Magellan eXplorist 200 Handheld GPS
By: Magellan Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 42
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 On: 2008-02-09
Ive had this thing for a while now. Its slow, not very reliable either. I tried to geocache with it and this thing was about 200 feet off from a proven location from the website. What was supposed to be 40 feet inland was about 40 feet in the water on 3 different tries. In fact, the thing was saying we were on the opposite side of the river all together. Maybe they just needed time to get it right, but I can see why they discontinued it. Its essentially a plastic turd in your hand.
On: 2007-07-03
Nice things about the explorist is its cheap, ruggedly simple, good screen resolution, nice hand fit, good satellite fix and much better than Garmins old chipsfitted gps. Great for outdoor adventure.
Downside is, low resolution track logging. Cant beat Garmins Etrex features.
On: 2007-05-25
Im a hard-core Garmin fan. I own 5 Garmin receivers ranging from the old GPS 12XL to the newest GPSmap 60CSx. But for the second edition of my book, "Outdoor Navigation with GPS," I was committed to including information about a broader range of receivers. Since Magellan again refused to loan me an evaluation unit, I decided to buy this inexpensive receiver. Not expecting much, I put it though its paces and was pleasantly surprised. Its fairly easy and intuitive to use, lightweight, and rugged. True, it doesnt have any kind of computer interface port or external power port, but for a casual geocacher or hiker, it works just fine. I had no problem learning to use it in just a few minutes, once I figured out that Magellan uses the term "Points of Interest" instead of the industry standard term "Waypoints." (When will Magellan ever settle on a standard name? On their older units they called them "Landmarks.") The grayscale screen is easy to read both indoors and out, and the buttons are easy enough to use. I like the fact that Magellan has provided dedicated "MARK" and "GOTO" buttons rather than burying the functions way down in a softkey menu, something that certain other manufacturers could take notice of. The built in maps are more of a marketing ploy than really useful. They dont have enough detail for highway navigation and without a computer port theres no way to add more detail. There are a few other minor quirks like a user interface that is inconsistent in how you enter numeric data. All in all, though, it is much better than I had expected. I brought it along for a GPS navigation class I recently taught and found that inexperienced GPS users could quickly master it. Its not the choice for the serious GPS navigator, but for the casual user who wont need to connect it to a computer, it may well be sufficient. My original plan was to sell it as soon as I was done writing the manuscript, but now Im seriously considering keeping it.
 On: 2007-02-21
I dont have a clue how this item works - I just took it out of the box. What I can tell you is that it does NOT accept a cigarette lighter adapter, as one might conclude it would, given that Amazon and other dealers include a cigarette adapter as an accessory.
 On: 2007-02-08
dont work well in latin america,only works perfect in USA, because it have all the maps of US soil! but it do the job here in Panama Rep of Panama!
 On: 2007-01-11
This GPS has gotten me out of the woods more than once in the dark. By setting waypoints on the unit 4 of us were able to get back down off North Dome in Yosemite in the dark and find our way back to the car. For the price this unit does plenty to get you out of trouble and as an avid photographer i use it on every trip. Like the old American Express add never leave home without it!
On: 2007-01-09
This is my second GPS and it was very easy to get use to and now I have started comparing this Magellan to my Garmin, and in many ways the Magellan is better.
On: 2007-01-06
I use the GPS unit for when I go out geocaching and it works great. The map detail is so much better compared to the 100 version, and I havent noticed anything really lacking when compared to the 300 version. Ive used it at my school to teach an after school geocaching program, and so far it has survived multiple encounters with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders.
On: 2007-01-05
I use the GPS unit for when I go out geocaching and it works great. The map detail is so much better compared to the 100 version, and I havent noticed anything really lacking when compared to the 300 version. Ive used it at my school to teach an after school geocaching program, and so far it has survived multiple encounters with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders.
On: 2006-12-27
My mom gave me an eXplorist 200 GPS receiver for Christmas. I had a great deal of difficulty getting started with it because the instructions that came with it were so sketchy. Magellans online instructions were of no help (their little program eventually told me, "Guess I havent been able to help you; try customer service.") and their customer service wasnt of much use either.
The issue that I had was with the operation of the compass function - I was having great difficulty in getting the compass to point north, despite having re-calibrated the machine twice. Turns out that you only have to walk around a bit to get it to respond properly. Anyway, a moderately decent instruction manual would have explained this (and other things that I had to figure out by messing with the eXplorist 200), but the manual that comes with this GPS receiver is just completely inadequate. And customer service, while they try hard, are just completely useless.
Anyway, the machine works well. I went for a walk at lunch today and made a box by navigating with it, and got back to within mere feet of where Id started. The altimeter is accurate and the rest of the readings appear to be as well. As others have mentioned, the road maps loaded into the machine are pretty sketchy (pretty much only major streets), but theyre nice to have.
All things considered, Im very glad to have this unit. I have to tell you, though, I was so frustrated by the inadequate instructions that I was ready to return it (in fact, I was walking on my way to return it when I finally figured out how to get the compass function to work). So, if you get the Magellan eXplorist 200 GPS receiver, plan to have a little patience with it. The function really is pretty self-evident, but you need to take it for a test run to figure it out, since it doesnt all come together immediately upon calibration. (All in all, this was a lot less frustrating than getting the XM radio turned on in my new car - but the instructions were a lot worse.)
Happy hiking!
On: 2006-11-20
I purchased the explorist 200 as a navigation tool while out in the woods, primarly scouting the state lands of Michigan for hunting opportunities. The explorist has allowed me to go deep in the woods, that just wouldnt be possible with a regular compass. I know distances to and from locations and with 5000 points of interest, I will never run out of places to mark. :)
My only regret is not buying one sooner! This is a great tool for any outdoorsmen.
On: 2006-11-19
I purchased the explorist 200 as a navigation tool while out in the woods, primarly scouting the state lands of Michigan for hunting opportunities. The explorist has allowed me to go deep in the woods, that just wouldnt be possible with a regular compass. I know distances to and from locations and with 5000 points of interest, I will never run out of places to mark. :)
My only regret is not buying one sooner! This is a great tool for any outdoorsmen.
On: 2006-11-10
Its an OK product. It was quickly replaced by the 210, which offers USB connectivity.
On: 2006-11-10
The model met all my expectations for a low-end gps device. It is acceptably accurate and provides basic location information. It is relatively easy to use as a means to record routes while hiking. The track back feature works just fine. A limitation is entering waypoints (termed points-of-interest for this device). The instructions for this feature are poor and it takes some playing around to learn how to do it... and even after one figures this out... it is still a tedious effort to accomplish. Another little problem is the buttons are easy to push and unless one is careful you find yourself staring at a menu screen that you have no idea how you accessed. So, placing the device in a protective case while hiking is good idea. If you are looking for a solid, low-end, inexpensive, gps device this will probably work for you.
On: 2006-10-21
This GPS works very well. I bought it mainly for hunting, but wanted the background map so it could be useful while driving. Ive only found one error on the map, a road is mislabeled, but it is not enough to throw you off track. Once it has a good satellite link it is almost impossible to lose that link. Even cloudy days or cover from trees (or the roof of the car when it sits in the cupholder) it hasnt lost track. Navigation works excellent and the "mark" button on the front makes it easy to create a point of interest, no digging through menus to find this operation. Just push the button and go. My only complaints are that the heading feature only gives degrees, not the cardinal points (North,South,East,West) and it doesnt record maximum or average speed, something nice to have on trips. But these are no reasons not to purchase this fine GPS from Magellan
 On: 2006-10-14
In Dec 04 received one as a present. In June 05 it started shutting off on its own and then stopped turning on all together. Lost a weeks worth of sailing and diving in the Bahamas. Returned it to the store, bought a new one. It was handy and familiar thought I would give it another try. Since then it has dumped my saved Points of Interest THREE times. Now the other day it crashed and defaulted to to a screen called "Burn In Test". Fortunately it did this after I copied off my latest Points of Interest. Now I have a Garmin eTrek Legend.
On: 2006-09-28
this is my first GPS, its working very well for me, u can trace the way your walking then inverse it to find your way back, you can convert the trace into routes, it has the usa map, but the map wont work in mexico, it will only give you the main roads of the country. good stuff
On: 2006-09-26
I see a lot of reviews saying, "Good entry level GPS!" I do not agree with this statement at all. With a GPS you should always START with the best one you can afford that does what you need. That way you are not buying one to practice on just to realize you need another one. Then you are out of $100 for your "entry level" and $400 for the fancy pants Garmin. I own two GPS systems which are exactly what I need for the applications I use them for. If you need to do these things and nothing else. Buy this one and dont worry that you cannot monitor barometric pressure (I am a meteorologist and I dont need a barometer or a thermometer). Here is what this one will do wonderfully for you. If you are anywhere and you get lost. This one will easily get you to a city, lake, river, interstate, highway, or major road. My main reason for this is to save locations for future use such as: good fishing spots, tree stands for hunting, important businesses, etc. What makes this GPS so practical is its simplicity. You cannot load a bunch of useless stuff on here that will just slow it down. Who really needs topo? What is great about hiking is NOT knowing what is over the next hill. Another great thing about this unit is it is light weight. I backpack with a lot of folks, some of which are scared of anything that weighs over half a pound. These same folks haul a huge, heavy GPS handheld in their backpack and never use it the whole trip! Another cool thing you can use this GPS for is bicycle and motorcycle application. It is easily mountable on a bike. The screen is large enough to be easily read on the go and the backlight works well at night. It wont hurt this thing if you crash either. It is built like a tank. If it starts to rain, you do not have to worry because it is almost totally waterproof. In everyday application, I keep this thing in my cargo pocket. If I find a neat store or a great view along a mountain road I can quickly save the spot, give it a name, and cool little icon from the list. For everyday use I would recommend this to anyone other than a civil engineer on a job site.
On: 2006-09-08
A few months in use and my 200 started to dump memory at random intervals. This meant that each time I powered on, it was a gamble as to if my coordinates were still entered. This is very frustrating when I go on a trip, I always have to make sure I have a paper back up source of my information. If you get a 200 that works then I would recommend the unit for beginners but I dont know how common this problem is.
On: 2006-08-20
This GPS device is good for the use which I purchased it for. The included maps are limited but sufficient for my needs.
Since I use this with topographical maps with reference points printed on it, I dont use the internal maps.
If you need internal maps or to be able to download maps this isnt the one for you.
If you need an inexpensive GPS that just helps you pinpoint where you are and that keeps track of your route as you go, then this one will work great for you and is very reasonably priced.
Pros: Its accurate and low priced. It does the job it was meant to do. Its also rugged and a great size. It does a good job of connecting to satellites - especially in the open or even cloudy skies. The tracking feature is a big help for me. After a hike I can pinpoint exactly on my map the route I took using my mapping software (I use National Geographic TOPO for maps - since it doesnt matter which one I use because I cant download anyway). Theres no need to buy the more expensive Magellan mapping software.
Cons: Its more difficult than it should be to set a waypoint. The little joystick takes some getting used to for moving around and entering in text. If youre in heavy tree or other cover, it sometimes has a hard time connecting to enough satellites to give a good fix, but it has always given me at least a 2-D fix which is usually close enough for my purposes (not as good for geo-caching probably).
I like this unit and recommend it for anyone needing a good, inexpensive GPS for hiking / hunting / camping purposes who use a paper / printed topo map together with the GPS.
On: 2006-08-07
The unit is o.k , but difficult to navigate the instructions and make the unit work.
On: 2006-08-05
Ive been using this unit for bike training, and I have to admit that Im not impressed. The user interface is cumbersome, and the displays cannot be customized. For instance, Id like to see a map, speed and trip distance on the same screen. No dice with this unit. You have to click NAV, then scroll through three screens then hit enter to see the trip odometer. Not easy to do while youre riding. All of the other features are just as cumbersome to use.
Lately Ive been measuring it against a $40 cycle computer. The cyele computer wins hands down. The Explorist takes up to 10 minutes to acquire a position, and doesnt accurately report speed until it does. Out in the open, it works just fine, but once a few leaves (very few) get in the way, it gets totally lost, and can measure neither speed nor position. It just freezes on the last known position. One time I stopped under some trees and it registered my speed as 17.3 MPH for nearly two minutes while the bike was completely motionless.
Battery life is another problem. It takes 2 AA batteries, and they last about three hours when the unit is on. They last only for about 2 days if the unit is turned off the entire time!
On: 2006-08-03
This is my first GPS. Ive had fun playing with it, and it does a great job of tracking. I bought it to find coordinates on USPS Topo maps, which it does perfectly. It also has built-in mapping of major highways and landmarks, such as lakes. It will show you exactly where you are on the highways and other areas. I couldnt be more satisfied.
On: 2006-07-14
I use my hand-held GPS units mainly for geocaching, hiking and hunting. I dont download any data into my GPS units, so I prefer more "basic" models. I started with a basic yellow Garmin eTrex, and it worked fine, except for losing satellite signals indoors, under heavy tree cover, and sometimes in the car. I just got my new Magellan 200 the other day, and it works great. I think it has several advantages over the Garmin: larger display screen, easier data entry, and it maintains a satellite signal indoors, under tree canopy, and in the car. Both my Garmin and Magellan work fine, but I would recommend Magellan if you are going into dense woods or into any other areas that might interfere with the satellite signal. My only complaint is that the Magellan doesnt have a carry strap like the Garmin.
On: 2006-06-10
I had been searching for a decent pedometer (for fitness walking) for a while and decided to give a GPS unit a try. I must say that I am impressed with the Magellan eXplorist in that it can tell me how many miles I have travelled as opposed to just counting steps; and being able to give me an indication of my speed is an added plus. I have also used the eXplorist in the car and found that it is generally able to pick up the satellites and get a fix if you leave the windows open (handy for checking speedometer accuracy). The menus and the navagation of the screens is fairly straight forward and I found that I was able to use most of the items without having to resort to the manual. I do, however, have to ding the eXplorist on a couple of items: First, the joystick is a bit clumsy to use - especially if entering a name for a Point of Interest. Second, some of the maps loaded into the unit appear to be out of date - at least for my area - as I saw one state highway on the map; GA 50; which was redesignated in my area as GA 520 about 15 or so years ago. Its not that big of an issue to me, but if you are using the unit for auotmobile navigation, you might want to keep it in mind when using the eXplorist 200. That not with standing, if you are looking for a decent entry-level GPS navagator at a decent price, the eXplorist 200 is certainly worth a look.
On: 2006-05-24
Ive tried several GPS receivers, mostly loaned from friends, and settled for this one for various reasons. The main activity was going to be GEOCACHING with my children, and was planning to give it to them for use. I fully expect that the children will eventually break it, either from a fall, or whatever. I tried a friends Garmin 60cs, which is a marvel of electronics and usability, but quite frankly, if my child was going to break it, its cost of over $400 would have given me a heart attack. I noticed that both Magellan and Garmin are pushing color displays, but at twice the price of the grayscale displays. That is really only needed for maps, to discriminate a state road from a local road. For geocaching, grayscale is good enough. From reading the previous reviews, one good comment made was on the fact that the 200 does not allow uploads or downloads (youll need a 210 for that). But is it worth it $100 more ? the electronic compass can be replaced by a regular $10 compass, and the barometric altimeter is subject to atmospheric nuances that can make its reading inaccurate with a margin of error of 10 meters anyway. So I dont consider these two features a must-have. Also noted is that the color displays drain batteries much faster. Another reason for choosing this model. Also noted was that on long camping trips away from a rechargeable-from-car appliance, a model that uses disposable batteries is better than rechargeables. From reading the reports and reviews, I had some concerns on the time-to-first-signal (could be too long) and the accuracy of the position given, and loss of signal. It proved to be not a problem. As for the uploading of geocaching data, I am printing the pages describing the cache, printing a topo map, and then, entering them manually as I start a trip. Entered 20 coordinates in 30 minutes, and the joystick interface worked out great when picking the alphaletters to name the mark, better than with a Garmin. One beef I do however is that the names of the mark cannot be more than six chars long. The 210 allows up to 20. Life aint perfect. To summarize, my biggest determinant on chossing this model was price, since I completely expect that the kids will break it. If it takes a year for that to happen, a hundred is a price I can live with for a year of activity. More than a hundred, I would get upset.
On: 2006-04-08
Why does this handheld need 16 mb of memory when the unit only comes with 10 mb of maps loaded and no PC interface. The specs are misleading and I feel stupid having not done more research before purchasing this unit. The Explorist 210 has a PC interface and 22 mb of space to load more maps if needed. My main gripe is that I work with GIS and I wanted to be able to grab my waypoints off the unit via a usb, but now I have to enter them manually. Normally this wouldnt be a huge deal, but I may have hundreds by the time Im done. I recommend this unit if you want a nice, light, good display, and feature for the money, but if your looking for PC interconnectivity, then buy the Explorist 210 or 400. The Explorist 100/200/and 300 dont have this feature. Also dont buy the PC cable at the bottom of the page that Amazon recommends because it fits a different Magellan series all together.
F Scot
On: 2006-04-07
You will not find a better built and performing entry level Gps for the money. I have always been pleased with the 200 and found that while geocaching its simple to operate and easy to carry around. Small things like being able to float and the rubber armor are nice. The only two things that come to mind I wish the 200 had, is a dc power connection and more detailed maps (why I gave it a 4). Other than that, cant beat it. If you find yourself needing better maps and dc power you will have to upgrade to another level of Gps such as the Explorist 210,400 and above.
On: 2006-04-07
Why does this handheld need 16 mb of memory when the unit only comes with 10 mb of maps loaded and no PC interface. The specs are misleading and I feel stupid having not done more research before purchasing this unit. The Explorist 210 has a PC interface and 22 mb of space to load more maps if needed. My main gripe is that I work with GIS and I wanted to be able to grab my waypoints off the unit via a usb, but now I have to enter them manually. Normally this wouldnt be a huge deal, but I may have hundreds by the time Im done. I recommend this unit if you want a nice, light, good display, and feature for the money, but if your looking for PC interconnectivity, then buy the Explorist 210 or 400. The Explorist 100/200/and 300 dont have this feature. Also dont buy the PC cable at the bottom of the page that Amazon recommends because it fits a different Magellan series all together.
F Scot
On: 2006-03-23
Very user friendly. Great reception. Rugged disign. Im a tech. for Verizon Wireless and im use to see phones come across my counter beat up, scratched up, and just down right abused. This GPS is one tough little monkey. I use it mainly for geocaching and while in the woods or on a trial, Ive slide down a couple hills in the mud or snow. Usually the first think I think is ouch, but the second thing I think is that I may just have wrecked my Gps. Not yet. As I said this guy is tough. I highly recomend the explorist 200. With the preloaded road maps its gives me a good guest as to where I am when I start to lose my direction on the road or in the woods.
On: 2006-03-20
How can they offer this for such a price????
Very easy to operate! Maps are an awesome bonus! Attracive and well constructed!
Buy this! You wont be disappointed...or lost!
On: 2006-02-25
Every time I power it on, it has to search for satelites and takes a lot of time to get its bearing. Not too amazed by this product.
On: 2006-02-24
Every time I power it on, it has to search for satelites and takes a lot of time to get its bearing. Not too amazed by this product.
On: 2006-02-24
I bought this for my husband, he loves it. We travel alot and this GPS gives you any and all the info. needed to get where you need to go. Havent had any problems with it, still trying out all the convient features.
On: 2005-12-17
This Magellan GPS unit is a good entry level GPS device. It tells you where you are and keeps a track log. The reported accuracy never got to the 10 feet WAAS accuracy, but it was fair. There was a 45ft difference between the 1st and 2nd stories of my house when infact there is only 8ft.
Pros:
Good entry unit for the price
Shows you where you are
Cons:
Maps are pretty much useless, it shows you the interstates and highways as of 3-4 years ago. Dont count on it to find anything.
No PC interface -- spend a few dollars more
Not very rugged
I had this unit and in less than 12 hours, my screen was broken. There is a weak spot betwen the eXplorist 200 logo and the magellan name on the screen protector. The area there pushes on a weak spot on the LCD glass/screen on the inside. Too much pressure cracks the screen. I had it in my pocket just testing it out. I drove home and when I pulled it out, the screen was broken. No drops, bangs, or jarations; just maybe a slight pressure on that weak spot. The replacement price for the LCD screen is $60. Dont bother buying the amazon warranty because it doesnt cover anything like that.
On: 2005-12-12
The first thing that amazed me about this unit is it is so light weight, compact, and fits in the palm of your hand. I purchased a Magellan GPS unit back in 1997 and wanted to update and upgrade. GPS has come a long way since my first unit. This unit was easy to setup and navigate. The onscreen menu system is easy to understand, and the navigation buttons are easy enough to use with one hand. The screen was sharp and clear, and the backlight is more than enough for low light and dark areas. The built in maps of North America (while not side street detailed) are very detailed and accurate for major highways and throughways. It acquired a 4 or more satellite signal within about 1 minute after a cold boot up. It got signal inside my condo unit which is under another second story condo unit!! In the car it worked just as good laying on the seat next to me. I used the built in maps to navigate to another city perfectly. Overall Im very pleased, recommend this unit, and Im looking forward to using it for some Geocaching soon.
On: 2005-11-13
This is my first personal GPS. In the past back in 99 my first experience with GPS was when the security forces training introduced it to us in techschool. They were a little complicated then, but last year I started comparing these gadgets, reading reviews and prices, durability etc. I bought this one because it was not that expensive, the features are just what I need. I dont like the color, cuz I know I was going to be using it not just for the road but for other special operation and exercises we do in the military...so you know if theyd come out with a camouflage skin on this thats what id picked, i spray painted it anyway to cover it up for exercises we had out in the field. Another thing thats good on this badboy is lighting, it served me well for stealthy night ops situation.. the other ones with bright color like your computer monitor, lit up very well. I knew that because i spotted my buddy during war game exercises in a field he was in a humvee 1000m out, we couldnt find him. So, I called his cellphone whipped out the NVG night vission goggles and old boy compromised his position...but if im gon get one of those id have to just get filter screen for it. Ive been using the Magellan Explorist 200 since i bought it last year, I used it when I drove from Wyoming to Florida when we PCS or change station. The battery was ok, itd have been great if it came with rechargeble battery and a station like those portable handheld radios. Always have a map so if you were to run out of battery you got your back up. When I got to Florida, it was hurricane season and for Hurricane Dennis we had to evacuate. I was new florida so evacuating and going somewhere means more attention to maps and hotels and other stuff. This was our most difficult time and thanked to this explorist 200 we made it to our destination to Indiana quickly and safely. The day when everyone and their mother were out on the road conjesting the main highway; we were barely moving. So i started scrolling left and right on this GPS and I found a road possibly a back road which sits a mile from the main highway but runs the same direction where the main highway go...sure enough i took the next exit and shot an azymuth that way and when we got to that road it was like twilight zone there werent any cars but tractors on the road, it was pretty much all mine. I kept on driving and sometimes when its open field I see the main highway on my leftside which showed in my explorist 200, and witnessed all the motionlesss cars that constantly glowed brake lights. This when i started recommending this GPS to all my coworkers... I told them you gon need it someday...when a road is blocked and when you need to find another road they come very handy....this explorist right here can do that for you.
On: 2005-08-17
Im very pleased with this GPS unit.Its extremely sensitive, measuring your speed, direction and distance not only while in a moving vehicle, but even when walking which surprised me for an item of that price. While the map may not show your side street,I found that it shows the major freeways, thruways and main state and county roads. It even names airports (small and large} and creeks. It also lets you set waypoints and shows turns while plotting a route. Someday Ill have to read the manual to see what else it does.
On: 2005-06-06
I just started Geocaching a few months ago and after doing research on available GPSs in my price range, I decided to choose this one. It is a great starter unit that does not have so many functions that the directions on usage overwhelm you (we all know about VCR programming!) It has great screen readout, easy-to-program waypoints, and a nice size.
On the downside, it can be a bit slow initiating at startup and there is no PC connection capabilities. But then again, its supposed to be a simple unit and with 16MB it should serve you well. However, I wouldnt recommend it for driving since its not designed for that and there are models out there better suited for that purpose.
All in all, if youre looking for a great basic model, I would recommend it. The Garmin eTrex Legend is comparable but this Magellan has better accuracy, more channels, and more route capabilities.
I havent regretted this purchase.
On: 2005-05-20
Being an owner of both the Garmin eTrex, and the Magellan 200, I find that:
DOWNSIDE
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1) The Magellan is slow to lock on and frequently cannot get 3D accuracy with even 4 satellites.
2) The carrying case *blows chunks*. A _cheap_ zipper bag that you have to take your belt off to wear it or remove it. Garmins is form-fitting with a belt clip, clear viewing port, and velcro-- much better.
3) The Magellan has *no* interface for a PC, which even the most basic Garmin eTrex has, which is important because the PC interface is used for (cigarette power adapter, PC data uplink, and firmware ugprade to GPS downlink).
4) The battery compartment holdig-bolt requires numerous turns to to loosen, whereas the Garm etrex requires 1/2 turn.
5) No lanyard comes with the unit, although it has a molded place for one to be attached to. eTrex come with lanyards.
6) Screen has a tendency to repaint, even if youre not moving
7) GUI interface is clumsy, and has a "cluttered" look to it.
8) the joystick or jog-stick too easily depressed causing you to select something when you were only trying to scroll.
9) It has an option to erase the contents of the unit entirely. Why? there is NO WAY TO RELOAD IT.
10) This does not show you *where* the satellites are in relation to you, which the Garmin eTrex does.
UPSIDE:
---------------
1) Backlight is very nice
2) Screen is larger
3) Has a field in it to put identity info or "reward" message
PRICEWISE:
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Pricewise, the basic eTrex costs $89, whereas this ran me $139. I dont care for the mapping function, its annoying. I dont use it for road navigation. And I dont know how it would update the maps anyway, without a PC interface to upgrade it.
OVERALL:
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Overall, not worth the money. It falls down in almost all the areas a serious, fast-paced user requires. I rate it about $60 too much in comparison to the Garmin.
As it is, I disliked the crummy carrying pouch so much, I found it will barely fit in the extra Garmin eTrex Holster I had. Garmins are also smaller on the hip. I would not have bought this, but lost my Garmin.
I have to say I found the Garmin to be much more professional, functional, and useful, and will end up buying one again. this Magellan goes up on eBay, today.
On: 2005-04-25
My best friend owns two of these GPS system things. So, yeah, Im a newbie at this GPS thing. I turned it on, and it took 10 seconds for it to go to the map. Then, 10, 20, 30...60...100 seconds...why arent the satellites connecting?...200, then finally a satellite was connected, and I was outside. I zoomed all the way in, and it was very confusing. I could only see three roads, one being the I-10 freeway. And no, Tucson is not a small city. Actually, its pretty big, the second biggest city in Arizona, and Phoenix being the biggest, and due to all of the northwest area construction, thats not saying much. The map was very unclear, showing two main roads, I-10, and this big circle saying Flowing Wells. And Flowing Wells was actually misplaced, and should have been a little more southern.
It does have its high points. At least you have specific numbers, on how far and fast you are walking, but once again, slow.
It does what its supossed to do, but it does it in such a below-average way that I can not recommend.
On: 2004-12-29
5 stars for trail use, 0 for travelling roads. while this gadget would work well for trekking offroad, its not great for roads.
Dont get this thinking your going to use it to navigate roadways.
While it does show interstates etc it does not map your route, so you better know how to get where your going already. It simply draws a straight line from point A to point B and indicates where you are.
The menus are also to slow to navigate, I drive for a living an need fast inputs, I need to put in street addresss not just a city. I work long hrs and need an external power source as well. There is no connectivty to palm or laptop.
On: 2004-12-29
I love this little critter. I find the built in map for driving handles most major roads and all of the interstates. On my latest 14 hour trip to several relatives, I was on a marked road 98% of the time. Zooming out tells me when intersections will be coming and the GOTO ETA is pretty much right on (when will we be home, daddy? 1 hour 27 minutes plus or minus 5 minutes... Oh...) Thing is as bad as a cell phone for driving distraction.
Screen is very nice. Contrast is great. Looks good from full sun to dim light and the night light takes over from there. Words are very legible (it does take some skill to read Lake Mooselookmyguntic while driving tho)
Accuracy while hiking will get you within 30 feet regularly so works for trail finding and maps. The joystick does take some getting used to but works fine once you get the hang (push from the side not from the top). Lots of self help built in (reading material on my long walks out). Battery life is good and I use rechargeable double AAs NIMH and get a good 6-7 hours out of them. I carry a couple of extra with me. Swapping batteries is easy and can be done without tools but needs bare fingers to unscrew the D ring screw. Nothing is lost when swapping batteries. Takes about 1-2 minutes to sync up with the satellites when turned on. Picks up the satellites well in my pocket or nestled in the cars door handle. The night light feature is very nice and does not knock too much off of the battery. Lightweight, takes a drop onto concrete with just a nick here or there on the case. Buttons have a good feel and can be manipulated by feel while driving. Buttons need to be pushed with bare fingers or very thin gloves. One very neat feature is that the sun and moon are located on the compass when they are above the horizon. Donno how they do that. Compass works only when moving but it only takes a few steps to get it to work
For backpacking there is one major issue. The odometer does not track accurately in the woods. If the GPS loses track somewhere where the trees are thick, the odometer stops logging during that time. The funny thing is that the active track is spot on. Just use the active track to figure out how far you have walked. The breadcrumbs work great. I could care less about downloading content or maps or topo stuff. That is what printed maps are for and I would never trust an electronic device to get me out anyways.
On: 2004-12-23
The major drawback of this model is that it CANNOT be connected to a PC. My primary application of a GPS is to hook it up with my laptop with Microsoft Street and trips running. Therefore, I would recommend a Garin model at similar price which Does come with a PC cable.
On: 2004-11-30
I have really enjoyed this product. Ive found that most of the Magellan products have a fairly similar control/interface setup. It is easy for people of all ages to learn and enjoy. The maps arent very detailed but I find they are detailed enough. If you are looking for something that will show you city streets in detail this is not for you. However if you still want a little bit of adventure give it a try. The backlight is great you can use it well after dark and still see perfectly. The battery life is fairly standard and the satellite lock is great. The only thing I dont like about the model is the joystick in the center. I find the unit often thinks Im pressing enter instead of trying to scroll in a certain direction. Thankfully they have put the ESC button right below it. Sometimes this is a nuisance but I am learning and it definitely does not stop me from highly recommending this unit.
On: 2004-11-29
I have really enjoyed this product. Ive found that most of the Magellan products have a fairly similar control/interface setup. It is easy for people of all ages to learn and enjoy. The maps arent very detailed but I find they are detailed enough. If you are looking for something that will show you city streets in detail this is not for you. However if you still want a little bit of adventure give it a try. The backlight is great you can use it well after dark and still see perfectly. The battery life is fairly standard and the satellite lock is great. The only thing I dont like about the model is the joystick in the center. I find the unit often thinks Im pressing enter instead of trying to scroll in a certain direction. Thankfully they have put the ESC button right below it. Sometimes this is a nuisance but I am learning and it definitely does not stop me from highly recommending this unit.
On: 2004-08-21
My 8-year old son read an article about Geocaching and really got excited. I wanted to get a GPS handheld that offered great value and ease-of-use. I tried the Garmin eTrex, eTrex Legend, Geko and the Magellan eXplorist 200 (a local Geocaching club let me field test the units) and I downloaded the manuals from the Garmin/Magellan websites and poured over them.
The verdict -- I bought the eXplorist 200. The base map gives you the major freeways, highways, and cities -- even parks and national landmarks. The buttons and functions were the most intuitive of any of the models tested -- very important when you have children operating the unit. The LCD screen is as big as the expensive models and highly legible in ambient light. My son loves it and the entire family is getting lots of hikes and geocaching done in the great outdoors.
What happens next? I will save up for a more powerful unit with a PC connection, map software, etc, now that we are hooked on GPS navigation. The eXplorist will remain with my son -- like cell phones, it is always a good idea to have an extra one around...
On: 2004-08-20
My 8-year old son read an article about Geocaching and really got excited. I wanted to get a GPS handheld that offered great value and ease-of-use. I tried the Garmin eTrex, eTrex Legend, Geko and the Magellan eXplorist 200 (a local Geocaching club let me field test the units) and I downloaded the manuals from the Garmin/Magellan websites and poured over them.
The verdict -- I bought the eXplorist 200. The base map gives you the major freeways, highways, and cities -- even parks and national landmarks. The buttons and functions were the most intuitive of any of the models tested -- very important when you have children operating the unit. The LCD screen is as big as the expensive models and highly legible in ambient light. My son loves it and the entire family is getting lots of hikes and geocaching done in the great outdoors.
What happens next? I will save up for a more powerful unit with a PC connection, map software, etc, now that we are hooked on GPS navigation. The eXplorist will remain with my son -- like cell phones, it is always a good idea to have an extra one around...
On: 2004-08-06
I already have a Magellan Sportrak and Im perfectly happy with it. I just needed something with roadmaps. So when Magellan came out with the eXplorist 200, I said ok, and bought it. It got here today. I installed the batteries, turned it on and started driving. I was immediately dissapointed. The detail of the mapping of this unit is horrendous. Its as if they randomly picked streets they thought would be good to put in the device. Its almost funny how few streets this thing shows in my area. Now youre probably thinking I live in some backwoods place that this thing wont map. I live in Charleston, SC. One of the largest cities in SC. Id say this thing shows less than .5% of the streets here. I bought a Garmin eMap well over 5 yrs ago that had a million times more detail than this thing. Save your money and get something with better mapping capability if thats what youre looking for.
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