gps_dr

If you know the angle & don't want to use the GPS based compass.... Move Cursor Press <OK> Press <Options> select <Project> Press <OK> Enter desired info (You can use cursor pad to move to digit to change.) Like any good computer, there's more than one way to get a task done.

There is an e-mail on the way! Had a customer come in yesterday w/same problem. Explorist group on Yahoo refered to a Russian site that no longer appears to have the map there. Should be available for free from Magellan website. Thanks

Garmin GPS 76 This was a replacement for the Garmin 12XL (Early version) that was due for memory battery replacement. The 76 Series is hard to beat for ease of use, sharp display & external antenna connection. I've been using it to map bicycle trails of the Denver Area. Brunton Atlas MNS I've only had this unit a few weeks. I wanted to try a mapping unit with 50' contour topo, electronic compas etc. Still learning it's idiosynchracies. Have Colorado & Wyoining data loaded on SD memory card (~240MB) It has better forest road coverage than Garmin or Magellan TOPO as far as I can tell. Also Game management units. Allows 100 tracks in memory, provides track name if cursor positioned over it. Magellan & Garmin units I've tried do not do this. National Geographic Backroads explorer & Colorado The backroads explorer covers the US, works with state product to allow updated road overlays. (New expansion pack for state products adds this, map updates, 3D views) Would like this one more if allowed uploading of tracks to GPS like DeLorme. DeLorme TopoUSA 5, Xmap4.5 & Sat10 Colorado This is the main mapping program I use, bettter zooming, uploading of tracks, split screen views of different data. Can create a tracklog by drawing on screen & upload to GPS to follow afield. Still not a program to backup GPS data. GPS Track Maker Great free tool to backup GPS data. ESRI ArgGIS Professional GIS software. Use it to create my GPS enabled bicycle trail system maps.

I have a Garmin 76, and prefer the button layout on that series for onehand use. Lays flat for easier data entry on a table/hood whatever. The 76C/CS has more detailed highway maps, seem to see more water features on the 60C/CS though. If you get the 60 series, beware of loose button. In either case put a screen protector over the display. The Magellan Explorist series are interesting, too bad they put very expensive battery packs on them instead of allowing use of replaceable batteries. They have a very limited set of screens. This makes them easier to use, but less flexible. Their backlight is two-level with noticable brightness streaking at end next o lights. Their autorouting software does not automatically recalculate on missed turns. Their TOPO3D has more elevation points. Haven't seen an explorist with topo loaded to see what kind of profiles are available. The other Magellan models have more profile options than garmin and should provide more accurate profiles than Garmin (Except for National Parks). (my guess)

National Geographic software allows download (to program) of tracklogs, routes and waypoints. You may upload (to GPS) only routes and waypoints. DeLorme allows upload and download of routes, waypoints and tracks. It does have some other issues, like overwriting waypoint comments on download.

It is an entirely different display technology. So I would be surprised if it had that defect. Click stick is improved! Akward sequnce to pan the maps are gone! Given my druthers .... I'd rather have the 76CS!

Seems logical to add color to that line. I don't know how much room they have internally to work with to allow for the larger screen. Maybe next year

The basemap as far as streets in the Denver area are concerned are less detailed in the new eTrex color units than they were in the grayscale versions. (There is more other detail included though) It does appear to be the 60C series basemap, not the more detailed 76 series basemap. The new Garmin processor is fast. Screen redraws/pans are very quick. Changing map scales went bam,bam,bam,bam scrolling across the Pacific took only a moment. Will make the wait for the SporTrak redraws even more painful in the future The unit is easier to use than the older version with a better feeling clickstick and elimination of the options/page/icon bar. Just posting from having a few minutes with one at our store today. Will do some more testing tomorrow if they are still there. We ended up removing all the FRS/GMRS radios from the display case to make room for all of the new units. Happy GPSing

We received a couple new Garmin eTrex Legend units today. Only got to toy with it briefly. A few observations ...... They have a slightly wider display, that is great! Someone tried an old eTrex battery cover and it would not quite fit. Ouch! Will have to find out how much this affects the accessories. It has a USB port and 24MB of memory. $50 less than the new color Vista. ($349 & $399 respectiively) New feel to click stick. Menu/icon bar appears to be gone, means no more having to select options icon then pan map to move pointer. Finally!!!! Now works like other Garmins, just press cursor device in the right direction. Map redraw and panning speed is great. Appears to have basemap similar to 60 series, not the more detailed 76 series. I did borrow a 60CS last night. Night mode screen in vehicle is great. They have of course the same option in their other new color models. Happy GPSing

The packaging mentioned memory card pockets. We opened a package up. There are two pockets inside. The smaller one looks like SD card sized. Case just said explorist series. I hope to update my GPS spreadsheet to include what is known about the Explorist series. If you never want to hook up to a computer, the 200 seems to be a great unit. Slightly larger in each external dimension. At $150, it would have to be compared to a legend or Venture. It is easier to use than the eTrex (I think), but then again it doesn't have as many features. The Magellan site seemed unavailable earlier tonight. It now has explorist specs. Swivel, vehicle & bike mounts available. Model: Venture/legend/Vista Summit/camo/yellow Explorist Pixels: 288 x 160 128 X 64 160 x 120 Display 2.1 x 1.1 2.1 x 1.1 1.8 x 1.4 Diagonal 2.3 tracklogs: 10 10 3/5/5 Trackpts total: 2K/10K/10K 2K/2K/3K N/A Track pts Ea: ?/750/750 ? 2K/2K/2K waypoints 500/1K/1K 500/500/500 500 Routes: 20 20/1/1 20/20/20 pts/rte 50/125/125 50/50/50 50/50/50 WAAS Y/Y/Y N/N/N Y/Y/Y Need to get my notes and do this right.

I believe that the Cobra 100 has no PC connection, very bad decision. Tried one overnight, was exremely unimpressed. 18 channels are at least 6 more than you can currently use in the US. 12 active birds/hemisphere + 2 WAAS. We have them in our store, and I believe only one has sold since the beginning of October when we got them. (The one that sold may have been a 500 model.)

We received some of the Explorist 200 units late last week at the store I work at in Denver. No external connections provided (There is an outline in the moulding above the battery cover that may be used in furtiure models for a connection) Inside the battery cover are two pads that connnect to the battery terminal. Between these is a flat rubber plug (small) that covers 4 small holes that provide access to the circuit board. The display is a lot sharper than the SporTrak or Meridian series with less apparent ghosting. (looks a lot like an eTrex display) The two level "amber" backlight is nice. Keys do not appear to be backlit. There are two side keys, power & backlight, rubber wrapped on sides like eTrex. Simple to operate with few (3 screens) and an unusual satellite reception display. Click stick operation like eTrex. Cancel button directly below. The case for the Explorist series has pockets for batteries and SD memory cards. Have not taken them into the woods to compare reception. The skimpy manual provides no indication of unit being able to connect to anything. 100 model to ship July 30, 300 on August 30 Unlike Garmin, Magellan doesn't provide complete specs & manuals on-line on the ship date.