gpsjeep

This might be of interest to you Explorists 4, 5, & 600 owners. 5 Volt USB portable battery box with a protective circuit for keeping output voltage at 5V to protect you GPSr. Hope this helps. http://www.bixnet.com/usbbatterybox.html -Jeff

It's the same way the Lo-Jack systems are used to track stolen cars. -Jeff

I also asked this this very same question in another thread. I'm trying to decide whether or not I should invest in an explorist or just keep using my Meridian Yellow. -Jeff

Thanks JohnnyVegas, I eagerly await your findings. -Jeff

Thank you all who've answered my question in the "Boomerang Effect" thread. Another question. And I ask these to determine if I should get one of these Explorists models as I've been using a Meridian Yellow for over a year now and am relatively happy with it. But these Explorists look promissing. Knowing the difference in antenna's between the Meridian and the Explorists ( quad-helix verses patch) how well do the Explorists handle being operated under moderate to heavy tree coverage? And I want to thank you all in advance for all your help with my questions. Best Regards, -Jeff

I hear a lot of the magellan owners talk about their boomerang effect. Now that the Explorists have the patch antenna, has the boomerang effect gone away in those models? Thanks, -Jeff

Flir67, Thats pretty cool. For the 5 bucks they're asking for it, it would be worth it for someone to check it out. If I had an explorist 4,5, or 600 I'd get one myself. But my meridian uses AA batteries. Good find. -Jeff

Wow, that sounds great. Topo 4.20 is the topo I'm assuming you're talking about? Do you think this can increase the region upload size of topo 3D? not that it really needs it because I think you can upload 240 MB regions. -Jeff

Yes, I just wanted to know if it's possible. I'm looking for a TOPO software to supplement my mapsend Topo. Thanks. -Jeff

Hi there, I need some advice from the pro's here that use Delorme Topo 5.0. I know that you can not upload delorme maps to your GPSr with this software. But I do know that you can upload waypoints. What I need to know is can I create a trail route, such as an auto route thatr's highlighted, and upload that trail route to my meridian. And it show up on my meridian as a route. Is this possible? If so, will it look like a route or trail or will it just look like a gazillion waypoints? Thanks in advance for your help. Regards, -Jeff

I sure hope they're reading them, buddy! I doubt that they are reading this forum. If they were, they would have answered some of the questions being asked of the Explorists. -Jeff

USB data transfer Geocaching Manager Good color screen. Smaller size. New toys are cool. Yes. I'll agree, new toys are cool However, the serial data cable works great with my Meridian. It stays pluged into my PC. If I ever wanted to use my USB port, I could buy a USB Serial Accessory Adapter for super cheap. The GSAK is a superb GeoCache manager. With the exception of being able to create seperate folders like you can with the 500 (which I know is a great feature) I just can't see it happening for me. I don't know. I'll just have to stay tuned to this thread and read futher results from everybody's field testing. So Marky, when you get your 600 in, give it a thourogh field test and post your findings here. Who knows, maybe I'll get one. But right now It's just waaay to soon to jump in on the band wagon. -Jeff

Wow, It appears that there is really no real advantage to upgrade your GPSr to a 500 if you already have a Meridian. With the exception of maybe higher resolution screen with the 500. Comparisons (from what I can see and read from the resources provided) Meridian Satellites- Up to 12 Accuracy: Less than 3 meters Expandable memory: Yes Batteries- AA. Cheap and easy to replace on the fly. Mapsend Topo: V:4.20d and Topo 3D Navigational Displays: 8 500 Satellites- Up to 14 Accuracy: Less than 3 meters Expandable memory: Yes Batteries- lithium-ion. Spare battery, $40 (also need to be near a power source to recharge) Mapsend Topo: Topo 3D only Navigational Displays: 4 Am I missing anything? I thought the 500 would be a great thing but after reading all these posts I find it hard to see the justificatin in buying a E-500 to replace my Meridian. If all you want is an inexpensive GPSr then you can get a cheap E-100 for as low as $80. I just did a search on ebay and found a New MeriGold for $155. See it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW I don't know. Magellan is going to have to do a heck of a lot more for me to trade my Meridian in for an Explorest 500 Just my thoughts. I know you all wanted to hear my thoughts. LOL Have fun. And remember, don't get any on ya. -Jeff

Question, has anybody here ever updated their firmware but to a different model? Such as a meridian yellow or green with firmware to a meridian Gold? What would happen? Anybody? -Jeff

Hi SnaptheFrog, Welcome to the forums. The 500 comes with an 8 MB base map. The base map will most likely have most of the major roadways on it but probably not a whole lot more. Now, when you add an SD memory card to it, you actually increase the memory capacity to it. Kind of like the hard drive on your computer except no moving parts. The more MB of storage your SD card has the more maps and data you can upload to it Your screen size/resolution was mentioned by Horay on the first page of this thread. Below was his posting: -------------------------------------------------------------- Just got off the phone with Magellan Customer Service. They gave me screen size (in pixels) for eXplorist 500. It's 176 x 220, much better than 100/200/300 (120 x 160). If you calculate actual resolution, it would be (1.4" x 1.8") ~123 dpi (dots per inch). For comparison, Garmin GPSMAP 60C/60CS has 160 x 240 (1.5" x 2.2") which gives us resolution ~107 dpi, Garmin eTrex Legend C/ Vista C has 176 x 220 (1.3" x 1.7") - ~131 dpi. Its' fair to compare screen of eXplorist 500 with screen of Garmin eTrex Legend C - they are very close the same (Yes, I know about 16 colors vs 256 colors smile.gif). Actual size of units is also close. Customer Service Rep. didn't know when manual will be available for download. ------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope this at least sheds some light on your questions. Have fun. -Jeff

Hi Ashley, See how your North reference is set up. Be sure that it's set to Magnetic North. A friend of mine had the same problem with his magellan GPSr and it showed him being off about 250 feet. He found that his unit was set to True North. He then changed it to Magnetic North and then everything was fine. Although as Stunod had said, it could be the map as well if your using the old mapsend topo. The roads in that program have been known to off a bit. Good luck and I hope this helps. -Jeff

This is way cool. I really appreciate people like you. -Jeff

I said I was wishfully thinking. The Topo 3D is great but it would be even greater if it had major trails and fire roads. Don't really know about the garmin Topo software but I'm sure it must have a downfall somewhere. If it had the best of both brands topo software products wraped up into one software, why wouldn't that be attractive? Will it ever happen? probably not. In fact, I'm most sure it won't. But, I think it's still a pretty good idea. -Jeff

Here's a challenge for Geocache/Groundspeak. Ok, so I'll be the first to admit that I am not a software programmer. In fact, I only learned how to program my microwave just last week after having it for 7 months. LOL. Any way. Here is an idea/challenge for the fine folks at geocaching.com. the Groundspeake people. Why don't you/they create your own brand of topo software that is compatible with the magellan AND Garmin hand held GPSr? Maybe something simular to the Magellan Mapsend Topo 3D but with trails on it as well as the forest service fire roads . Maybe even tie it in with the caches somehow. Something that would work with Magellan and Garmin products. Certainly I can't be the only person here who thinks that's a great idea. Just think about the possibilities. If you could create such a product, not only would it sell here on the geocache web site but everywhere else as well. The Topo Software of all Topo Software campatible with most handheld GPSr. What are your thought on this? Any comments anybody? Wishfully thinking, -Jeff

First of all, Great Day to all of you. If this question has already been answered elsewhere, please forgive me. I have the Magellan Meridian Yellow. Also known as the Yellow Americas. I would like to get the new Mapsend Topo 3D. I know this software works with the other Meridians but I'm not 100% positive that it will work with my Meridian Yellow. I asked magellan this question and they said no. But... I'm thinkng that they only said that because they quit making the Yellow Meridian a long time ago and they didn't test the Topo 3D with that particular GPS. I mean really, the only difference that I can see between the These GPSr are the size of the base maps. Sooooo. Does anybody in this great, great forum have any first hand experience on whether I can use the Mapsend Topo 3D with my Magellan Meridian Yellow? Comments? Thank you all. Best Regards and happy Caching Jeff Botheroyd

First of all, Welcome to Geocaching. I'm sure that you'll find it fun. In answer to your question. You first download the waypoint from the geocaching website to your computer. Then you use the easyGPS software to upload the waypoint from your PC to your GPS. Simply launch the EasyGPS, Then click on the open folder and locate the waypoint that you downloaded to your PC. Then click on the SEND button to upload the waypoint to your GPS. Another really good program to use is GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Artmy Knife) It's free to use for twenty one days then you are asked to purchase the software. You can learn about this software here: http://gsak.net/ I hope this helps. -Jeff

Any suggestions I've got a Magellan Meridian GPS. I've also got the Topo software. I'm not to impressed with it mainly because as far as roadways go, sometimes it's off as much as 1/4 mile or more. I've thought about upgrading to the new Topo3D but after reading this thread I have my doubts about it as well http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=83249 So that leads me to this. How accurate are other GPS's and their companion Topo Software? Garmans, etc? Anybody? What's the experience you've had or have with the GPS you use? Thanks, -Jeff