K Topo, Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots, and BlueChart.

What's in the Box
Quest GPS with flip-up antenna, a PC/USB cable, an AC power adapter, an external speaker with 12-volt adapter cable, a vehicle suction-cup mount, a quick-reference guide, a user's manual, Americas autoroute basemap, MapSource City Select North America CD with full coverage and full unlock, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS with flip-up antenna
• Features 115MB of internal memory, for MapSource data
• Position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, MGRS, user grid and other standards
• Trip tracking computer provides a large speed display, odometer, stopped time, max speed, average and other important information
• 10,000-point track log retraces your path; includes USB interface

Amazon.com Product Description

The Garmin GPSMAP 60C is full of features that are only found on the newest generation GPS handheld units. It's not enough to only have color displays anymore. Garmin knows this and they upped the ante on this lightweight, rugged, waterproof unit, offering a 256-color, highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition, including sunlit conditions. This transreflective TFT, 2.6" diagonal screen provides excellent viewing while maximizing your battery life (up to thirty hours with typical use).

The WAAS GPS receiver has an accuracy of ten feet in North America. With the fifty reversible routes, 10,000 track points and 1000 waypoints, you're sure to have enough tools to find your way. With the faster processor, the GPS unit provides quick auto routing, turn-by-run directions and audio alerts when using optional MapSource software. There are 56 MB of internal memory for storing additional map detail. Downloading information is quick using the USB or serial port interfaces. Using the dedicated serial port, navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters and autopilots. The four position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit's features easy, even when those fingers are cold or wet.

Finally, the GPSMAP 60C is packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the hot, GPS community treasure hunt game. Finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors.

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.

What's in the Box
GPSMAP 60C, PC/USB cable, lanyard, belt clip, manual and a one year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Sunlight-readable, transreflective TFT display
• Integrated outdoor calendar
• Geolocation games, including geocaching mode
• Waterproof in one meter of water for up to thirty minutes (IPX-7 standards)
• 30-hour battery life (uses 2 AA batteries); includes serial and USB interfaces

Amazon.com Product Description

Never get lost again when you use the versatile and powerful GPS V Deluxe from Garmin. This compact global positioning system (GPS) receiver can be mounted in your vehicle and used as a handheld navigator. The GPS V Deluxe coordinates signals from 12 satellites to pinpoint your position anywhere on the globe, and has WAAS capability. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is a system of satellites and ground stations that provides GPS signal corrections, giving you up to five times better position accuracy than just the GPS signal. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time.

The Garmin GPS V can be dash mounted...

With 19 MB of built-in memory, the GPS V Deluxe can store dozens of maps and routes in memory. Download data from your PC with the included serial cable. The GPS V Deluxe stores 50 routes with 254 waypoints each, and 3,000 tracklog points.

The included MapSource City Select CD-ROM--designed specifically for the GPS V--has been enhanced to provide street-level views of millions of new streets for nearly every town in the United States. City Select includes highways, interstates, business and residential streets with attributes such as turn restrictions and speed categories, and other navigation features. The software automatically creates point-to-point routes in MapSource and on the GPS V. It also displays restaurants, hotels, attractions, entertainment, shopping, and location of emergency services along your route. City Select also contains detailed maps of major metropolitan areas in seven defined regions in the U.S. and Canada.

Or, carry it in the palm of your hand!

This Deluxe version of the Garmin GPS V offers full unlock capability of all maps for the United States and Canada. (The regular Garmin GPS V comes with unlock capability for just one region.) Simply install the City Select CD-ROM on your PC, then enter a custom code that is included with the product box.

The GPS V Deluxe comes with auto-routing for the shortest and fastest way to your destination, plus turn-by-turn directions throughout North America and major cities. The GPS V Deluxe will show you how to get there and give you an estimated time of arrival, then alert you to upcoming turns with an audible beep.

You view data on the 2.2-by-1.5-inch four-level grayscale LCD, with its resolution of 256 x 160 pixels. A multilevel backlight allows you to see the screen clearly in a variety of lighting conditions.

The GPS V comes with detachable antenna, PC interface cable, dashboard mount, 12-volt adapter cable, wrist strap, and owner's manual. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Get upcoming services information as you travel along your route. As you approach a turn, the map page automatically changes to show a focused view of the upcoming turn.

As you're navigating a route, you can view a list of upcoming turns along with the remaining distance and time. A built-in calendar shows you the best times to hunt and fish based on location and time of year.

... Read more

Features

• 12-channel GPS unit with 19 MB of built-in memory
• Includes MapSource City Select CD-ROM with street-level maps and points of interest; full unlock capability for US and Canada
• WAAS capability provides position accuracy better than three meters
• Autorouting gives access to the shortest and fastest routes
• Turn-by-turn directions; includes serial cable for PC connection

Reviews (41)

A very satisfied user
I purchased the Garmin GPS V in anticipation of two 3-day trips into areas I had never traveled. The detailed maps that were supplied on the CD were excellent and accurate. Before I left on the trips, I checked out the detail on the streets of Seattle, WA, because the many steep hills provide unusual angled streets with many turns. The map followed them all and accurately named them. I was impressed. I was even more impressed when I traveled into the back country of the Olympic peninsula and, arriving at an intersection of two country roads, found that the GPS V maps named both of them correctly. I'll never travel without it again.

The 19mb of memory is a bit too small to hold the number of maps that I regularly need and there is no additional memory card available to augment the capacity. Erasing and downloading a new set of maps to the GPS from the computer is very easy and intuitive, but somewhat time consuming. Adding even one detailed map to the GPS V required more than 30 minutes of download time, this in addition to any computer time selecting the maps to use. Fortunately, the base map built into the GPS V good enough for the major interstate highways, exits, and services, so if you do not regularly travel to a number of large cities, the 19mb of memory may be ample for the detailed maps desired.

The dash mount supplied with the GPS V is excellent with locking angle adjustments and a quick-release. It lacks only one very important feature: it must be mounted on a flat surface. Try to find one of those on today's curved dashboards, and in a place where the antenna can acquire the satellites and you can see the display. Fortunately, I was able to make an adapter plate that fit the dashboard and allowed the dash mount to be installed. I am very pleased with the clarity of the display.

The instruction book that comes with the GPS V is very complete and leads step-by-step through the more complicated processes. At the same time, the usual functions desired from a GPS are easy to set up and fairly intuitive by using the menu functions. The quick start guide is all most people will need to use the unit effectively.

Battery life from 4 AA cells is sufficient if the backlight feature is not used too much. Typically I found the batteries needed to be replaced after 18 to 20 hours. The GPS V also comes with a cigarette lighter cable for powering the unit in the car. A cable for hard wiring the GPS into the car's electrical system is available but not supplied.

I especially like the option of "on-road," which moves the cursor to the nearest road, or "off-road," which will point your way to your destination or back home if you are hiking cross country. Several pages of display will give you more information than ever thought possible: accurate local time, speed, distance traveled, average speed, latitude and longitude, elevation, time and distance to destination, and the best time for fishing (no kidding) just to name a few.

The auto-routing feature is a real help when traveling in unfamiliar areas, but I have found that sometimes it has made less than optimum routing suggestions when I tested it to destinations I knew. Not a really big problem as it always directed me to the destination eventually. One really great feature of auto-routing is that if you miss a turn or get off the suggested track, the GPS V immediately recalculates the route and displays turn-by-turn directions to the destination from where you presently heading.

In conclusion, I can say I am completely pleased with the Garmin GPS V and that it has many of the features of more expensive units. I highly recommend it.

Good hardware, mediocre maps
This is the second Garmin GPS I own, the other being an eTrex Vista, and the first with road navigation capabilities. In my previous experience with Garmin, I was happy both with the product and the product support, and I was not disappointed this time. The user interface of the GPS is even more intuitive than the eTrex, and buttons and screen pass the test with flying colors. The software is robust, and it never crashed. Syncing with the PC is a piece of cake, and information such as waypoints can be transferred among different Garmin GPS.
The product is perfect for everyday use, but I have only three complaints. The first two are minor: the location of satellites when the GPS is "cold" can take 60-90 seconds, and the calculation of the best route eassily takes more than 60 seconds when the degree of accuracy is set to medium; much more when the level of accuracy is set to high. The two number could mean that the driver has to wait 2-3 minutes before getting any useful direction from the GPS.

The last gripe is much important: the maps are often inaccurate. Some roads have been permanently cut off at a major intersection; new houses have been built. As a result, the GPS might prescribe an incorrect route, or not be able to find a certain address. These accidents happen about 20% of the time in my area (NY city and surrounding counties). As a way of comparison, the GPS installed on Hertz rental machines, which uses Navtech maps, has never given me an incorrect route during my trips. I hope Garmin will provide better maps soon.

Garmin Makes Another Keeper
For many years I have run around with a GPS 12 strapped to my dash. It has never failed me and I have come to rely on it. I had seen many people use the Garmin V and knew that someday I would have to take a closer look.

Finally I purchased the Garmin V and was not disappointed. In addition to all of the capabilities of the GPS 12 that I have become so fond, the G-V added several new capabilities to the formula.

The "FIND" or Auto-Routing has been a terrific bonus. I recently located a piece of property that was listed for sale. It was tucked away in a very obscure part of the area, and would have been nearly impossible to locate with "turn by the blue house; go straight until you reach the tree" kind of "human" directions that it would have required. Instead, we drove confidently to the location, knowing where we were every step of the way.

We also love looking up Points of Interest (Restaurants, Shopping, etc.) - it has enhanced our travels by encouraging us to take the road less traveled knowing that at least we can find our way in and back out!

Adding the external antenna greatly increased the reception quality of the unit. We routinely get accuracy reported to within 15 feet!

The unit is compatible with other Garmin accessories I already own, is feature-rich yet intuitive for users like me. I have already been able to convert and use several of the hundreds of tracks I recorded with my GPS 12.

Combine this unit with City Select and Topo and you have a combination that will take you to some of the most interesting (and sometimes well hidden) places on the planet. You will know what time you can expect to arrive, find a place to get a meal, and even get some fishing tips if that's your fancy. Tonight we wanted to check a restaurant for specials and waiting times. I looked it up on the GPS on the way to the location and called ahead for the answer to all my questions!

For the price of this unit and the map software, you can hardly go wrong. If you want to reach a new level of freedom, take a good look at the Garmin V!

Makes a road trip pure fun
I have had the GPS V for 6 weeks and have done over 3,000 miles with it covering eleven states. Most of those have been done in a car although 200 were on a motorcycle.

If you have never used a GPS then get one, it can revolutionize a road trip. The ability to find 'points of interest' as you are travelling down a road and then drive to the nearest can make a painful and argument inspiring process trivial. This product is one of the best $300 I've ever spent.

However, the downsides:

1) The map load of 19MB can take 45 minutes
2) You can really only fully load enough for 200-250 miles. We travel 600 miles a day which means the morning pre-load has to cleverly pick which pieces will be driving and when we need the extra detail. (Typically we load more maps for the eventual target and the expected lunch stop)
3) The map on the CD is getting a little old. If you are travelling through road works or new roads the system often claims you are off-route and tries to recalculate.

4) The recalculation time is very slow if your eventual target is hundreds of miles away. Sometimes we would have to stop the car for the unit to catch up. (The trick is to come up with a nearer intermediate target and aim for that before aiming for the eventual destination)

All in all, if you want to use this on a motorcycle this unit is the best, for pure in car use one of the more modern systems with more memory, faster cpu and usb link would be better.

Impressive Design and Function
This unit is the perfect blend of form and function. If you're looking for a powerful, useful and affordable GPS unit for use on- and off-road, you've found it in the Garmin GPS V!

Give yourself an hour to figure out how to navigate the menus, and then prepare to be amazed. Whether you're measuring your favorite hiking trail, or finding the best way to a Bed and Breakfast 100 miles away, you'll find that this unit is helpful and accurate.

I was worried before I got it that the screen would be too small, or that I would miss having a color screen or voice prompts. But I don't find the unit lacking at all, even without those perks. In fact, units with those features are typically larger, and size is one of the strengths of this unit. It's perfect to stick in your coat pocket and take with you, or to mount unobtrusively on your dash. Any bigger, and I would feel that I had sacrificed one of the key merits of this unit: its portability.

The firmware has been written impeccably. Straight out of the box, the unit is configured very much to my liking. Maps, text and directions are all clear, and all the fields that are shown (i.e., ETA to destination, distance to next turn, time to next turn, etc.) have been expertly set up by someone who has clearly thought about what actual users would desire to see. But if you have specific preferences, there are a TON of settings that you can customize to your own personal choices.

What's more, the device is extremely accurate. It gives good navigation advice, as it generally recommends very efficient routes. The turn-by-turn directions are clear in both text and graphic formats. And the recalculation function is a powerful feature that will give you the confidence that if you get off route, the GPS V will quickly put you back in the right direction.

The 19 Meg memory could potentially be limiting, but I have loaded all of Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as most of Long Island, Massachusetts and Vermont, and it knows every road that I've come across. With a little planning (that's half the fun of traveling anyway!), you can easily have more than enough data in your unit to keep you well informed at your origin and destination. One point not commonly mentioned about this device is the quality of the built in map. Even before I downloaded a MapSource map, I was very impressed with the detail of interstates, state highways, exits and major roads which are pre-programmed into the unit for the entire US.

Well done, Garmin. You've got a new fan! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

A few years ago, when personal GPSs first became available, every geek from here to Poughkeepsie was enthralled about the possibility of always knowing exactly where on the planet they were. While the Garmin eTrex isn't the most feature-rich GPS out there, it will definitely come in handy if you don't want your next camping trip to end up like a scene from The Blair Witch Project.

The eTrex is sort of a dumbed-down, rugged version of the company's more advanced eMap. Designed specifically for hiking, biking, and camping, the eTrex is one of the easiest-to-use GPS units available. It offers the ability to track up to 12 satellites so you never lose contact with one. The eTrex won't work inside--however, we don't anticipate that you'll get lost inside a building very often.

Among the eTrex's notable features is its ability to calculate your current and average speed. We used the eTrex to determine the distance from work to home, and calculate how fast we were walking. This helped us gauge the average time it should take to get to work. This feature should really come in handy on extended hiking, camping, or cycling trips where planning your average speed and tracking the distance traveled is critical.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMain menu &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspMap page &nbsp&nbspPointer page &nbsp&nbspMark pointer page

Sticking with its theme of simplicity, the eTrex has only five buttons, making it easy to use with just one hand (It's specifically designed for the left hand.) Weighing only 5.3 ounces with the batteries installed, the eTrex is also ultralight, making it an easy addition to a daypack. The eTrex is also waterproof, so a little water shouldn't damage the unit.

The eTrex can hold up to 500 user-created waypoints. And using Garmin's TracBack feature, it's easy to plot a course with up to 10 waypoints and follow it in both directions. --Julian Strate

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Light
• Waterproof

• Batteries only last about 20 hours

Features

• Global positioning system (GPS) receiver continuously tracks and uses up to 12 satellites
• Calculates current and average speed, time of sunrise and sunset, trip distance, and more
• Automatic track log--10 saved tracks let you retrace your path in both directions
• Tough waterproof case; runs for 18 hours on 2 AA batteries
• Compatible with optional Garmin MapSource software for downloading trip and waypoint data (not map compatible)

Reviews (138)

Simple, accurate and cheap ... saved [me] first time out!
Just like two out of every five "guys" on the planet, owning a GPS (really cool compass) was a must..."I can't live with-out one". I picked up the "e-trex" vanilla flavored, hiking, biking and trail version. My intent was to use it in my truck, a little added nav equipment for map reading (make long trips less boring). The basic e-trex lacks the memory for *real travel* logistics (car excursions). A three-hour trip ate 98% of its memory and 70+% of battery life. I must add however, my expectations were minimal, given its price. It calculates your speed better then your speedometer, frightening!!! Make no mistake, you are being tracked!!! As far as bearing, speed, travel time, the basics, this little toy is a treat. It saved [me] when I became lost in the middle of Farmington, CA. not long ago. The sun was down, the ground flat and I... backwards. I remembered the e-trex after about two hours of endless rights and lefts (almost ended up in Yosemite!!!), fired that bad-boy up and was on Highway 99 in 20 minutes, headed home. Paid for itself that night. I highly recommend the basic e-trex as a very basic navigational aide. It does everything it's designed to and does it well. It's also a great "starter" for learning about GPS systems. *Note: This thing tracked my rate of speed to the .5 of a mile and was right on target, if you register one with a serial number, use your best friends name!!! Happy trekking...
Dave

Great for outdoor adventures but...
The etrex is a very good GPS system for the buck. It doesn't however include many features: compass, speedometer, a waypoint storage system, and a basic map showing only your waypoints. The unit is ideal though for camping, and any outdoor activities that you just need a point-to-point navigation for. The unit itself is very solid, VERY small, water-proof (to 30 feet), and will last about 20 hours on just 2 AA batteries. Amazing technology these days!

Keep in mind, the map on the unit does NOT include any detailed information (i.e cities, roads etc.), just your waypoints that you enter. It you want a GPS with a detailed mapping system (cities, roads, coastlines etc...) get either the Emap or the GPS III+. The III+ is the high-end "outdoors" GPS while the emap is made primarily for driving due to its great capability of data storage.

Overall Evaluation on Etrex: Excellent for the money, fun to use, simple, however not very practical.

Wildland Firefighter likes eTrex
For the price and its size, it's a 5 star product. Compared to many larger/pricer units it can be only a 3 star. This is a very competetive marketplace and with the removal of the military Selective Availablity coding on May 1st, you've got to take the big leap and buy one. The eTrex shows accuracy of 11-20 feet commonly. In reasonably dense conifer forests around 60 feet. Put yourself in the bottom of a canyon in that forest and you'll have to spend say 5 minutes positioning your GPS to get 100 foot accuracy. That will not work for surveyors, but you'll get back to where you started just fine. Again, the main reason for this success is the military making the accuracy available to all of us. By the way THANKS. This unit is a very reasonable entry GPS Some Problems with the eTrex: 1) Doesn't have a simple map in it and you can't download quality Topo maps onto it. 2) Smaller size means smaller antennae and its reception in timbered canyons is weak. 3) No external antennae hook-up for when in your car. 4) Does not have a built in compass capabilty for when using a bearing, like the very similar Garmin "Summit" model that will be released shortly.(The summit will cost about twice as much). You really need to use a quality compass with it. But, as you should know, GPS will not repace map and compass, just enhance it greatly. However, for your money, this a geat little unit.

Garmin has good reception
I own 3 GPS receivers and I will say Garmin did an excellent job. The receiver is much more sensitive to satellite signals than my other GPSs. Just don't expect too much from this small unit with tiny screen and very slow CPU for screen refresh. It will drive you nuts to use it for street navigation. It is suitable for back trailing in the mountains. For street navigate, I strongly suggest that you hook this unit up with a laptop but make sure that GPS is set to NMEA and the software GPS setting is also correct. Conclusion, don't street navigate with this unit alone and don't buy a no brand GPS under $90 because you will not be happy with the reception.

Eddy

"Keep It Simple Smarty" applies to this!!
This is a wonderful little unit, compact, light and very easy to use. I have worked with some other GPS units and this one is so simple for the minor simple functions! The unit has the ability to give you time for the time zone you are in, sunrise, sunset and many other functions. I have found this unit to work mainly outside, inside it seems to have troubles picking up the satellites, however if you are using this it is logical to be outdoors. I look forward to getting out on the trails now both hiking and biking, as I can map the trail I take. For someone that wants a simple unit, this is the way to go, as you cant beat the cost. For those that want all the big bells and whistles, keep looking. This unit gives a map of the trail but it is not going to give you every detail of area around you like some of the higher costing units. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Building on the success of the RoadMate 500 and 700, Magellan's RoadMate 300 is a powerful GPS navigational tool that can easily guide you on your next automotive adventure. The system makes navigation easy and fun, with friendly voice prompting, preloaded maps of major North American roads, turn-by-turn guidance, and the latest touchscreen technology--all at a great price.

Features
The RoadMate 300 is billed as the first vehicle navigation device made for everyone, but that doesn't mean Magellan has scrimped on features. Designed from top to bottom for simplicity and ease of use, its user interface is the same as that found in the Hertz NeverLost system and the RoadMate 700.

Quickly locate amenities and points of interest along your route.

It uses powerful, 14-channel GPS positioning that's accurate to within three meters thanks to Magellan's TrueFix technology. Turn-by-turn voice prompts guide you on your way and automatically recalculate your route when you get off track, while intelligent routing lets you plan a trip based on shortest travel time, most or least use of freeways, or avoidance of tolls.

Meanwhile, the locate feature displays your current location and allows you to save it to the address book. Finally, you can select destinations by entering an address or intersection, selecting an address from the address book, touching a point on the map, or by choosing from more than 1.7 million points of interest like airports, gas stations, and restaurants. All of these features make the RoadMate 300 a snap to use right out of the box.

Design
Weighing in at just under nine ounces and with an integrated GPS antenna, the RoadMate 300 is compact and portable. The tough, rubberized exterior is built for abuse, while the 3.5-inch TFT color touchscreen makes address entry easy--no need for an awkward stylus. The intuitive keypad is backlit and highly visible, night or day. A headphone jack lets you catch the next turn command in a car full of noisy kids.

Connectivity and Expansion

You can also choose a map view, or the maneuver list.

While maps of major North American roads--including those in Hawaii and Puerto Rico--are stored in the unit's 128 MB of internal memory, you can add more detailed maps of specific areas to your available internal memory or through the SecureDigital card expansion slot (SD card not included). Using your Windows PC and a USB connection, the RoadMate 300 can be loaded with predefined routes from included trip-planning software, or you can load addresses from your Outlook contact list for easy mapping of the locations of clients, coworkers, and friends. You can also play back and view data from trips you've already taken, or have the unit speak in one of six languages in addition to American English: French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, or British English.

What's in the Box
The Magellan RoadMate 300 unit with integrated GPS antenna, PC software, a quick-start guide, a basic reference guide, a complete manual on CD, a USB cable, a cigarette-lighter adapter, and a windshield mount. ... Read more

Features

• Simple, powerful and portable--the first vehicle navigation device for everyone
• Same user-friendly interface as Magellan RoadMate 700 and Hertz NeverLost system
• Major North American roads map preloaded into 128 MB internal storage, more map storage available via SD Card slot
• Turn-by-turn voice prompted guidance with automatic route recalculation
• No professional installation required; includes USB interface and cable

Product Description

TomTom (1D00.081) GO + USA MAPS PRELOADED ... Read more

Features

• Crisp audio turn-by-turn directions; works straight out of the box
• Portable vehicle GPS navigation system with 1GB Secure Digital memory card
• 32 MB of internal memory; includes preloaded U.S. maps
• Crystal-clear 3D or 2D navigation views with day/night variations
• 3-1/2-inch color TFT LCD screen with touchscreen operation

Reviews (6)

TomTom Go Plus Rocks
After a couple of months of ownership of the product I have nothing but good things to say about it. Put in the address of your destination and let TomTom Go Plus do its thing. I really like the talking prompts that give you ample time to do what ever manuvering TomTom calls for. Since I got it I've had two down-loadable firmware upgrades. One of the additions is the ability to enter a zip code to get a city. New updated US maps are due out in June and will come both on CD and installed on the card for a higher price. If you want easy out of the box navagation help let TomTom do the talking. The newer 300 and 700 versions will have many more capabilities such as Bluetooth. Phone call ability and many more goodies. TomTom rocks!!!!!!

How did I ever get by without it?
First I would like to thank the reviewer who brought up the TamTam software to make this device macintosh compatible. It was the deciding factor in my purchase. There are only a couple of minor inconveniences that aren't worthy of a star removal. I'm not sure how to put this, but the device is not very "grippable". i'm always afraid of it slipping from my hands because of its shape and smooth contours. Also, it is difficult to see the screen from some angles in bright daylight. However, this GPS system is unbelievable! Very simple and intuitive, portable, long lasting battery, clear voice instructions, 3D visuals and comes with a nice carrying case. You would not believe how small this thing is, yet the maps and menus are easy to read.

Good unit but serious flaw
Excellent ease of use coming out of the box, especially if you get the preloaded.Very unclunky looking and as discrete as you can expect from an aftermarket.3D view is a real plus.No it doesn't give the most direct directions but I didn't know where I was going anyway.I'm still ahead of the game.For the bad news, screen washout is not just an annoyance.Except for the voice prompts the unit is practically useless and distracting in NJ winter sun and likely even more so in summer or sunnier states.Forget about wearing sunglasses.Why wouldn't the company test this before putting it on the market? TomTom customer service says they are working on a screen cover to gerryrig a solution but that's a bs response.It's a hardware problem.Fix it.Drove from Jersey to Florida recently.Not much use in that drive.Get on I-95 and keep south til you hit water.The maps could use some updating.It's missing some sections of major roadways so it tries to swing around when all you need to do is go straight.Some addresses on roads that it does recognize is also missing.(Un)coupling the unit to the swing arm is clunky, especially if you have big hands or are wearing gloves.The unit is too easy to turn on in the carry pouch.The suction attachment doesn't work well in below freezing weather.Works fine once the car is warmed up.All of these are design flaws that should have been remedied in the product development phase.It has a feature that allows you to avoid parts of a route but would like one that allows you to force a route as well.Lack of WAAS makes it less precise than similarly priced products.Having to switch between maps ie. mid atlantic and southeast states is not that troublesome.Avoiding traffic jam feature was helpful.More good things is that I did feel more comfortable veering off my course to get gas and such. They could stand to shave a couple hundred off the price though given weaknesses in execution.My feeling is that they shouldn't be rewarded for selling a product that has such glaring and multiple design flaws.Instead buy the new Garmin c330 clone coming out in March.Looks good except for the fact that the Garmin doesn't seem to have a capture GPS position, which can be very useful.

http://www.garmin.com/products/sp330/

Good GPS
After owning for some years a Garmin Street Pilot III I decided to try a new GPS, hoping that technology would have improved- not that the Street Pilot wasn't doing its job, but there's always room for improvement.After seraching and re-searching, I went for the TomTom Go Plus with pre-loaded maps. Reasons?Several... A neat feature of the TT is that, with all the maps on the unit, there is no need for computer set up. You don't even need a computer, as a matter of fact, to use the unit right off the box.Another big plus is that there is no need to have all sort of cables across your dash -antenna, audio... The TT has only one cable, the power cable... which in a short trip you can do without, since the unit will run for at least 5 hours on a fully charged internal battery.The Street Pilot would run about 15 minutes with 6 AA batteries... More good stuff: the menus are very easy to navigate -touch screen- and information is entered with a screen keyboard (no more scrolling through the alphabet). I just wish that the keyboard was "qwert" instead of alphabetical.The satellite reception is much better than with the Street Pilot, and its built-in antenna picks up the signal just about anywhere you mount the unit... even inside the house! (magic?) The mounting winshield bracket works well, although in cars with very deep windshield (ie Beetle) places the unit kind of far to be able to read it comfortably.I have not tried the adhesive pad that comes in the box, after reading somewhere that it may become permanently attached to your dash... Navigation is cool, you probably read about the nice strong sound, and is simplified in comparison with the Street Pilot- less info about surrounding streets that are not in your route, only the name of the next street appears on the map. And the 3D view...I don't think I can live without it after trying it! Entering your destination is fast an definetly easier than with the Street Pilot.I have read some reviews that talk about the glare... and yes, that's a problem, and you may have to re-position the unit 'til you find the sweet spot.Downloading the latest software version (4.42) from their site -totally painless- increases the brightness of the screen, and that helped a bit.And finally, a couple of things that could be better:even though all the maps are loaded, you need to swap maps when you travel between regions, unless you use the less detailed "highway map" to route your destination.I that case, if your destination is a smal town, it will not be in the memory, and you'll have to settle for the next best (or bigger) city.The second issue is the points of interest.Garmin maps seem to be "better", including, for example, grocery stores, and above all, phone numbers -yes, it is convenient to be able to call a motel ahead to check availability... but not with your TT... On the other hand, is very easy to make your own list of POIs..to which you can add phone numbers if you wish.Despite these little "flaws", I definetly recommend this GPS...

Excellent GPS
The Tom Tom GO is an excellent product. With the preloaded maps there's almost no setup required, and it's very easy to use. It works as well or better than any of the original equipment GPS systems provided in automobiles. And because it is not original equipment it is unencumbered by liability-minimizing function locks present on some car systems (for example one car maker's GPS system doesn't allow anyone to enter a navigation destination when the car is in drive.)

The 3D views generated by the Tom Tom GO are uncannily realistic as they track exactly what you see through your windshield. As such they can be a bit distracting at first. But the Tom Tom GO provides an option to simplify the information displayed always or when traveling faster than a given speeds to eliminate potential distractions.

I've found the included maps (I have the Preloaded USA Maps version) to be very accurate and routes generated to be quite smart. In testing it out in my home town the routes generated have been very close to those I'd choose myself.

I've had another popular portable GPS system and the maps for that system were no where near as accurate or smart as the Tom Tom GO.

It's important to consider the pros and cons of a removable GPS navigation system. It's is an obvious advantage in that you can use it with any car and can take it with you when you travel and rent a car.But being removable it might make an attractive target for theft if left in place in your car. So you have to anticipate the minor hassle of packing it away when you leave your vehicle in any unsecured place.

The Tom Tom GO is a brilliantly designed and executed device that does what it promises and can be used by anyone. ... Read more

Features

• Plug-'n'-go portable vehicle navigation system with built-in mapping database
• Automatic navigation with turn-by-turn directions and multilingual voice guidance
• Street-level detail map features 48 contiguous U.S. states, Hawaii, and major Canadian metropolitan areas
• 2 million points of interest; no CDs or downloads necessary; includes altimeter and compass
• 5.2-inch high-resolution ultra-bright color display; USB 2.0 interface

Amazon.com Review

You don't need to buy a luxury car or spend thousands installing a multipart system to get advanced GPS navigation capabilities in your automobile. Garmin's StreetPilot III delivers all the high-end features you need--from detailed street maps and sophisticated auto routing to voice prompts and a color screen--in a compact, inexpensive, and portable package.

The Garmin StreetPilot III sports a brilliant LCD display

Setting up the unit was surprisingly simple. First we installed the software from the MapSource City Navigator CD onto our PC and connected the card reader, with the 32 MB data card, to the USB port. Then we went online to unlock one of 10 detailed coverage areas included on the disk; for instance, Area 1 covers California and Nevada, Area 7 covers New England and New York. After that we downloaded detailed maps of our city (San Francisco) and surrounding areas to the data card. We also downloaded waypoints--locations like our home, office, and other places we often visit--onto the card and inserted it into the StreetPilot III. If you don't have a USB port, you can also use the included serial cable to connect the entire unit to your PC.

The physical installation went just as smoothly. We affixed the plastic base to the top of our dashboard with the included adhesive mounting disks, snapped the StreetPilot III into place, connected it to the cigarette lighter for power, and extended the small fold-down antenna. The dashboard mount's quick release makes it easy to store the StreetPilot III when not in use or, if you purchase a second mount, lets you use it in multiple vehicles.

We turned the unit on and in less than a minute it locked onto the GPS satellites and displayed a map of our current location on the clear, bright, easy-to-read color display. As we drove along, it displayed our position and direction on the map, the name and address number of the street we were on, and even the name of the upcoming cross street. The two zoom buttons let us get a very detailed street-level view or a broad overview of our current position, and the menu button allowed us to customize the display.

By using the ‘find’ key, points of interest such as attractions, restaurants, banks, intersections and many more are easily located and routed to. Simply choose the destination from the list and press ‘route to it’. The Streetpilot III will calculate the best route and talk you through to the destination. The crisp, colorful LCD makes checking out your destination easy--even before you leave! This screen displays your possible destination of the St. Louis Zoo as well as local restaurants and emergency medical locations. It’s easy to become familiar with services provided even when you’re 244.1 miles away. Try that with a paper map!

The trip computer screen calculates all the travel data for your trip with incredible accuracy, while verbal instructions inform you of the next turn. Valuable information like distance to destination and time to destination are constantly updated--perhaps even putting an end to the question ‘are we there yet?’ Routes can be displayed several ways such as this turn by turn instruction screen, which highlights your next turn to make. The distance to go and time to go information gives driver’s the forewarning and confidence to watch for the approaching turn. The smooth verbal instructions will let you know when the next turn is approaching.

The fun really started, though, when we used the StreetPilot's routing capabilities. Using the arrow buttons, we input the intersection of a store we'd never visited, and within a minute it calculated the most direct route. The voice navigator told us where to go and when to turn, and it was simple to monitor our progress both on the map and on the text display. We knew the exact address of our next stop and entered it into the unit. The StreetPilot then guided us onto the freeway and successfully to our second destination, telling us exactly where to stop along the street and even on which side of the street the store was located. To get home, we just accessed a waypoint with our home address that we'd preprogrammed on the PC.

Even if you don't know exactly where you're going, the City Navigator maps include points of interest, such as restaurants, shops, and parks. For instance, the StreetPilot can find the closest fast-food restaurant and present you with a list of nearby options.

Testing in San Francisco, we did lose satellite lock a few times in extremely hilly areas or in areas with very tall buildings. We think this was due mainly to the fact that the unit's antenna is inside the car; an external antenna option is available for less than $100 that should solve the problem.

Once you use the StreetPilot III for a while, it's hard to imagine driving solo again. Whether you're planning a road trip or just need help getting around town, it's an extremely helpful companion that's cheaper and easier to install than anything else currently available. --Ken Feinstein

Pros:

• Compact, portable design
• Easy-to-read color screen
• Auto routing and voice prompts

Cons:

• Optional external antenna will get better satellite reception in some cities than the built-in antenna

Note about review: This review was written using the original version of the Garmin StreetPilot III. The deluxe version includes a 128 MB data card and full unlock access to all maps on the City Navigator CD-ROM.

What's in the Box
StreetPilot III with portable antenna, PC interface cable, dashboard mount, portable Mount (bean bag mount), external speaker with 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter, owner's manual, quick reference guide, USB data card programmer, Americas Autoroute Basemap, MapSource City Navigator North America CD. ... Read more

Features

• GPS receiver with turn-by-turn navigation
• Includes MapSource City Navigator CD-ROM with street-level maps and points of interest; full unlock capability for US and Canada
• Automated voice prompts tell you when to turn
• 16-color display with backlight for dim lighting
• Compatible with optional Garmin MapSource software for downloading maps and waypoint data

Reviews (63)

Street Pilot III - Excellent in the States and Overseas
We took our SP III with us on our last trip to France and used the 128MB memory card to load in all of the data from Paris through Normandy and beyond. There was enough capacity for about half of France. I was very impressed with the routing capabilities and up to date maps available for France. The Unit easily led us to our destinations and provided step by step directions when the routing function was used. It also highlighted our route on the map making following your progress simple, even when driving. Especially nice were the up-close maps of upcoming round-abouts, something common in Europe (and which can be confusing for first timers). The map showed entry onto the round-about and which exit to take, in addition to telling you the information with the voice feature. I was skeptical that the unit would function as well overseas as in the US because I figured the small back roads would not be shown on the map, but was pleasantly surprised. We navigated along highways and through medieval towns with ease. I can highly recommend this unit for use both in the United States and in Europe. While you do have to pay for the maps which are somewhat costly, they are well worth the one time investment. This Unit works as well as or better than any built in or rental car system that I have used.

I recommend this unit
I've owned my unit for about 5 months and love it. It's one of the few pieces of electronic equipment that has passed my wife's "waste of money" test.

I bought the deluxe package to get access to all of the US, and have the portable bean-bag mount. We frequently trade which car gets the unit based on the day's plans. I routinely use the unit to go to and from work, and hit the "detour" button when traffic gets bogged down. Thanks to this unit I have found some lightly traveled trails during rush hour.

The unit offers shortest-distance or quickest-time to calculate routes. There are options available for how much time the unit calculates each permutation. For those concerned about recalculation speed, such as in a city, try setting this parameter to least optimum and thus fasted calculation time.

The shortest distance route will sometimes take you down dirt roads and trails. I drive an Explorer so find this fun. I'd be less impressed if I drove a low-slung sportster. Thanks to this idiosyncrasy I found a quick detour when a rural bridge on my commute was closed for repairs. It's also helped me find spots for fishing when spring arrives.

The screen is easy to see, even in sunlight and while wearing polarized sunglasses. I always use the cigarette lighter for power as the unit is known for eating batteries. The 128m memory card is plenty for storing the maps I need for my local region. I intend to buy a second card so I can have "home" maps and "road trip" maps without having to spend the time reloading home maps after a trip.

Worth the Money
I love it! It was extremely intuitive. Easy to use, lots of features, voice/speaker feature is great.

2400 miles in 5 days and the Garmin took me to and fro!
I bought this little gem for the specific purpose of an upcoming vacation. I just got back this evening, and here are my thoughts.

Price:

I really don't think you can go wrong here for the price. A GPS system for under $500, with a color map (full screen if you choose), current street maps that are fully unlocked, talking directions, visual directions and waypoint setting (marking) right from the main unit.

Look/Feel:

The unit is surpisingly heavy, and when you use the bean bag mount, it stays put. This unit did not slide around my dash on my trip, even when taking curves at 75 mph. Impressive yes, kind of goofy looking though.

The unit feels very well built, and as I mentioned earlier, has some girth, so it won't go sliding all over the place when you are diving into that tight turn.

The buttons are all rubberized and I think they will last a long time to come.

Accuracy:

I didn't have a single problem with the maps and the streets we traveled. What did get a little "off" was if I was on a frontage road, or an exit road that ran with a road I just turned off, sometimes, the unit thought I was on the previous street and told me I was "off route". Not a big deal, as it recovered quickly and kept me going. However, I was in California and several streets seemed to parallel others and I would imagine this could give the Garmin fits.

Odometer accuracy is another area to look into. The mileage on my car read about 15 miles less than that reported by the Garmin. Not a big deal for sure, but it makes me wonder if my digital one in the car is off, or is that within tolerances for a GPS unit?

Waypoints/Routes:

Pretty simple here. Awesome, just awesome. Once we arrived at our hotel, we were kind of hungry so I checked for a steakhouse nearby using the "Find" feature. Numerous showed up, and within 4 pushes of a button, the one we were going into was located, made into a waypoint, routed to and away we went. It delivered us to the restaurants parking lot flawlessly.

Route Calculation:

Read carefully on the differences between shortest distance or quicker time. Shorter distance will tend to take you off main roads/interstates. On our trip, it routed us off I-15 (California) to a couple of secondary highways that were out of the way, and in the end, connected back up to I-15!! How goofy is that?

All in all, I would make this purchase again in a heartbeat. I was initially only going to use it for the trip and then resell the unit. Now after the trip, not only am I convinced on keeping this, so is my whole family!

A Great Deal for the Money
I purchased this in June of 2004. I was going on a cross country trip and I have ZERO sense of direction.

I wanted a GPS system for my car, that would talk to me as I drove (this is an option you can turn off if you don't like it) but that wasn't in the $1000 and up range.

For the amount this is selling for it is a great deal.

Yes, there are fancier systems out there, but if you don't need fancy bells and whistles (like the tidal patterns, or what the current hunting season is in your area) than this is the perfect choice.

Be patient during the initial set-up. If you are downloading a lot of maps (I was going across the country), it could take a couple of hours to set everything up. And if you don't have a HUGE memory card, and are going on a long trip, you'll need to take your computer with you to upload new maps. However, if you just need it for driving about town, there is more than enough memory.

Once you are up and running, the learning curve is quick. It's easy to ask for new addresses. It quickly recalculates if you accidentally go off route. And it still has some helpful tips, like it can tell you where the nearest gas station or restaurant is.

This is well worth the money and I can't imagine how I would have driven across country without it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

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

• 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
• Waterproof; rugged, ergonomic design
• Oversize gray-scale screen with backlight; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (32)

Awesome GPS unit!
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.

Great Unit-Barometer feature over rated-compared w/Marine
I must say I really like the Platinum GPS. I used a friends Marine unit several times, which sold me on Megellan. I used both units (marine & my Platinum) side by side while driving. Every display was identical b/w the two units. The Platinum has some features the Marine doesn't. For the extra money, you otta get something. The base data b/w the two are almost if not identical. I didn't look that close. For the Money the Marine is a great unit. I decided to spend a few extra bucks (which I will discuss later)and get the Platinum because of the built in Barometer and electronic compass features.
The Barometer is accurate, but so what, I don't see the need. The compass works very well except while moving at hiway speeds. If you're a hicker/camper the feature is great but why not save a few Bucks and buy a regular compass and get one of the more accurate Sports Trak Models?
The Thermometer works, but once again who cares about the temp is inside the car?
...BR>Over all the Platinum is a great GPS for what it was built for. Think twice about the Barometer and Compass features. If I did it over I would buy either the Sports Trak or the Gold.

A full featured GPS receiver
I've been using my my MeriPlat on almost a weekly basis for over half a year now. I'm very happy with the purchase! The features I love most are the SD slot and the three-axis magnetic compass...meaning it works while held vertically, horizontally, or on it's side. It also has a superior built-in antenna when compared to Garmin's Etrex series of receivers. I've been out in the woods with friends who had Etrex. They periodically lost signal reception while I stayed locked in. The MeriPlat even works inside the house away from windows! In fact, the only time I have ever lost signal was under heavy tree canopy during a down pour. I highly recommend buying Magellan's Direct Route software...it gives the unit turn by turn routing ability and works great!

Warning: Does NOT meet specs
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.

This Is the Best GPS Available
Two years ago, after extensive research, I purchased my Magellan Meridian Platinum. I have used it for automobile travel, geocaching, and to just play around with. It is a reliable and extremely accurate GPS. I spent last weekend geocaching (if unfamiliar with the term check out www.geocaching.com)locating 8 caches. The "MeriPlat" got me to within feet of each item. It is easy to use, most screens can be customized, and is very rugged. I have both MapSend Streets & Destinations and Topo and have found them to be acceptable for my use. With a SD card you can load several map areas and select them as needed. Documentation accompanying the GPS is lacking but there are several excellent user groups on Yahoo that provide all the information you need to squeeze every bit of functionality out of your MeriPlat. Two years after it was introduced, the Meridian Platinum is still one of the best GPS units available in its price range. You cannot go wrong with this GPS. Good luch and happy geocaching. ... Read more

Product Description

Let's keep this simple,,,, In-car navigation has never been easier, or more affordable. Our StreetPilot "c-series" GPS navigators feature a simple touchscreen interface, with automatic route calculation to any destination and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions along the way. Selecting a destination is straightforward and requires only a limited amount of input from the user. Plus, the StreetPilot c320 and StreetPilot c330 allow you to choose between a three-dimensional navigation view or the more traditional "bird's eye" overhead view.For budget-conscious users who only require detailed maps for a limited area, the StreetPilot c320 features an SD card slot, a 128MB SD card, and MapSource City Select street data on CD-ROM. The user simply selects the specific area of interest and the data is transferred from a PC via a fast USB connection. (The c330 comes factory preloaded with MapSource City Select map data.)The centerpiece of both units is a bright, 3.5-inch diagonal, 16-bit color display that makes navigation a snap. The StreetPilot c320 features dual integrated speakers for high-quality voice prompts, and an internal lithium-ion battery for out-of-car route planning. The new StreetPilot c-series boasts distinctive and sleek styling?the only buttons are a rotary volume knob and an on/off switch. The device is secured by a suction-mount cradle that fastens to the windshield for easy portability between vehicles ... Read more

Features

• Audible and visual navigation instructions and warnings
• Built-in lithium ion battery for trip planning; operates on DC power in your vehicle
• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS unit for automotive use
• Built-in antenna
• Removable 128 MB SD memory card

Reviews (3)

One of the best for now
I've been using it for about 1 week now.Great little unit, easy to use, superior to the Quest and 2610 that I've also owned because of its faster calculation times and ease of use.Does indeed update arrival time depending on speed (at least mine does).Seems to be accurate within a couple minutes on my daily 35 minute commute.Starts the estimate based on it's internal average speeds for highways, etc, then adjusts depending on how fast you are actually driving.I would not spend the extra money on the 330.Spend a few bucks on a 512md sd card, I've tried but can't possibly think of how to use more than that on a single trip.And I would assume the sd card is a little faster than the HDD.You get more batter life, like 2x.Also, I like being able to upload favorites from the pc using the software, so the sd version is actually preferable to me.And it looks like the price is still too high here so until it comes down check out pricegrabber or nextag.

Pros
-large touchscreen
-easy to use
-portable, 8 hour battery, pocket sized (in loose pants or jacket
-fast calculation times & map drawing.
-nice mounting

cons
-no route saving or transfering, hence no waypoints can be stored in route but this is remedied simply by saving favorites and touching your favorite in route, just a little more attention requred.
-weak software.

Inacurate "Estimated arrival time"
The C320, including the updated version 2.8, is full of imperfections and has so far 1 bug: once the gps calculates the route, it gives the estimated arrival time on the lower left corner of the screen. This time is never accurate and does NOT take into account your speed. For example, if you are stuck in traffic for 30 min, the ETA remains almost the same (the ETA can be 8:45 while the current time is 9:15!!!).
On the iQue 3600, the ETA is accurate +/- 1 min, it is constantly adjusted to the traffic and your speed.

Keeping c320
Pros
- Easy to use.Almost no brainer
- Small enough to carry around
- Has alot of useful features like fiding nearest parking lot, restaurant, entertainment places, and etc...
- Bright and clear screen

Cons
- LCD is easily scrachable! put a screen protector
- Window mount sometimes fall off from the window (about 1 hr driving)
- Occational lost setalite connection.It would be good to display the predefined direction even though it lost the connection.
- Gets confused on the road when you're on a bridge and there's a road below it
- 3D is cool but I doubt anyone will use it.It's harder to see how far the next turn is.

Overall, I still think it's great GPS and will keep it for very very long time. ... Read more

Product Description

Door-to-door planning in the United States

The smartest portable car navigator

• USB 2.0 for faster data transfers
• Assisted Satellite Navigation allows continuous navigation, even in tunnels

• Just plug in, switch on & GO
• Simple touch-screen operation
• Clear, accurate turn-by-turn voice instructions
• Compact, portable design; easy to take from car to car
• Crystal-clear 3D graphics
• View route: review and test the calculated route before you actually start driving
• Dynamic status bar: improve readability by customizing status bar
• Tip feature: discover everything GO has to offer through useful onscreen tips
• Extensive guided tour: pick up the features even quicker and get the maximum out of your TomTom GO

• Integrated GPS antenna
• Speaks more than 30 languages in over 50 voices
• User interface: now including 18 languages
• A choice of routes: quickest, shortest or avoiding toll roads
• Itinerary planning: plan your trip by defining multiple waypoints and destinations
• Millions of points of interest
• Compass mode available: displays compass on screen to have even more orientation while driving
• Car speed linked volume: volume of voice instructions will increase/decrease depending on speed of car
• Anti-glare screen; always an optimal view, even in direct sunlight
• Improved on/off button: prevents the device to turn off by accident

• Built-in Bluetooth™ connection
• Ready for TomTom PLUS services (real time information on traffic congestions, weather conditions and extra downloads such as detailed city maps, additional voices, points of interest and much more)

Features

• Touch-Screen Operation
• Voice Instructions
• Bluetooth Connect
• SD Map Card
• Multi-lingual

Features

• Compact 12-channel GPS receiver with high-contrast display (100 x 64 pixels)
• WAAS-enabled for 3-meter accuracy
• Stores 500 waypoints and 20 routes with 125 waypoints per route
• Easy operation: five buttons for one-hand use
• 12-hour operation on 2 AAA batteries; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (13)

Just a Toy? No way!
Intrigued by Garmin's Geko 201 Personal Navigator®? It's smaller than an eTrex and dwarfed by many standard GPS units. But is the Geko a real GPS or just a toy?

First, the Geko 201 is a serious GPS receiver. It features WAAS differential correction; memory for 500 waypoints, twenty routes, a whopping 10,000 track points and ten saved tracks; and it connects to external power or to your PC for data transfer with an optional cable. It floats. The array of five buttons is easy to use. The screen is tiny, but it's not that hard to read. Menu choices allow configuration of the data screens to your liking. The back is rubberized, so you can lay it on your dashboard (where it works quite well) and not have it slide around. Using only two AAA batteries, the unit is light as well as small enough to fit in a shirt pocket (but the limited power supply may be an issue for some as explained below). The Geko also has four built-in arcade games, a novelty to emphasize that GPS can be fun.

The Geko doesn't show base maps but is adept at recording points and lines (keeping track of where you've been, locations you want to remember and where you'd like to go). If you want a GPS unit to use primarily for hiking or recording locations, the absence of base maps isn't that significant. Fact is that the base maps in many GPS units don't provide enough detail to be of much use at a close-in scale unless you can download more features from a CD. If you need map detail, a Geko easily connects to a PDA or laptop computer to display your location in navigation programs or even projected on aerial photos.

The Geko utilizes a built-in "patch" antenna (a square plate inside the unit, located under the lizard logo). I found the antenna remarkably sensitive when the unit is held correctly. It works best in a horizontal orientation, the top edge of the unit pointed to the horizon. That way the antenna can look up to the sky. Hang it around your neck on a lanyard, though, and the reception will drop. (Note: Unlike receivers with a patch antenna, GPS units like the Garmin 72 and 76 series using a quadrifilar helix antenna should be operated with the top edge pointed skyward.)

As an experiment, I took both a big Garmin GPSMAP 76S and the Geko 201 on a hike through a forest area. I wanted to see if the Geko could perform as well and hold a track in a wooded situation. After the hike I downloaded the data with a freeware mapping program (USAPhotoMaps) to overlay the GPS tracks on a TerraServer aerial photo. That's the best way to visualize where you've been. To my surprise the tracks and waypoints recorded by the two units were nearly identical. The Geko had no problem holding a signal in the test, even while I walked through a crowded pine plantation.

On the downside, Geko's rather feeble power supply - two AAA batteries - disappoints me. Garmin claims that two AAA alkaline batteries can last up to twelve hours (on battery saver mode). For economy, however, I use NiMH rechargeable batteries. I know that NiMH power cells don't last as long as alkaline, but the duration was far shorter than I expected - only 40 minutes set on standard mode in 32° F March weather. At 60° F (~16° C) the Geko ran just two hours on fresh NiMH batteries. It operated five and a half hours in battery saver mode with NiMH batteries on the warm dashboard of my car. It's also peculiar that the Geko manual extols lithium batteries for cold weather use and long life when nobody manufactures AAA lithium batteries. Only AA-cell batteries from Energizer are available in a lithium formulation. They can operate to -40°F and last four times longer than alkaline batteries, but sadly do not fit a Geko.

Although you may rely on a more complex GPS for serious tasks, having a miniature Geko tucked in your pocket or bag could be handy. If you toss the Geko to your kids in the back seat to play arcade games en route to your destination, however, the batteries could be dead by the time you arrive. You might prefer a recreational GPS unit using AA batteries for extended outdoor activities, but a Geko is a good buy for educational, casual or backup use.

Excellent (and tiny) GPS
This little GPS, while not having any removeable memory nor a large bank of memory, does VERY well with what it does have. It easily stored a 6 hour hike in it's memory, with less than half the memory used. For street mapping, it has a connection for a computer -- And coupled with Delorme Street Atlas USA, is a high-end solution for in car navigation. (Requires the cables and a serial/USB converter, which are reasonably priced and excellently assembled at the pfranc project.) The eTrex cable/converter is the same for this Geko.

The battery life isn't really a negative -- ten to twelve hours of operation is just fine, and you can replace low batteries without losing information, so nothing is hurting there. Overall, the price for this unit makes this unit an excellent purchase. Only complaint is that the color is a bit ugly -- And the stretch holster offered by Garmin doesn't do anything for its appearance either.

Excellent!
I bought the Geko 201 as a replacement for my very old Magellen Blazer 12. The difference is night and day.

Although both had parallel processing, the Geko picks up signals much faster. From a cold, fresh-out-of-the-box start, it took the Geko less than a minute to figure out where it was. The Blazer 12 took about 10 minutes even when given hints.

The screens are simple and extremely useful. Even with my very bad eyesight, the display was very readable. The buttons make sense, no manual necessary.

A few people have mentioned a "flaw" with the power button. I have carried this Geko around for almost two months, keeping it in my pocket almost every day. The unit has NEVER come on by accident. The power button is recessed and takes a good push to get it going.

As a hiker and backpacker, my power usage might be less demanding than others. I find that the battery lasts about 8-9 hours on battery save mode. This mode even works well in forests. The only time the Geko is kept powered on is if I'm mapping a trail. Otherwise, it is used for waypoints and position checks only.

The lack of displayed maps is irrelevent as I have yet to see a GPS with enough detail to be worth it. I have linked the Geko to DeLorme's Topo 5 with excellent results. Routes, tracks, waypoints can all be moved freely back and forth. This is great for mapping new trails or discovering hard-to-find trailheads. The memory is more than enough, I've never gotten past 12% full after a weekend jaunt.

Of course, the size is amazing. The color is also nice as I can actually find it! This is an excellent buy and a great choice for those who want GPS served up straight, stripped of all the annoying "features" of other units. I just purchased a second 201 for my hiking friend, she loves hers as much as I do!

Good product in need of small improvement
Very good, lightweight GPS system, ideal for hiking/mountain etc.
However 3 cheap improvements would be advisable:
1. The accidental ON/OFF is a real issue. My own trick is to install one of the batteries the wrong way in order to give zero voltage and protect against accidental switching on. The designer could easily have set up a system like on mobile phones. Already got twice out of power because of accidental switch on!
2. Real autonomy with alkaline is 6 hours - far too short for my use. Current AAA NiMH rechargeables are 800mAh while one can find AA rechargeables at 2000mAh. AA Alkalines can be found in nearly any village in any country, not AAA. I would fancy an accessory allowing external power supply with bigger batteries (ideally 4 AA size) or connection to a solar panel for long expeditions.
3. Would be nice if it had a loop for a carrying strap (like on any camera).
If nothing is available soon I will make an external battery power supply myself.
Jean

Great intro to GPS but be careful ordering accessories
This is my first GPS unit to own. I bought it for one specific task (to measure distances on my jogging routes) and for the general purpose of learning and using a GPS. It's simple to use, easy to carry running, and I'm completely satisfied with the unit. I also want to connect it to my laptop (that's why I got a 201 instead of a 101). So I also got the PC acessory cable that the amazon website suggests, but it is made for a different model series and does not connect to the geko 201. ... Read more

Features

• Combination two-way radio and GPS receiver
• Radio specs: 14 FRS channels for 2-mile range, 7 GMRS channels for 5 mile range, 38 subcodes per channel, hands-free VOX,
• GPS specs: 12-channel, WAAS-enabled receiver, up to 500 waypoints, trip computer with speed tracking
• Beam location to another Rino user within a two-mile range using the FRS spectrum
• Basemap of North and South America that includes major cities, highways; 8 MB of memory for downloadable maps

Reviews (27)

Excellent GPS, Below Average Radio
I bought this device to cut down by one the number of electronic gizmos that I carry around while traveling with my family, not for its position transmission feature. After using the Rino I tink that the combination of radio and GPS in one device is an excellent idea in theory, but the execution of the idea in the Rino is flawed because of the poor performance of the radio.

The GPS in the Rino 120 is very similar if not identical to the Garmin etrex Legend and even the included basemap is useful for rough navigation. I found the GPS user interface to be quite intuitive. Further, the satellite reception was considerably better than I expected; surprisingly, I could get a 2d lock from inside my house. More memory would be nice for downloading MapSource maps, but really I don't have any substantive criticism of the GPS - this is what Garmin does, and does well, in the rest of its product line.

However, I was so disappointed in the performance of the Rino as a radio that I returned the unit. I'm an amateur radio operator and I well understand the limitations of FRS / GMRS in simplex (no repeater) operation. (If you didn't already know, those "2" and "5" mile maximum range claims that all radio manufacturers seem to make are obtainable only under the most favorable conditions and in the real world you will do well to get, at best, half of those distances.) Even within these limitations, the radio in the Rino is poor by comparison to good standalone FRS radios (We use Icom 4008A's).

When I was testing the Rino, I set it side by side in my house with my Icom and used both to scan the FRS channels for traffic. The Icom repeatedly picked up clearly audible conversations (by people using unknown types of FRS radios) that the Rino never heard. When I turned off the squelch on the Rino ("monitor mode") and set it to the channel the Icom stopped on, I could hear only the faintest echoes of transmissions that were clearly audible on the Icom. On a recent trip, I was using the Rino and was standing right next to my wife who was wearing an Icom. Another in our party called us from perhaps 1/2 mile away using his Icom. I could hear him clearly on my wife's radio while the Rino barely broke squelch and was unintelligible.

If your use for this device is heavy on the GPS side and light on the radio side, then I would consider it. If you are looking for a radio that incidentally contains a GPS, I would pass on the Rino for now, go for the Batman look and buy standalone GPS and FRS / GMRS devices. No, you won't have the position reporting feature this way, and that is one of the strongest points of the Rino. However, given that this feature is tied to the Rino's FRS performance, don't expect too much.

All in all, kudos to Garmin for this truly excellent idea, and I will certainly buy another release of the Rino in the future if Garmin will give us radio performance equivalent to their excellent GPS. Frankly, I would be willing to pay more for the unit if it had that kind of performance.

A combination long awaited
I was delighted to see the RINO models, as we found that carrying both a GPS and a separate radio while hunting was a real juggling act. This combination was an answer to prayers. I expect a significant number of my family and hunting friends will end up with these units.

Some of the reviews mentioned problems with radio compatibility with the Motorola FRS units. We have six of the Motorola units and have had no problems between them and the Garmin. I have also, so far, not had problems with battery life, and have used the unit in all combinations of operation. One hopes these problems were isolated events.

I find the RINO's operation to be very intuitive, little or no reference to the manual was necessary (though I have now read the entire thing). The unit is certainly the easiest of all the various GPS units I've used. This one even picks up signal while in our house, something no other unit I've seen has done.

A factor I had never considered with other units is how well the machine fits/holds in the hand.

So far, in our short association, I'm both very impressed and pleased with the machine. I would recommend it highly.

--------------------------
June 03.
The RINO and I have now been together for a number of months. It continues to be an excellent tool.

In addressing the reports of battery life and radio reception, I feel it necessary to report that I STILL have not had problems with battery life. I get two full days of 8-10 hour use from a set of batteries, with power left over.

Between my wife and kids, we have five different Motorola units and have zero problems communicating with them. Both my parents and my in laws have generic "no name" radio sets and the Rino also "talks" to them with zero problems. My unit has software version 2.10, and that may be a factor.

Awesome GPS, Average Radio
I bought the Rhino 120 for Hiking with my Daughter & we also ride quads & motorcycles on remote trails. The GPS was simply awesome. Accurate & easy to use the basic features, their are alot of features & I am still working on learning them. The basics are easy to learn so you don't get lost & it is easy to find your way back with the tracking & waypoints. We used the radio, however it did not seem to work that well with other brand FRS radio's. The range was very limited, but this may not be Rhino's fault, but rather the different brands of radio's, I did not get the opportunity to give a good range test on GMRS. Anyway, my riding buddy was so impressed he is going to get one as well. I am pleased.

Unit continually locks up
My unit is in Iraq in combat. We made the mistake of purchasing 30 of these units, 1 for each soldier and they are a disaster.

They lock up continually for no reason, whether using only the GPS or only the radio or both.

Our serial numbers indicate they are fairly new models and we have a series of them starting with 39914168, but I have talked with other owners of this unit here in country and they attest to the same problem.

Imagine you are on a combat patrol and you are using the Garmin as a commo device between the men of your team. You keep calling for the lead vehicle but he doesn't respond because his radio has locked up once again. He doesn't know this of course because the screen is still on (sometimes).

I'm more than disappointed, I'm kind of angry because we had the opportunity to buy Motorolas and the reliable Etrex Garmins which would have saved us nearly $100 per soldier and given us something reliable.

Amazing Power in a Small Package
When I ordered this product, I read many reviews and tried to get a good background of the Rino 120 to see if the product was worth purchasing. I have had 2 other GPS units, and still have an older GPS III from Garmin and really like the capabilities of that unit. The changes that have happened since purchasing the GPS III are truly amazing. The 120 is packed with so much stuff that I find out new things about it frequently. The greatest benefits (in my opinion) are having a gps and radio incorperated into one unit (less to carry). The Position Reporting is also a HUGE new deal. One can see all sorts of potential uses for Position Reporting - from military operations , to seach and rescue, to rounding up the kids on a camping trip. Other features include the moving map, an alarm clock, calender, and other little trinkets
After the initial position fix, satellite aquisition is much quicker than the old GPS III. Between SA being switched off and the new WAAS system, I have achieved accuracy (based on what the unit says, of course) of 7 feet.
Light and compact, battery usage is not as bad as I had figured, still on first set and my existing headset (motorola frs radios) works fine with this unit.
The only downsides to this unit are you have to watch Garmin's software update page for changes, I have owned the unit a month or two and have already done two updates, mind you the updates are free and the 120 comes with the data cable, while I think the 110 does not. The other thing I noticed is that the factory loaded basemap is somewhat crude - roads have been "straightened out" to make the map simplier - not really a surprise though from what I have seen with gps's and maping software.
Overall I think that the 120 is a fantastic new tool, with great new features. While pricey for a frs radio, it is fairly cheap for a maping GPS and (in my opinion again) a great price for a unit with both a radio and gps. ... Read more

Features

• Pocket-sized vehicle GPS navigator with 3.5-inch touchscreen QVGA display
• 32 MB of flash memory with SD/MMC expansion slot for memory card
• SmartST software offers voice guidance, address-to-address routing, and zip code searching
• CD-ROM includes maps for U.S. and Canada, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Guam
• Includes USB interface and cable for PC connection

Amazon.com 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

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

Features

• 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
• Rubber armored construction is impact resistant and waterproof
• Runs for up to 13 hours on 2 AA batteries; includes USB interface with cable

Reviews (12)

Feature rich, quality unit, color screen is a miss
I have used a downloaded mapping GPS since 1998 and use it extensively.

The pluses on the Meridian Color are: SD memory cards - I can finally carry the maps I need, uses only 2 AA batteries, well built and waterproof, searchable addresses, extensive points of interest, maps of Canada and parts of Europe, programmable navigation menus. I use a USB 2.0 SD card reader and a 256MB SD card and can quickly download 64 MB maps. Multiple maps can be stored on the SD card up to your storage limit. Using a card reader the map creation and storage process is done in a couple of minutes.

The misses: the color screen is not a helpful as I expected, in daytime use the screen is very dark and hard to see even with the backlight on draining the batteries quickly, still needs better waypoint management, the Topo maps are not a useful as I expected.

Good unit, but I would probably have been better off with the Meridian Gold due to the Color unit's hard to see screen.

Better than car-installed navigation systems
All the power of a car-installed navgiational system, but portable! Incredibly easy user interface. Display as many, or as few information screens as suits your needs. Color display is appealing to the eyes, but it's the functionality of this devise that makes it a must have.

Accessories available include carrying case, bicycle/auto mounts, additional memory, mapping software, all readily available. The unit is waterproof and floats which is a great feature if you're planning to use it while boating. Pocket size and lightweight makes it practical to carry with you anywhere.

Waited a long time to buy myself one of these units, and glad I am that I waited. The Meridian color is Magellan's flagship handheld GPS unit. You won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.

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.

A wonderful GPS worked great!
Just returned from a trip to Europe, and I have to say this GPS is stellar. I read some of the other comments below and let me offer some advice that clears up some of the problems.

The backlight is adjustable, there is Bright, Dim, and Off. You change from one to the other by holding the power key down for a few seconds.

There is a work around for the maps. I was able to download all of german, netherlands, italy, most of poland etc. You need an SD card programmer to do it, and either 128 mb or 64 mb cards. I needed 192mb total to store what I wanted. Each "Region" that you want to store has to be under 16mb. You can store up to 4 regions in a "Map". You can store as many maps as you want to the SD card, but you will need to rename them from "Region00." to "Region01", "Region02", etc. In this way you are able to store multiple 64 mb "Maps". You can change which map you are using by going to card utilities->select map. Waypoints and routes are stored in the GPS, so they will be sticky if you switch cards.

Using this method you can download all the maps you could possibly need during your trip, and not have to lug a laptop or any software around with you, maybe a couple of postage-stamp sized sd cards. Also note that you'll want to load at least 16mb of the European basemap onto each sd card if you will be using it in europe.

Be sure to format your SD cards before using them!

I think the unit would work with 512mb sd cards, but I don't have a 512mb card to test with.

Another important note is that magellan is releasing Turn-By-Turn software for this GPS this Month! It will retail @ 149.99 and if you do a cost comparison between the magellan and the garmin software, the magellan will now work out cheaper AND provide turn by turn routing with voice prompting (This is just a fantastic software upgrade, I can't believe it can be done without buying a new GPS. I will have to see how well it works when I receive my copy however.).

Some items that keep this from getting 5 stars:

Non-intuitive user interface for loading multiple maps (workaround described above)

Battery life - I went thru about 4 2100 maH AA batteries a day. I had the backlight auto-off set at two minutes, but wanted the gps on all the time to get accurate routing. I remember by GPS V goes for a couple days on one set of batteries, although it uses 4 batteries instead of two.

No compass - this makes it kind of tricky to navigate if you're walking. The directional arrow is frequently inaccurate, so you have to cross check the street that you are on. I'd love to see a screw on magnetic compass attachment for this unit. The sport-trak color has the compass, but only allows 10 or so MB of built in maps.

No built in auto routing - was kind of dismayed to find it didn't have this originally, but with the promised software upgrade, it should be good. I do feel that this should be built into the unit, as a I think every user out there would want it. $150 is a bit much to pay for software that should really be included with the unit.

Annoying alarm when battery reaches critical - There are some times that you don't want to advertise that you are carrying around an expensive device, and having the alarm go off in the middle of a subway or something could be dangerous. Didn't fully investigate if this can be turned off.

Difficult to tell which button you're pushing if it's in your pocket - a little bump on the power and enter buttons would help for unseen operation.

External connector is slow to connect disconnect - you have to turn a screw to connect the external car power or PC interface cables, which takes 60 seconds or so, maybe 30 when you get good. Very difficult to accomplish while driving.

Annoying alarm when external power lost in car - my car connector kept turning off when bumped with the hand, and then this alarm would go off. A single beep would suffice guys!

External power should turn off backlight saver automatically e.g. the backlight should stay on. (or better yet, seperate backlight saver mode for battery and external power). Ditto the auto-off functions although I wasn't using those.

Display - the display was pretty good, and the color definitely helps to clear up the map. Street names are a bit difficult to read and certain zoom levels, the detail level/zoom level threshoulds might need a bit of adjustment.

Antenna - Definitely works better when the gps top is pointed up. This is only my second GPS but it seemed a little less sensitive then my GPS V is.

Cursor - cursor didn't track correctly when entering in a street name where the second word of the street name caused it to wrap to the second line; the cursor remained on a blank square - annoying, no big deal.

German streets - geez, the first 17 characters are the same, can someone figure out how to do the UI so it is easier to get to the right street? I think using the up/down arrows to scroll thru the possible repeat characters would be much easier then the current methods. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

TomTom's GO portable GPS navigation system integrates TomTom's award-winning personal-navigation software into a portable, cable-less design that fits in any briefcase, handbag, or backpack. The GO system works right out of the box, with nothing to load or install. You can readily move it from one car to another, and it fits easily into the supplied car mounting kit, perfect for your windshield or dashboard.

The 3D navigation helps you to get perspective in an unfamiliar environment.

With TomTom GO there is no need for a set-up linked to a PC--in fact no technical knowledge is needed at all. It could not be easier: just turn it on and you'll be ready to access all software, maps, and color 3D navigation views, as well as the unit's helpful voice-guided instructions in your language of choice.

GO's unique touch-screen activation avoids the hassle of multiple buttons or extra hardware when calculating your route. The touch screen is completely intuitive and you can plan your route with just a few taps.

Instant rerouting around construction or other obstacles, or you can just program it to avoid a particular street.

At the end of the journey, simply turn the unit off with a click of a single button and drop it into your bag.

GO's built-in GPS receiver provides unprecedented levels of satellite navigation using the latest hardware and software. For the first time ever in such an affordable, all-in-one navigation device, the GO will feature Assisted Satellite Navigation, which provides virtually uninterrupted navigation in tunnels and urban canyons.

You'll enjoy up to 5 hours of continuous navigation from the unit's rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The GO's 3.5-inch "transflective" display offers clear visibility in any environment, from direct sunlight to low light. The GO also features TomTom's unique 3D and top-down views, which make navigation more true to life and interactive than many built-in car GPS systems. The intuitive interface is focused, extremely legible, and omits extraneous details.

A CD-quality voice prompt provides crystal clear sound that allows you to hear voice instructions above the noise of the engine.

What's in the Box
GPS device, vehicle power adapter, car mount, a rechargeable battery, AC/DC power adapter, a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• Register for updates to be notified of pricing & availability
• Clear voice guided route instructions
• Crystal clear 3-D view even in direct sun
• Long-life rechargeable battery
• Includes cigarette lighter adapter and USB cable for PC connection

Reviews (2)

The best GPS Car Navigation System... Period
I bought a unit in The Netherlands and have used it for two weeks. The mount is rock solid using the suction cup mount to the windscreen. The device itself is a work of art. It has an exceptionally easy-to-use touch screen interface. You don't even have to read the manual- it is very intuitive.

You just put in the city, then the street, then the house number then follow the units directions- it will take you right to someones house with uncanny accuracy. Or you can ask it to take you to the nearest ATM/gas station/post office/etc.

The best thing about it is the 3D perspective used while navigating. It is much better than the 2D/top-down perspective that most units use. The full color map display is easy to read and 99% accurate so far for the Benelux area in Europe.

Another key difference from other PDA based units is the speaker on the TomTom Go is superb- It is loud and clear of distortion. The volume is easily controlled.

The unit gives clear voice directions in your choice of "voices" in many languages, man/woman, etc. It will say, "in 200 meters turn left" and then about 20 meters before your turn, it will say "turn left" (or you can change the units to feet/miles). And if you need the device to repeat the verbal instructions, you just press the lower left corner of the screen and you will hear the instructions again.

It has an internal battery that lasts about 5 hours or you can use the included 12v "cigarette lighter" power cord.

I can't write about the quality of the US digital maps, but the European maps are very good so far. Every single street in my small town is present including the alley behind my house. Every ATM/store/bank/train station/gas station/etc is faithfully represented as a Point of Interest.

This unit costs a lot of $, but is worth it. Overall, it is the best designed piece of technology I have used in years.

Childsplay!
I have had mine for 2 weeks and I was just as the box described it... within 4 minutes I had programmed 2 journeys, memorised my home address,and it had picked up all the satellites!The touch screen works very well, and the buttons on the virtual keyboard are large enough not to make mistakes,the directional voices are clear.I managed to keep a signal throughout mountainous regions and in tunnels! The only thing that it seems to be missing is a large compass. One thing to be aware of though: on some newer vehicles with athermal windscreens you will need to get the outdoor antenna to get a signal. Apart from that it puts many of the more expensive GPS units to shame! ... Read more