cterres

The receiver-part is still the same. It get's new gps firmware updates from time to time, so there is still room for improvements. The Dakotas uses the same chips too

If your Oregon isn't broken, maybe it's a jammer near your location. Try a different position or see if a second gps device (mobile phone maybe?) can get a better signal. Your location had nothing to do with maps on your device. So if you wait maybe 15 minutes with a good sight to the sky around you should find more signals or your device is damaged. When was the last time it worked?

This force the unit to read new files like firmware updates or gpx-files that were previously transferred into memory. Thats why it restart after disconnect and this cant be changed, its hard coded.

... and topo mapping. The GC doesn't support trail maps.

Officially 4gb is the limit. Some people tell, a 16gb card works too, others tell it won't recognize such a big card. So it depends on the card manufacturer and brand as well. But because of a map tile limit you can't use up more than around 6-7gb of maps on one card. Adding geocaches, routes and tracks, 8gb card size is as much as you can really use. So non-officially 8gb is the biggest size u can use in a Dakota or Oregon. Try Sandisk.

It is well hidden: http://www.geocaching.com/my/uploadfieldnotes.aspx Even the page says it is for Colorado and Oregon, this means Dakotas too.

*push* and waiting on EnduraExpert ...

It is the sorting feature for geocaches that is responsible for much trouble at the moment. But i wish they would bring out new releases in smaller steps. I mean, i had a Magellan Triton last two years too and every new "official release" had bugs i found in a few hours. But i wasn't a official tester. So i wouldn't take it to seriouse if a new firmware had still some known bugs, als long as they show customers, that they continue to work on it. Waiting four months for an update is ridiculous. I mean, it's a new model and it's a good product but people like me who going to advertise for it in online communities need some convincing reasons to tell people it is worth the money. Since months i tell them, that i wait on the next firmware that will fix some bad bugs. And since months, i tell them, it's available "soon". EnduraExpert? Give us a little hope.

Two weeks ago i pre-checked the second release candidate for the next firmware release. Any chances to get a timeline info when the next release is finally online? Don't do it like Magellan and let us wait a couple of months for some bugs fixed. I wish to see updates in smaller steps, last release was in early december (1.3 was no firmware), now it's april. Hate it to look over the FTP every single day again and again. ( ftp://download.lowrance.com/Endura/ ) Greetings from Germany Christoph

The Endura firmware was better with update 1.2. Update 1.1 was for map updates only and update 1.3 simple adds a navionics map viewer. Still some issues, the next update 1.4 should be available in a few days. The actual build is called a "release candidate". For urban areas, you don't need a topo map, so look for the u.s. & canada street map (called "turn-by-turn"). In europe, Lowrance brings out some new maps with more details. Gladly for germany too, cause the first map release was a boring map completly in yellow colour. But i don't know anything about canadian maps right now. Only the street map. Garmin will release some new devices soon, so maybe you wait a few weeks? The new DeLorme comes out in may too. It's not the best time to decide what to buy right now.

But not in the Netherlands. Magellan has no distributor there. Magellan itself is not present in europe.

Satmap Active 10 is easy to handle, big buttons and big bright screen. Maps are available for most european countries. Or Garmin Oregon (for example model 450). Smaller device, touchscreen, easy to use too. Best is to compare these devices. You can get a Garmin near everywhere, so look for a Satmap dealer and chances are good that there you can try out a Garmin Oregon too. http://www.satmap.com/dutch/wheretobuy.php Satmap uses digital raster maps, looks like a paper map. Garmin uses vector maps that need getting used to first.

When you compare accuracy and reception with newer models from competitors, you will not find much differences. Lowrance Endura, Magellan Triton, Garmin Oregon, Garmin 60/76CSx and many more units > all of them have a great accuracy and reception. If you compare with an way older model like the Meridian, well, no wonder that it's so much faster and so much more accurate. That's not the point anymore. Better look for available maps, limited battery life, screen readability in sunshine, the software that is needed on a PC, available accessories for this device. I have plenty of gpsr inside my desk drawer. They all are able to get a position in under one minute, under canopy cover or even inside my house (european style made of stone). In 2010 to mention how good the reception of a brand new gps-device is, is like to mention that a new washing powder can make your shirt whiter than white.

http://www.lowrance.com/en/Endura/Add-On-Mapping-USA/

Wherigo Player for PDA > latest is beta-version from 2008 Wherigo Builder for PC > latest is alpha-version from 2008 Wherigo Player for some Garmins > got some updates till 2009 The only company working on Wherigo is/was Garmin. It is dead now.

When using a unit with a electronic compass, the arrow would constantly point on your waypoint and you can ignore the map. When using a unit without a electronic compass, you need to move faster so gps can do the job and use the map to see your waypoint.

It's "only" for geocaching so they dont plan to implement different mapping grids. You can't add different maps. By the way, if you want support for lambert, take user grid and look over this list: http://www.explorermagazin.de/gps/missing.htm (Lambert 1-4)

Speculation or facts? This was'nt the only new release from Magellan this year. You can take that as a fact. But there will be no other comment on this, cause "Magellan Insiders" get their hands on it much later. It should not be such a surprise, that two years after the Triton and after this "little toy" there would be no more in near future. But there is still no release date, just "later this year".

There are no additional maps for use with the eXplorist GC. It uses a different map file format, so you cant add OSM-, Mapsend- or Raster-Maps to this toy. All you got is a mid-res streetmap. For france, skip this one. Wait on the news in autumn.

It doesn't have electronic compass or barometer. The older eXplorist 600 had both of it. But this new one is a geocaching-only gpsr, the older eXplorist can do more tasks. This entry-level model is a price-breaker. Later this year, another new one from a higher class will be more of what you want to buy for your own. The now released unit is one to buy for your kids.

Only if it imports gpx-files into its own database, it took several minutes. Once done, its boot time is under one minute.

And by the way, WM 5 is the later edition. Best about it, it keep installed programs in flash memory. PPC 2003 and older ones works only in RAM and if the battery gets empty, it's like a reset and all user installed apps needed reinstallation. You got the better value with wm5.

Why using coordinates from strangers? Mark a Waypoint, mark the spot on the ground, switch the unit off, get back later and look how close you can get navigating to the same waypoint again. You should reach the marked spot within 1-3 meters range like near every modern unit can do.

Shure we compare it with other devices. "We" are customers who need to decide wich one to buy this year. People don't went into shops and ask only for Magellan. But if they do so, mostly because they wanted to use their maps from older devices of the same brand. And if you need more than 1GB flash memory, it's cheaper to build in 2GB chips. If you count pictures for 10.000 geocaches together, you need some space too. By the way, the same development agency that adds code to the Endura, did this for the eXplorist also. It is 3rd party knowledge on both sides.

Yes, it's very close to the Endura. And this is the best to show, no add-on mapping for example. Too bad it's only a basic unit without support for additional sensors and a card reader.