Magellan GPS 310
By: Magellan Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 11
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 On: 2005-06-21
Just using the electronic moving compass feature helped plot out the boundaries of my lot of land. When I found all the corners, the Lat&Long feature let me place marker post for a fence. It would be good/better if the altitude feature was more accurate, I could use it to make a topographical map of my land too. The reading I do get are just estimates (+/-40 ft).
While on trips out of town, or out of state, having been to my destination at least once in the past w/ my 310, I can use the ETA feature(Estimate Time of Arrival) for getting there or coming back home.
The 100 landmarks storage memory is well enough for my use. I have added several burger and pizza places to the list for fun.
 On: 2004-04-19
The Magellan 310 is an old, discontinued GPS receiver. I bought the Magellan 310 at $30 at a local chain department store. As I suspected, the unit displays the coordinates in only 4 digits of "minutes" (A.K.A. DD MM.MM format). Modern GPS receivers display 5 digits of minutes. Unfortunately this means the Magellan 310 can only display coordinates to within +/- 60 feet in each dimension (North/South and East/West). When I hooked the Magellan 310 to a laptop computer with a serial cable, the 310 outputs up to 6 digits of Minutes - more than sufficient for any task. So if youre looking for a bargain priced GPS receiver for use with a laptop for something like NetStumbler or
DeLorme Street Atlas, I think this is a good bargain if you can find it under $50. Be sure to budget for extra cost of
a serial cable (about $20) as the cable is not
included with the serial cable. Unfortunately, you cant transfer saved waypoints between your computer and the 310 with the serial cable. I also think this GPS receiver is perfectly suitable for situations where high precision isnt required. For example, finding your way back to your car after hiking in the woods doesnt really require 3 Meter precision like modern GPS receivers have - the Magellan 310 should get you within 20 Meters (about 65 feet). That should get you close enough to see your car. One of the most popular reasons for buying a GPS receiver is for geocaching. Most people that want to try out geocaching look for a low-priced GPS receiver so they can try the sport and decide whether or not they like it. While it might be tempting to buy the Magellan 310, I strongly suggest spending a few more dollars on a GPS receiver with 5 digit minute precision like the Magellan 315 or the Magellan Sportrak. It is technically possible to geocache with the Magellan 310, but youll have to manually adjust for the 4 digit minute precision. Explaining how this adjustment works is beyond the scope of this review, but trust me when I say you want something better than the Magellan 310 for geocaching.
 On: 2003-12-02
If you want a GPS that will tell you where to turn left to get on the Turnpike, this isnt it. But if you want to know exactly where you are on the planet, the Magellan 310 and 315 do an excellent job of it, with full 12-channel satellite tracking, the highest available. The nobs are complicated at first, but most guys like learning that sort of thing. This is basically the perfect gift for geeky dads or hikers.
BTW, the screen on the 310 and 315 as well as the features are superior to the eTrex basic model, although that model is far more ergonomic.
 On: 2003-06-12
I had purchased a 310 and a 315 because they run out of the Magellan 315. What a difference! To start the batteries do not run out that often, the 315 is more accurate somehow, dont ask me why; just comapring side by side the 310 even though a bit smaller seems less "in the Game"
I gave my 310 to my son, its a godd starter GPS, if you are serious about GPS handhelds, get the Magellan 315 for a few dollars more. Worth every penny!
On: 2002-07-31
third gps I have owned,the only thing I dont care for is naming waypoints with a 4 digit limit.Unit locks onto sats.faster than any i have owned,easy to use and enter waypoints.other than digit limits I would have given it 5 stars.better than etrex
On: 2002-05-22
Purchased the Magellan 310 after reading an article on it by Peter Garrison in Flying Magazine. If all you need is something that will point you the right way, keep you on track visually and in text, tells your speed and distance to go and expected arrival time, then this is all you need. I punched in the Lat and Lon (easily obtained with almost all airport information) of the desired destination, took off and it worked great. Had it sitting on the seat besides me in a Cessna 150 and it stayed locked without a problem. No problems reading it in bright sunshine and the visual display is easy to read and follow. Easy to enter data.Been flying since about 1979 and never owned a GPS. Did use friends Garmin 195 with the moving map display once in a while. For most new and recreational pilots, Id say this would have worked just as well. Only had it a little while but noticed that it stays locked on without any problems in cars and in my single story house. The ...color and moving map GPS are really nice but for basic easy and accurate navigation you cant go wrong with this ...unit. Also it is a heck of a lot more portable, about half the size of a typical TV remote.
On: 2001-09-26
If you want a GPS that will tell you where to turn left to get on the Turnpike, this isnt it. But if you want to know exactly where you are on the planet, the Magellan 310 and 315 do an excellent job of it, with full 12-channel satellite tracking, the highest available. The nobs are complicated at first, but most guys like learning that sort of thing. This is basically the perfect gift for geeky dads or hikers.BTW, the screen on the 310 and 315 as well as the features are superior to the eTrex basic model, although that model is far more ergonomic.
On: 2001-06-20
Es un magnifico aparato que, aunque en las instrucciones dice, que tarda su tiempo en hacer el tracking, he encontrado que lo hace muy rápido y certeramente. Mucho mejor que otros de mayor precio que he conocido.
On: 2001-06-14
I WORK FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT,WHEN OUT ON SEARCHES IN THE WOODS WHERE EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME AFTER AWHILE IT WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!I DEMONSTRATED THIS UNIT TO A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR GIVING LIFELIGHT OR AIR EVAC COORDINATES TO LAND TO PICK UP SERIOUSLY INJURED PATIENTS AND THEY LIKED IT SO MUCH THEY BOUGHT IT FROM ME AND I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE TO REPLACE IT.I ALSO LIKE TO TAKE DRIVES IN UNFAMILIAR AREAS AND MANY TIMES IT HAS GUIDED ME HOME WHEN I WAS LOST.ITS BEEN PROVEN AND FOR THE MONEY AND USER FRIENDLINESS I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS UNIT TO ANYONE!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-05-04
Small,handy,user friendly. very fast lock time. lighted display for night time use for either going into or coming out the woods. 100 memories(landmarks) for all those important places you need in the woods or cities. never had less then 8 satellites in any given terrain so far.
On: 2001-04-14
The Magellan 310 holds 100 waypoints in memory. Higher priced units hold 500, but since I am not a "world traveler" 100 is fine with me. The unit does not come with an NMEA cable to connect to a PC, but Magellan will send you one free if you pay the 5 dollar shipping charge. The owners manual explains all of the features of the unit in sufficient detail that even I can operate it.The manual is overly pessimistic in regard to the time the unit takes to "fix" a location. The manual says 2 to 5 minutes for a location fix, but I get a "lock" in 30 to 50 seconds most of the time. Sitting on my sofa, in front of a window, the unit obtained a postion fix in 45 seconds with the venetian blinds only partially open. Venturing into a desert canyon the unit performed even faster. With most of the horizon blocked by the canyon walls the 310 locked in a postion fix in 30 seconds. The 310 also performed well in a moving car, with the unit propped up on top of the dashboard. In the moving car the 310 maintained a lock on enough satellites to register speed of travel and a working "North" arrow. It doesnt have the bells, whistles, moving maps, etc. of the higher priced units, but it does what I wanted it to do when I bought it.
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